06-07-2018, 07:05 AM
Marino, Newell looks for tires with the highest load carrying and speed capabilities to put on their coaches. Tire manufacturers have continued to research and make available large higher capacity tires through the years. The tires available now are significantly more capable than the tires available in the 1990's and early 2000's.
Newell had great experience with Bridgestone and Goodyear 11R24.5 H load range front tires during the late 1980's and early to mid 1990's but when Newell started adding slides in 1997 (one in 1996), the axle weights increased and Newell changed to 315/80R22.5 tires on the front to add load carrying capacity. This was a bold move to have wheels and tires of different sizes on the front of the coach versus the drive and tag axle but it was necessary. Unfortunately, Newell owners began to experience tire failures on those front tires even though they had higher load capacities. Newell found that although the Bridgestone and Goodyear 11R24.5 had given great service only the Michelin 315/80R22.5 tire seemed to give good service in the 315/80R22.5 size tires. Newell had a recall and changed out all the non-Michelin 315 tires to Michelins tires solving most of the issues. As soon as higher load range tires became available, Newell began using them.
The 365/70R22.5 tires were not manufactured at the time Newell was using 315/80R22.5 tires.
After the conversion, there is no additional costs to running the 365/70R22.5 Michelin tires.
The ZF suspension is an excellent suspension that has served Newell well. The steering axle is the most obvious benefit but the suspension is capable of higher weight carrying capacities all around than the suspensions Newell used previously. In 1998 GVWR was 49,540 pounds. By 1999 it was 50,640 pounds. With the ZF suspension GVWR was raised to 56,000, then to 59,580 by 2006 and in the current Newells having a GWVWR of 63,300 pounds.
Newell had great experience with Bridgestone and Goodyear 11R24.5 H load range front tires during the late 1980's and early to mid 1990's but when Newell started adding slides in 1997 (one in 1996), the axle weights increased and Newell changed to 315/80R22.5 tires on the front to add load carrying capacity. This was a bold move to have wheels and tires of different sizes on the front of the coach versus the drive and tag axle but it was necessary. Unfortunately, Newell owners began to experience tire failures on those front tires even though they had higher load capacities. Newell found that although the Bridgestone and Goodyear 11R24.5 had given great service only the Michelin 315/80R22.5 tire seemed to give good service in the 315/80R22.5 size tires. Newell had a recall and changed out all the non-Michelin 315 tires to Michelins tires solving most of the issues. As soon as higher load range tires became available, Newell began using them.
The 365/70R22.5 tires were not manufactured at the time Newell was using 315/80R22.5 tires.
After the conversion, there is no additional costs to running the 365/70R22.5 Michelin tires.
The ZF suspension is an excellent suspension that has served Newell well. The steering axle is the most obvious benefit but the suspension is capable of higher weight carrying capacities all around than the suspensions Newell used previously. In 1998 GVWR was 49,540 pounds. By 1999 it was 50,640 pounds. With the ZF suspension GVWR was raised to 56,000, then to 59,580 by 2006 and in the current Newells having a GWVWR of 63,300 pounds.