| Author | Message | ||
| captain ron
Rating: N/A |
I have 1200 24.5 tires for steer tires my drive tires are 1100 20 which are way over due for replacement. the steers are like new. what would you replace the rears with? and where do I find them? any ideas? need new rims if I go to the same size as the fronts. I currently get 8.33 mpg at a max speed of 70 mph. will either of those suffer? | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
truck salvage...go to 24.5....should be abel to get a tire & wheel for 50.00 to 75.00...more for GOOD tires...be willing to spend 200.00 ea for a good wheel & tire....mileage 'might' be a little better...they are about the same outside dia..... | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
The tubeless equivalent of 1100 - 20 is 12 - 22.5. If you use 12 - 24.5 make sure you have clearance for the larger wheel and enough power for the higher speed. New steel wheels are very cheap and I never advise the use of someone else's cast off tires. | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
don't listen to that guy | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary)
Rating: N/A |
I thought 24.5 were "Low Profile", and the same OD as 22.5, but that's not the case: XZA3 Specs 24.5 tires, at least in the case of these Michelins, are 2" larger diameter which will increase top speed and redice pulling power. For Myself, I insist on tires of a known history for the steers, for the drivers, I just want to know that they're not aged out. Gary | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
have seen 20" & 24.5 on the same hub...put a 22.5 on there and it will lack a couple of inches touching the ground...HE IS TALKING about his drive tires..already has new steer tires.. | ||
| Johnny Rating: N/A |
11.00-20, 11R24.5 and 12R22.5 should be the same height. If you can't find take-offs, I suggest Bandag. | ||
| captain ron
Rating: N/A |
I don't realy want to use caps if I can help it | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
Everyone's opinion is invited on this board but specs such as quoted by Gary are much more useful. If a tire manufacturer says his 24.5 tire is two inches larger in diameter than a 22.5, then it probably is. You can mix and match tires all you want but it is best if all tires on an axle are the same size and especially on a dual so that one tire is not carrying all the weight. Even new tires from different manufacturers vary quite a bit in circumference. | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary)
Rating: N/A |
I looked it up because I thought they were the same OD between the two sizes. Brand new tires and wheels weighed heavily into the purchase decision of my shell. Gary | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A |
If you are ready for the road, you will be better off with new tires and trading in every five years. I just did that and saved a bundle in Canada. Michelins give better trade in than Hankooks (Korean) and cost more. You will only pay the the price without trade in the first time then, if you trade at five years, you will never pay that much again. They might give you a trade on your front tires now also so you could have all the same tires, all the way round. If you already have 24.5 tires on the front, I would put them all the way around. If 12R24.5s are too big for the back back, you could go with all 11R24.5s by trading in the fronts. I was told it is easier to trade in 11R24.5 tires than 12R22.5s. I don't know if 12R24.5s would be easier or harder to trade in. I use all the same tires on all wheels, all steer type tread. Truckers have to put non recapped tires on the front so that should increase trade in value too. If you find recent tires on a wreck, go for it, but if they are semitrailer tires they will give a harder ride. So I was told last month. If your local dealer will not trade in or the prices are to high (which they will be), go to Canada for your tires. Prices at Niagra Battery and Tire 10 days ago for Michelin XZA2 12R22.5s was $550 ea canadian, Hankooks $400 ea. US$ equals 1.3 Canadian dollar. Call them for pricing enven if you go to a different location in Canada. They a re a good benchmark. Ask for George. They can probably find you rims too. | ||
| Arthur J Griffith
Rating: N/A |
While we are on the subject of tires, has anyone bought any of the 11R24.5 tires that Sams is selling for $255.00. It's very tempting. Anyone know anything about these tires. THANKS Arthur | ||
| mel 4104 Rating: N/A |
for the last 25 years my 4104 has had 11-22.5 with caps on the rear and Bridgestone on the steer axel{ not caps} but i changed to 12-22.5 as i had a bunch from some buses that i bought and now i have Bridgestone all the way around. also all the years that i have had Bridge stone i only had one trouble and the dealer said to bad but the rep. said that they would replace it and i would stay away from cheap tires on the front as your life depends on the giving no trouble. | ||
| LHD Rating: N/A |
Rim size has nothing to do with tire diameter LHD | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
For sure LHD, I still have trouble making people believe that my 24.5 hi tred tires were in fact SMALLER than the 20 inch tires it came with! | ||
| blueegrass Rating: N/A |
LHD I believe you should think about this for just a minute and maybe you will see the message that you put out, for Instance I would like to see you put a (24.5 on a 22.5 wheel) you will see that wheel size does In fact make a difference. Tony | ||
| John Rigbyj
Rating: N/A |
Mis matched tyres across the drive axle can cause serious rear end problems. As it puts excessive wear on the rear end gears. All tyre manufacures do not nessessarly turn out the exact same hieght tyres.Diffrent types of 22.s or 24,s you put them side by side and some differ in size. Make it easy on your rear end. John | ||
| DonFromTX
Rating: N/A |
24.5 tires come in "hi tred" and "lo profile". Quite a difference. ALL manufacturers put out their "rev per mile", that is what you want to match (or change). | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
Manufacturer's "rev per mile" is not much help when you are buying your tires at the bone yard. | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
somehow...I'm begining to hate stan... | ||
| Larry Bennet (Eurof3)
Rating: N/A |
There is no doubt tires are expensive. What I was told is. I would be fighting weather cracking (from age)not milage wear. I am in the cold north. I have a collection of cars and I can tell U my tires rot befor I wear them out. I am sure my bus tires will do the same. The only cars that wear out tires are everyday drivers, and race cars. Unless your one of the lucky ones who can drive their bus everyday all over the usa. Your tires will rot first. So I was told to put matching NEW tires on. The ones that cost the least. Because I would never drive them enough miles to wear them out befor they rotted. I am not sure who came out to my buddies house mounted and balanced new tires right on site. But I will make a call and ask him. He highly recommendes this. I think he got his new radials for $350 each plus the service call. Belle tire wanted $450 ea + $50 to balance each, ouch. But tires in my opinion are VERY important. No one wants to be setting beside a road or for that matter looking for a place to pull over to get a tire problem fixed. If a steer tire goes U won`t be looking for a place to stop, but praying for a safe stop. Spend the bucks, match them up and save a headake of breaking down due to tires. Your coach will like the proper even load on the tires and will prevent troubles or delays while touring. I looked at the salvage yards for tires and wheels. I learned that aluminum wheels wear out. There is a guage that can measure wheel wear from tire roll. Beware of used wheels and tires. Its just not worth it. No matter what ANYONE SAYS ABOUT USED TIRES> ITS JUST NOT WORTH THE TROUBLES PERIOD ! Not if your going to drive it. After having tire troubles, I can tell you its no fun and very expensive to have to buy them or get road service broken down beside the road. Pay now and play safe an be worry free. My opinion: buy new same size tires. We run 315 X 80 X 22.5 pr16 on all 8 wheels of our MCI Larry | ||
| Lin
Rating: N/A |
Has anyone used regrooved tires? Are they okay if they are not cracked? | ||
| Derek (Derek_l)
Rating: N/A |
AFAIK, regrooved = retread... ...and bus companies everywhere are running retreads, with no problems.. | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
I ran retreads on mine, never a problem, Bandags only. If you look back in the archives you will find a link to a University study that determined that tires are actually stronger after 5 years than they were brand new! DOT says there is no need for age limits on commercial bus tires, the FAA says you can run tires as old as you want to on any aircraft, some dealers that need to finance a new car will tell you that every 5 years you should get new ones. Lets see now, at the average of 8 tires on a bus at $400 each is $3200 every five years even if you don't drive it. I guess I can see why they would tell you that. | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
The ones that do it tell me that the "regrooves" are just that. New threads are cut into the surface where the old threads once existed. The tires that say "regroovable" are designed to be regrooved. Recaps, on the other hand, are worn tires that are shaved down further and made round. Then a new covering of rubber based material is molded to the entire scrubbed surface, giving the tire a new surface to ride upon. There is a difference between a "regroove" and a "recap". I would prefer to buy "take-offs" for all wheels, rather than either recaps or regrooves. And "blemished" tires are to be had from all dealers at a tremendous savings. Put "blems" on the front, "take-offs" on the rear and you're set to go. Using the bus once every two weeks for a 60 mile trip (arbitrary amount), will greatly reduce any chance of tire rot. Tires are made to release a chemical compound through the flexing of the tire during normal usage. When it doesn't roll, it rots. "Use it or lose it" applies for tires as well as everything else. There. That's MY two cents. | ||
| don (Bottomacher)
Rating: N/A |
Regrooving is NOT retreading. It allows you to use a carcass a little longer when you won't be retreading it, for whatever reason. It is a process of turning the tire on a lathe and carving four or five new grooves, in a straight line, about 1/8" deep for a little longer use. | ||
| Tony H. (Bluegrass)
Rating: N/A |
When I bought my MCI-7 from the New York Yankees about 18 Yrs ago It had Firestones on the Front and retreads ( Baghdad's ) on the rear which I changed as soon as I got the Bus to Ohio because I don't like retreads on anything, I guess that Is why we build these Buses so we can do them the way we want to. Tony | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
yeah...we need the music on BNO to change to "MY WAY" | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary)
Rating: N/A |
HAH! Baghdad Retreads!! HAH! ROFL (Sorry Tony) I wouldn't run them either, you never know when they'll blow up! Gary | ||
| Robert Wood (Bobwoodsocal)
Rating: N/A |
HEHEHEHEHE! blow up, funny! I think it is Bandag. That is funny. Bob | ||
| Lin Rating: N/A |
I used to by blemished tires when I owned a taxi. Then one time, they turned out to be out-of-round. That's made me a bit shy of them. | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
Something to ponder: MYTH: Retreads aren't safe. FACT: Poor-quality, World War II-vintage retreads gave rise to this oldwives' tale. Today's retreads are a different story. If you don't believe it, don't fly. Nearly every major airline uses retreads. Even sophisticated F-14 jet fighters use retreads. And you can imagine the stress aircraft tires undergo during high speed take-offs and landings. Premier Bandag retreads are even trusted to carry the most precious cargo imaginable: children. School bus fleets all over North America have logged millions of safe, trouble-free miles on BandagŪ retreads. | ||
| R.C.Bishop
Rating: N/A |
Plus, Don, they (Bandag) have a warranty that is as good as the best new tire....according to a dealer I talked with. Didn't buy them, but probably will as needed.  Thanx, RCB '64 Crown HWC | ||
| Tony H. (Bluegrass)
Rating: N/A |
Don The school buses was alowed to run recaps on the rear only, Never on the steer axel. Tony | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
Yeah, NOTHING is allowed to run them on the steer axle. (except for 747 jumbo jets maybe) | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
Wrong, kinda, GSA vehicles are exempt from the retred on front prohibition. Congress doing us a favor, so to speak. | ||
| BrianMCI Rating: N/A |
Y'know, we had a huge discussion about retreads a while back... One thing that stuck in my mind was the statistic that someone brought up. Something like 75% of tire "alligators" on the highway are virgin tires. Since I work for the Highway Dept. I have tried to keep an eye on the "alligators" our operators have picked up and while I haven't done a scientific study, and there has been a lot that I haven't looked at, none of the gators I've seen was a retread! Brian | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
Good work Brian, that was I who made the challenge. I have found one in the last year that was a bandag (drove 12,000 miles this summer). It was also obvious that someone had run the darned thing flat for quite a ways first also. | ||
| Johnny Rating: N/A |
I run 4 caps on my F-350, my wife did the same with her Cherokee & does so with her K-5 Blazer. All are from Hi-Tec Retreading. I trust them & Bandag--AND NOBODY ELSE--completely. | ||
| Lin Rating: N/A |
What is the comparative price between retreads and new? | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
Way back when I had to buy lots of them, generally about $100 for a retread, $300 for a new tire. There was an added bonus for the Kenworth, the retreads lasted about twice as long on the drivers, harder rubber or something. |