Our coach has: Bridgestone R293 11R24.5 on the drive / tag wheels (dated 2004!)
I am in a mad search for good tires! Please help!
I called a few places around Davenport and found a GoodYear Truck place selling Dunlop and GoodYear.
- GOODYEAR - fuel max LHS $545 each H Rating
- DUNLOP SP348 - $356 All Position tire H Rating (Owned by GoodYear now)
Anyone used one of these?
What tire would you highly recommend?
I only run Michelin which can be purchased through the Michelin Advantage Program. Whatever you buy be sure they were manufactured in 2015.
Newell has told me that in 11R24.5 they have always had great luck with both Goodyear and Bridgestone tires. I have used 11R24.5 Bridgestones since I bought my Newell with excellent results. The 11R24.5's on mine now were purchased about 17 months ago. They replaced Bridgestone tires that were 7 years old.
Let's face it.....most of us will never drive the tread off our RV tires.......they will 'age out' still looking almost brand new. I just took off four drive tires a few months ago that still looked new, but they were over 6 years old. I like Michelin tires, and run them on my enclosed car trailer because every other tire made for trailers stinks and won't last 8,000 miles, but on the Newell, which only weighs 29,000 lbs., I go with good, more modestly priced tires that will give me good wear and safety for 6-7 years before I replace them again......still looking brand new. If I had a much heavier coach like the newer Newells I would probably go with Michelin like Chester.
It is interesting how different people come to a decision on this subject, and all for good reason. My 1978 Newell had 22.5's and I installed Goodyear because a friend who was a distributor could get me a great price on a great tire. They performed flawlessly.
When I bought the 24.5's last year for my 1993 I used FMCA's advantage program and saved a little money on the Michelin. I've run a LOT of different tires from different brands over the years. I've never had a bad Michelin tire. My own perception of Michelin is that they are a premium tire and more likely to hold up for 10 years. The tires that were on my 1993 when I bought it were Yokohama and Bridgestone. They were way past their ideal service date but still ran smooth and showed very little age cracking. I sold them to local truckers to be used on trailers.
Chesters advice is good...Check the manufacture date of whatever tire you choose. 24.5's are not fast movers these days. You will want to get as new of a new tire as possible!
Balancing....Another subject to consider. My Michelin dealer offered the balancing "beads". I decided to try it. The first 10 miles the thing wobbled all over the place. Since then I have been satisfied with the balance. Others have said they don't balance at all with good results. If you do decide to install balance beads be sure that they install the little yellow bands to the valve stem that indicate the bead installation and install filtered valve stems.
This thread is related to 11R24.5 tires. Newell had excellent service from both Goodyear and Bridgestone in that size.
For those with newer 22.5" wheels, please note that the Michelin tires are the recommended tires. Newell had a recall in 1999 going back to coaches built after 7/1/1995. Newell replaced the 315/80R22.5 Goodyear tires that had originally been installed with Michelin tires in the same size. Newell has used Michelin tires as standard equipment ever since.
Beginning with coach 1230, Newell upgraded the tire size on the front and tag from 315/80R22.5 to 365/70R22.5 Michelins. All coaches beginning with #443 can be upgraded to the 365/70 R 22.5 tires and wider rims. If you have the 315/80R22.5 tires on the front, Newell recommends a maximum speed of 65 mph.
Newell recommended the 11R24.5 for the front (Michelins) and they look HUGE but the mechanic says they will fit... we will see this afternoon - the new wheels are PRETTY! Now I have to clean the back ones to match :-( The TPMS system (can't remember the brand) does not fit the new wheels because the air valve stem does not stick out far enough so I need to get some extensions. I opted not to get the balancing balls (equal?) put in the front so the TPMS system does not get clogged but will get the yellow valve covers with the screen on them if I decide to get it later. Will send pictures this afternoon...
I get every tire on everything spin balanced. Saves wear on equipment caused by vibration of an out of balance tire.
Quote:Newell recommended the 11R24.5 for the front (Michelins) and they look HUGE
WHOA!!!! 11R24.5 tires are OK on the drive axle and the tag axle but not for the FRONT axle on a 1998!! Your 1998 came with 315/80R22.5 FRONT tires with a load rating of 9,090 pounds each at 130 psi. The 11R24.5 tires Load Range H rated tires are only rated at 7,160 pounds each at 120 psi. This is not NEARLY enough FRONT capacity for a Newell with slides. The upgraded FRONT tire size for a Newell with slides is the 365/70R22.5 Load Range L which are rated at 10,500 pounds each at 120 psi. I can't imagine putting 11R24.5 on the FRONT of a 1998 and dropping the load carrying capacity.
the mechanic who does my heavy stuff who works with a large fleet of prevost charter bus's never balances them. the tire place i got them from never balances....however, i had all mine spin balanced. its the overkill part of me.
i had continentals on the 90, then moved to michelins under the advantage program for the 02. never had any problem with either.
tom