Best price on tires-West Coast!

grantgoold · February 19, 2013, 07:44:23 AM

Looking for eight tires for the bus

315 80 22.5 or 12r 80 22.5.

Anybody purchased lately or know a place that sells bus tires for a good price. Willing to travel to Western States.

Thanks

Grant

ol713 · February 19, 2013, 09:21:00 AM

Hi Grant;
I too have been looking for tires. I last had 315 80x225.
tires on the front of my bus. They were great, but got
too old to use anymore. Tires showed almost no wear.
You might find a copy of 10-4 magazine at most truck
stops and some truck service shops. It seems that
315 80x22.5 are easier to find than 12rx22.5.
I have been looking at Kumo tires. Heard they have a
soft ride. However they are almost $600 each in
315 80x22.5. Don't know if they make a 12rx22.5.
I will monitor this post and see if anyone can find
prices on other tires.

Good luck, Merle.

grantgoold · February 19, 2013, 11:21:36 AM

Merle, I was thinking that if enough people were to commit to a purchase of a similar size tire, as well as one location for pick up, we might be able to get a better quote. I see this happening a bunch in the public sector where one agency will put out a request for quotes, get a great price, and then have several other public agencies jump on board that particular quote. If we could get, for instance, 10 bus nuts to commit to one, two, or more tires per person perhaps we could get the prices down to something more reasonable. I spoke with one vendor and prices dropped significantly when one purchase exceeded 10 tires!

Just throwing that idea out to the West Coast Nuts!

Grant

harleyman_1000 · February 19, 2013, 11:55:00 AM

Another ideah is check your local truck shops for good used tires. I have heard you can find great used tires at 50 to 100 a tire

lostagain · February 19, 2013, 11:59:46 AM

Wouldn't an 11R22.5 do? Cheaper than 315/80.

JC

Iceni John · February 19, 2013, 12:22:21 PM

The Monaco parked next to my bus has 315/80 22.5" tires that are visibly smaller diameter than the 12R22.5 on my bus. It looks like about 2" difference - that would change your revs/mile a lot. For those of us with non-overdrive transmissions, that could be enough reason to keep with as large diameter as practically possible.

Parkhouse Tire in Santa Ana CA usually has used / take-off tires, and there's a bus knacker's yard in Ontario CA that sells used tires for $150 or less. When I buy more tires, that's the way I'll go.

John

luvrbus · February 19, 2013, 01:15:04 PM

If your looking for new tires and don't mind the drive Lews Bros in Baker City OR has for 20 years been the best to deal with ,no sales tax, no mounting fees and free balancing they sell lots of brands I always ran Toyo on my bus I like the soft ride of the Toyo's

Don't forget about the FMCA tire program it saves you big bucks on the Michlens

Good luck

harleyman_1000 · February 19, 2013, 03:34:24 PM

FMCA tire program? What is that?

Sam 4106 · February 19, 2013, 06:07:24 PM

Scott,

The Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) has an agreement with Michelin and participating dealers to give a discount to members.

I am looking for new Steer tires for our MC8 and had no luck finding used 12R22.5 tires in this area. Nor did I find a dealer participating in the FMCA program with Michelin. The best price I found so far is at the local farm CO-OP. The manager said they normally don't deal with truck size tires and will have to order them. That may be why they are cheaper. I will have to mount them myself too.

Good luck, Sam

TomC · February 19, 2013, 11:09:01 PM

12R-22.5= 42.6" diameter and 486rpm. 315/80R-22.5= 42.5" diameter and 489rpm. The 315 is getting to be the more popular tire with weight ratings up to 18,000lb for the front axle-but it is more expensive then the 12R. The highest 11R-22.5 16ply will get you 13,200lb rating at 496rpm (actually slower). Unless your front axle is over 13,200lbs, I would stay with the more popular and less expensive 11R-22.5. Good Luck, TomC

ol713 · February 20, 2013, 08:35:16 AM

Quote from: Iceni John on February 19, 2013, 12:22:21 PM
The Monaco parked next to my bus has 315/80 22.5" tires that are visibly smaller diameter than the 12R22.5 on my bus. It looks like about 2" difference - that would change your revs/mile a lot. For those of us with non-overdrive transmissions, that could be enough reason to keep with as large diameter as practically possible.

Parkhouse Tire in Santa Ana CA usually has used / take-off tires, and there's a bus knacker's yard in Ontario CA that sells used tires for $150 or less. When I buy more tires, that's the way I'll go.

John

John;
What is a bus knacker's yard?
Merle.

ol713 · February 20, 2013, 08:59:23 AM

Quote from: grantgoold on February 19, 2013, 11:21:36 AM
Merle, I was thinking that if enough people were to commit to a purchase of a similar size tire, as well as one location for pick up, we might be able to get a better quote. I see this happening a bunch in the public sector where one agency will put out a request for quotes, get a great price, and then have several other public agencies jump on board that particular quote. If we could get, for instance, 10 bus nuts to commit to one, two, or more tires per person perhaps we could get the prices down to something more reasonable. I spoke with one vendor and prices dropped significantly when one purchase exceeded 10 tires!

Just throwing that idea out to the West Coast Nuts!

Grant

Grant;
I would be interested in that. The trouble is getting enough people to agree one
brand of tire. I would be needing two for the front. Maybe Linda at BCM
could do some research on that idea. Would be most helpful. She might have more
contacts and resources than we do.
Merle.

harleyman_1000 · February 20, 2013, 10:25:39 AM

Maybe you could use a national tire dealer to buy a large number and have eack person pick them up at their local dealership?

grantgoold · February 20, 2013, 12:15:30 PM

I agree! It seems like we have enough folks that are part of this group that we could establish a program that would allow bus nuts to purchase under "contract" or MOU. The MOU would allow for a price break similar to the FMCA program. A vendor that knows you are only purchasing one or two tires might not be interested in discounting their product. If for example, Firestone, Goodyear or Les Schaub get involved perhaps it could help us all save some money.

Linda might be able to help!

Anyone else have an opinion on this issue.

Grant

Lin · February 20, 2013, 05:50:23 PM

When I got this bus, I needed to replace 4 tires. The mechanic that was doing some work for me also was mechanic to a yard with a fleet of gravel trucks. They let me order the tires through their supplier, and they were a good deal cheaper than I could get them for on my own. Maybe you know of a friendly yard that will let you order through them. Even if you paid them something for the privilege, it may be worthwhile.