Hercules Tires

[anconn]

I was out today pricing new tires and one shop who I have dealt with before has given me a good price on Hercules 245/70R/19.5's. They told me they are good quality and have had no problems with them. Also there are dealers across the US and Canada. I have never heard of them and was wondering what others have seen or heard. They are a Chinese tire.

[teamfossil]

Oh goody,another tire thread! Cooper Tire owns Hercules, they don't make them. Hercules started as a re-capper, then Cooper bought them. They are (mostly) made in the U.S. and Canada. There have been some issues on "out of round" Hercules tires, so make sure you get them balanced. As Cooper says in it's own site, "Cooper tires are "designed" in the U.S." They are made in China, under Cooper supervision. Right now Cooper is telling dealers that 245/70R19.5 will be available in May. The factory in China is just coming back from a strike (communism has strikes? Who knew?) as well as trying to decide if they (Cooper tire) will be sold to an Indian company. As for Michelin, the XRVs that I just replaced where made in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Michelins on my motorcycle where made in Thailand.

[kdrsas]

I had 2 Hercules Tires 245/70R/19.5's on the front on our class a motor home. We traveled 3500 miles from Fort Lauderdale to Santa Cruze CA. Parts of Texas we were traveling with traffic at 75 to 80 MPH with no problems. I noticed very little in ride compared to the goodyear that came off. I will run them again.

[topflite51]

Lipets wrote:
I have them with about 3,000 miles, came new with the coach.

They are good so far but two things I didn't like.

In heavy rain they felt a bit slippery one time but the road wasn't all that good.

I was driving on rt75 FL, there is a 2-3" lip or edge on the right lane to the shoulder I went off for a sec and I had a heck of a time getting back over the edge.

Someone said the front tire has too square an edge and I should change them for steer tires...............

I had Hercules all the way around (16" on my F53) and I got the same feeling/sensation. I attributed to the harder rubber. Whoever told you that the edge is too square could be on to something.

[topflite51]

J-Rooster wrote:

topflite51 wrote:

J-Rooster wrote:

darsben wrote:
Even Michelin makes tires in China so the chinese tire myth is just BS.
All depends on the quality the manufacturer puts in

Any tire company that doesn't have a plant in China is doing foolish business IMHO! There the biggest and fastest growing population on earth! And, Michelin makes tires in China for there applications only! They don't import them into the U.S. If you have a Michelin Tire in the U.S. that says made in China it was smuggled in! Just clearing up any gray areas!

Wrong. The last data I saw on the subject, Michelin imports directly into this country from China approximately 2% of their Chinese production. By now, it is probably more than that. They would be foolish NOT to. One thing Michelin is not is foolish.

I'm not wrong! There are labor agreements (Tire Unions) in place preventing that. If there wasn't Michelin would not have any tire factory's in the U.S.

As I recall you claimed to have gotten that info directly from a Michelin tire rep about imports from China and elsewhere. In other words, the info came out of the mouth of a glorified salesman and we all know what that means. I have posted my source before and I have sold them, and they weren't gray market either, they came directly from Michelin. NO dealer involved.

[Wrong_Lane]

"If there wasn't Michelin would not have any tire factory's in the U.S."

I don't get it. According to my research Goodyear is the biggest tire manufacturer in the US followed by Cooper/Hercules in 2nd place. Both these companies manufacturing facilities in the US and both manufacture more tires in the US than Michelin.

Both have head offices based in the US whereas Michelin is based in France.

All 3 manufacture tires in many other countries as well.

Now I got all this from the internet and we all know the internet is never wrong, misleading or deceptive!!

[Lipets]

I see them listed on tire manufacturers websites, not yet sure how they differ.

Anyone know

[jerseyjim]

"Steer tires".....?

[Lipets]

I have them with about 3,000 miles, came new with the coach.

They are good so far but two things I didn't like.

In heavy rain they felt a bit slippery one time but the road wasn't all that good.

I was driving on rt75 FL, there is a 2-3" lip or edge on the right lane to the shoulder I went off for a sec and I had a heck of a time getting back over the edge.

Someone said the front tire has too square an edge and I should change them for steer tires...............

[J-Rooster]

topflite51 wrote:

J-Rooster wrote:

darsben wrote:
Even Michelin makes tires in China so the chinese tire myth is just BS.
All depends on the quality the manufacturer puts in

Any tire company that doesn't have a plant in China is doing foolish business IMHO! There the biggest and fastest growing population on earth! And, Michelin makes tires in China for there applications only! They don't import them into the U.S. If you have a Michelin Tire in the U.S. that says made in China it was smuggled in! Just clearing up any gray areas!

Wrong. The last data I saw on the subject, Michelin imports directly into this country from China approximately 2% of their Chinese production. By now, it is probably more than that. They would be foolish NOT to. One thing Michelin is not is foolish.

I'm not wrong! There are labor agreements (Tire Unions) in place preventing that. If there wasn't Michelin would not have any tire factory's in the U.S.

[Jarlaxle]

They also import from Thailand...we have a couple on trailers at work.

[topflite51]

J-Rooster wrote:

darsben wrote:
Even Michelin makes tires in China so the chinese tire myth is just BS.
All depends on the quality the manufacturer puts in

Any tire company that doesn't have a plant in China is doing foolish business IMHO! There the biggest and fastest growing population on earth! And, Michelin makes tires in China for there applications only! They don't import them into the U.S. If you have a Michelin Tire in the U.S. that says made in China it was smuggled in! Just clearing up any gray areas!

Wrong. The last data I saw on the subject, Michelin imports directly into this country from China approximately 2% of their Chinese production. By now, it is probably more than that. They would be foolish NOT to. One thing Michelin is not is foolish.

[Wrong_Lane]

I put Hercules tires on last summer. About 4000 miles on them and no issues.

They are 14 ply so a little heavier than an RV tire. They ride fine, don't seem stiff, handle wet roads really well and show no signs of wear. They are a summer highway tread so I suspect snow traction would suck but I don't intend to drive in snow.

I am happy with them. I gave up mentioning them on here as there is a lot of bashing of anything that is not Michelin or Goodyear and I don't need the abuse.

I find the negative comments never or can't provide any proof that the tires perform any different than the "name brands" from a safety point of view, only myths and opinions.

As far as buying local -- I bought them from a local dealer and had them installed right here in my town at a local truck shop. They were brought here by a local teamster and stored in a local warehouse until the dealer ordered them so it's not like the money disappeared into a sink hole. Every business that handled them made some profit.

Do your research and if you are happy with what you find then buy them. Bottom line, only you can decide what is right for your situation.

[J-Rooster]

darsben wrote:
Even Michelin makes tires in China so the chinese tire myth is just BS.
All depends on the quality the manufacturer puts in

Any tire company that doesn't have a plant in China is doing foolish business IMHO! There the biggest and fastest growing population on earth! And, Michelin makes tires in China for there applications only! They don't import them into the U.S. If you have a Michelin Tire in the U.S. that says made in China it was smuggled in! Just clearing up any gray areas!

[darsben]

Even Michelin makes tires in China so the chinese tire myth is just BS.
All depends on the quality the manufacturer puts in