Tires Again

I'm with Johnny on the Coopers. I have been running Cooper HT3 225/75R16 LRE on the rears for three years and Cooper AT3 245/70R16 LRE on my front
16" X 8" Dodge truck wheels on the front for two + years. I have been very happy with them so far.

I consider them kind of a compromise, but I had bad luck with the Kumhos that came on the coach when I got it, and the subsequent BFG Commercial TAs
that failed. Both brands had separation issues in less than 5 years. In the Southwest, tires do NOT last more than 5 years.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
 
J.R.,

Here is the brochure link for the Goodyear tires. When I purchased them, the salesperson suggested they would work well as they are more geared to
truck use, and would be strong on the sides as well. Again, they've worked well for me over the past 18 months and 11k miles.

https://www.goodyeartrucktires.com/pdf/resources/publications/armor_max_brochure.pdf
--
Brian K
1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
Bellevue, WA
Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall apart (discovering more as I go along....)
 
Brian,
Please reread my previous Email. An All Steel tire including a stiff sidewall is not the best tire for our coaches. It can and will cause issue with handling going down the road.

JR Wright

>
> J.R.,
>
> Here is the brochure link for the Goodyear tires. When I purchased them, the salesperson suggested they would work well as they are more geared to
> truck use, and would be strong on the sides as well. Again, they've worked well for me over the past 18 months and 11k miles.
>
> https://www.goodyeartrucktires.com/pdf/resources/publications/armor_max_brochure.pdf
> --
> Brian K
> 1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
> Bellevue, WA
> Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall apart (discovering more as I go along....)
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
I don't need to reread your post, I read it the first time. As I said, I've had no problem with those tires.
--
Brian K
1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
Bellevue, WA
Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall apart (discovering more as I go along....)
 
Brian,

My apologies if I have offended you. You like your tires and that is great! One must always be happy with their purchases. No flaming here, just an exchange of GMC experiences.

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 30’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan
 
JR,

No offense was taken. I truly appreciate your opinion. It's not that I am an advocate for these tires; but at this point, however, I can't really
remove them since they are functioning ok. But I will look into Poly sides next time.

Brian
--
Brian K
1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
Bellevue, WA
Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall apart (discovering more as I go along....)
 
These coaches, and the suspension alignment specs were designed around BIAS
PLY TIRES.
RADIAL TIRES were introduced about midway through our coaches
production run.
The specs were left unchanged in the manuals, but we have learned a
tiny bit (except for the stubborn purists out there) about radial tires and
alignment in 40 years.
These coaches with steel belted radial tires with rigid sidewalls are
an ill handling beast, they follow truck grooves and ruts and require
constant corrective input from the driver to go straight down the road.
Change to fabric sidewalls with steel belts under the tread and they
are a cat of a different color. Especially if the alignment specs are
optimized for radial tires, and the correct inflation pressures for the
load carried are used. One hand on the wheel is all that is necessary, and
they track straight and true.
But, this is a free country, and you can spend your money how you
choose. Just be safe out there.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or

> JR,
>
> No offense was taken. I truly appreciate your opinion. It's not that I
> am an advocate for these tires; but at this point, however, I can't really
> remove them since they are functioning ok. But I will look into Poly
> sides next time.
>
> Brian
> --
> Brian K
> 1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
> Bellevue, WA
> Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall
> apart (discovering more as I go along....)
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Well Said - Jim Hupy!
And a good explanation for our newbies!
Mike/The Corvair a holic

Sent from my iPhone

>
> These coaches, and the suspension alignment specs were designed around BIAS
> PLY TIRES.
> RADIAL TIRES were introduced about midway through our coaches
> production run.
> The specs were left unchanged in the manuals, but we have learned a
> tiny bit (except for the stubborn purists out there) about radial tires and
> alignment in 40 years.
> These coaches with steel belted radial tires with rigid sidewalls are
> an ill handling beast, they follow truck grooves and ruts and require
> constant corrective input from the driver to go straight down the road.
> Change to fabric sidewalls with steel belts under the tread and they
> are a cat of a different color. Especially if the alignment specs are
> optimized for radial tires, and the correct inflation pressures for the
> load carried are used. One hand on the wheel is all that is necessary, and
> they track straight and true.
> But, this is a free country, and you can spend your money how you
> choose. Just be safe out there.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
>

>>
>> JR,
>>
>> No offense was taken. I truly appreciate your opinion. It's not that I
>> am an advocate for these tires; but at this point, however, I can't really
>> remove them since they are functioning ok. But I will look into Poly
>> sides next time.
>>
>> Brian
>> --
>> Brian K
>> 1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
>> Bellevue, WA
>> Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall
>> apart (discovering more as I go along....)
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Jim and all, so I have a question in light of this discussion. I found the following online in doing some research after this thread.

http://www.bdub.net/Tires.html

I realize this is abut 16 years old, but does his suggestion that you keep the radial, all steel tires, slightly under inflated than the maximum PSI
requirement hold water?
--
Brian K
1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
Bellevue, WA
Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall apart (discovering more as I go along....)
 
I tend to look to the tire makers recommendation and the load I put on them.

I run Firestone Transforce HTtires.

I weigh the coach and inflate accordingly.

It’s on page 7

https://commercial.firestone.com/content/dam/bcs-sites/firestone/TBR/load-inflation-tables/mar2015/FS_TBR_load-inflation-tables_web_2014.pdf

FWIW, I used my timed out tires on one of the company trucks. Different pressures because of the dually and loading.

Dolph Santorine

DE AD0LF

Wheeling, West Virginia

1977 ex-Palm Beach TZE167V100820
1-ton, Sullybuilt Bags, Reaction Arms, 3.70 LSD, Manny Transmission, EV-6010,

>
> Jim and all, so I have a question in light of this discussion. I found the following online in doing some research after this thread.
>
> http://www.bdub.net/Tires.html
>
> I realize this is abut 16 years old, but does his suggestion that you keep the radial, all steel tires, slightly under inflated than the maximum PSI
> requirement hold water?
> --
> Brian K
> 1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
> Bellevue, WA
> Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall apart (discovering more as I go along....)
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Brian, I have a heavy 78 Royale. I don't remember the exact number of
pounds on each wheel/tire combination, but my B.F.GOODRICH T/A tires call
for a maximum inflation pressure of 80 psi. When I figured out my running
pressures, it came out to 65 psi front, 55 - 60 rears. It shows no unusual
tire wear after 2 years of use. Particularly after I straightened the bent
bogie arm on the forward passenger side.
I tried higher pressures and the coach drove and rode quite a bit
harsher. Under inflation is not good, but neither is over inflation. Weigh
the coach, and use the tire/wheel company recommendations. Check tire
pressures every morning when on the road, and before every trip. These old
coaches require maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Fix them at home,
not on the road.
Jim Hupy

> I tend to look to the tire makers recommendation and the load I put on
> them.
>
> I run Firestone Transforce HTtires.
>
> I weigh the coach and inflate accordingly.
>
> It’s on page 7
>
>
> https://commercial.firestone.com/content/dam/bcs-sites/firestone/TBR/load-inflation-tables/mar2015/FS_TBR_load-inflation-tables_web_2014.pdf
>
> FWIW, I used my timed out tires on one of the company trucks. Different
> pressures because of the dually and loading.
>
>
> Dolph Santorine
>
> DE AD0LF
>
> Wheeling, West Virginia
>
> 1977 ex-Palm Beach TZE167V100820
> 1-ton, Sullybuilt Bags, Reaction Arms, 3.70 LSD, Manny Transmission,
> EV-6010,
>
>

> >
> > Jim and all, so I have a question in light of this discussion. I found
> the following online in doing some research after this thread.
> >
> > http://www.bdub.net/Tires.html
> >
> > I realize this is abut 16 years old, but does his suggestion that you
> keep the radial, all steel tires, slightly under inflated than the maximum
> PSI
> > requirement hold water?
> > --
> > Brian K
> > 1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
> > Bellevue, WA
> > Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall
> apart (discovering more as I go along....)
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
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