Tires in Tampa?

[Sean]

My tags are done.  They were aged out when I installed them, and now chunks of the tread shoulder are coming off.  Even though the tread is serviceable, I'm afraid I'm going to throw a tread if I don't replace them.

I'm looking for a tire place in the Tampa area or perhaps somewhere between here and Orlando who can sell me two new steers and (here's the hard part) spin-balance them on my 335mm-bolt-circle wheels.  The steers I have now will move to the tags.

FWIW, I run 12R22.5 tires on 9" rims, and I like high-mileage rib tires for the steer axle (I use open-shoulder block-treads on the drivers).  Right now I have Firestone FS560s but I have also had good luck with Bridgestone RF250s and would accept a similar tire from pretty much any maker.

Thanks.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[luvrbus]

Sean, I have no idea how they are to deal with in FL, GCR has always gave me good prices and service on Toyo and Bridgestone tires even being owned by Toyo,

Check out the tires prices from a FMCA associates dealer also if you are a member super buys on the Michelin

good luck

[Kwajdiver]

Sean,

Give John Silver a call at Central Florida Bus.  He had some.

863-665-8155

Lakeland, Florida.

Tell him I said to call,

Bill Williamson

[paul102a3]

might try Foy's Transport Tire Service - (813) 241-4017. They have done well by me with two different Freightliners and the bus. They also have ability to shave tires

Paul

[letz4wheel]

Sean,
Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but have you ever tried any of the other balancing options? Centramatics, Equal beads, or any of the knockoffs? I have no idea if they are fit for a bus but they are widely used in the trucking industry.

[Mike in GA]

Several of us in the Southeast Bus Nuts have gone to Gary Crawford at Crawford Tire in nearby Ocoee FL, just above Disney. Two years ago when there was a scarcity of 12R22.5s he had an inventory of Sumitomos. Got four for my drive axle for less than $400 each - out the door.
     Phone: 407-656-4575
     Address: 110 Taylor St., Ocoee, FL 34761
Not sure about the spin balancing you are looking for, but many of us go to Jomam on Exchange Blvd in Orlando for the finest in computer alignment and tire truing and balancing:
     www.josamusa.com
Good luck.
Mike in GA

[Sean]

Well, so far I am striking out.  John Silver can't do it, but he is checking with his tire guy (I have low expectations.)  Foy's can't do it.  GCR can't do it.  I am waiting on a call back from Crawford and ABC bus, but I am holding out little hope.

My backup plan will be to leave the steers alone (they still have some life in them) and find a pair of used take-offs for the tags, where I am less concerned about balance.  The tags eat tires like all get-out, so I don't put expensive rubber on them.

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but have you ever tried any of the other balancing options? Centramatics, Equal beads, or any of the knockoffs?

Yes, it has been covered extensively.  The short answer for me is that I have had poor results with Equal (by poor, I mean worse than nothing at all), and I don't have room for centrifugal balancers.  My tire wear, tire life, handling, and ride comfort all went up dramatically when I started having the steers dynamically balanced.  Finding someone with a mount for the 11.075" hub bore is the big challenge.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Len Silva]

Sean,

I really have no idea of what I'm talking about here, but could you have an adapter made so that your wheels can be spun on more conventional equipment?

[Sean]

Update:  It looks like Crawfords in Ocoee has the right balancer.  She sounded a bit hesitant on the phone, but I later confirmed that Setra in Winter Garden sends its tire work there, so they should be able to do it.  They quoted me on a pair of Sumitomo 727 tires in 12R22.5 at $500 apiece, FET included.  We have an appointment for Wednesday and will spend a few days with the mouse between now and then.

As a side note, ABC bus, also in Winter Garden, can mount and spin-balance these wheels.  They'd be happy to sell me tires, too, and they had a great price on Firestone FS400s in 315/80R22.5 -- just $546 including FET.  That's a real steal for that tire, and I thought about it seriously.  But we've had the larger tires on the steer axle before, and they made low-speed maneuvering much harder, rubbed on the wheel well at full lock, and did not wear as well as the 12R size, so I decided against it, deal or not (we do note need the extra load capacity).  They could order me Goodyear G661HSAs in 12R for north of $600, and even more than that for Bridgestones.  With 45 minutes of labor per tire for mounting and balancing, they were a lot higher than Crawfords all around.

Anyone need a pair of Michelin casings in 12R22.5?

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com