Alcoa Wheels

[hdavis]

>
>I agreed at first but how much longer are you going to be able to get 16.5"
>tires in load range E? I don't want to have a tire problem somewhere and
>not be able to get a replacement. Than you have a real problem.
>

Let me first say that I replaced the 16.5 wheels on our coach.

There's been a lot of talk over the last 5-6 years about the availability of 16.5" tires. While it's true that some
manufacturers have discontinued their 16.5 line, the tire remains available. It's commonly used on school buses and light
trucks. Here in Northern California most of the SAnta Cruz and Montery county school buses use the tire, so they're readily
available and cheap (compared to my G159s). So, at least for the near term the 16.5 isn't likely to go completely out of
production.

There are definately fewer suppliers of the 16.5" tire. And, in some parts of the country you may have to wait days to get
a replacement tire. But, that's the same story for my G159s. Some places don't have them in stock. So no matter what I'd have
to wait.

One of the reasons that I went to the Alcoas was the added flexibility that it gives me in case I NEED a tire while traveling.
I can, in a pinch, put a load range D tire on and drive more conservatively to another location. With the 16.5s I would have
no choice but to wait.

Henry '76 Palm Beach

Henry Davis Consulting, Inc / new product consulting
PO Box 1270 / product readiness reviews
Soquel, Ca 95073 / IP reviews
ph: (408) 462-5199 / full service marketing
fax: (408) 462-5198
http://www.henry-davis.com

 

[bartz paul]

Ditto on some of the commercial tire cleaners you buy in the store,
which warn on their labels against use on aluminum wheels.
But who looks at labels anyhow, huh????
Paul Bartz

From: LNelson208 [mailto:LNelson208]
Sent: Saturday, November 07, 1998 9:00 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa Wheels

Just my 2 cents, here, from my plan and marine experience (boats not Iwo
Jima). Keep the 409 (the cleaner not the engine) AWAY FROM YOUR COACH.
Why? Check the label, it will goober up any aluminum within your area
code

 

[hdavis]

>

>
>> I can, in a pinch, put a load range D tire on and drive more conservatively
>
>> to another location. With the 16.5s I would have
>> no choice but to wait.
>
>Henry,
> Surfing over to the Bridgestone/Firestone web site, I checked the
>load/inflation tables. An OEM size 8.75R16.5 has a load rating of 2,350 lbs
>in load range D ("8 ply"). The 9.50R16.5 tires I use on my Eleganza would
>have a load rating of 2,780 lbs IF they were load range D. By comparison, a
>225/75R16 OR a 215/85R16 tire has a capacity of only 2,335 lbs in load range
>D. Seems to me you're in exactly the same boat as someone with 8.75R16.5
>tires as far as emergency use of a load range D replacement. ???

Except that I've found across the US that it's much easier to find load range D 16" than the 16.5 in any load range. THat's
the ONLY "emergency replacement" advantage that I see in the Alcoas.

And I've got
>more reserve with my 9.50R16.5s if I had to settle for a load range D on the
>road.
> OTOH, if you've managed to squeeze in 235/85R16 tires, a load range D could
>carry 2,623 lbs, almost as much as the 9.50R16.5s. But I always heard that
>235/85R16s wouldn't fit. Then again, some folks think the 9.50R16.5s don't
>fit either, but they do just fine.

The G159s match the max weight permitted for the Alcoas pretty well (a few pounds more capacity in the tire than the wheel
if I recall correctly).

> Of course, we all are running load range E tires, so I can carry up to
>3,170 lbs/tire if I pumped them up to full 80 psi, so this all may be
>moot...... BTW, my Bridgestone M773 all-weather front tires saw their first
>snow (only 3"-4") this morning, and did quite well in it, noticeably better
>than the old Michelins they replaced.
>

Nice to hear the tires worked well in snow. As for myself, I'm avoiding the stuff.

Henry

Henry Davis Consulting, Inc / new product consulting
PO Box 1270 / product readiness reviews
Soquel, Ca 95073 / IP reviews
ph: (408) 462-5199 / full service marketing
fax: (408) 462-5198
http://www.henry-davis.com

 

[chuck will]

Noted: Dri Wash and Guard works on Wheels and Tires and, and, and, Glass,
mirrors, painted surfaces, etc. etc. etc. Chuck

> Ditto on some of the commercial tire cleaners you buy in the store,
> which warn on their labels against use on aluminum wheels.
> But who looks at labels anyhow, huh????
> Paul Bartz
>
> From: LNelson208 [mailto:LNelson208]
> Sent: Saturday, November 07, 1998 9:00 AM
> Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa Wheels
>
> Just my 2 cents, here, from my plan and marine experience (boats not Iwo
> Jima). Keep the 409 (the cleaner not the engine) AWAY FROM YOUR COACH.
> Why? Check the label, it will goober up any aluminum within your area
> code

 

[thomas g. warner]

JR are you the fellow that sells the Alcoa Wheels?

>The stamped steel valve covers can become warped if the bolts are
>tighten beyond the factory spec's. Cast Aluminum valve covers are nice
>and would prevent leaks because they are not flexible. A more
>inexpensive method would be to use extra wide vlave cover hold down
>clamps. These have been around for 20 years or more. You can find these
>at auto wrecking yards, but you can also buy them from JC Whitney for
>4.95 for a set of 4 and they are chromed plated to boot. In my latest
>catalog they are listed in the chrome and dress are or in where the
>valve covers are listed.
>
>J.R. Wright
>77 Eleganza II
>

>>
>> Marcus:
>>
>> I had the oil leak problem on the valve covers. What I did was use 1/8" by
>> 3/4" flat stock and placed this on the outboard (lower) top side of the
>> cover flanges. Drilled holes to match the cover bolt holes. You have to do
>> a little grinding or filing in a couple of places. This plate reinforces
>> the metal cover flange. Got the idea from my Audi's that I owned. This
>> standard equipment for them When tightening down the bolts pressure is
>> distributed evenly between the bolt holes. You may have to retorque the
>> bolts after running you engine to seat the gaskets. My leaks stopped.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>> 77 PB
>>

>> >Marcus
>> >
>> >The guy who helps me with my engine problems says check the valve
>> >covers. They are real easy to get to leak. It seems that the 455 has a
>> >habit of putting lots of oil in the valve covers. If the seal on the covers
>> >is not perfect they leak. He wants me to put on cast aluminum covers.
>> >He says they seal a lot better. He should know he has had a 455 in
>> >his dragster for as long as I have known him. We wont talk about
>> >how long that has been. That's what I have been told.
>> >
>> >Take Care
>> >Arch
>> >
>> >> In the valley where the plug goes there was a puddle of oil
>> >> and along the lower portion of the block and transmission it was covered
>> >> in oil. I have not removed the plug yet, the oil could not be coming
>> >> out of the cylinder as far as I know. The wires to the starter are
>> >> soaked and the general area is wet with oil. So there is a leak on the
>> >> rear passenger side of the block.
>> >
>> >
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach

 

[john wright]

NO! wish I did.

John

>
> JR are you the fellow that sells the Alcoa Wheels?
>

> >The stamped steel valve covers can become warped if the bolts are
> >tighten beyond the factory spec's. Cast Aluminum valve covers are nice
> >and would prevent leaks because they are not flexible. A more
> >inexpensive method would be to use extra wide vlave cover hold down
> >clamps. These have been around for 20 years or more. You can find these
> >at auto wrecking yards, but you can also buy them from JC Whitney for
> >4.95 for a set of 4 and they are chromed plated to boot. In my latest
> >catalog they are listed in the chrome and dress are or in where the
> >valve covers are listed.
> >
> >J.R. Wright
> >77 Eleganza II
> >

> >>
> >> Marcus:
> >>
> >> I had the oil leak problem on the valve covers. What I did was use 1/8" by
> >> 3/4" flat stock and placed this on the outboard (lower) top side of the
> >> cover flanges. Drilled holes to match the cover bolt holes. You have to do
> >> a little grinding or filing in a couple of places. This plate reinforces
> >> the metal cover flange. Got the idea from my Audi's that I owned. This
> >> standard equipment for them When tightening down the bolts pressure is
> >> distributed evenly between the bolt holes. You may have to retorque the
> >> bolts after running you engine to seat the gaskets. My leaks stopped.
> >>
> >> Bob
> >>
> >> 77 PB
> >>

> >> >Marcus
> >> >
> >> >The guy who helps me with my engine problems says check the valve
> >> >covers. They are real easy to get to leak. It seems that the 455 has a
> >> >habit of putting lots of oil in the valve covers. If the seal on the covers
> >> >is not perfect they leak. He wants me to put on cast aluminum covers.
> >> >He says they seal a lot better. He should know he has had a 455 in
> >> >his dragster for as long as I have known him. We wont talk about
> >> >how long that has been. That's what I have been told.
> >> >
> >> >Take Care
> >> >Arch
> >> >
> >> >> In the valley where the plug goes there was a puddle of oil
> >> >> and along the lower portion of the block and transmission it was covered
> >> >> in oil. I have not removed the plug yet, the oil could not be coming
> >> >> out of the cylinder as far as I know. The wires to the starter are
> >> >> soaked and the general area is wet with oil. So there is a leak on the
> >> >> rear passenger side of the block.
> >> >
> >> >
> >
> >
> Tom & Marg Warner
> Vernon Center NY
> 1976 palmbeach