Michelin XZA feedback!

grantgoold · January 30, 2014, 05:24:42 PM

This has been a very good discussion. I have learned a whole bunch about tires. I was hoping there was a way for Michelin to inspect their own tires and give you some kind idea of how well a set of tires have held up in storage. Perhaps the seller is aware of the ten year mark and that is why they have come out of storage?

Thanks again.

Grant

Seangie · January 30, 2014, 06:52:58 PM

Oh crap. Is this another tire thread? Hold on, be right back. Gotta go get me some popcorn.

Fulltiming somewhere in the USA
1984 Eagle 10S
www.herdofturtles.org

John316 · January 30, 2014, 07:10:45 PM

Quote from: Seangie on January 30, 2014, 06:52:58 PM
Oh crap. Is this another tire thread? Hold on, be right back. Gotta go get me some popcorn.

It's Sean's fault this time. I love using this anytime I can....so lol.

TomC · January 30, 2014, 10:04:23 PM

There are two areas where you should never be cheap about-one is brakes and the other tires. Tires are much more then big, round, rubber black things that hold air. Tires are your connection to the ground for traction and braking. Whatever tire you buy, make sure it is new (within a few weeks) and made for that tire position. Just to give you an idea, Michelin makes over 50 different truck and bus models of tires. If you can't afford to keep good quality equipment on your bus to keep it as safe as possible, maybe a sticks and staples would be more affordable for you. Good Luck, TomC

grantgoold · January 30, 2014, 10:11:05 PM

Tom, I agree that tires are perhaps the most important purchase you can make. I am just wondering why we do not hear more from manufactures that tires after a certain age should NOT be used no matter what they look like! I read the posting from the Michelin group and they say that tires can carry a warranty up to five years, seven years for sidewall cracks. So, that should say something about what they think is reasonable for the life of a properly inflated tire. Again, this discussion has been very educational for me.

Thanks again.

Grant

luvrbus · January 31, 2014, 05:58:30 AM

Only thing I find out about the 10 years is Michelin states on installed tires is most tires will need replacing before 10 years and they recommend tires be replaced after 10 years from the date of manufacturing as a "simple precaution" that is from a bulletin dated Feb 9 2006

This what I find interesting if the vehicle is not in use for 3 months all weight should be removed from the tires by blocking up the vehicle if that is not possible then the tires should be over inflated by 25% from the recommend load pressure to prevent flat spots and ozone cracking

I missed that one and it would have been easy for me with the jacks now I have the ozone cracks even sitting inside the shop lol life is so simple

TomC · January 31, 2014, 06:53:25 AM

My first set of Dunlop tires (this is when Dunlops were a good tire before Goodyear took over production) were on my bus for 12 years. But-I also live in L.A. without major weather swings and store the bus indoors. 10 yrs would be a good rule of thumb-shorter if any type of rubber cracking is detected. Good Luck, TomC

Iceni John · January 31, 2014, 07:57:15 AM

So why do all Michelin tires crack more than other brands? It seems that their bus and truck tires crack more than their competitors', Michelin car tires certainly do so (I will never spend their prices ever again for tires for my car: they show sidewall cracks before 40,000 miles), Michelin bicyle tires are almost unsellable in Southern California because they crack so fast in our weather (too bad, because otherwise they're decent tires), and someone in the RV yard here won't use Michelins on any of his motorbikes because of the same reason. All tires have ozone- and UV-inhibitors in their rubber, so does Michelin use different additives, or what? It's definitely sun-related - the XCEs on my bus and on my friend's Gillig and Crown tandems have cracked more where the sunlight or heat reaches them, and the shaded ones fare much better. This makes me think it's not simply age-related.

When I next buy bus tires it will be take-offs for me, and preferably not Michelins.

John

B_K · January 31, 2014, 07:58:31 AM

Grant if it were me (an it's not) I'd take the amount of $ you are looking at spending on those tires to the nearest casino or horse/dog track and bet it on whatever suits you.

If you win buy the tires, if you lose don't buy them. The results will be the same in the end.
It's a GAMBLE at best.

BK