Cooper tires, good, bad or ???

[Stan]

If you put all new tires on your conversion, it is highly unlikely that you will ever have to find a replacement tire until they age out and you are replacing them all again.

[ttomas]

BK,     thanks,     is the tire size you use- 315/80R22.5 comparable in height to the 12 22.5? How much less if any do they cost compaired to the 12 22.5/  Thanks ,  Tomas

[FloridaCliff]

David,

I am with the camp that says you will never wear out your tires.  The will dry rot first.

Get the best deal!  Get them balanced!

Oh yeah,  I bought the 12r22.5's, put the best old one in my spare compartment, taller and ride better...

In the US you can get anything you need in 24 hours, it may cost a little more, but how often?

Cliff

[tekebird]

last I shopped Cooper did not make 12r22.5 in an appropriate tread.

I like them on my F250 though...third set of coopers I have owned.

cheap, good traction and  wear

[Runcutter]

We changed the 12R22.5's to 11R22.5's on the 4107.  With a light bus, weight was not the issue, and I don't plan on any off-roading, so the minor change in ride height won't be a problem.  With a little arthritis, I don't even notice that the first step is any lower than it was before. 

We ended up with six 11R Firestones (FS 590, I think - I"m in Oregon and the bus and paperwork are in Dallas-so I'm going by memory.  The cost savings let me put all six 11R's on for the price of five, 12R's.  Had the fronts dynamically balanced, and the total bill (in Dallas, TX) was about $2,250.

Here's the thread that helped me finally make the decision.  I"ll try to put it in as a hyperlink, hopefully someone else will fix it if I fail.

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=4713.msg43680#msg43680

Arthur

[WEC4104]

For what it's worth, Cooper differs from the other tire manufacturers. They do not furnish tires to the vehicle manufacturers, but instead focus on the aftermarket/replacement business segment.  You won't see a new Buick or F150 rolling off the assembly line wearing Coopers. Rather, they make tires for tire dealers and auto parts stores. In addition to the Cooper brand name, they make countless other brand names as well.

Here in the U.S, they have their HQ in Findlay, OH, with additional major plants in Texarkana, AR; Tupelo, MS; and Albany, GA.  (and I have been inside everyone of them)   However, these plants only manufacture passenger car and light truck tires.  Truck and bus tire manufacturing was moved offshore a few years ago. So if you buy Cooper tires for your bus, they will likely be coming from China. (haven't been there)