Lets talk about the diff between 19.5 and 22.5's on Gassers

[Txsurfer]

Aside from IMO better looks what are the benefits to units with 22.5 wheels on Class A gas units? Can you convert a 19.5 set-up to 22.5's?

[tropical36]

Txsurfer wrote:
Aside from IMO better looks what are the benefits to units with 22.5 wheels on Class A gas units? Can you convert a 19.5 set-up to 22.5's?

It's always better not to have or need max pressure to match the inflation chart axle weights and especially if you add 10-15lbs or so, for a cushion, like I do.
Hence, the larger tire, may be required to achieve this. Other than that, I don't really see the benefit.

[bobkatmsu]

Ava wrote:
I dont think the chassis engineers design and determine weight limits, gear ratios and wheel sizes by throwing darts at a picture of each.

Amen

[Txsurfer]

All good points. Thanks for your help..

[fred42]

One downside of 22.5s not yet mentioned is wheel cut. Each year could vary, but based on the 2018 F-53 spec:

16k-20k GVWR - 19.5 wheels, 50 degree wheel cut.

22k GVWR - offers both wheel sizes: 50 Degrees–19.5 42 Degrees–22.5

24k-26k - 22.5 wheels, 50 degree wheel cut

I would suspect if you converted a 16k-22k to 22.5s you would go back to 42 degrees wheel cut. I suspect the 22k optionally puts a cut limiter of some sort on the 22.5s. If you just converted, perhaps it would scrub? Perhaps the bolt pattern conversion part would push the the wheel out an inch to match the wider track of the 24-26k chassis and you would be fine.

[willald]

I've driven rigs with both 19.5 and 22.5" tires. Difference in ride, handling is negligible. As already said, the better ride is probably much more because of the weight of the coach, not because of the tire size.

Really, in many cases you don't have much of a choice, anyway. Once a coach gets beyond a certain weight, size range, its going to have 22.5" tires to safely handle the weight. You really don't have a choice when you go beyond a certain point, weight wise.

One thing I really, really like about our coach and its 19.5" tires: They are soooo much easier to work with, if you ever want to remove a tire or change one yourself! Literally, I can change one by myself, with only simple tools - bottle jack, right size wrench/socket, and a 'breaker bar' to bust the lug bolts loose and help move the tire around once its off. Thats it. You won't do that with a 22.5" tire, without much more expensive (and not very portable) tools, and just about needing two people to do it. Also, if you ever decide to carry a spare, you can do so muuuch easier with 19.5" wheels/tires than 22.5".

With that said, tire size wouldn't be a deal breaker for me either way, provided the tires are sized correctly for the weight involved. I would just accept that if I one day decide to step up to a bigger, heavier coach, part of the price for that would be I'd have to deal with more expensive, more difficult to work with, 22.5" tires.

[Dale_Traveling]

Found the post. The owner is a bit of a Mad Hatter if you read thru his postings.



IRV2 Changing from 19.5 to 22.5 wheels and tires

[chuckftboy]

I have owned both. a 35 foot coach with 19.5's and a 37 with 22.5's. The 22.5's were a better ride but only because the coach was heavier. I prefer the larger wheels but it would never be the deciding factor in coach choice.
As for the conversion, probably not one of the best decisions one could make.

[rk911]

mike brez wrote:
Carry more weight

on a chassis designed for those tires, sure. but can the GVWR of a chassis be increased just by swapping 19.5 tires for 22.5 tires? I'm no expert but that doesn't sound right. seems to me that there more components of the chassis would be involved in calculating the GVWR of a chassis than just the tires.

[Bumpyroad]

I thought I wanted 22.5s and then priced the difference. lost my desire.
bumpy

[Txsurfer]

Ava wrote:
I dont think the chassis engineers design and determine weight limits, gear ratios and wheel sizes by throwing darts at a picture of each.

It does appear on RV trader that some models are offered in either 19.5 or 22.5 - mainly on the mid-tier products.

[Dale_Traveling]

Cost to gain wasn't in it for me when I looked into it. Hardware along was pushing $1000 per tire (replacement tire and rim) using polished aluminum on four of the six tires. There was an owner on a different forum that posted images of his 30' or so Winnebago class A with 22.5's. A bit odd looking with how high the coach was. Plus the last step off the stairs was a long way down.

[Ava]

I dont think the chassis engineers design and determine weight limits, gear ratios and wheel sizes by throwing darts at a picture of each.

[DrewE]

Pros: higher weighty rating (but probably not too useful if converting since the rest of the chassis isn't uprated magically), somewhat better ride, perhaps longer life.

Cons: higher cost, heavier weight (which makes it much harder to change a tire in the case of a flat, as well as having some performance penalties that probably don't amount to too much on a motorhome), larger size makes storing a spare rather more difficult.

Many 22.5 setups use a much higher lug not torque than smaller tires and wheels, too, which in turn requires significantly heavier duty tools to manipulate.

Different, but not necessarily pro or con: the diameter is larger, which means a different effective axle ratio, more ground clearance, a higher center of gravity, and possibly interference with the wheel wells or fenders (probably most likely in front).

I would not convert a motorhome I had.

[tderonne]

Ford has varied a bit over the years, but typically uses the same axle ratio where both a 19.5" and 22.5" wheel is used. But the 19.5" and 22.5" wheels have different bolt patterns, so it's not a simple swap.