| Author | Message | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 177 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 96.11.208.221  Rating: N/A |
Hello. I have a 1962 PD4106 with spare wheel/tire that has been in there since I bought it in 2004 and probably long before. I have 11x22.5 on now and am sure that the spare, even if any good, would not match anyhow since is probably 10" Before I dig it out, I suspect a bigger tire and wheel to match what I have will probably not fit anyway. My question is who runs WITH a spare and who runs WITHOUT a spare and the risks of WITHOUT, like me. Thank you for your input | ||
| Ed Hackenbruch (Ed_hackenbruch)
Registered Member Username: Ed_hackenbruch Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 166.250.2.180 Rating: N/A |
Well, i used to run without a spare, then i started hearing about a few guys that had to replace a tire out in the middle of nowhere and paid dearly for one. A neighbor in Yuma showed up with his bus and that had happened to him. Only tire available was a Goodyear and all of his other tires were another brand and he wanted all of his tires to match. He knew i ran Goodyears so he sold it to me for $100, it had about 900 miles on it. So now i had a spare tire that was unmounted. Two years later i replaced all of my steel wheels so i just bought one more and had the spare mounted. Now if i have a flat i can change it myself if i want, and not be stuck on the road waiting for road service for hours. There is a lot of open space here out west and you can be a long ways from anywhere. | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 858 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 72.211.145.15  Rating: N/A |
Ask Fooey about the 3 he blew on the road to TX... with no spare, he could have bought a 4th Bus with the dollars he dropped. One mounted spare & a decent jack cost less than emergency road service.... and you never have to drag Wilbur out of bed at 3AM. | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 178 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 96.11.208.221 Rating: N/A |
Thanks...that all makes good sense. I just need to check to see if the current spare tire compartment in my PD4106 is big enough to hold the bigger tire and wheel | ||
| JC Alacoque (Jc_alacoque)
Registered Member Username: Jc_alacoque Post Number: 112 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 207.34.166.7 Rating: N/A |
I had one mounted on a rim in the Courier 96 for 6 years,and all the tools, never used it. My new 5C doesn't have one. It is nice to use the space behind the bumper for the folding bicycle and the lawn chairs. I do have Coach Net that I can call if need be. I do have all the tools necessary to move a rear dual so serve as a spare to limp into town if I have to. The few flats I've had in all the years driving bus were mostly preventable: keep good tires, don't drive into curbs, and check for proper inflation often. JC JC | ||
| JC Alacoque (Jc_alacoque)
Registered Member Username: Jc_alacoque Post Number: 113 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 207.34.166.7 Rating: |
I had one mounted on a rim in the Courier 96 for 6 years,and all the tools, never used it. My new 5C doesn't have one. It is nice to use the space behind the bumper for the folding bicycle and the lawn chairs. I do have Coach Net that I can call if need be. I do have all the tools necessary to move a rear dual so serve as a spare to limp into town if I have to. The few flats I've had in all the years driving bus were mostly preventable: keep good tires, don't drive into curbs, and check for proper inflation often. JC JC | ||
| Edward J. Sommers (Sommersed)
Registered Member Username: Sommersed Post Number: 68 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 148.63.161.138 Rating: N/A |
I have more than enough equipment to do maintenance work that requires the removal of the tires/rims, and I do remove all of them at least once a year. However, on the road I do not prefer to do the work so I have road service plan and even had to use it once, including buying a new tire. I got a new tire for less than I paid at the tire place. I carry no spare, utilizing that space for my blue boy and related equipment. Ed | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1567 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 76.195.75.240  Rating: N/A |
I always run with a spare AND THE MEANS TO CHANGE THE TIRE. Even with "insurance" it is worthwhile. On a trip North this year we popped a tire and road service as a 3hour or more wait,. I was able to swop the tire in about 45 min with an X 10 wrench setup and a run up block. Hot heavy work , but easier than sitting 3 hours. FF | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 657 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.13.120  Rating: N/A |
We carry a spare and the means to change it. Buying a tire on the side of the road will cost you List Price plus a tip big enough to buy 1/2 of a 1" air wrench. A 12 x 22.5 should fit fine into the spare compartment as it's the same diameter as a 10 x 20. Drag that spare out & get one that will work for you. A very young take off from a semi will give you about 9 years of "insurance". | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1838 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.195.124.20  Rating: N/A |
Jim - A couple other considerations: Extra weight of wheel/tire in front helps with vehicle stability and tracking. In case of an accident (God forbid), the wheel/tire can provide a little bit of additional crush protection. Open up the compartment and measure it's width. If it's over 45", all three of the most popular tire sizes will fit (11R22.5, 12R22.5 or 11R24.5). FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Dal Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 659 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 67.141.74.177  Rating: N/A |
Jim, your original spare was most likely an 11.00X22 A 12R22.5 will easily fit. The PD4106 didn't come with 10" tires. Your statement that you have 11" is a bit misleading. Do you still have the split rims and inner tubes? By the way, if you want to boost your top end, at the cost of start out ability, you can actually go to a 11 or 12 R 24.5 tire and wheel. 22" original wheels were the forerunners of the 24.5" radial wheels used now. My PD4103 has original 11.00X22 on the back end and they are the same diameter as the newer radial 12R24.5's. My Michelin XZAII 12R22.5 steer tires are quite a bit smaller than the rear bias ply tires. (Message edited by Dallas on August 03, 2011) | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 1224 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.48.167 Rating: N/A |
I have never carried a spare tire and never need one I used the space for my AC units good luck | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 179 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 96.11.208.221 Rating: N/A |
WOW...really great consversation and opinions!!! I was interesed to know others positions on the matter. I probably am wrong about the original tires size. I replaced the ones that were on it immediately before moving it very far, and have forgotten what was on there...I just remember having to buy bigger wheels to accommodate the tires I had bought and then took somewhere else for mounting. Nonetheless. I appreciate all the great input...will pull out he old one and check more closely. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2124 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157  Rating: N/A |
I do know that 11:00x22 does NOT fit in the compartment of a 4104. Course, nobody uses that tube type size much any more. | ||
| Laryn Christley (Barn_owl)
Registered Member Username: Barn_owl Post Number: 714 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 153.2.246.32  Rating: N/A |
I don't need the space, and even if I did I don't like dropping the bumper. I do the spare the same way I do a gun. I would rather have it and not need it vs. need it and not have it........you get the idea. My father had a flat while parked overnight in my bus while he was driving it from the PO's house from CA to VA. The company I purchased RSA through was able to remount the tire so a spare was not needed. With that being said my father drove a 4106 from UT to VA in the '90s and had two flats and came home with two new tires. There is no right or wrong answer, just what you are comfortable with. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2125 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157 Rating: N/A |
Just make sure that you have about $600 cash or credit on plastic, and you won't need a spare. | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 180 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 96.11.208.221 Rating: N/A |
I really appreciate the comments from both sides of the aisle as well as those from the middle of the road | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 861 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 72.211.145.15 Rating: N/A |
You can always tell who is a GreeHorn around these parts, they still wanna hug everybody. Have you no passion man..? Where's the hatred? Hang around long enough with your "Mr. Nice Guy" image all over the place.... and I sideswipe you just for practice..! Beside that... My 4106 is cooler & tuffer than yours is... nah  nah . .  | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1569 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 76.194.83.202 Rating: N/A |
"from the middle of the road" From the middle of the road ,all you get is road kill. Dinner for some , but garbage to most. FF | ||
| Kevin Baxter (Bus_boy)
Registered Member Username: Bus_boy Post Number: 28 Registered: 10-2009 Posted From: 173.55.131.34  Rating: N/A |
11R 24.5 fits behind the bumper of our '60 GM PD 4104. Not sure if the 4106 spare tire area is sized the same, but seems it would be. Why not take your bus to a truck tire place and ask if you can try to fit a mounted 11r 22.5 tire into the spot? They may let you. Kevin | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 181 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 96.11.208.103 Rating: N/A |
BTW...I did get the spare out. In the absence of original tool, used 7/8 socket, extension, lots of nut buster stuff, and gentle encouragement from cheater bar. Tire was aired up and had date of 1990 with like-new tread and little dry rot. I have tire place look for a spare...and yes, I was wrong on size...is 11x20 not 10x20 like I original posted. Oh, yeah, one more thing...RJ...sorry for the lack hate and venom in my postings over the last seven years...guess my lack of bus knowledge has imposed a sense of humility by observing the wisdom displayed here by others...gag, gag |
