Best Tire size for replacements on a MC5B

[MCIGenes]

I am looking for some advice on the best tire size for the front of my MC5B. It currently has 12R22.5 on it but the FMCA advantage tire program seems to have Michelins in 295/80R22.5 and 315/80R22.5 available at a good price. Is there any disavantage to installing the 315/80R22.5 on the front steer axles. The 295 turn 503 Rev per mile and the 315 turn 492 Revs per mile. The thing I was looking at was the load range. The 315 has a L load range and the 295 has an H load range. 

I would like to hear what the pros and cons are for either tire size. Price wise under the FMCA program the 315 cost less than the 295.    Thanks for any assistance you can give me.

Gene    1975 MC5B
     

[gus]

I'm not an expert on your off-brand  bus but I'm a fan of using the smallest tire that will do the job for many reasons!

Larger tires cost more, they get hotter because of more bulk and they are heavier. Actually I can't think of even one advantage. They might also rub in front.

195s are equivalent to 1200s, I think even those are too big for an MC5. I have them on my 4107 and even though they are the original size I think they are too big for a conversion due to the much lower weights we carry vs passenger buses.

Of course it depends on loads but I'm guessing your MC5 doesn't weigh over 23K.

A 315 is 12.86" overall width, that is a pretty big tire for a smaller bus. My 4104 has 1100s on it and it is about the same size/weight as an MC5 although I think the B may be a bit larger.

[bevans6]

MC-5 "stock" size tire isn't around any longer, but the 12R-22.5 is the closest modern equivalent.  It lets you run the tire at a lower pressure and gives a better ride than smaller tires, but it's way overkill from a strict load perspective.  315/80-22.5 is the metric equivalent to the 12R-22.5, but it's even larger with even greater capacity.  I would be really tempted to go to an 11R-22.5 or the metric equivalent when I go to replace my MC-5C's tires.

Brian

[Ed Hackenbruch]

 My 5A has 11r22.5 tires on it. Just bought 2 new ones for the front and each one was $200 less than the same tire in 12r22.5.

[Lin]

Like Ed, MC5a with 11r22.5 tires.  They seem to be about as reasonable as you can get on price.  I am told they are more easily available than others should you need one in an emergency, but I fortunately have not had to verify that yet. 

Gus, When I first weighed my 5a, it was about 27,000#.  It may be more now since I think I add more things to it than I remove.

[ojgetaway32]

On my MC9, I replaced the "B" prefix steer tires with Michelin 11R22.5 on Alcoa aluminums.  Looks, rides and feels great.  They never seem to get past warm either.

Josh

[TomC]

The number one thing you need to do first is go weigh your bus by axle with it stuffed full at it's heaviest. THEN we can discuss the tire size you need. Off the top of my head, if you weigh in less then 13,200lbs in the front and less then 22,000lbs in the back, I would stay with a normal truck tire size like the 11R-22.5 in either 14ply or 16ply rating.

Please get back to us on the weight by axle (side to side doesn't matter) of your bus. Good Luck, TomC

[MCIGenes]

Well, I finished up some ot the things I was remodeling in the bus last week so I took it to get it weighed.
The MC5B weighed 9100# on the front axle and 16,500# on the rear. The total weight was 26,220#. I have decided to go with the 295R80 22.5 tires. Thanks for all your suggestions and advice.

Gene

[wg4t50]

Glad you made a choice, but I would have gone with the 11.00R X 24.5, very near the same as the 12R X 22.5 in diameter, cheaper and available everywhere.   That is what I did to my MC7, and it worked out great.
Cheers
Dave M

[TomC]

The 295/80R-22.5 is way to much tire for what you need, much more expensive, and hard to get on the road. Go with a 11R-22.5-rated at over 12,000lb front and 23,000lb rear. You're wallet will much more happy, and you'll be happier when you need a tire on the road. Good Luck, TomC

[luvrbus]

The 295/80 R is a common tire for the rv market most all tire shops stock that tire wise choice IMO the PepBoys I was in had that tire size and so did Costco isn't that size also in the FMCA tire program 

The 24.5 size I believe will be a obsolete tire in the future as we are the only country that uses a 24.5 and like it or not we are headed for a world standard in tire sizes and the manufactures are pushing it

[TomC]

Do yourself a favor and just compare the price of the 295/80R-22.5 to the 11R-22.5. I'll bet that with the purchase of 6 tires you'll be looking at several hundred difference. Good Luck, TomC

[TomC]

295/80R-22.5; 500rpm; 15,660lbs front; 27,760lbs rear
11R-22.5 16ply; 501rpm; 13,260lbs front; 24,020lbs rear
11R-22.5 14ply; 501rpm; 12,350lbs front; 23,360lbs rear

So you can see the 11R-22.5 14ply is more then enough tire for your bus. Good Luck, TomC

[luvrbus]

More like 200 bucks a tire TomC but like Gene I spend the extra bucks for better tires it make no difference now he bought what he felt was best for him the way it should be , not to disagree with you but that tire is as common as sliced bread

[MCIGenes]

     I have not bought the tires yet because I have lots of other things to do. I will be getting to the tire purchasing point in the next month. I will take all of your suggestions into consideration and see what is available. Thanks for all your input.

Gene