Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 41 total)
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    • #2530
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      The question is, are the Michelins, which are now quoted at $614 (unmounted), twice as good as the five-rib DICO at $295? It is improbable I will wear either of them out, and since the drive axle is the easiest on tires, I’m trying to find the downside to saving $1200.

      Don’t be shy. Tell me about your experience or facts. Except for making me feel warm and toasty, I cannot think of another reason to justify the Michelins.

      #2532
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Jon, years back I quit putting Michelin and Bridgestone on the steers primarily because I got aggravated having to remount them 2 or 3 times every time due to a shimmy that didn’t previously exist.

      The off-brands last just as long for a fraction of the cost and almost never have balance trouble.

       

      #2533
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Jon, I’ve never heard of Dico. My tire guy says the local charter companies are using Kumho 315/80 for $365 installed. He can get them the next day.

       

      #2534
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      The tire guy provided additional details. The tires are Dynatrak, manufactured in China under the Double Coin label. I’m planning to check out Kumho. Any other suggestions?

      #2535
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Yep, stick with Mich

      #2536
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Hey Truk, I’m aiming to cut costs significantly here.

      A while back, the savings between brand M and the budget option were substantial—almost equivalent to the cost of one tire. I bought brand M tires for around $300 each back in the day. They were 12R22.5, but now Michelin’s prices have skyrocketed compared to other brands.

      #2537
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Jon,

      I’d prefer to drive on 10-year-old Michelin tires rather than on new, low-quality Chinese tires. I’m surprised you’re buying into the idea of replacing tires after a set number of years. I haven’t seen any solid technical evidence to back up this practice. It seems more like a marketing tactic that benefits manufacturers by increasing sales and reducing their liability.

      If you choose the right tire for the load, keep them properly inflated, and avoid constant exposure to direct sunlight, I believe they can last beyond the 5, 7, or even 10-year marks. Of course, there have been issues with tires that are underrated or overloaded, but is age alone the culprit? Factors like usage and storage conditions—like keeping them in a garage in Idaho versus parking them outside in Yuma—could play a role.

      Do you replace your airplane tires based on age? If you’re really worried, maybe just replace the steering tires. A failure in any other position would be an inconvenience, but not a major issue. Save the money for more diesel.

      Just my $0.02,

      Peter vS
      94 Marathon XLV

      #2538
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Peter,

      I’ve always kept my coach garaged, so the tires have had minimal sun exposure. However, I’m unsure about their history before I owned them.

      I’ve looked into Michelin’s position on tire age, and, like you, I haven’t seen concrete data proving or disproving their recommendations. I did some reading online (which, according to JPJ, isn’t always reliable), and it seems truck tires are designed for a shorter life with high mileage and multiple retreads. The compounds used are formulated to stay pliable through regular use, with the flexing of driving helping to keep them from degrading. Inactivity might actually be worse for them.

      Aircraft tires are made with different compounds for their specific needs. Since aircraft are often not stored in hangars, the formulations are designed for durability, although they may not have the wear characteristics of truck tires. For example, I get about 600 landings on a set of 8 and 10-ply tires—about 1000 miles. Early Michelin aircraft tires had plain sidewalls because any surface breaks, like lettering or decorations, were potential points for cracking.

      I’m not concerned about the tires being made offshore. Michelin tires are produced in various locations, so local economies aren’t directly benefited. What I care about is that the tires last at least five years without failures. I’m interested in hearing experiences from other POG members who use different brands. Most bus companies use tires other than Michelin, and I assume the drivers don’t scrutinize their tires as closely as I do.

      I’ll stick with Michelin for the steer tires, but I’m willing to use lesser-quality tires for the drives. Given the cost, I’d need to have two blowouts on the four drive tires to match the cost of Michelin, and three blowouts before I’d be losing money.

      #2539
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Wow, I was surprised to see so much discussion about bus tires from you all!

      I assumed everyone used Michelins. Apparently not.

      I think we all agree that if you can save money without compromising safety, driving performance, or fuel mileage, it’s worth considering.

      But I’d still be hesitant to put No Name tires on a $300K bus. Am I wrong?

      Gary S

      #2540
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      They might be “no name” to us, but can 20 billion Chinese be wrong?

      There was a time when offshore products raised concerns, but the reality is that much of what we use is made abroad, and these products often meet the same standards as domestic goods. Tires, for instance, must be DOT approved, especially for commercial use.

      Consider that the castings for your Series 60 engine block aren’t made here, and it’s likely that many of the electrical components in your bus are from overseas. Even the tires with familiar brand names are not exclusively made in the US anymore.

      #2541
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Following Dave Gregory’s advice from Southern Oregon Diesel, I didn’t replace my steer tires with Michelins. Dave pointed out that Michelins were prone to early sidewall deterioration, which I had observed with my tires. Instead, I opted for Toyos, priced around $350 each from Les Schwab Tires.

      Greg

      #2542
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Hello Jon,

      Since your bus has been kept inside whenever not in use, I understand your concern. I’ve used the M brand tires myself, but when I had my plastic coach, I had good results with Goodyear 670s. I’m not sure if they’re available in the right size for our bus, though.

      Kim
      02 Vantare S@
      06 Dodge Megacab

      #2543
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      You know what they say about opinions—here’s mine anyway:

      PeterVS, while I agree with your views on age limits, I also believe Jon’s points about tire compounds are valid. As a trucker, I used to go through tires before the age issue even crossed my mind. It wasn’t until I joined POG that I learned how to read date codes. I recently discovered that my tires are from 1999 and 2000. Given that the front six are a matched set with 80% tread remaining, I’ll be moving the steer tires to the tag axle and using them until the sidewalls show cracks or the tread wears down, regardless of their age. I figure if they’re Michelins, they should last a bit longer to justify the extra cost. I’ve got tire pressure sensors, and I don’t push the tires hard. I’ll keep everyone updated on how it goes.

      Regarding off-brand tires, I have a different perspective. Local charter companies have used them for years without issues, and I’ve had good experiences with lesser-known brands as well. If you’re not keen on Chinese tires, you might consider Kellys—they’re also more affordable. In my experience, Bridgestone and Michelin tires can be harder to balance and don’t necessarily wear better.

      In Jon’s case, where he plans to follow age guidelines and use the tires only on the drives, carrying about 5000 lbs per tire and monitoring pressures closely, opting for cheaper tires could be a smart move.

      I’ll be putting off-brand tires on my steers as well. I haven’t decided which ones yet, but they’ll be 12R22.5, and I’ll choose based on price and availability. I’ll share my experience once I get them.

      Happy to be the guinea pig for this experiment. I’m not worried at all. Greg has Toyos, so we’ll have a test case for those too. All these tires are drastically underrated to begin with. I used to pull a transfer trailer with 60,000 lbs on it using mismatched and old tires. The guy I worked for would scout ahead in his SUV looking for cops. But I digress.

      Michelins and Bridgestones are undoubtedly great tires, but I believe the off-brands can be just as good.

      #2544
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      I checked with a friend who sells various tire brands, including Michelin, and he recommended using Toyo tires for large trucks and motorhomes.

      #2545
      MyPrevost
      Keymaster

      Kim,

      Thanks for the info. It’s good to know.

      Joe,

      Don’t judge Michelin too harshly. While they may not balance as easily with weights, I never had any issues once I started using Equal.

      Greg and RR,

      I’m planning to look into Toyo tires. I’ve seen other Prevost coaches using them, so I’m interested to see how they perform.

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