Steering Tires

Personal opinion here: I have run Goodyear and Michelin on a variety of coaches. Currently on Michelin because that's what the coach came with. i suspect that I will time out before I wear them out as I have with most of my previous tires even though we travel 15 to 20K miles per year.

The last time I bought replacement tires (4 years ago) they were Michelin because of the deal that was available through FMCA. I took the price to my regular Goodyear Dealer and he said he could not even get close in price.

Whatever tire you get, just make sure that you spend a few bucks and get an honest four wheel alignment, including thrust angle. My coach came from the factory with the thrust angle so far off that it did not matter how well the front end was aligned, the rear tire angle would still push it down the road crooked.
Don't let an inexperienced shop tell you that the thrust angle cannot be adjusted on your coach. That is total BS and a well equipped shop can check and adjust the thrust angle.
A correctly adjusted thrust angle means that the driving wheels of your coach are in perfect alignment with the center of your coach. In other words, it will not "crab" down the highway. Once the rear end is pushing the front end straight, then you can have the front end aligned. When all four wheels are in proper alignment, your tires will all last longer and your coach will ride better with less pulling to one side or the other. Here is a link to explain: RV wheel alignment

What is the difference between "Steering tires" and regular tires?

Well, on a Semi Truck, the Steering Tires have to be "original" tires, that is not re-caps, Not sure about re-treads (but think that too is frowned on)

the driver and trailer tires can be re-caps.

And that is why Steering tires are better they do not toss their re-cap like trailer/drive axle tires can.

On most Semi's you toss a re-cap tread and you need a new tire, and if they track the re-tread to you, perhaps a new car for the guy that hit it.

But on a motor home you may well do thousands of dollars in damage to plumbing, electrical and fiberglass cause those idiots insist on running your vital systems THROUGH the wheel well where a failing tire can tear them all to shreds. (NOT something I'd approve of if I were running a RV manufacturer) inside the FRAME rails yes, inside the wheel wells NO, but guess where they ran 'em.

Toyo M144 available in 305 or 315 22.5 load range L. If you cover the tires with the fancy tire covers when parked what UV rays are the exposed to? Tire shine is more harmful to tires and lots of folks love this stuff to make the unit clean looking.

I run Michelin. Had a blowout in July. I guess it was a bad tire becaue the tire had less than 30k miles and a date code of 4208 right at 6 years old and no sign of aging. Went back with 2 new steer tires Michelin ZXA 3+ 275 80 22.5 LRH.

Make sure you know your corner weights. My passenger steer has 5600 lbs on it, Hankook and or Toyo do not make a tire that carries a load in that range.......
Do your homework before you drop thousands on wrong tire. Guys at dealer will not know about a tire running close or over weight limit if you cannot tell them how much you corners weigh.

ctc

rickvikki wrote:
I am getting the impression that more people buy truck tires as opposed to "MH" tires? Is this true?

Truck or bus tires are very popular with the MH crowd.

We love our Hankook AH12's.

Our Goodyear G670's had that weird river wear. A walk around the storage lot shows lots of Michelins RV tires with sidewall cracks.

I am getting the impression that more people buy truck tires as opposed to "MH" tires? Is this true?

dkreuzen wrote:
I just replaced my front Goodyears with Toyos at 21,000 miles because of the rivering wear. No one in Havasu is good, either with price or ability to install RV/truck tires correctly. Try Superior Tire in Bullhead City, they sell Toyos at a good price and offer spin balancing (wish I would have gotten my new tires there).
Stay away from Goodyears RV tires. I have had Michelins but they rot fast here in the desert heat.

Isn't it ironic that the only two tires designed for MH use are the ones that have the worst reputation?

blangen wrote:

bluwtr49 wrote:

blangen wrote:
I like the Michelin XZA2 Energy. One word of advice about trucker opinions: Truckers buy tires to run the tread off of them in a fairly short period of time. Tires on a motor home will "time out" from UV damage and/or age LONG before enough miles can be put on them to need replacing. These are entirely different uses and one shouldn't be confused for the other.

While we keep hearing this, I'm not certain it's substantiated by facts. Toyo for example doesn't make RV specific tires and Bridgestone caters to the RV market with their truck tire lines. Goodyear makes one tire for the RV market but many negative comments have been posted.

Could be wrong but that's how I interpret the matter.

I'm not touting marketing claims. What I am stating is truckers run them continuously (before UV damage and/or time can be a factor) and motorhomers will time out before the miles that truckers achieve will be realized. Two different uses, entirely. That point is irrefutable. Just because a trucker likes a particular tire does not mean a motorhomer will reap that same value.

Truckers run them...wear them out...then cap them...then wear them out...then cap them AGAIN, wear them out again, then cap them one more time!

Note for the OP: a 295/75R22.5 is the same size as your 275/80's.

I just replaced my front Goodyears with Toyos at 21,000 miles because of the rivering wear. No one in Havasu is good, either with price or ability to install RV/truck tires correctly. Try Superior Tire in Bullhead City, they sell Toyos at a good price and offer spin balancing (wish I would have gotten my new tires there).
Stay away from Goodyears RV tires. I have had Michelins but they rot fast here in the desert heat.