We have had our 76 Palm Beach about a year. Most of that year has been spent
getting it updated. We let one of the experts, Bob Lamey go over it
completely and we are very pleased with all that Bob did. We are just about
finished with the inside and so are almost ready to do some serious
cruising. The tires are that last open item. The coach has:
1. 6 Bridgestone tires in good shape
2. All 6 tires are 9.50 x 16.5 R260 (oversize steel radial tires for
this rig) don't know why it was done!!
3. The 2 front tires are 10 ply E rated
4. The 2 middle tires are 8 ply D rated
5. The 2 rear tires are 10 ply E rated
This whole setup is non standard and I wanted to know if it was safe and
what tire pressures I should be running. I've been running 65# all around.
I finally searched and found a product manager at Bridgestone who was
willing to assist.
I told him the above info, and that the front axle load was 4400 pounds, and
that each rear axle was about 4000 to 4200 pounds. I asked if the mixing of
D and E was okay. First, he commented that 9.50 was oversize for the coach.
( That is when I knew I was talking to a knowledgeable person) Next, he said
the oversize was okay and created no dangerous conditions. He further said
that the mixing of load ratings of the tires was okay as long as the load
rating for each tire was not exceeded.
Next I asked him about tire pressure. I was startled with his response!!!
He said based upon the loads you have stated our tables show that you should
use 50# pressure in the front and could use 47# in the 4 rear, however to
keep things simple, just use 50# all around!! He further advised that the
correct pressure for a D or an E was the same, for a given tire size, as
long as they were carrying the same load. Now I asked him to explain "why
so low" ? He stated that the pressure that he gave me were from tables for
9.50 x 16.5 R260s loaded as above, and that the pressure would be greater
for the stated loads if I had the standard 8.75 x 16.5!! (Didn't ask what
that pressure would be).
The purpose of this E-Mail is to share this info with you and to ask any of
you who have a different perspective to share that with me.
His parting comments were to make sure that the steel rims on the coach were
rated for radial tire loading!!
Anyone know if 76 GM 16.5 wheels are load rated for radials?
Ken Thatcher
jtkthatcher
getting it updated. We let one of the experts, Bob Lamey go over it
completely and we are very pleased with all that Bob did. We are just about
finished with the inside and so are almost ready to do some serious
cruising. The tires are that last open item. The coach has:
1. 6 Bridgestone tires in good shape
2. All 6 tires are 9.50 x 16.5 R260 (oversize steel radial tires for
this rig) don't know why it was done!!
3. The 2 front tires are 10 ply E rated
4. The 2 middle tires are 8 ply D rated
5. The 2 rear tires are 10 ply E rated
This whole setup is non standard and I wanted to know if it was safe and
what tire pressures I should be running. I've been running 65# all around.
I finally searched and found a product manager at Bridgestone who was
willing to assist.
I told him the above info, and that the front axle load was 4400 pounds, and
that each rear axle was about 4000 to 4200 pounds. I asked if the mixing of
D and E was okay. First, he commented that 9.50 was oversize for the coach.
( That is when I knew I was talking to a knowledgeable person) Next, he said
the oversize was okay and created no dangerous conditions. He further said
that the mixing of load ratings of the tires was okay as long as the load
rating for each tire was not exceeded.
Next I asked him about tire pressure. I was startled with his response!!!
He said based upon the loads you have stated our tables show that you should
use 50# pressure in the front and could use 47# in the 4 rear, however to
keep things simple, just use 50# all around!! He further advised that the
correct pressure for a D or an E was the same, for a given tire size, as
long as they were carrying the same load. Now I asked him to explain "why
so low" ? He stated that the pressure that he gave me were from tables for
9.50 x 16.5 R260s loaded as above, and that the pressure would be greater
for the stated loads if I had the standard 8.75 x 16.5!! (Didn't ask what
that pressure would be).
The purpose of this E-Mail is to share this info with you and to ask any of
you who have a different perspective to share that with me.
His parting comments were to make sure that the steel rims on the coach were
rated for radial tire loading!!
Anyone know if 76 GM 16.5 wheels are load rated for radials?
Ken Thatcher
jtkthatcher
