Alcoa Wheel P/Ns

[stephen galovic]

>
Can anyone else find any logic in the two P/N theory. It's not the hub
size.
>
> Regards, Phil Swanson

Ok, I can't just sit by any longer. The difference in the two part #s is
polish. Alcoa only polishes one side of the wheels, Convex side for
front installation and concave side for rear (dually) installation.
GMC's use 6 front type (polished convex side) Alcoas.
Stephen Galovic, GMCMM

 

[phil swanson]

As far as I can determine, their is only one part number for the wheels
front or back. The idea that the front and back centering hubs are
different in size is wrong. They are the same size. Also the original
steel wheel part numbers are the same for a given set of seven right out
of the GMC parts book. I question the logic for two different part
numbers in the Alcoa catalog. I see no reason for this? Can anyone else
find any logic in the two P/N theory. It's not the hub size.

Regards, Phil Swanson

 

[thomas g. warner]

Not rue steve, the center hole in the two part numbers is different. the
American racing wheel, alcoa supplement showed a front and rear alcoa
classic wheel with different part numbers for each.

>>
>Can anyone else find any logic in the two P/N theory. It's not the hub
>size.
>>
>> Regards, Phil Swanson
>
>Ok, I can't just sit by any longer. The difference in the two part #s is
>polish. Alcoa only polishes one side of the wheels, Convex side for
>front installation and concave side for rear (dually) installation.
>GMC's use 6 front type (polished convex side) Alcoas.
>Stephen Galovic, GMCMM
>
>

 

[thomas g. warner]

Boy I am sorry for starting such a controversey. Just called Wright wheels
in Madison Wisconsin 608-742-0696 and they told me that their is only 1
part number for both front and back and they are identical. Sheet I saw at
Sears therefore must be wrong. they very definately had 2 part numbers one
for the front and one for the back.

>>... the center hole in the two part numbers is different. the
>>American racing wheel, alcoa supplement showed a front and rear alcoa
>>classic wheel with different part numbers.....
>
> I can't for the life of me see why. The original steel wheels are
>identical, all 7. They all pilot snugly on the hub, front or rear. (I know,
>I bought a set of 6 from Cinnabar when I first bought my GMC, and installed
>them myself. Didn't know about Alcoa wheels yet. )
>If there IS any difference in the center holes, one of them isn't going to fit
>properly!
> I think Stephen Galovic is correct. (Has anyone contacted Alcoa directly?
>I fear that's what it will take to lay this thread to rest!)
>
>Rick Staples,
>Louisville, C
>
>

 

[gilbert r. bethel]

The ones that I got at Discount Tire in San Antonio are the round hole style
and the part number 160231 and they are polished on the outside face (as
mounted on the GMC motorhome). The price was $125.99 each with center caps.
I ordered 7 of them and 7 Goodyear G159 tires. I have the wheels and tires
and they are going to mount them on the motorhome Thursday. I did not price
the ones with the slots as I have been told at the rally in Las Vegas that
they are not rated for the same weight as the round hole ones. I pull a
4000 lb. trailer and wanted the stronger wheels and tires.
- -----Original Message-----
From: CHill113
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 1998 5:17 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa Wheel P/Ns

>OK, lets add a little more confusion!!!! I have just returned from our
>Classics rally where it was pointed out to me that there are at least two
>wheel patterns. One is the one with several round holes, and one with five
>cut outs. Both are Alcoa. The person pointing this out to me said he had
read
>an article that the later with the cutouts might not be strong enough for
our
>coach, but he hadn't heard of anyone having trouble. When we talk about
price,
>which wheel are we talking about? Or are they the same price? And what
about
>parts numbers on the two different patterns?
>

 

[heinz wittenbecher]

Gilbert,
I'd appreciate your comments re the G159 tires once you have them on.
Especially re sidewall stability and of course ride in general. I have a
real mixture on mine right now (best I could get in the top corner of
Newfoundland when cracks showed up on 3 of 'em almost overnight).

I am considering going back to Michellins but looking at alternatives. What
made you decide on the Goodyears? Did you run them before?

Thanks in advance.

Heinz


>I ordered 7 of them and 7 Goodyear G159 tires. I have the wheels and tires
>and they are going to mount them on the motorhome Thursday.

 

[patrick flowers]

From: "Gilbert R. Bethel"
To:
Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa Wheel P/Ns
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 19:44:10 -0500

At the rally in Las Vegas the meeting on tires recommended the Goodyear G159
as first choice because of the smooth ride and the rubber compound the tire
is made of resists side wall cracking better than the other brands. The
side wall cracking issue is a real one motorhome owners should consider
because if the tire will give you 50K+ miles tread wear it may take several
years to get that many miles on the GMC. The side walls on many tires will
start to show weather checking after three or four years especially if there
has been some long storage times between trips. So by listening to the old
timers I thought I would take their advise and try the Goodyear's. I work
for a major airline and we use Goodyear tires so they must make a pretty
good tire. I have run Michelin tires on most of my other vehicles including
my F350 dual wheel flat bed truck and have been very happy with them. You
probably would be happy with either of them as they are both good tires.

Russ Bethel
1976 Glenbrook
- -----Original Message-----
From: Heinz Wittenbecher
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 1998 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa Wheel P/Ns

>Gilbert,
>I'd appreciate your comments re the G159 tires once you have them on.
>Especially re sidewall stability and of course ride in general. I have a
>real mixture on mine right now (best I could get in the top corner of
>Newfoundland when cracks showed up on 3 of 'em almost overnight).
>
>I am considering going back to Michellins but looking at alternatives. What
>made you decide on the Goodyears? Did you run them before?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Heinz
>
>
>
>>I ordered 7 of them and 7 Goodyear G159 tires. I have the wheels and
tires
>>and they are going to mount them on the motorhome Thursday.
>
>
>
>
>

 

[bartz paul]

The five spoke (part number 160251) Alcoa wheels are maximum wheel load
rated at 2440 pounds. The ones with the round holes (part number
160231) are rated at 2780 pounds. Russ Bethel says the price was
$125.99 each with center caps (are the round hole style) at Discount
Tire in San Antonio.

I'm personally aware of one coach owner who suffered a cracked wheel of
the five spoke design.

Paul Bartz
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CHill113 [SMTP:CHill113]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 1998 5:59 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa Wheel P/Ns
>
> OK, lets add a little more confusion!!!! I have just returned from our
> Classics rally where it was pointed out to me that there are at least
> two
> wheel patterns. One is the one with several round holes, and one with
> five
> cut outs. Both are Alcoa. The person pointing this out to me said he
> had read
> an article that the later with the cutouts might not be strong enough
> for our
> coach, but he hadn't heard of anyone having trouble. When we talk
> about price,
> which wheel are we talking about? Or are they the same price? And
> what about
> parts numbers on the two different patterns?

 

[bartz paul]

Russ:

Regarding the recommendations you heard at LV, one thing the Goodyear
tires have are steel sidewalls. According to the Michelin tech service
folks, the biggest advantage steel sidewalls give is increased weight
carrying capacity.

I'm convinced that steel sidewalls result in stiffer sidewalls and
consequently harder ride quality.

I went from Michelin XPS (also steel sidewalls) to Bridgestone R 265
series tires (non-steel walls). You would have thought I was riding on
square tires (Michelin).

Another thing I'm absolutely connived of is that after three to four
years of use, the rubber in a tire begins to get hard and that affects
ride. Consequently, I never listen to the salesman BS about 50,000 +
mile warranty tires because I don't want to use a tire that long when I
don't put that many miles on them within 3-4 years.

I'm sure you have noticed how much smoother a vehicle feels any time a
new set of tires is installed.

Paul Bartz

> From: Gilbert R. Bethel [SMTP:rbethel]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 1998 8:44 PM
> Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa Wheel P/Ns
>
> At the rally in Las Vegas the meeting on tires recommended the
> Goodyear G159 as first choice because of the smooth ride and the
> rubber compound the tire is made of resists side wall cracking better
> than the other brands. The side wall cracking issue is a real one
> motorhome owners should consider because if the tire will give you
> 50K+ miles tread wear it may take several years to get that many miles
> on the GMC. The side walls on many tires will start to show weather
> checking after three or four years especially if there has been some
> long storage times between trips. So by listening to the old timers I
> thought I would take their advise and try the Goodyear's. I work for
> a major airline and we use Goodyear tires so they must make a pretty
> good tire. I have run Michelin tires on most of my other vehicles
> including my F350 dual wheel flat bed truck and have been very happy
> with them. You probably would be happy with either of them as they
> are both good tires.
>
> Russ Bethel
> 1976 Glenbrook
>
> From: Heinz Wittenbecher
> Date: Wednesday, April 22, 1998 10:37 AM
> Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa Wheel P/Ns
>
>
> Gilbert,
>
> I'd appreciate your comments re the G159 tires once you have them on.
> Especially re sidewall stability and of course ride in general. I have
> a real mixture on mine right now (best I could get in the top corner
> of Newfoundland when cracks showed up on 3 of 'em almost overnight).
>
> I am considering going back to Michelin's but looking at alternatives.
> What made you decide on the Goodyear's? Did you run them before?
>
> Heinz
>
>
>
> I ordered 7 of them and 7 Goodyear G159 tires. I have the wheels and
> tires and they are going to mount them on the motorhome Thursday.