Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic

[slc]

Hello everyone and let me say I hope you don't mind this subject being brought up.

First, I have Michelins, they are 10 years old and have severe side wall cracks on all 6 tires. The spare is covered on the back.
The mechanic sells about 30 different makes and types of tires. He has been mentioning how he has had a lot of Michelin returns because of side wall
cracks and other damage. These are tires he has sold to customers under a year old.

I have my guard up now. Since Michelin is the most expensive tire on the tire list, I question going into Michelins knowing that there has been
recent tire concerns.

I was shown a Tire called a Bridgestone Dueler. I saw a set of these tires that were removed from a Suburban. They had 85,000 miles on them and
looked good tread wise and no damage to the sides or tracks.

He looked up the size I Need for the GMC and the link listed below is in the Dueler tire family.
The link takes you to a page that talks about the tire, lists specs and conversation about some travel they have experienced.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/wheels-tires/129-0805-bridgestone-duravis-r500-hd-tire-test/

The mechanic has a set of these tires and he really likes them and has suggested them for the GMC Motorhome.
I'd appreciate anyone taking the time to look it over and giving an honest opinion....

Thanks for your support.

slc
Gatsbys' Cruiser
--
GatsbysCruise. \
74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO -
UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center

 

[Irish Rogue]

SLC:
No help on the Bridgestone Dueler as no experience w/ them - I really like Firestone Transforce for the price, the ride, and minimum of complaints!
My mechanic - a long time GMCer also uses and recommends them!
Mike/The Corvair a holic

Sent from my iPhone

>
> Hello everyone and let me say I hope you don't mind this subject being brought up.
>
> First, I have Michelins, they are 10 years old and have severe side wall cracks on all 6 tires. The spare is covered on the back.
> The mechanic sells about 30 different makes and types of tires. He has been mentioning how he has had a lot of Michelin returns because of side wall
> cracks and other damage. These are tires he has sold to customers under a year old.
>
> I have my guard up now. Since Michelin is the most expensive tire on the tire list, I question going into Michelins knowing that there has been
> recent tire concerns.
>
> I was shown a Tire called a Bridgestone Dueler. I saw a set of these tires that were removed from a Suburban. They had 85,000 miles on them and
> looked good tread wise and no damage to the sides or tracks.
>
> He looked up the size I Need for the GMC and the link listed below is in the Dueler tire family.
> The link takes you to a page that talks about the tire, lists specs and conversation about some travel they have experienced.
>
> http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/wheels-tires/129-0805-bridgestone-duravis-r500-hd-tire-test/
>
> The mechanic has a set of these tires and he really likes them and has suggested them for the GMC Motorhome.
> I'd appreciate anyone taking the time to look it over and giving an honest opinion....
>
> Thanks for your support.
>
> slc
> Gatsbys' Cruiser
> --
> GatsbysCruise. \
> 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
> Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO -
> UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[d c *mac* macdonald]

I've used Bridgestone Duelers on both a 2004 Ford F-250 and 1999 GMC Sierra 2500. No complaints at all.

D C "Mac" Macdonald​
Amateur Radio K2GKK​
Since 30 November '53​
USAF and FAA, Retired​
Member GMCMI & Classics​
Oklahoma City, OK​
"The Money Pit"​
TZE166V101966​
'76 ex-Palm Beach​
k2gkk + hotmail dot com​

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Mike Kelley
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2018 22:10
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic

SLC:
No help on the Bridgestone Dueler as no experience w/ them - I really like Firestone Transforce for the price, the ride, and minimum of complaints!
My mechanic - a long time GMCer also uses and recommends them!
Mike/The Corvair a holic

Sent from my iPhone

>
> Hello everyone and let me say I hope you don't mind this subject being brought up.
>
> First, I have Michelins, they are 10 years old and have severe side wall cracks on all 6 tires. The spare is covered on the back.
> The mechanic sells about 30 different makes and types of tires. He has been mentioning how he has had a lot of Michelin returns because of side wall
> cracks and other damage. These are tires he has sold to customers under a year old.
>
> I have my guard up now. Since Michelin is the most expensive tire on the tire list, I question going into Michelins knowing that there has been
> recent tire concerns.
>
> I was shown a Tire called a Bridgestone Dueler. I saw a set of these tires that were removed from a Suburban. They had 85,000 miles on them and
> looked good tread wise and no damage to the sides or tracks.
>
> He looked up the size I Need for the GMC and the link listed below is in the Dueler tire family.
> The link takes you to a page that talks about the tire, lists specs and conversation about some travel they have experienced.
>
> https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fourwheeler.com%2Fhow-to%2Fwheels-tires%2F129-0805-bridgestone-duravis-r500-hd-tire-test%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C203d51f0d5f44ec036da08d60713b004%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636704178468893192&sdata=MTonepehXb6iM%2BU6HobLprTEELJoeiwkorbgunvrV98%3D&reserved=0
>
> The mechanic has a set of these tires and he really likes them and has suggested them for the GMC Motorhome.
> I'd appreciate anyone taking the time to look it over and giving an honest opinion....
>
> Thanks for your support.
>
> slc
> Gatsbys' Cruiser
> --
> GatsbysCruise. \
> 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
> Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO -
> UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flist.gmcnet.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fgmclist_list.gmcnet.org&data=02%7C01%7C%7C203d51f0d5f44ec036da08d60713b004%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636704178468893192&sdata=gSH%2BMh5FrrraKzqAoNUMBNxQWiqJu7DGLbBZIhQr77o%3D&reserved=0

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[david h. jarvis]

Beware of tires that give really high mileage. The compound is more plastic than rubber.
They do not stop very well in rain. Very little traction in wet weather.

 

[john r. lebetski]

Beware of that nylon layer. They take a memory when they sit as RVs do. I highly recommend the Cooper HT3. Especially when on sale at Farm and Fleet
at 25% off and free Visa debit card gift. About $120 a piece when I got mine. These replaced Michelin LTX which are sill in my garage and look like
new but over age. No cracks.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

 

[powwerjon]

Mike, You don=E2=80=99t say if you still have 16.5 inch wheels or newer 1=
6 inch wheels. If you have the 16.5 inch wheels the Firestone Transforce t=
ires are the only one available that is being made that I would put on a GM=
C. Great tire for low to medium mileage use. If you have the 16 inch whee=
ls then the field has more selections available for you and a wider range o=
f pricing. First of all, I have run Michelins for over a decades on se=
veral GMC=E2=80=99s including my current coach which is a Buskirk Stretch. =
I have NEVER had issues with any of the Michelins. That said I driven the=
coaches I have owned over the years many miles ( 1998 thru today 120K+mile=
s). I have in the past used the Firestone RTS tire, BF Goodrich tire, Good=
year G159 and Goodyear 149 tire, the 149 tire being the newer version of th=
e 159 tire and are a steel sidewall tire in both versions and was a harsher=
riding tire with a rut running problem especially is you ran at a higher =
pressure above 70 psig. The Firestone was an Poly sidewall tire that impro=
ved the ride and drivability greatly, difference between night and day. I =
still have a set for the 75 Avion purchased in 1999 to move the coach aroun=
d the shop and they well be replaced by Michelins when the coach is ready t=
o be sold. I have also run steel sidewall on the back and poly side walls =
on the front and the ride was acceptable. The best ride has always been th=
e poly sidewall in all 6 positions on the coach. I also run a 225 75R LRE =
tire on the front only if you run a 235 or 245 tire on the back. I am NOT =
a proponent of overside tires. I do not what to reduce the mechanical adva=
ntage of my final drive. I have run a number of different ratios over the =
years. The 3.07 that was in our 1977, 403 engine coach was a real dog. Th=
at got switch out to a Jim K. 3.55 and that really woke up the coach and I =
could run with any coach including a 455 coach. The present stretch coach =
uses a 3.21 final with a 3.50 chain drive for a final ration of 3.667 and t=
hat is a great gear for going down the road and driving out west while towi=
ng a Honda CR-V. IMHO I consider the Michelins to be the best tire if=
your driving 8 to 10K+ miles a year and I change them every 5 or 6 years u=
nless the miles are high. If your a 2 to 4K miles driver as a majority of =
GMC owner are then you can consider a less costly tire for your application=
s. I only use a Load Range E tire as the D rated is false economy and sho=
uld only be use on a 23 foot coach and early manuals listed the D rated tir=
e as acceptable for all early coaches, check the door on your glove box. 2=
6 foot coaches end up weighting more than the name plate on the coach and u=
se a D rated tire at your own risk. Starting at the higher end below the M=
ichelin tires, the BF Goodrich Commercial T/A All-Season 2 andBridgestone D=
ueler H/T 685 tires are good choices. Cooper Discoverer HT3, Firestone Tra=
nsforce HT, General Grabber HD, General Grabber HTS, Goodyears Wrangler HT =
make good LRE tires. A number have run the Hankook or Kumho tires with good=
service. I know that I have not mentioned all tires that that could be us=
ed. Let=E2=80=99s talk tire pressures, if you look a suggested pressur=
e on the tire sidewall you will find them at the 80 psig listing and they r=
ide and steer like a big truck. I have run ranges between 55 and 65 psig =
depending on the coach. It is good if you could have the coach weighed at =
each tire and set your tire pressures as needed. The choice of tires i=
s pretty wide depending on what you want to spend. Buy tires on how much y=
ou drive your coach and not necessary by price. Remember a low cost tire c=
an cost you thousands of dollars to repair damage to your coach instead of =
spending just a little bit more. My comments are based on MY Experienc=
es. All the tires I have listed have been used by fellow GMC owners with s=
uccess depend on service usage. Good Info on tires and ratios, Th=
is is a very good article by Byron Songer and list many of the items that I=
have mentioned in the above text and read it just before I sent this email=
. http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Songer_Tire-Safety.pdf http://www=
.gmceast.com/technical/Brown_Drive_Tire_Ratios.pdf JR Wright GMC Gre=
at Laker MHC GMC Eastern States Charter Member GMCGL Tech Editor GMCM=
I 78 GMC Buskirk 30=E2=80=99 Stretch 1975 GMC Avion (Under Reconstructi=
on) Michigan > On Aug 20, 2018, at 11:29 PM, David H. Jarvis wrote: > > Beware of tires that give really high milea=
ge. The compound is more plastic than rubber. > They do not stop very wel=
l in rain. Very little traction in wet weather. > > > _____________=
__________________________________ > GMCnet mailing list > Unsubscribe =
or Change List Options: > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist=
_list.gmcnet.org

 

[johnny]

I use the Coopers. Local guy has sold them to me for years for the right price. Unless you spend a lot of time on the road, they'll age out long
before they wear out. Consequently, shopping price among the known brands is probably the move.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased

 

[slc]

Thanks for your thoughts.
As I mentioned, I hate having to select tires for the GMC. Just it's weight alone brings concern and having to consider the aging factor and other
things, at least to me, makes this a difficult selection.
I'd just go with what I had, Michelins, but the return rate at the mechanics over the last year has been just too high to consider comfortably.

I really appreciate your thoughts and recommendations.
The Bridgestone DURAVIS R500 HD seems to be made for vehicles that carry extra weight and "sound" like they may be a good choice. A bit pricy, not
as much as Michelin but more that the others. Choices, choices, choices! ! !

Again, thankyou for your help.

slc
Gatsbys' Cruiser
Glacier X 260
--
GatsbysCruise. \
74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO -
UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center