Tires

[liljim9]

Bought  a 4905 (BCM ad) in Sept and I'm getting ready to head out, so while checking the 'new looking' tires air, I notice the date stamp 4704, meaning they are 12 years and change old and I don't think I want to trust them.  They are 12R22.5 0n 8.25 wheels.  Questions are (1) do they still get classified drivers (rear) and steerers (front)? (2) Are the Asian tires any good? (3) Is the 315/70R22.5 tire OK to run? (4) any positive experiences with certain brands (I know I'm not supposed to ask negative)?    I would rather not listen to a salesman's hype but would rather listen to you guys ideas and experiences.

[TomC]

First off, weigh your bus in full ready condition with water and fuel tanks full. I'm guessing you could easily go to 11R-22.5 tires which are suitable for 8.25 wide wheels. 11R-22.5 will loose just a few Revs per mile compared to the 12R's and be about a half inch lower. (12R=485rpm, 11R=500rpm). 11R's are very common and much cheaper than the less popular 12R and a whole bunch cheaper than 315-80R's. Good Luck, TomC

[ol713]

   Good for you.  You learned to read the date code on tires, a lot of folks don't know
  this.   Just to share, I put 315/80 22.5 tires on my coach a year ago. They work fine
  and I know they are a lot more tire than I need, but if you look at the tires that are
  on newer coaches, they have the same size.  I figure they now something that
  I don't.  Besides that size is easier to find than 12r 22.5.   To cut costs, I put used
  tires on the rear and new on the front. That is something to consider.  
                                             Good luck,   Merle.    

[opus]

I just put 4-11-22.5 drives on for $1600

[eagle19952]

I would also look at the 11R's
and I wouldn't sneer or sneeze at Samson or Toyo or a few other not so elite brands...
you will never wear them out... unless you are under 50

[Dave5Cs]

Toyo's (China)11x22.5's all position tires. Nice and smooth running. 26,500 lb MC5C. Had 12Rx22.5's when we bought her. Have not noticed any difference. Run 85 in the front and 80 in the rear....

[luvrbus]

  Good for you.  You learned to read the date code on tires, a lot of folks don't know
  this.   Just to share, I put 315/80 22.5 tires on my coach a year ago. They work fine
  and I know they are a lot more tire than I need, but if you look at the tires that are
  on newer coaches, they have the same size.  I figure they now something that
  I don't.  Besides that size is easier to find than 12r 22.5.   To cut costs, I put used
  tires on the rear and new on the front. That is something to consider.  
                                             Good luck,   Merle.    

And those coaches weigh 50,000 lbs too

[kyle4501]

Weigh your coach ! It matters.
Consult the tire manufacturers load/inflation charts to verify you are getting enough tire.

I don't see much benefit for getting excessively higher load capacity tires than you need.

your mileage may vary 

[PP]

I put Ohtsu 12R-22.5 on my coach a little more than 3 years ago. I had Michelins of the same size before that. I can't tell the difference and am very happy with them. I put the same tires all around and I run 100PSI all around. I also keep them covered when parked-it makes a difference.
HTH
Will

[lvmci]

I too have Ohtsu, on drive wheels, good results for 4 years, Michelins on front, which are very good in every way but dry rot cracking. The bus is always in the desert and they Crack earliest of all the brands, lvmci...

[PP]

I too have Ohtsu, on drive wheels, good results for 4 years, Michelins on front, which are very good in every way but dry rot cracking. The bus is always in the desert and they Crack earliest of all the brands, lvmci...

I noticed the same thing with every set of Michelins I've ever owned-bus and pickup trucks, and we don't live in the desert. Just good old sunshine. 

[Scott & Heather]

I just put 4 brand new Chinese tires on my drive and tags for $1050 out the door installed in Houston.


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[Dreadnought]

I would also look at the 11R's
and I wouldn't sneer or sneeze at Samson or Toyo or a few other not so elite brands...
you will never wear them out... unless you are under 50

https://youtu.be/HoUbkyLEO_Y

[eagle19952]

https://youtu.be/HoUbkyLEO_Y

ha...most guys over 50 have gotten that out of their system 

[86102A3]

I have new Dayton tires (USA) on my drives. These tires really improved ride quality, I had some very old michelins on the drives before. I would like to have these tires all the way around, however I did not pay for any of my tires directly. I have a friend that wanted my old truck so I traded for parts for the bus. He is gathering a set of aluminum wheels for me now as well. Also if you notice all of my wheels were sandblasted and painted before the new tires were mounted, and actually the drives are brand new steel wheels painted gray to match my others.



These are take offs for the tags.



New Firestone tires (USA) on the steer.




Jeff LoGiudice
Tampa, Fl.
1986 TMC 102A3
1999 Reliabilt 6V92TA
Allison HT740