Bridgestone/Firestone Tires

Yellowboat. wrote:
Les Schwab in Washington State put a new set of Bridgestone 19.5 tires on our motor home. I decided upon the Bridgestone tires because the date code was only 3 months old. With my new Bridgestone tires my motor home became very squirrely to drive. First trip on our new tires was to the coast. Because we were taking our grandchildren my wife drove some of the kids in our Dodge Durango and I drove the rest in the motor home. On the way to the coast, not towing, our motor home would dodge and swerve as we drove down the road. The first time my wife road in our motor home after installing the new Bridgestone tires she was scared to death.

I weighed my coach and adjusted air pressure to meet Bridgestone tire pressurization charts. Les Schwab had inflated the tires to the max pressure. Adjusting pressure did not help. I had a steering stabilizer and rear trac bar added. My coach came with a front trac bar installed. The suspension mods made our coach drive a little better but it was still squirrely and would dodge either left or right whenever it decided too. After a few local trips we headed south for the winter. As we headed south our coach started behaving better. We took I-5 south through Oregon and California. After spending some time near LA and San Diego we moved on to Tucson, AZ. The last time our coach lurched was as we were driving into Tucson. Returning home from Tucson our coach drove great and it is still driving just fine.

I sent an e-mail to Bridgestone but they never answered. I asked Les Schwab and they could not give an answer. I have posted on forums and asked RV industry experts but no one can give me an answer.

My guess is that either the tires needed time to allow the rubber to age as they were only 3 months old when they were installed or the tires needed to be driven to break them in. I have never heard of either of my explanations.

Safe travels.

JD

Interesting, our coach isn't a bit squirrley to drive with the Bridgestones wonder why it is with yours?

It always amazes me how those who have cravings for certain brands supply no data to back up their claims and therefore are opinions only. All tires listed are all quality steer tires, even the Firestone and a number of others that went unmentioned. rtz549 absurd claim and Executive...please stop, Iv'e been witness to some of your other tire posts.

I have no position on comparing Brand A with Brand B, BUT be aware that comparing a 6-7 year old tire to a brand new one of either the same brand or another is different than comparing two NEW tires of different brands.

Same for shocks, etc.

Just installed 8 new Firestone LS 400 tires. I really believe the ride is better than the removed Michelin tires. I could not get the size Michelin tires required where I was located. I'm very pleased they were not available. So is my wallet.

rtz549 wrote:
Look at any semi or other large truck. If they run any other tire; they will still have Michelins on the front. That's the one place you don't want a blow out.

No, that's wrong! (Offhand, Roadway and Conway use Goodyear, as does Penske...Ryder's entire fleet uses Bridgestone.)

There is nothing wrong with the Bridgestone/Firestone tires! They have a very deep tread, and they need to go thru 4 or five heat / cool cycles to ( run in ) as they call it!! Just slow down, and try not to overdrive it and you will be fine. And after they break in, You will love them! I put 8 on the drive axel of my semi, and I cussed them, threatened to take them off! But they got better as I drove them and lasted just as long as the michilen's I took off! As far as the Toyo or any other made tire, I tried them all on my semi thru the years, and I always came back to the "Stones"

I've had R280 295 75/22.5 Bridgestones all around for the last four years. I went with them because they were recommended by the truck tire store (TDS) where I bought them. They said that Bridgestones had the best casing.

I've enjoyed them very much. They ride really well. The tires look almost brand new. I do cover them when stopped and I do apply Aerospace 303 at least once at the beginning of the travel season.

I use the TST tire pressure monitoring system. I find it very reassuring to constantly monitor tire pressures and internal air pressures.

I've gotten very good fuel mileage.

Grant

Yes I'm very aware that Bridgestone now owns Firestone However I still stand behind my statement.
Bill:)

TexasShadow wrote:
In my opinion you can't buy a better tire than Bridgestone not a fan of Firestone.
Bill

You do know that Bridgestone bought Firestone within the past 15/20 years. Many of the Bridgestone and Firestone tires are made to the same specs; the tires just carry a different name and have a different tread design.

Both companies make private brand tires for other non-tire companies under different names. Many years ago Firestone made all of Montgomery Ward tires; many of the tires had the same specs as Firestone tires with a different tread design.

Myself, I wouldn't hesitate buying either a Bridgestone or Firestone depending on the price and availability. I would also look at other brands.

Ray

I put new Toyo's on this year. Did so brand wise because of date code and price. Also talked with several long haul drivers that really liked Toyo's. Cist was $2200 for 6 out door.