OHTSU Tires

[Joebus]

Has anyone used OHTSU tires? I need to replace my "cracked sidewall" drives. We are in Florence Sc and a local dealer has priced these tires. They are model R-1200 Highway service radials 12R 22.5.
Supposedly equal to Goodyear G149
Looking at $1600.00 for 4 (installed and balanced)

[DavidInWilmNC]

How do you even pronounce that?     (sorry, I couldn't resist)

[Kristinsgrandpa]

  I've never dealt with, or even called this guy, but you might call him for a price comparison as he handles Ohtsu tires and advertises wholesale prices.

http://tires.hypermart.net/ohtsu.html

I've never used highway tires from Ohtsu, nor even talked to anyone with them, but have been using their ATV tires for years without any problems. They are great ATV tires. They used to come as factory equipment on Honda ATV's.

Ed

[TomC]

That is an excellent price for tires.  I had Michelin XZE 11R-22.5 16 ply (6) installed for $2,900.

Also, this 12R-22.5 is the only tire Ohtsu carries in this one model out of all of their 15 models of tires.  Proof that the 12R-22.5 is a tire size that is on the way out in favor of the 315/80R-22.5 metric size.  Good Luck, TomC

[makemineatwostroke]

JOE thats a good price for a Japan made tire. I have a friend that has used them on his redi mix concrete trucks sinice the late 70s and swears by them

[Kristinsgrandpa]

If you will look at the charts on the link I provided in my first post the 12.00 R 22.5 requires a 9" rim instead of the more common 8.25" bus rims.

I would ask the tire dealer what complications you might encounter if your rims are 8.25".

Years ago, when I big into 4 wheel drives and big tires, there were complications with undersized rims. If I remember right it only caused uneven tire wear. (premature)

I personally would buy Japanese tires, I just wont buy Chinese made tires.

Ed

[tekebird]

no experience but around central PA that would not be a great price.

I got firestones mounted and ballanced for 250.00 each and goodyears were just a tad over 300.00...the michilins were in the 450.00 per range

[Jerry32]

I have run the OHTSU tires on a MH and worked just fine. If the MCI specs for 12R22.5 tires to mounted on 8>25 " rims why would this be wrong? Jerry

[tekebird]

it's not wrong

[cpschevy]

Hey i got those exact tires for mine but i paid $1800 for 6 at Les Schwab about 8 months ago. Also put some on our dump truck 2 years ago and they seem to be wearing good.

[Lin]

I'm bringing back this old post to pass on some information even though I do not know the value of it.  I have four Ohtsu tires on the rear of the bus.  I had them all off when we were doing the brake work this week.  I knew that they were cracking on the outside around the tread.  Even though the tires seem to be from 2000, I assumed the problem to be that they were just sitting in the sun too long.  However, when we removed the tires, they were found to have much more severe cracking on the sidewalls on the inside of the tires.  I do not know if this was a maintenance issue or what, but it is severe enough to warrant changing all four before any serious drive.  I don't think that I would buy Ohtsu to replace them.

[JohnEd]

Lin,

I thought the tires were only good for 5 years.  I know some have gone longer...talking spec here and safety.  After 8 years all my truck tires are cracked and replaced before then.

I agree that the price isn't very good.  Michelins cost $550 and those others run $400?  I would go with the Michelin any day.  I haven't had good luck with Michelin's...I have had extremely good service /performance/longevity from that brand and I only get away from it for money reasons.  I think if you shop you will find better prices than you have so far.

Give some thought to moving to 24.5 or better still the metric equal to that size.  Do the aluminum rims while you are at it.  It is fun spending your money.

HTH,

John

[tekebird]

thats very high for a chinese/korean tire

[makemineatwostroke]

If, you buy the Japan made OHTSU tire its my understanding that it is a very good tire but at a higher price

[Lin]

It looks like this is another important thing that I have been unaware of.  Is the 5 year limit on tires a DOT thing or is it just what is recommended?  I have always just used condition to determine if they needed changing.