| Author |
Message |
Johnny (63.29.158.88)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 10:34 am: | |
I currently have 10R22.5 tires on my Ford B-700 schoolie (radials all around, Bandag-recapped in back, first-run Goodyears in front). However, I noticed that one of my steer tires had some rather scary-looking cracks in it. I looked closely, and BOTH tires are total junk. (Insert curse words here--I did.) Now, 10R22.5's are almost as much of an oddball as the 12R22.5's that many coaches specify--the only things I've seen use them are school buses & a few older MDT's. However, 11R22.5's are dirt-common, and good used tires are nearly free. Will they fit my rims (stock steel 10-lug 22.5"), and will they clear in back (ie, will there be enough space between duals)? Or will I need new wheels?
I don't expect any, but will I have any trouble running 11R22.5's in front & 10R22.5's in back?
One more thing: what's the metric equivilant of an 11R22.5? Is it 295/75R22.5? I know a 10R22.5 is about the same as a 265/75R22.5.
Am I correct to think the 11's will ba about an inch wider & about 2" taller than the 10's? |
John Feld (Deacon) (150.199.209.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 11:53 am: | |
Rubber, like plastic, begins to self distruct from the time it is made. How fast depends upon your weather conditions, those it hot dry climents will dry out quicker than those in humid cooler weather. One thing that helps slow this down is to place wheel covers on the side that receives direct sunlight. You certainly do not want dry cracked tires on the stear axle.
Running 11R fronts and 10R rears will not be a problem. Only thing is, check the wheel stops to see that you do not contact the frame when at max turn. If running on the rear, changing the wheel will not change the clearance between tires unless you have Budd wheels, they make deep dish and shallow dish rims. If Dayton wheels, changing the wheel spacer is the way to go, and much cheaper.
As with most all conversions, the tires will age-out before the tread wears out. If you only do a few thousand miles per year I would look for used tires, truck salvage yards are a good source for them. Tire shops also have some good deals, many people "trade-in" tires. I recently purchased 8 two year old used tires with 50 to 80 % tread (12R22.5 Michlin) for 127.50 on ebay !
One thing for certain, watch out for urban bus tires, they are not rated for highway speeds.
John Feld
4104 |
Johnny (63.29.158.8)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 4:16 pm: | |
I don't HAVE a rear spacer: my bus uses conventional 10-lug wheels (think: 2X scale dually pickup), not the lug-dog-spider many larger trucks/buses have.
I have ample clearance in front--a good 2-3" minimum--first thing I checked.
These tires were PERFECT less than a year ago! ARRRGH!
One tip I learned to keep rubber from cracking: brake fluid. Seriously. My uncle learned this trick for a couple of large front-loaders (with seriously-expensive tires!), and it works! The 5-year-old Tow Master tires on my car trailer look like new (give or take a few scuffs). |
Mike Stabler (Docdezl) (64.255.109.183)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 10:35 pm: | |
FYI The style wheels you posses are called "BUD" rims. The cast spider wheel with bolt and clamp to retain rim are called "DAYTON".
Information from a Goodyear or Michlin enginere,don't remember who to blame or credit. The cracking or crazing on your tires is from ozone. Driving and rolling the tires moves the juices in the tire, no cracking. Covering tires concentrates the ozone makes the problem worse. They wouldn't recomend a tire spray/treatment. I like shinney.
Wierd part is even on badly cracked old trailer tires, sprayed with soap don't seem to bleed air. Can't say they blow out more or less than any other tire.
smoke,rattle&,stink...docdezl |
John the busboy (12.82.136.42)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 11:05 pm: | |
HI,
We have 11R22.5 tires on our '84 BB/GMC School Bus. It started out with 9R20's. It is a close fit for the front tires. I had to grind down a couple of protruding mudflap bolts. But they work nice.
It was the Goodyear guy who recomended the 11R22.5's. I told him if they fit I would buy them. The better part is that they were on close out and came with a good discount. The best part is the bus goes faster and handles better. And they gave me $300 for the old tires and rims.
John the busboy |
Johnny (67.242.221.250)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 9:02 pm: | |
Well, if they fit where 9-20's were, I don't think I'll have any problems. Even my 10R22.5's had plenty of room, so an inch shouldn't make much difference. I'll tyest-fit, of course, but I don't forsee much trouble. Thanks, all. |
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