| Author | Message | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 89 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.60 Rating: N/A |
What brand of tires are you guys using on your coaches and can you recomend a vendor in the Atlanta area? Right now my coach has yokohama's in the rear and goodyear G159's up front. I have been reading there have been a lot of blowout issues with the goodyear and if that is the case would like to use something else. Anybody else heard about these issues with the goodyear or is it all ambulance chasing lawyer histeria? | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 153 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.56.81 Rating: N/A |
Tim, I use 22.5 12rs Toyos on my Eagle and like the way it rides and drives but you will get all kinds of answers on tires just get you a top rated name brand tire not a China made tire and you will be happy.I used Yokohamas one time they wore good but the side walls cracked in 3 years (Message edited by luvrbus on November 19, 2007) | ||
| Mike Eades (Mike4905)
Registered Member Username: Mike4905 Post Number: 157 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 68.200.183.92 Rating: N/A |
I run Kelly Spfld on my 4905. I am bery happy with them. Mike4905 | ||
| Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Registered Member Username: Kristinsgrandpa Post Number: 347 Registered: 2-2003 Posted From: 64.24.212.179 Rating: N/A |
I've never dealt with this guy but have talked to a salesman about tires. http://www.tireauditor.com/ He advertises free shipping if you buy 8 or more, and that is also what the salesman said. The prices he advertises are fed. excise tax included, in other words the price he advertises is the "delivered to your door price". A local shop wanted $445 ea. plus taxes, mounting and balancing for some Michelins I wanted. He wanted $339 ea., delvd. for the same tires. Ed | ||
| James Smith (Tomcat)
Registered Member Username: Tomcat Post Number: 65 Registered: 8-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.13 Rating: N/A |
Tim, If you decide as I did that Goodyears are an acceptable option, give these guys a call. http://www.wingfootct.com/ Be sure to use your 'business' name when calling for a price. I bought tires in the summer of 2004, and got 6 Goodyear 670RV, 295/80/22.5 that turn 499 revs per mile., for $212 per. Jay 87 SaftLiner | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 91 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.60 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Jay. I don't have anything at all against goodyears just the particular model that is installed may be an issue. It was designed for urban delivery trucks and theyn goodyear said it could be used on RV's. It appears they may not be good enough at disipating heat on the highway and blowouts are a result | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1331 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.166.160 Rating: N/A |
Tim - Is your Flx running 22.5 or 24.5 rims? If you have 24.5 rims, there's a Bridgestone 11R24.5 drive tire rated at 75 mph that turns 470 revs/mile, the tallest tire I've found. This can help your fuel mileage somewhat, especially compared to a 22.5 low profile that turns 500+ revs/mile. 315/80R22.5 is the replacement size for the long-common 12R22.5 bus tire, so if you've got 22.5 rims, you might consider those. (The trucking industry is slowly converting to metric sizing, which the auto folk did several years ago.) One of the other factors to look at is the speed rating. The 315s mentioned above are available as both transit and highway coach models, with the transit's rated at 55 mph and the coach at 75. Difference is in the heavier sidewalls of the transit tire, as transit drivers tend to use curbs as part of the braking system. This heavier sidewall creates more heat on the highway, so they're restricted because of that, among other reasons. So shop carefully! Buying bus tires is a little different than buying them for your car, eh? FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.60 Rating: N/A |
Hi RJ she's got 22.5" rims. By the way it was recomended to me by the previous owner to use 6 steering tires rather than drive in the rear because of weight. Does everybody else agree with that? (Message edited by timb on November 21, 2007) | ||
| Cameron Jones (Crazy71)
Registered Member Username: Crazy71 Post Number: 69 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 72.49.253.33 Rating: N/A |
Beacause of it being heavy??? Most all of our conversions will never be close to the weight they were originally with 40+ seats, people, and luggage. I know mine is lighter with passengers now than it was originally with just the seats in it. (Message edited by crazy71 on November 22, 2007) | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member Username: Pvcces Post Number: 1149 Registered: 5-2001 Posted From: 65.74.67.83 Rating: N/A |
Tim, if it's a six wheeler, your coach should have the weight split into thirds; one third on the fronts and 2/3 on the rears. This would make them fairly evenly loaded. Traction tires make the most sense on tractors, because the drive tires have such a small percentage of their combination's total weight. Since a coach will have over half of it's total weight on the drivers, they usually have plenty of drive traction. For what it's worth. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher Ketchikan, Alaska | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 155 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.39.184 Rating: N/A |
Tim when you say 6 steering tires are you talking about a no lug tire | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 93 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 74.244.14.221 Rating: N/A |
Luvrbus, The previous owner seemed more concerned about weight than traction. He told me that steering tires are rated to handle more of a load since they are single rather than dual. Right now all siz are no lug. The fronts are brand new but I question the choice as it is designed for around town use with a heavier sidewall and less of a speed rating for highway use. The rears have plenty of tread but I can see what appears to be small surface cracks in the sidewall I assume this is an issue that needs to be addressed. Again thanks for everyones help and patience with all my questions Tim | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 156 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.39.184 Rating: N/A |
Tim, i think i would question that my self i run Toyos M 111 non directional on drivers,bogie axle and steering each tire as a rating for single or dual and like Tom said 2/3 of the weight is on the drivers. i don't see his point unless i am missing something | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1332 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.166.160 Rating: N/A |
Tim - Take some time to surf around on the various major tire manufacturer's websites at their truck tires, especially the specifications pages. You'll either learn a lot, or get totally corn-fuzzled!! Basically, there are three tread pattern types: Steer, Drive and All-Position. Obviously, they're placed on the vehicle based on the intended use. The vast majority of bus owners, be they revenue service vehicles or conversions, run all-position tires all around. Falls under the "KISS Principle" formula. Another thing: Conversion folk often wear out their tires from sitting, not running. It's generally considered that seven years is the "safe" life of a tire, beyond that age, they can be suspect. Especially if they've been sitting a lot. Running down the road maximizes the tire's life. So if you're going to put on new tires, run 'em!! Luvrbus - If I read Tom's comment correctly, I think he's talking about equalizing the weight (load) on the tires so that their running temperatures on the highway are fairly equal. I think we're all aware of what can happen if a particular tire gets too hot, either from overloading or under inflation. Which brings up another point: Inflation pressures. All the tire manufacturers publish the recommended inflation pressure for their various tires based on the weight (load) being carried by that tire. Just pumping tires up to the maximum inflation pressure indicated on the sidewall may work for the trucker hauling 80,000 lbs, but that will often be way too much for a coach conversion. Ideally, those of us in this hobby should run our vehicles over a commercial scale in "ready-to-roll" condition, and obtain a weight slip showing how much is on each axle. Divide that weight by the number of tires on the axle, and that will give you an average weight per tire. Using that figure, add in a "fudge factor" for additional "stuff", say 250 or 300 lbs, then go to the inflation tables to see what the recommended pressure should be. Some adjustment might be needed, but generally, it's hard to second-guess the factory. FWIW & HTH. . . |