Yahoo Message Number: 95939 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/95939)
We are about to purchase a coach. Not FMCA members yet because we don't have a coach yet. This coach will need tires right away. How do we find a Michelin dealer who participates in the program? and price for 12R22.5 . we presume when we have VIN and other info we can get in FMCA quick as these tires should be driven to the nearest dealer! Thanks in advance
Chris
Yahoo Message Number: 95946 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/95946)
Go to the Michelin website and look for dealers in the Advantage plan.
You can join FMCA by listing the coach you plan to buy; I don't think timing is an issue.
More important, I believe, is choosing the correct tire. I have read of a number of our members buying Michelin XZEs because they come in the 12R size. At least I get the impression that is the reason. I bought replacement tires two years ago and choose XZA 2s. The XZE tire is a high milage tire, if I remember correctly and the XZA 2 is designed specifically for RVs. I have never heard of someone with a motorhome wearing out a set of tires, so high mileage quality is wasted as the tires go bad due to age. The XZA 2 will ride better and get better fuel mileage. My fuel mileage improved from 8.1 to 9.2+ just from the tires. I think the fuel savings will pay for the tires over their life.
The only negative of the XZA 2 in my opinion is speedometer error. My speedometer and odometer now read 3% high because of the reduced size of the 295R80s. I could get my engine computer reprogramed, just haven't gotten around to it. The load rating of these tires is actually higher than the Toyos and Goodyears that I previously had on the coach. I could not use the 315R80s because the spacing on the duels was not great enough. Anyway the larger tire would have resulted in a speedometer error in the other direction.
If I stay out of the mountains and on the interstates, I actually get better than 9.2, adjusted for the odometer error. It all depends on your driving habits.
Charles Brinkman, 2000 Allure 36
Yahoo Message Number: 95948 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/95948)
Remember there are two series of XZE. The 12R is a XZE* tire. The original Michelin long haul 12R
tire was the XZ2 that I used. They had a great ride and were very quiet.
The XZE * in 12 R size has a
thicker side wall and a deeper tread. Its made to take more abuse and is Michelins intermediate tire
filling the gap between long haul and urban, city bus use. If you will check warranties, you will see
Michelin is for only 5 years and doesn't cover wall cracking, which has become an issue for Michelin.
Continental and others give broader and longer coverage.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731
Original email:
-----------------
From: cbrinkman@... (cbrinkman@...) [Country-Coach-Owners] Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com (Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com) Date: 18 Jun 2014 07:51:13 -0700
To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com (Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com) Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: TIRES
Go to the Michelin website and look for dealers in the Advantage plan. You can join FMCA by listing the
coach you plan to buy; I don't think timing is an issue.
More important, I believe, is choosing the correct tire. I have read of a number of our members buying
Michelin XZEs because they come in the 12R size. At least I get the impression that is the reason. I
bought replacement tires two years ago and choose XZA 2s. The XZE tire is a high milage tire, if I
remember correctly and the XZA 2 is designed specifically for RVs. I have never heard of someone with a
motorhome wearing out a set of tires, so high mileage quality is wasted as the tires go bad due to age.
The XZA 2 will ride better and get better fuel mileage. My fuel mileage improved from 8.1 to 9.2+ just
from the tires. I think the fuel savings will pay for the tires over their life.
The only negative of the XZA 2 in my opinion is speedometer error. My speedometer and odometer now
read 3% high because of the reduced size of the 295R80s. I could get my engine computer
reprogramed, just haven't gotten around to it. The load rating of these tires is actually higher than the
Toyos and Goodyears that I previously had on the coach. I could not use the 315R80s because the
spacing on the duels was not great enough. Anyway the larger tire would have resulted in a
speedometer error in the other direction.
If I stay out of the mountains and on the interstates, I actually get better than 9.2, adjusted for the
odometer error. It all depends on your driving habits.
Charles Brinkman, 2000 Allure 36
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Yahoo Message Number: 95951 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/95951)
I have had no issues with cracking and in every instance where I have talked to people who complained of cracking it was a situation where the RV was parked for extended periods. All tires need to be driven for the protective additives to come to the surface. One individual said he drives from Michigan to Ajo AZ and parks for six months and then drives back to Michigan where he parks for six months.
Dan 2006 Allure 31348
Yahoo Message Number: 95961 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/95961)
Charles,
Thanks so much. You have answered most of the questions on the 285's vs 315's that I posed on this issue that no one else answered. I am not sure, but I think that the speedo error needs to be corrected at the speedometer. There may also be an engine computer error. I wonder how much of your increase in fuel economy is due to the tires vs essentially changing your axle ratio slightly. The one question I have left is whether there is some simple way to increase the dual spacing to allow 315's for ground clearance issues. I will call Les Schwab on that matter. I agree with you that from what I have read the XZA2's have a different compound with increase cracking resistance. I have XZ2's in the rear and the cracking has been awful. I do not camp for more than 3 months ever and it began within 2 years.
Rich 2002 Magna
Yahoo Message Number: 95965 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/95965)
Rich,
Regarding tire outside diameter changes and the speedo. If you change tire size and the outside diameter of the tire is different than the OEM tire when coach was manufactured the correct way to handle is through the Engine ECM.
The ECM Features & Parameters has a Tire (Revolutions per Mile Setting) i.e. 486 RMP or lets say 490 RPM, the Cummins or CAT shop can hookup their lap top and change that setting. Then your speedo, Miles Per Gallon will be accurate. You find the RMP of the Tire on Tire Manufacture Website for that model tire click on Specifications.
Thanks, Mike 03 Allure 1st Ave. #30898
Yahoo Message Number: 95970 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/95970)
Rich and the Group,
The numbers that I reported were adjusted for the speedo error. The source of the info was Silverleaf. We have a personal policy of not letting the coach sit for more than 30 days. If we have no where to go, we just go for a joy ride of 20 to 40 miles, maybe stop for lunch. This has worked for us and we have never had cracks in the tires (Goodyears 7 years old). On the spacing for the 315s, I saw no reason to go that large as the 295s offered more load capacity than you could ever safely need.
Charlie Brinkman 2000 Allure 30583
Yahoo Message Number: 95940 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/95940)
Join now with your new coach info. Check the FMCA website tire program for the details for finding a dealer and the average cost for the tires you need.
Good luck and welcome to the group!
George & Terri James
Fantasy RV Tours
Wagon Masters/Tail Gunners
RV Travel Ambassadors
210-240-7307
gjames@...
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