D Range Tires, E Range Tires

[none]

I don't know how many tires you guys and gals blow at one time, but why
don't you just keep a decent spare on the back of your toy and use it when
you need it?
Jim Davis, 77 Coca Cola
Bandon, Oregon

- -----Original Message-----
From: hdavis [SMTP:hdavis]
Sent: Monday, November 09, 1998 10:12 AM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoa Wheels

>

>
>> 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

 

[hdavis]

>
>I don't know how many tires you guys and gals blow at one time, but why
>don't you just keep a decent spare on the back of your toy and use it when
>you need it?
>Jim Davis, 77 Coca Cola
>Bandon, Oregon

I do keep 7 good tires on the coach "at all times." I do a 7 wheel rotation. The point of being able to use a lesser
tire for a short distance being: if you travel any appreciable distance and have one tire trashed for any reason it can be
difficult to get the seventh tire in the same style and load range. So, from my viewpoint, having a little flexibility in case
the right tire isn't available to go on as a spare can save time. I haven't had to exercise the option, and don't expect to.
But, when you travel cross country coast-to-coast on a set schedule it's nice to have some options.

FWIW, I saw more than one rig (SOB) with all tires on one side gone this summer. TT were by far the worst, but returning from
Pennsylvania to California I saw 6-7 coaches with at least two tires gone on the same side. I talked to a few of the owners,
and the reason appeared to have been road debris catching one side.

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