275/80r 22.5 tires

[richarfg]

I have two tires on my 2001 Newmar Mountainaire with a DOT age of 2007. The motorhome is garaged, and they show no visible indications of dry rot. I have been told that I shouldn't operate RV tires in excess of 7 years...regardless of wear. A two part question: (1) can these tires be trusted. (2) If no, they presently have the Michelin tires; has anyone tried a different brand with good results? I am planning a trip to Alaska in May, and don't want any problem with tires.

[J-Rooster]

First of all if you want to run those slightly used 7 year old tires I would take them to a tire shop and have them broke down (off the rim) and inspected inside and out that way you know what you have. I'm on my second set of XRV's having run my first set for 10 years. In the 10th year of the mentioned set I got minor UV cracks on the sidewall. This was my fault due to I didn't cover my tires from the Arizona sun. You can go to Michelins Quality Care Website and no where on that website does it say you can run on cracked tires. But, it does say the cracks can be run on, if there within a certain depth and they are Inspected by a tire expert (Not a RV.Net tire expert). I have never had a Michelin Tire blow out on me in my RV or my Semi truck in over 44 years! Is that coincidence I don't think so! My life depended on a lot of different Michelin front end steer tires in the millions of miles that I drove OTR (Over the Road). The Michelin XRV is a true soft rubber RV tire designed for RV applications only (RV's sit a lot without moving this is just one of the many applications) XRV are not hard rubber truck tires that the Michelin bashers always fail to mention! I like Pastor Charlie, purchased my tires from the FMCA/Michelin Fleet Tire Program at a discount for $378.00 per tire my local Michelin Dealer wanted $505.00 per tire plus freight! Do your homework when buying tires! Good Luck

[Crespro]

At 7 1/2 years, replaced the Goodyears with Michelin XZA2 Energy tires through FMCA discount. Seems to ride fine -- stiffer sidewall, but should have greater reliability.

[PastorCharlie]

Replaced all my Michelin XRV 255/80/22.5 through FMCA program, saved the best one and mounted it on a new wheel for spare and sold the other 5. They looked like new and would work fine on a farm truck.

Trucks do not run 255/80/22.5 tires. They run 255/70/22.5 etc.. Michelin XRV 255/80/22.5 tires are manufactured for RVs.

[2gypsies1]

We got all new tires before our Alaskan trip and ours were 6 years old. I would recommend you change yours out.

We went up from Arizona by way of Oregon and that's where we bought our tires - no sales tax which saves a lot. We preordered them and specified no older than 6m age on them. They all came in with a date of 3m. We got the Michilins from Les Schwaab in Coburg at a very good price after pricing them at other places in other states.

We had absolutely no problems with anything on our all-summer Alaskan trip. Have a good one....and be safe.

[tinkerer]

I replaced my 670 Goodyears with Hankooks labeled by some as truck tires. Time will tell how well they wear ,but the ride and handling is just as good if not better than the RV Goodyears.;)

[moisheh]

Why do people think that RV tires are special? A steer tire is a steer tire. OTR busses use the same tire as a truck. Both Michelin and the dreaded GY will advise to use many of their truck tires. Every high end MH comes with Michelins and they are TRUCK tires. Dennis is suggesting to use the GY 670's . Worst tire for an RV!!!

Moisheh

[bullydogs1]

Here's what I did...my HR has 275 80 R22.5 it was delivered Sept 2008 straight from Indiana, it was a 2009...I have 25 K on the coach.. I was planning to do tires but I looked at date codes..4407...EEK #1..I was just in Raleigh for a week on business with coach/wife/dogs since we also had to stay close as I sandwiched in a medical test. While in Raleigh, toad wheel shaking in my hands...go to Costco for balance and two tires were just about shot, and other 2 had less than 5000 miles left (38 K on bridgestones plus towing)...between Costco rebate and Michelin tires...it cost me 650 out the door for 4 new tires on the Saturn..rides as good as new...Now for EEK #2..I get home with coach and park in garage...I see something on right front tire...it's like a blank spot with a slight indent to it...Holy *** , I could have had a real problem...I priced out Michelins thru FMCA...would have to drive 1.5 hours and it was 530 plus 39 tax not to mention mount/balance....then I heard about simple tire.com...6 Continentals load range H at 397 plus shipping and excise tax...2700 plus change out the door..truck shop 2 miles away will mount balance the tires for 200 total..tires being shipped directly to shop..date codes were last week of June 2014....not perfect, but not bad..

So here is damage this week...668...tires for toad....2900, tires for coach..note I like Michelins but between the cracks and the extra $$..Continentals will do just as good...plus I am getting 4 new house batteries this week at Costco which are 84 (Interstate GC2 which I researched and will do just fine. Batteries..336 plus tax etc...I still have the orig batteries from 2008 so they don't owe me anything....

I think I did pretty darn good...and I researched the heck out of the Continentals before I purchased and verified the date codes...not to mention Sully2 stated that Continentals are good (his opinion is well valued)..Hankooks not avail and I wanted to not have to drive 2 hours to a Michelin dealer...

[slickest1]

I just put 6 new Firestone truck tires 1100 22.5 on my Imperial. It had 10 year old Goodyear "RV"295 75 22.5 on it and it rode and handled really well.
The dreaded truck tires ride and handle just as nice or in my opinion alot better. They were a better price as well.
Over thirty years of buying and wearing out all makes of truck tires including the low profile sizes I have never really noticed a huge difference. Unless you compare a Michelin to a Sailun or like. I always liked Michelin but have ran all the other main brands with success as well.
Depending what kind of suspension your coach has, mine has 8 airbags, you probably can't even feel if you have a flat or not.

Dropping the extra bucks on Michelin's that you will never wear out, does not make any sense to me considering they have their problems like every other brand. Just my 2 cents.

[jplante4]

Have Hankooks on the Green Machine and pulled the 10 yo Goodyears off the White Tiger right after I bought it and replaced them with Yokohamas. Both brands run very smooth.

Michelins were about $200 more per tire without the FMCA discount.

[sailor_lou]

mike brez wrote:
Funny how one persons treasure is another's trash.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Although I would not go as far to say that I'd never buy another Michelin tire, they are certainly not my favorite. Next time around (this spring) I'm considering Hankooks, mostly because of the positive reviews and the great luck I have had with them on my cars and trucks.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

[Ivylog]

Having discovered Michelin's in the mid 60's I was a loyal customer until five years ago when they would not stand behind their sorry XRV tires that actually blew out sitting still. Guess that was better than when on the road. Fortunately today there are a bunch of well made radial tires besides Michelin.
OP, in your case I would buy two Michelins because of the odd size but not their XRV. I do not see how the tires on a axle of a heavy vehicle needs to be a RV tire. Just because a manufacture thought a slightly smoother ride from a tire with a thinner sidewall was a good idea... from the track record of the XRV I'll pass on having RV tires on my heavy MH.
Sorry Dennis as this is one of the few areas where we disagree.

[mike_brez]

Funny how one persons treasure is another's trash. BF Goodrich and Michelin are two brands I wouldn't even consider to put on a donkey cart. Michelin says sidewall cracking is normal just keep a eye on it ooh and can you zipper blowout.
Now i had BF Goodrich on my brand new pickup that the sidewall blew out with under 5k miles on them. BF Goodrich and my dealer wanted nothing to do with it. Ripped off all four plus the spare for toyo. How many people were linked to deaths because of BF Goodrich tires? I think it was over 100 deaths. Yea I would get Michelin or BF Goodrich tires...Not

[Ivylog]

Sounds like you need two FRONT tires so buy two new Michelins of the same size. Put one of the takeofffs on your roof wrapped in alum foil and plastic wrap and hope you do not need it. It will ride around a roof vent in the middle of the roof without being tied down BUT you need to put a short piece of hose under it so you do not create a damn that will put water inside. Yes I learned that the wet way.
If you were replacing all of your tires then I'd disagree with the above posts as I've had good service from Hankook. This way you have a spare of the same size for a trip where you could be a long way from a tire of the correct size if needed.

[JR45]

Every word Dennis said is right on. I had Goodyear tires on my coach when I got it. Had only 17000mi on them and the first thing I did was get a full set of Michelin 295/80R22.5 through FMCA saving $1500. There is no way I would do Alaska on old tires.
JR