| Author | Message | ||
| Ken Smith/Theresa Herring (Bikerider103152)
Registered Member Username: Bikerider103152 Post Number: 4 Registered: 7-2009 Posted From: 216.120.157.74 Rating: N/A |
o k bus nuts need some serious input for tires. I purchased my 65 mc-5a in July of this year. It was converted n 1988 and only put on the road twice since then. It is in very good shape with the exception of tires. It has 12.75 85 22.5's on it. I know 12r22.5's will work. Is there any of you that run 11r22.5's on this bus. I have looked into the differences and think I can live with those if I go with 11r's. But would really like to hear from someone who runs them, beore I make the final choice. Thanks to all that have answered my previous posts. | ||
| Larry & Lynne Dixon (Larry_d)
Registered Member Username: Larry_d Post Number: 228 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 71.111.185.149  Rating: N/A |
Hi Ken I drive a GMC 4905 it had 12r 22.5 as yours and cracked bad. I bought 11r Toyo's am quite pleased with them. I had one problem, inside dual blew but dealer waranteed stating probably a defect. These tires seem to ride good and have 15 to 20 K on them and show no wear. I have nothing much to compare with tho. Hope it helps. Larry | ||
| Ken Smith/Theresa Herring (Bikerider103152)
Registered Member Username: Bikerider103152 Post Number: 5 Registered: 7-2009 Posted From: 64.255.180.157 Rating: N/A |
Hi Larry, thanks for the feed back. It is exactly the kind of imformation I am looking for. Is the load rating on your tires H? | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1609 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.182.53.218  Rating: N/A |
Ken - Buying tires for your bus is a little bit different than buying them for your car, so you've got to do a little more homework. One of the considerations (especially if you're a GMC owner, which I know you're not), is the tire's revs per mile, in addition to load range, size, speed rating, etc. Remember that the factory engineered the powertrain around tires that turn a certain number of revs per mile. Buying tires that turn MORE revs/mile will reduce your road speed at any given rpm, increase your fuel consumption at any given speed, but also give you slightly better hill-climbing performance (tho some say it's not noticeable.) OTOH, tires that turn LESS than the OEM tires will have the opposite effect. Sticking to a tire size that most accurately matches the OEM-spec revs/mile will give you performance as the factory designed the coach. So shop carefully. The trucking industry is switching to metric sizing (315/80R22.5), so it becomes more important to scrutinize the tire spec charts to find what you're looking for. Note, too, that the same size tire will differ in revs/mile depending on whether its a steer, drive or all-position, not only between manufacturers, but also with in a single manufacturer's product line-up. Speed rating is also something to be careful about when buying "bus tires". Often a dealer will try to unload at a great price his bus tires that are designed for low-speed transit use, but they're speed limited to 55 mph. Not really something you want on your coach if you spend most of your time on the highway. Does your coach still have the MCI builder's plate with the tire sizes, VIN, etc. above the driver, or has it been removed? That can help with the original tire size, axle load limits, etc. Do your homework! FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1000 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.62  Rating: N/A |
Your MC5 is about the same size as my GMC 4104. I run six TOYO M122 11R22.5 14 ply tires on on it and they are all it needs, it is not a heavy bus. Toyo tires are reasonably priced and easy to find if you need replacements. I think this model number has been replaced according to what I've seen posted recently. It is an all position tire so they can be rotated. | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 225 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.132  Rating: N/A |
Do as Rj states check the builders plate above the drivers seat if it is missing there is a second one located in back wall behind the cooling blowers in the blower compartment. MCI was useing two rim and tire combos in the late 60's early 70's the builder plate will show the GAWRF but go under and there will be a tag on the axle beam stateing what weight the axle is rated for You canot exceed this weight so weighing your bus at a truck scale would be advisable . **I cant stress this more strongly follow proper jacking and blocking procedures**. I will be putting 11 22.5 tires on my coach as I am more concerned with tire noise than traction my local heavy truck tire dealer has given me two recomendations the only diferance being around $100 per tire. Dave L | ||
| Nellie Wilson (Vivianellie)
Registered Member Username: Vivianellie Post Number: 285 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 75.178.92.43  Rating: N/A |
Howdy Ken - You gotta understand I was new to this game when my 'tire' story happened. But here goes: I got a great set (4) of traction tread 11Rs from a trucker buddy... already mounted on nearly new Alcoa wheels. Since my lugs had to be changed, I took the job to a tire shop (in Vermont). Two days later, I went to pick up the bus. It was sitting out in the snow, still on it's rusty steel wheels and old cracked tires. Plus (which has nothing to do with the tire story) my brand spanking new batteries were fried. Whazzup, I say, and the a**hole says the 11Rs were 'unsafe' and he refused to mount them. "Liability," this prick says, and offers me $600 for the set (which, dummy that I was, I took). Four days and 300 bucks later (for new batteries), a big fat Prevost pulls into the Cow Palace (one of my watering holes) and I'm looking at some all-to-familiar wheels. The driver - an acquaintance of mine (way too rich to be a friend)- hops out and comes into the bar. "Hey, Henri," says I, "where'd ja get the new shoes?" You guessed it. And ol' Henri was happy as a pig in mud that he only paid $1500 for the set. Nearly three years later, Henri is running those same tires, traction tread and all - and he goes from Vermont to Florida twice every year. Personal experience? No. Vicarious experience? Yes. Conclusion #1: Go with the 11Rs (but maybe not the steers?) Conclusion #2: Avoid Vermont. | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 961 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 76.202.165.190  Rating: N/A |
A new concept that may be of concern, IF you drive enough miles is rolling resistance. The resistance is rated and with some digging can be found for most tires. It varies from 150 high to mid 90's low. The lower the rolling resistance , the better the fuel mileage. The claimed advantage for some wide singles is 2 less side walls , so lower rolling resistance. NOT for all wide singles , check first. At an extra $100 bucks per tire low rolling resistance might never pay for the usual under 10,000mile a year bus camper , but??? Before purchasing tires get the ACTUAL weights on all four corners , 12's are almost never needed on a camper. FF | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 513 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.23.106.193  Rating: N/A |
Weigh your bus, individual axle & side to side. Then look at the tire load charts to decide what can carry the load safely. The MCI is built differently than the GMC buses, MCI used stainless steel for the siding where GMC used aluminum. A friends 40' PD4501 weighed in at 25,000 lbs after most of the conversion was installed (the holding tanks were empty). He also has what some might call a minimalist interior. So, you can't go by what someone else's bus weighs or what tire someone else is using. . . . It may be good reference info to help you get started, but you need to get tires that match your bus & your needs. Happy trails & safe travels. | ||
| Rob Allen (Rob_allen)
Registered Member Username: Rob_allen Post Number: 14 Registered: 6-2009 Posted From: 194.69.148.1  Rating: N/A |
Ken, I've got a 66' 5a in Vermont right now using 11r22.5 steers, and 12r22.5 pushers. We did that based on neccessity. When we had to move the bus from the previous owner the tow company wouldn't touch it without new tires on the rear, we got a good deal on a used set of12r's and threw them on, they had been 11r22.5 before that. The steers were the same deal, we got them used from a logger, and 11r's were all we could find. We've got at least 4000 miles on it that way with no problems. I'd be hessitant about 12r's on the front because of clearance when fully steered left or right but I may be totally wrong, and I am fairly certain that from the factory the 5a was spec'd to 11r's because I remember having a conversation with our tire company about the differences before we put the 12r's on. So maybe there is a little higher cruising speed and less hill climbing ability, I don't think I'd notice it if I was driving, we avoid going over mountain peaks either way. | ||
| Ken Smith/Theresa Herring (Bikerider103152)
Registered Member Username: Bikerider103152 Post Number: 6 Registered: 7-2009 Posted From: 216.120.157.74 Rating: N/A |
Thanks to all for your feedback. I am going to scale and check the plates on the bus and then make a final decission. Hope all of you have a safe and happy wekend. Keep on Busin | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman)
Registered Member Username: Shadowman Post Number: 166 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 70.192.196.181 Rating: N/A |
Only thing my plate shows is the serial # and the unit #, the year and the model. | ||
| Rob Norgren (Robsedona)
Registered Member Username: Robsedona Post Number: 115 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 75.209.128.236  Rating: N/A |
All my 5A plate shows is the make Model year unit# Serial# Mine had 295/75R22.5 when I got Her I have ran into one 5A that was Running 12R22.5 and he would scrape the tires on 90 turns ether way and ruined the rubber around the wheel well. He got a great deal on them. If you run long and hard and are heavy you have to have a Tire that is great for long haulers if you just putter along and stop to smell the roses along the way short hauler/city duty tires will do just great! Big difference in dollars or loonies spent! Now for Me my days of having to be their now is over and I can take as long as I want to get anywhere. I don't just Sit and drive all day long and then the other driver take over and drive all night long. When I had My Pete I spent the extra money and put those Tires to use but now the money would go to waste and rot out with most of their tread left on them just make sure it has the lb test that you need to be safe! But then if you have the money to burn why not! Don't alway listen to the Tire Guy he sometimes get a commission on sales and will sell you what makes him the most not what is in your best interest! (Message edited by Robsedona on September 26, 2009) | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 128 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
You can run 11R-22.5's that are much easier to find then the 12R-22.5. The bottom line answer is easy-go weigh your bus by axle with it completely full and everyone inside, or weighted down such to see if you can use the 11R's. My guess is that you can. You can use 16ply 11R's that get within a few hundred pounds capacity of the 12's. I took the 12R's off and changed to 11R-24.5 that are just a bit bigger in diameter since I have a transit and wanted maximum ground clearance. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| Cullen Newsom (Cullennewsom)
Registered Member Username: Cullennewsom Post Number: 144 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 98.200.242.221  Rating: N/A |
I have a pretty heavy bus, but well within the load rating of 11R-22.5 tires. I even put those "cheap" Chinese tires on it. After living in China for half a year, and never seeing a bus explode (for any reason, let alone the tires). I figured it couldn't hurt to try. | ||
| Glen Rice (Rgrauto)
Registered Member Username: Rgrauto Post Number: 8 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 98.18.96.139 Rating: N/A |
Hello Ken, I also own a MCI 5a a 1967. When I bought the bus it had 11-22.5 tires on it and I've replaced the rear tires this summer and I went back with an inexpensive tire, a Roadmaster built in China for Cooper Tire. I think they're a good tire for the money and they will weather-crack before I ever wear them out. I think I read somewhere that our bus came with 900x20 tires? Just my way of thinking,Glen Rice |