4104 Tires

[mung]

I am getting ready to get some new shoes for the bus.  I got a quote for 6 Toyos installed for $2940.  That seems a bit high to me.  I know I am going to spend a bit on tires, but that seems like a bit plus some.  Does that seem like a reasonable price to everyone?  Also spending that much money on tires and living in Florida, what is the best way to keep them from rotting out before their time? 

[Ed Hackenbruch]

 Last year i bought 2 Hankooks steer tires for $1005 out the door, mounted, balanced, tax, etc...in Az.  Need to get 4 more for the back, checked in Ill. this summer and the price was the same.  Get covers for your tires to protect them from the sun. 

[mung]

Wondering if I should get used tires for the back and new steer tires.  I am just worried since there were 2 blow outs when the bus was getting delivered to me.  I do have 2 newer used tires in place of those that I plan to use for spares.

[ol713]

     Used tires are fine,  but you need to check the DOT numbers
     to see how old they are.  Keep new on the front and used on
     the rear.   That's how I have done it for years.
                                        Merle.

[mung]

Is there an easy way to tell the difference between steer and drive tires when I am looking at used ones?

[Oonrahnjay]

... Get covers for your tires to protect them from the sun. 

    Yes, this is the most important thing but it is also a good thing to drive the bus regularly.  If you run the tires, you warm up and distribute the chemicals in the rubber that are put into it to protect it and keep it flexible.  Using them makes them last longer than not using them.  Yeah, strange, but that's the way it works.

[mung]

We hope to be using it quite a bit, seeing that we are dumping a LOT of money into this bus.

[chessie4905]

   You can save some by using Bandag or Michelin recaps on the rear.

[qayqayt]

We bought our Kuhmo tires 3 years ago and I did extensive research within a 300 mile radius (both Canada and the US) and we paid $3400 for six new tires.  I think the quote you got was good. 

What a huge difference in handling with 6 new matching tires!

Bryan
Vancouver BC

[mung]

Yeah, I was expecting 300 to 350 a tire not 490.

[eagle19952]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-Tires-275-70R22-5-New-GL283A-All-position-16-PR-truck-tire-27570225-/141333918449?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Tires&hash=item20e82872f1&vxp=mtr

[RJ]

Vern -

OK, now I'm going to throw a monkey wrench into your tire discussion.  Ready?

Your 4104's powertrain was designed around tires that turn 495 revs per mile.

Tires that turn MORE than 495/mile will lower your top speed and increase your fuel consumption.

Tires that turn LESS than 495 will increase your top speed and return better fuel mileage.

The most common sizes used by busnuts on GMs are 11R22.5 (smallest diameter), 11R24.5 (tallest diameter) and 12R22.5 (somewhere inbetween.)  The trucking industry is currently in the process of switching everything to metric sizing, like our autos have used for the last 15 years, so don't be confused if the dealer suggests a 295/75R22.5, it's roughly the same as an 11R22.5. 

Concentrate on that 495 number when sizing your tires, either metric or standard, and you're coach will be a happy camper!

Now, go back to the fellow who gave you the quote and ask for the revs/mile spec!

Oh - how to tell the difference between steer and drive tires?  Think of the difference between a snow tire for your car and an all-weather version.  Or the "knobby" tires the Jeep crowd like to use when off-roading - that's more like a drive tire.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[eagle19952]

what is the metric equivalent of the  11R24.5 ?

[luvrbus]

Toyo is a good tire I never used anything else after the 1st set they ride smooth and are not bad about weather cracking like most tires  

What Toyo is he quoting,they make a lot of different grades of the 11r22.5 tires from the lower end up to the premium grade I never had any problems with the 12R22.5 Toyo's on the Eagle I would expect to pay over 500 bucks each for M127 16 ply Toyo

[mung]

I am not sure which ones they are, I will have to check.