Yahoo Message Number: 73843 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73843)
Have any of you taken advantage of this program? If so, were you pleased with the discount offered?
Any comments would be appreciated.
Nate Richards
04 Allure 31043
Yahoo Message Number: 73870 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73870)
Hi Nate - As a condition of purchase of our coach, we got credit from the 1st owner for a new set of shoes all around. We used BG Goodrich as the tire to base this credit off of.
I decided to go with the Michelins XZE* instead, paying the difference between them and BF Goodrich. I think the BF Goodrich would have served me well too.
I called TCI (somehow connected with Michelin, maybe owned by them), Park House Tire, Costco tire, and then my regular tire shop of 30 years Discount Tire (Working with the same Manager for 30+ years, started out when he was at old Southern California 4Day Tires.) In all calls, I waited to speak to the Manager, as they have the ability to make a deal. I politely said that I was looking for dates codes of 3 months or less, and that I would inspect each tires date before install. That I was looking for their best price, and told them whom I was quoting from. I also said this would include full balance of all 8 tires, including the duals. And that I would be very picky about, and would want to see, the tire being 'centered' on the rim (balance does nothing to help a tire that is not centered properly, and the large the tire, the more important the centering of the tire to the rim becomes).
Park House Tire and TCI came in within $50 of each other. I went with Park House, because it is closer to where I live. I think TCI would have done just as good a job. I tipped the installer $10 per tire up front, and said another $40 when he showed me all 8 tires centered well on the rims - he did, and he also spent a bit more time on the balance.
I do not have the receipt, and probably does not matter, as tire prices do fluctuate. But I know both TCI and Park House both came down quite a bit on the tires, from my first casual call to obtain pricing of various tires (Mich's, BG Goodrich (Made by Michelin, and good value for the upper tier 2 tire range. Some consider the Michelin and BF Goodrich to both be Tier 1 tires.) and Bridgestone.
Different parts of the country deal differently. I've also heard many people plan trips and tires while on the road in states where no sales taxes exist, Oregon is I think such a place, and many report good results with Le's Schwab tires. I'll look into that in 7 years:)! I try to be fair, but consistent on asking for discounts on many items I purchase - lots of room on these big ticket RV tires.
Oh - No FMCA info at all:)! May be a no fuss deal..
Best of luck on your tire search,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
Costco and Discount will not mount the big tires, so I had to factor this into the costs quotes
Yahoo Message Number: 73895 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73895)
Hi Smitty,
Thank you for all that information. I am starting down the road of utilizing this program and will report on the outcome. To start the process today I met with the manager of the local Michelin dealer who deals with their national programs.
Nate Richards
04 Allure 34043
Yahoo Message Number: 73896 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73896)
Nate, I'm also interested in what you discover. I'm currently in Loveland, CO and talking to a TCI dealer. They have six in stock but they are almost a year old. They have no idea how long it will take to get new ones from Michelin and they don't know how old they will be. They obviously want to sell the ones they have in stock.
Jerry
07 Allure 31485
Yahoo Message Number: 73900 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73900)
Nate,
Please explain what you mean by "tires centered well on the rims", that is something new to me.
Thanks,
Jon Gullette
2004 Inspire #51008
Yahoo Message Number: 73912 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73912)
hi most tire shops mount the tire then before puting any air in it they roll it in the cage then inflate. this alows the tirre to slide down on the rim so it isn't centered. it should be partialy inflated while laying flat on the floor, then it will center it's self on the rim. They will say it isn't so but tell them to slowly spin it on your unit & see the runout.
some times they get lucky & no runout . Been there done that, with 46 tubeless tire on my old truck (11 axles)... I've seen it all. Bob '02 magna6028
From: jryder3344
To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 8:29 AM Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: FMCA Michelin Advantage Program
Nate,
Please explain what you mean by "tires centered well on the rims", that is something new to me.
Thanks,
Jon Gullette
2004 Inspire #51008
Yahoo Message Number: 73916 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73916)
Jon,
See John's comments in the following message. This is my tire replacement maiden voyage so I have no experience with that warning.
Nate Richards
04 Allure 31043
Yahoo Message Number: 73918 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73918)
There have been many coments on the Michelin Tire Program and yet not one mention of the follar or percentage amount saved. I spoke twice to a ony L who stated he would help explain the program end e-mail me the savings. Never yet has he done it. SO! How much do we save???? FAF o4' Allure 31072
Yahoo Message Number: 73921 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73921)
Frank,
If you are an FMCA member, log in to their website and find the page on this program - it's only available to members. There are complete instructions regarding how to proceed.
Nate Richards
04 Allure 31043
Yahoo Message Number: 73929 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73929)
I am a FMCA member, and I downloaded the ifo, there is no mention of how much you save. You are to contact a Michlen dealer, which I did but they have no idea what you can save
Yahoo Message Number: 73935 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73935)
North State Bandag in Sacramento quoted $3,283 for four 295/80R22.5 XZA2 Energy tires mounted on the rear without balancing but with tax.
The price came down to $2,941 using the FMCA program for a savings or $342 or $85 a tire including tax.
Bob Dickman in Junction City quoted $2,880 for the same thing not using the FMCA program which they do not participate in.
I am looking forward to getting them installed at the end of this week in Sacramento . I will be using Dynabeads for balancing.
The original Toyo's are worn out with 46,000 miles on them.
Bob Cole, Auburn , CA
2005 Inspire 51394
Yahoo Message Number: 73937 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73937)
Hi Jon - I know I commented about 'centering the tire on the rim' in my post to Nate. What I meant by that, was the tire mounter has a job to do in making sure the tire is evenly centered around the rim. If a tire is off in one area, then the tire in relation to the rim, has a high side/low side, and you get a mild egg roll going down the road. The bigger the tire diameter the more profound the impact of a non centered tire to rim.
Looking from the side, you see the tread, inner circle of tire where it attaches to the rim, the actual rim itself, then the hub of the wheel. If that inner circle is off say 1/8" to one side of the metal rim, then you are out of round. Most tires have a line on the tire, for the installer to 'eye ball' the setting to the rim. I had my installer show me via a metal ruller, that he had the same setting in four areas of the rim to the tire. He did a good job, and he did 'adjust' with this ruler a few times, before letting me see the final setting.
I felt it was important enough, along with normal balancing, that I tipped the installer for eacth tire up front, with a promise of more at the end if I was plesed. Figure major cost for the tires, and last 7 years I hope, so extra attention on mounting was worth the cost of the tip.
Worked well for me.
Best,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
Yahoo Message Number: 73938 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/73938)
Frank,
I had the same experience with the dealer I am working with. He had no idea what the price is. I picked up the phone and called the FMCA general information number on the back of my membership card. The woman I spoke with gave me an estimated price for the particular model and size tire I want. She assured me the final price would be no higher than her estimate. On that basis, I told the dealer to go ahead and bring in six tires. He and I also agreed on balancing, taxes, disposal and installation costs.
After these are installed next week, I will post details of the entire transaction.
Nate Richards
04 Allure 31043