How important is tire size to your selection?

[Mondooker]

Some motorhomes have 22.5 tires while others have 19.5. The style, meaning price point is the same. But as I said they have different size tires. How important is that in the big selection process?

[Gjac]

Mondooker wrote:
Hi Chum lee, I'm not sure where you got the idea I was talking about a used coach? I'm looking for new.

My question was is there a reason to specifically look at a coach with 22.5 tires over a coach having 19.5 tires? T

he answer is NO... If you don't need the additional weight, then the tried and true 19'5's work just fine. The 22.5 tires/chassis may give a little better ride, but not to the point to make a selection on it?

Have I gone off the rails on what you good folks have said?

You have not gone off the rails your conclusion is correct. One would be hard pressed to tell the difference in ride quality between the two tire sizes on the exact same vehicle. There are a lot of other factors that contribute to ride quality. Get the MH you like the best.

[Blaster_Man]

Get the coach you want, the appropriate tires will be on it. If you want 22.5s that means you'll get a larger coach than one with 19.5s.

[Chum_lee]

Mondooker wrote:
Hi Chum lee, I'm not sure where you got the idea I was talking about a used coach? I'm looking for new.

My question was is there a reason to specifically look at a coach with 22.5 tires over a coach having 19.5 tires? T

he answer is NO... If you don't need the additional weight, then the tried and true 19'5's work just fine. The 22.5 tires/chassis may give a little better ride, but not to the point to make a selection on it?

Have I gone off the rails on what you good folks have said?

Thanks for the reply. In NO WAY am I suggesting that you buy a used coach. If you can afford a new one, that's fantastic. My goal in this post is that you buy the best vehicle for you. I am a (really good) sales person, (well. . . .now retired) and I'm trying to help you through the process. (of buying)

Chum lee

[tropical36]

Mondooker wrote:
Hi Chum lee, I'm not sure where you got the idea I was talking about a used coach? I'm looking for new.

My question was is there a reason to specifically look at a coach with 22.5 tires over a coach having 19.5 tires? T

he answer is NO... If you don't need the additional weight, then the tried and true 19'5's work just fine. The 22.5 tires/chassis may give a little better ride, but not to the point to make a selection on it?

Have I gone off the rails on what you good folks have said?

Are the two coaches about the same price wise?
Just wondering why the one is equipped with larger wheels.

[Mondooker]

Hi Chum lee, I'm not sure where you got the idea I was talking about a used coach? I'm looking for new.

My question was is there a reason to specifically look at a coach with 22.5 tires over a coach having 19.5 tires? T

he answer is NO... If you don't need the additional weight, then the tried and true 19'5's work just fine. The 22.5 tires/chassis may give a little better ride, but not to the point to make a selection on it?

Have I gone off the rails on what you good folks have said?

[rk911]

4x4van wrote:
One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is tire cost. There is a significant cost difference between 19.5"s and 22"s when the time comes (every 5 years). Yes, the 22"s carry more weight and typically will ride a bit better, but if the rig's GVWR can accommodate 19.5"s, I don't see a huge downside. I can also change a 19.5" flat on my own (although I certainly won't "enjoy" it); not sure I could do the same with 22"s.

more like 7-yrs for us. we estimate the cost of a new set of 6-tires adjusted for inflation in 7-years and the divide that amount by 84 and set aside the result in dollars out of our monthly budget. if we want $5000 for new tires we would set aside $60 each month. painless.

[Chum_lee]

4x4van wrote:
One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is tire cost. There is a significant cost difference between 19.5"s and 22.5"s when the time comes (every 5 years). Yes, the 22.5"s carry more weight and typically will ride a bit better, but if the rig's GVWR can accommodate 19.5"s, I don't see a huge downside. I can also change a 19.5" flat on my own (although I certainly won't "enjoy" it); not sure I could do the same with 22"s.

Yes. The OP seems to be oblivious to that. IMO, they are comparing the purchase price of one used vehicle to another. (not the long term operating costs of either) Surprise, surprise, surprise . . . .


Chum lee

[4x4van]

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is tire cost. There is a significant cost difference between 19.5"s and 22"s when the time comes (every 5 years). Yes, the 22"s carry more weight and typically will ride a bit better, but if the rig's GVWR can accommodate 19.5"s, I don't see a huge downside. I can also change a 19.5" flat on my own (although I certainly won't "enjoy" it); not sure I could do the same with 22"s.

[tropical36]

Bumpyroad wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

Many don't check any of this out before purchase and concentrate on the fireplace and big TV. Fact is and if I'm looking to buy a DP, I first look in the rear for a side radiator, while most head for the entry door for checking out said TV and fireplace. But then, that's for another topic.

while the salesman makes a mad dash for the button to demonstrate the electric awning with the LED lights. 🙂
bumpy

There ya go and about the extent of what their knowledge is of the machine itself. Just try asking them some real questions and see what you get.
Makes no never mind really and with one needing to know everything about what they want, before seriously shopping around. For instance made a phone offer with contingencies on our last one, after deciding on what we wanted. Still missed the part of where that extra ton of CCC was and assuming it was overall. Shame on me, but not a problem as we always tow four down anyway.

[crawford]

Mondooker wrote:
It was between the Coachmen Mirada and Entegra Vision XL. The Vision XL is the 22.5.

Georgetowns have had them for years mine 2007 which was started build date was 2006. It rides very well but will need new shocks soon at 55,000 miles.

[Bumpyroad]

tropical36 wrote:

Many don't check any of this out before purchase and concentrate on the fireplace and big TV. Fact is and if I'm looking to buy a DP, I first look in the rear for a side radiator, while most head for the entry door for checking out said TV and fireplace. But then, that's for another topic.

while the salesman makes a mad dash for the button to demonstrate the electric awning with the LED lights. 🙂
bumpy

[Tal_IL]

It looks like the GVWR/CGVWR are the same at 22,000/26,000 on the Mirada and the Vision XL. We had a 2010 Mirada 35DS with the same ratings for 5 seasons. We weighed right at 20,000 travel ready. It was on 19.5's and we never had an issue.

[Chum_lee]

Bumpyroad wrote:

Mondooker wrote:
If I’m reading you right, the 22 is better and holds more weight. But the 19 has been around a long time and does fine if additional weight isn’t a factor?

I think you have to go back to the old chevy P-30/32 chassis to get to units that had too much weight on the front tires/end. I remember some of the write ups the units were overloaded if there was a passenger in the front passenger seat. don't remember if that was a tire or chassis issue however.

great engineering, put in a puny front end, put two chassis batteries about as far forward as possible, and stick some balloons in the springs to take the weight.
bumpy

Here's the issue for me. For example: My current Class A (a 1999 30' on a Ford F-53 chassis) has 19.5" tires/wheels and an 18,000 GVWR. It weighs under 16,000 lbs. fully loaded, fueled, and, watered, so, I have over 2,000 lbs. discretionary payload. That year, you could buy the same motorhome on a Chevy P-XX chassis that has a GVWR of 15,400 lbs. It had 16.5" wheels/tires. If I had my same motorhome on the Chevy chassis, I would be over maximum gross weight with NO discretionary payload. In my travels, I found the exact same motorhome as mine but on the Chevy chassis. IMO, it looked kind of silly with the smaller wheels/tires and the front suspension looked SEVERELY overloaded. (kind of like a big dog with two broken front legs) The current owner told me the front suspension/tires were always a problem as was the front axle overloading condition.

Larger wheels also allow the use of larger brake rotors and higher ground clearance. (a good thing in a MH)

Chum lee

[RLS7201]

Bruce Brown wrote:

Trackrig wrote:
I would never consider the 19.5s, they won't handle the weight capacity for a true Class A.

Bll

The Ford F53 chassis was only built for one purpose - "true Class A motorhomes", and for YEARS the 19.5 was the only tire size offered. :h

As to the OPs question, bigger is always better.

And from 1986 to 1997 Ford F53 chassis had 16" tires.
Silly me, I always though my 95 Bounder was a true class A.

Richard