| Author | Message | ||
| Bill K Rating: N/A |
Called the tire man today, I put all new tires on the MC8 around 7 to 8 years ago and have put less then 500 miles on them and the bus has always been stored inside out of the sun. Thinking about trading while I may be able to get something for the old tires. They look like new. 12R 22.5 on Mich. on the front and 11R 24.5 on the rear. Dunlap. Iam not sure when I will get a chance to use the bus but I would like to be ready. I suppose the tire on the bus in a coupl of more years will not be worth anything. The same goes for all the batteries. I may change my mind when the tire man gives me the figures. What do you all think if this was your situation. | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Funny thing is.... that tire dealer will sell your "take-offs" to a trucking guy, who'll use 'em until they're bald, then trade 'em in... And that dealer will have 'em recapped and out they'll go again..... on and on. | ||
| Bryce Gaston (Busted_knuckle)
Rating: N/A |
My opinion and it's just that (my opinion) is if you can get anything at all out of them, say goodbye and replace them! Of course I know it's a little different story with you guys and yer "motorhome" buses, but on our Charter Buses if it's 3 years old I don't care how good of tread it has, it gets replaced of course we are just tring to play it safe and keep from having a blow out which can cause many headaches and more when dealing with the public (1st and always the main concern is safety) then down time and all that jazz! I know there are many other reasons why a tire could blow but I also keep watch on air pressure, sidewall scuffs, odd tread wear, seperating, and any signs of abnormalty and if I find anything it's a "new spare" and a brand new tire replaces it! Buts that's just my 2 cents worth and I know I owe ya a nickle in change for it! LOL Bryce aka Busted Knuckle | ||
| morgan Clough (Mclough777)
Rating: N/A |
where ya from bill, i need 4 tires for my rear. | ||
| Sojourner (Jjimage)
Rating: N/A |
Truckers use them for rear dually & trailer. Your tire is probably better condition than recappers. FWIW Sojourn for Christ, Jerry | ||
| Robert J. Wies (Ncbob)
Rating: N/A |
Excuse me for jumping in here but the new tire subject prompted me to ask: Is anyone using or considering using dry nitrogen in their bus tires? I've read a lot about the, supposed, 25% extra wear predictions but if the average guy doesn't drive that heavily, like Bill K, other than the effect moist air would have on Alcoa's...what's the upside? Would appreciate your input. NCBob | ||
| Dan West (Utahclaimjumper)
Rating: N/A |
I've been an aviation mechanic for 27 years, we use nitrogen for tires, struts, and other systems all the time. I have never seen DRY nitrogen, all nitrogen is dry thats the reason for using it..Dan | ||
| Bryce Gaston (Busted_knuckle)
Rating: N/A |
No excuse needed NCBob thats what this board is about questions and sometimes answers LOL , just kidding ya you'll get answers! Alot of 'm and well you'll have to sift thru and decide which or what is right for you as you've probably already figured out! I have no knowledge on the nitrogen in the tires we talked about it a while back and decided it was "not cost effective or practical at the time" but I get mailings now days on a regular basis for the in shop systems and it might be worth looking into again! Oh and by the way I really couldn't tell ya which is the best bus to convert, since I'm not a converter! LOL!!! | ||
| john david lebrun (Davidlebrun)
Rating: N/A |
My understanding, was that nitrogen is used on aircraft, struts and tires due to ice forming from the water vapor, at high alt. | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A |
Ambient air at sea level contains almost 90% nitrogen already - FWIW - Niles | ||
| Henry Bergman
Rating: N/A |
I think the reason aviation uses nitrogen as the gas of choice for tires and things on airplanes is that airplanes see a lot of temperature changes as a routine. Like 110 F on the ground and over 40 F below at altitude. Even a little bit of moisture can cause ice problems like in the fuel tanks and stuff, along in the tires. Sossss....after lots of experience (and crashes) they figured nitrogen is the best stuff to use. Water ice expands slightly, which is why there is life on earth as we know it. It can also cause major problems in fuel lines, etc... Plus, nitrogen can be made very dry, which is another reason they use it. It is also does not "burn" or support fire, which in an enclosed airplane is very important. Sadly, lots of people died the hard way figuring this out. Finally, air contains about 80% nitrogen and about 20% or soosss oxygen. Still can not remember my password. Hate getting old!!!  | ||
| Robert J. Wies (Ncbob)
Rating: N/A |
I believe Niles is right but..... let's go back to the tire installer. All he cares about is getting those big black things installed and getting us off the driveway. One of the things we don't know is how much moisture he's pumping into the tires along with the air. I've seen about all the rust on the wheels of my vehicles I want to see...let alone corrosion on my new Alcoa's. From what I read the moisture in the air will cause the aluminum wheels to corode (inside the bead) and simply checking the tire for pressure could allow the powdered aluminum to get caught in the Schrader valve ...allowing for a potential leak...and how many of us check our tires weekly with a guage? Sure, I might be nitpicking here but if someone doesn't pick that nit...who will? And...consider what happens to the moisture in the tire when we go from 'cold' to highway temperatures. Moisture condenses on cooldown and doesn't necessarily settle to the lowest point in the tire. My sense is that it'll settle (like the 1500 lb gorilla) 'wherever it wants to..then starts corrosion. Off topic. Met with Capt Ron today at his Dads' in Sylva NC. What great guys..both Ron and Ron Sr! Multi-talented both.. and we had a GREAT time. If he's any indication of the average BusNut I know for sure I'm gonna like the temperature of the water! | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A |
Ooops - Niles was wrong (well not actually wrong - hit the '9' instead of the '8') - its "almost 80% nitrogen" - sorry | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Rating: N/A |
Actually the air is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% other gases (such as argon, xenon, etc.). Nitrogen has larger molecules and is more stable with temperature changes. At least this is what I have been told. Jack | ||
| Bryce Gaston (Busted_knuckle)
Rating: N/A |
NCBob yer goona fit n just fine! I can tell already! Now about what bus is best for conversion and what to avoid? I been do'n alot of think'n 'bout that all day as I been in a pit under a bus most of the day! (and yes I got knots and grease on my forehead and 1 great big ol' knot in the back of it! to prove it! thats think'n that is, I should a been pay'n atten.). Anyway more I think of it an H5-60 would be way cool! Just think of the posabilitys during construction! Ya know his an her 1/2's right? Ok now suppose'n somethin goes wrong and yer wife tells ya she wants a divorce(an ya know the ol saying she gets 1/2 of everything right!) well ya just disconnect the back 1/2 and drive away (theres yer 1/2 baby! C-YA!)Ok well say thats not a concern how about a cool conversion in the front 1/2 and like somethin ain't nobody done yet like an indoor swimmin pool in the back 1/2? Hey ok, well I mean the possabilitys are endless here! Oh well I thunk the fumes in tha pit might'v been stronger did I thot tha is! Later Bryce aka Busted Knuckle | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
Nitrogen is a benefit to tires because it's inert. The liquification point is so far below that of H20 that it's dry cuz the water freezes out long before N2 condenses from gas to a liquid (which is how they separate it from "normal air". Finally the n-n bond has less stretch and degrees of freedom that it doesnt' absorb heat as readily, thus the tire pressures remain more constant. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Rating: N/A |
Temperature has nothing to do with Nitrogen use. All tires are subjected to cold temps in cold weather and cold climates and, except in really extreme low temps, there are no problems. When did you recently read about a tire freezing on a vehicle or airplane? N is used on airplanes because it doesn't expand and contract as much as air and small planes use natural rubber tubes through which N doesn't leak as quickly. It is somewhat drier and will help prevent corrosion in struts. I have owned three airplanes over the past 30 yrs and never used N in any of them either in tires or struts. The current N hype is marketing pure and simple and helps the seller's bottom line. A real danger in messing with N is very high pressures in the storage bottles. This is one reason I never used it. Numerous struts and tires have been blown completely off light aircraft by high pressure. | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
Gusc, I beg to differ, many tires suffer from too much pressure growth from energy absorbtion. But I will agree that Busses are at the bottom of the "it's critical" scale. Indirectly, Nitrogen use is related to the effects of temperature. The only time you have failures is through the abuse of the use of nitrogen. A properly regulated and operated unit, barring a mechanical failure (not all that common) shouldn't be a problem. It can be a BIG problem, due to all the stored energy if not treated with respect and caution. Onward and Upward | ||
| Prather
Rating: N/A |
I guess the next question is if you use nitrogen how much pressure do you use? Since nitrogen doesn't expand the same as wet air. I expect the tire makers take in to account the expansion rate of air when they give the pressure recommendations. Prather | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
I understood pressure recommendations were based on applied load at operating temperature, the condition at which the tires spend most of their service life. | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A |
I know several car collectors that use Nitrogen. Mostly for the convenience, I believe. A small bottle of nitrogen will top off hundreds of tires. Most of them come directly off the bottle but I think the preferred way would be to use a regulator before the hose. Richard | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
Tires are an operating expense, just like fuel. Everyone uses his own judgement on when to replace the tires that still hold air. Tires start their life expectancy when they are made. The amount of use and abuse and their age all factor into their safe operating life. Trucks that haul produce from Arizona to northern Canada run on roads that vary from +100F to -40F. They may be running maximum weight or empty trailer and they don't adjust tire pressure every day. Maybe the tires would last longer with better care, but that is the way the manufacturer expected them to be used. Almost nobody will wear out the original tread on a bus conversion new tire, you have to use other factors in determining when to replace them. Only after you put all new tires on your bus do you know how they have been treated and that lets you make a value judgement on their replacement. |