BF Goodrich Sumitomo or Samson

The Texan wrote:
FIRST, look at the weight carrying rating for each, then walk away from the Samson. They are lightweight tires and even though there are some good reports, they are marginal for heavy RVs.

Do you have any actual FACTS to back up this wild assertion?

tstryk wrote:

Patrol 65 wrote:
One post stated that Samson tires are too light for motorhome use, but did you know that Samson tires are used by many 18 wheelers. I purchased 6 Samson tires for my motorhome from a truck tire store and I think that they are smoother and quieter than my previous tires. Camping World was selling the same tires but I found a better deal at the truck tire store.

I think I am going with the Samson - the biggest reason is I will get them from Camping World - easy to find help if I have a problem wherever I am. People can holler about made in America all they want - I am buying them from a store that employs Americans and who is getting the tires from an American supplier. Even if I did buy ones made by an American manufacturer, they would me made from rubber that was imported from some 3rd world nation.

Well good luck with those Samsons, I had them and they rode hard and hard to balance, so I replaced them with Hankooks AH-11 and the ride quality is soo much better..

Not saying the Samsons are bad but they are good for trucks but they don't care so much for ride quality as a motorhome needs, truckers like em because they are cheap and regrovable, ride quality not so well..

Oh and by the way the Hankooks are made in China just like the Samsons but with better quality for a smoother ride.. trust me on this..

tstryk wrote:
I am down to three options for tires. One is BF Goodrich from a local tire store Sumitomo from a different local shop and Samson from our local Camping World. Any opinions on any of these? Any help would be appreciated. THANKS

I see this post is 5 days old so I hope I am not late, DO NOT BUY THE SAMSONS, I had new Samsons on my RV when I bought from dealer, they were installed by the dealer to save them money but the ride quality was low, the tires I had were 16 ply and hard as steel and hard to balance, so I bought all new Hankooks AH-11 tires 14 ply with balance beads in all tires and my ride is now soft and sooo much better..

Avoid the cheapest tires its not worth the cost, they are good for semi's but not so good for motorhomes.

And before someone says maybe I was running to high of pressure I was not, always ran about 85lbs and still hard ride and unbalanced at all speeds..

jarviswin wrote:

Point is, I would not buy Michelins.

I am with you on this - at least on my motorhome. I may buy them for my car, but not sure anymore.

I know I am going to get blasted on this one. I have 10 year old Sumitomo's on the front of my RV, with Bridgestones on rear. I had a couple OTR truckers look at my tires as I have. The 10 yr old Sumitomo's look just as good as the stones. I had 3 yr Michelins on my last RV (class B) and had to have them replaced - cracked throughout the sidewalls.
Point is, I would not buy Michelins.

Tires on this forum are like discussing politics and religion. I have 6 Samson tires on my rig and they are performing just fine without problems. I too found mine cheaper at a local tire shop. Camping World tends to mark their prices up. Not sure if Samson makes car tires, but will definitely check into it when I need them.

Patrol 65 wrote:
One post stated that Samson tires are too light for motorhome use, but did you know that Samson tires are used by many 18 wheelers. I purchased 6 Samson tires for my motorhome from a truck tire store and I think that they are smoother and quieter than my previous tires. Camping World was selling the same tires but I found a better deal at the truck tire store.

I think I am going with the Samson - the biggest reason is I will get them from Camping World - easy to find help if I have a problem wherever I am. People can holler about made in America all they want - I am buying them from a store that employs Americans and who is getting the tires from an American supplier. Even if I did buy ones made by an American manufacturer, they would me made from rubber that was imported from some 3rd world nation.

One post stated that Samson tires are too light for motorhome use, but did you know that Samson tires are used by many 18 wheelers. I purchased 6 Samson tires for my motorhome from a truck tire store and I think that they are smoother and quieter than my previous tires. Camping World was selling the same tires but I found a better deal at the truck tire store.

siggyd777 wrote:
BFGoodrich,TOYO,Sumitomo,Hankook...OK, "Samson & De-China"...NO WAY!
Just my opinion,Siggy

Not sure I am going to dismiss Samson. They are a Michelin owned company, from what I understand, and come on all Thomas school busses being produced. If they are used on new school busses, they can't be THAT bad.

topflite51 wrote:

tstryk wrote:

topflite51 wrote:
Considering those three choices, buying local is NOT an option.

Michelins only, huh? I won't buy another Michelin RV tire after blowing 6 of them on one rig over two years.

HUH? I certainly did not recommend Michelin. What I meant was if that is your only choices for buying local, drive somewhere else and buy your tires.

:p I know - I don't think I can get anything else or better in other towns - the are a very limited number of manufacturers who make the 295/80r22.5 and I am not willing to get a narrower tire.