Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

I have started looking for new tires for our coach as it has the
origional tires on it. While they are showing no cracking at all, I am
still concerned about their age and would like to start swapping them
out before I have to do it from the side of the road. The current
tires are 12R22.5 which seems to be a lot more uncommon than
11R22.5s(which I run on my dump truck). From talking to a couple tire
people they say the 11R22.5 are a little smaller(shorter). Has anyone
switched from the 12s to the 11s? Any recomendations on a particular
brand?

Thanks,
John Cassel
98 Wanderlodge LX

John,

The bigger concern is load and tire pressure, The smaller tire
may not support your coach weight,

Check out the rv tire section, then click on load and inflation
tables, at the michelin web site. Going smaller may not be a good
idea.

http://www.michelintruck.com/michelintruck/hom_us.jsp

Has anyone tried a bigger size, that is more available???

Bill 88 FC


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John"
wrote:
>
> I have started looking for new tires for our coach as it has the
> origional tires on it. While they are showing no cracking at all,
I
am
> still concerned about their age and would like to start swapping
them
> out before I have to do it from the side of the road. The current
> tires are 12R22.5 which seems to be a lot more uncommon than
> 11R22.5s(which I run on my dump truck). From talking to a couple
tire
> people they say the 11R22.5 are a little smaller(shorter). Has
anyone
> switched from the 12s to the 11s? Any recomendations on a
particular
> brand?
>
> Thanks,
> John Cassel
> 98 Wanderlodge LX
>

Bill,
I was looking at the charts earlier....The larger ones do have a
higher load capacity. I think the 11Rs would probably be ok for the
weight, but I was looking at the size of the acceptable wheels(rims).
Depending on which rims are on the coach, the 11Rs might not be
compatible anyway. I was also concerned about lowering the ground
clearance if they are shorter as well. I will probably just stick with
the 12R22.5s

John


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "pattypape"
wrote:
>
> John,
>
> The bigger concern is load and tire pressure, The smaller tire
> may not support your coach weight,
>
> Check out the rv tire section, then click on load and inflation
> tables, at the michelin web site. Going smaller may not be a good
> idea.
>
> http://www.michelintruck.com/michelintruck/hom_us.jsp
>
> Has anyone tried a bigger size, that is more available???
>
> Bill 88 FC
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John"
> wrote:
> >
> > I have started looking for new tires for our coach as it has the
> > origional tires on it. While they are showing no cracking at all,
> I
> am
> > still concerned about their age and would like to start swapping
> them
> > out before I have to do it from the side of the road. The current
> > tires are 12R22.5 which seems to be a lot more uncommon than
> > 11R22.5s(which I run on my dump truck). From talking to a couple
> tire
> > people they say the 11R22.5 are a little smaller(shorter). Has
> anyone
> > switched from the 12s to the 11s? Any recomendations on a
> particular
> > brand?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > John Cassel
> > 98 Wanderlodge LX
> >
>

According to Vintage Birds history link on BB's, most 12R tires were
optional...the 11r's were standard issue. This tells me that the 11R's are
fine,
but the 12R's are mo betta.

Kevin McKeown
Yorba Linda, CA
1986 38PT (With 12R 22.5 tires)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Most owners with 11R's switch to 12R's. Why would you want to do the
reverse? Have you weighed the axles? I dont think the FC's can use the
newer metric sized tires but maybe in your case one of them would fit .
These seem to be more common. Lots of Country Coach owners have the
12r's and dont seem to have any problem finding them. I checked in
Phoenix and at least 4 dealers had them in stock. I am sure that it is
the same in any larger center. You need to go to a big truck tire
dealer. He should have them or be able to get them quickly.

Bruce 1988 FC35

I agree the 12R22.5s are a better choice. I also found it interesting
that on Michelin's web site...in their downloadable RV Tire Guide,
that it stated 10 years as their limit on the service life of tires.
Even so, ours are 8 years old and I'm going to start replacing them.
It also stated that tires that have been in use for 5 or more years
should be checked at least once a year by a specialist.

John Cassel
98 Wanderlodge LX

-- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, krminyl@... wrote:
>
> According to Vintage Birds history link on BB's, most 12R tires were
> optional...the 11r's were standard issue. This tells me that the
11R's are fine,
> but the 12R's are mo betta.
>
> Kevin McKeown
> Yorba Linda, CA
> 1986 38PT (With 12R 22.5 tires)
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

A good way to rotate out your tires is to move last years brand new
steer set back to one side of the duels. and move the oldest duels to
the tag. sell the four year old tag to a owner operator trucker. I
replace all ten tires on a dumptruck every year (offroad abuse). all
but the steer are recaps. even a worn out set of steer have core
value. You should easily get upto $300. for a good set of 4 year old
noncaps. check mfg dates on tires that you buy. the CHP looks also.
GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John"
wrote:
>
> I agree the 12R22.5s are a better choice. I also found it
interesting
> that on Michelin's web site...in their downloadable RV Tire Guide,
> that it stated 10 years as their limit on the service life of tires.
> Even so, ours are 8 years old and I'm going to start replacing them.
> It also stated that tires that have been in use for 5 or more years
> should be checked at least once a year by a specialist.
>
> John Cassel
> 98 Wanderlodge LX
>
> -- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, krminyl@ wrote:
> >
> > According to Vintage Birds history link on BB's, most 12R tires
were
> > optional...the 11r's were standard issue. This tells me that the
> 11R's are fine,
> > but the 12R's are mo betta.
> >
> > Kevin McKeown
> > Yorba Linda, CA
> > 1986 38PT (With 12R 22.5 tires)
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

Keep in mind John is talking about a *98* LX with a GVWR of 47,200.
The VintageBird site shows 12R22.5 as the only tire offered for that
model. The way I read the Michelin charts, there's no way I would
even think of using 11Rs on that Bird. The 11Rs quit being the
standard tire in 1988 when the portly wide bodies came out. Then the
12R became standard.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, krminyl@... wrote:
>
> According to Vintage Birds history link on BB's, most 12R tires were
> optional...the 11r's were standard issue. This tells me that the
11R's are fine,
> but the 12R's are mo betta.
>
> Kevin McKeown
> Yorba Linda, CA
> 1986 38PT (With 12R 22.5 tires)
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hi John, you have already received several answers to your inquiry; however,
I thought that I would add a few additional thoughts. I believe that what
you are thinking of doing would not only be ill advised but may be downright
dangerous. From my years as a tire engineer and with A’ Weigh We Go
weighing coaches including many Bluebirds (my own PT-36 included) I have
knowledge that most all late 90s Birds are very close to their maximum GVWR
or GAWR as delivered and many are over that critical (and legally
enforceable) limit when operated.

For that reason based on the lessor ability to carry a load the 11R tires
are in no way suitable for use on your 98 LX. The actual load capability
for the 12R and 11R are #6610/7390 & #6780/6005 (single/dual) respectively,
thus, you can see that there is a major reduction in the tires carrying
capacity, probably less that your coach requires. On the slim chance that
your specific coach might be unusually light where the 11R could carry the
weight it will require an increase in tire pressure to do so, something that
most RVers hate to do because of the ride quality reduction that accompanies
higher tire pressures. In addition there is a approximately a .75” radius
reduction (affecting your computers and dash readouts) along with a .80”
reduction in tread width with a corresponding reduction in tire footprint
area (which will increase wear, decrease steering power and decrease
stopping power); finally while your current rims will probably be OK to use
they are not optimal for the 11R (9:00 vs. 8:25) a fact which will also
compromise somewhat the total tire performance

Do not listen to those who are not unbiased experts in just what tires are
required for RV usage. Remember also that RV are the only vehicle on the
road that “operates at 100% of its capability 100% of the tire.” Tires are
no place to compromise; there are some very important people on board your
coach. Do the right thing and have your coach weighed properly,
wheel-by-wheel as is done by the RVSEF, only then will you be able to make
sound judgments re: tires, pressures, etc. If you have any other questions
or if I have misread your original question please do not hesitate to ask
additional questions.

Regards,

Neil LeKander
Author “The RVer’s Ultimate Survival Guide”
author@...

-----Original Message-----
From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of John
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 6:44 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Tire Question...12R22.5

I have started looking for new tires for our coach as it has the
origional tires on it. While they are showing no cracking at all, I am
still concerned about their age and would like to start swapping them
out before I have to do it from the side of the road. The current
tires are 12R22.5 which seems to be a lot more uncommon than
11R22.5s(which I run on my dump truck). From talking to a couple tire
people they say the 11R22.5 are a little smaller(shorter). Has anyone
switched from the 12s to the 11s? Any recomendations on a particular
brand?

Thanks,
John Cassel
98 Wanderlodge LX



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Neil,

Is there a higher weight rated, larger tire that is more available.
that you would recommend???

The 12R's are not available at many tire stores, usually ordered in
the area that I live, And finding a 12R on the side of the road
with a flat could be a problem. It would really be hard to find a
single matching tire replacement.

Bill 88 FC Michigan



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Neil & Pat"
wrote:
>
> Hi John, you have already received several answers to your
inquiry; however,
> I thought that I would add a few additional thoughts. I believe
that what
> you are thinking of doing would not only be ill advised but may be
downright
> dangerous. From my years as a tire engineer and with A' Weigh We
Go
> weighing coaches including many Bluebirds (my own PT-36 included)
I have
> knowledge that most all late 90s Birds are very close to their
maximum GVWR
> or GAWR as delivered and many are over that critical (and legally
> enforceable) limit when operated.
>
> For that reason based on the lessor ability to carry a load the
11R tires
> are in no way suitable for use on your 98 LX. The actual load
capability
> for the 12R and 11R are #6610/7390 & #6780/6005 (single/dual)
respectively,
> thus, you can see that there is a major reduction in the tires
carrying
> capacity, probably less that your coach requires. On the slim
chance that
> your specific coach might be unusually light where the 11R could
carry the
> weight it will require an increase in tire pressure to do so,
something that
> most RVers hate to do because of the ride quality reduction that
accompanies
> higher tire pressures. In addition there is a approximately
a .75" radius
> reduction (affecting your computers and dash readouts) along with
a .80"
> reduction in tread width with a corresponding reduction in tire
footprint
> area (which will increase wear, decrease steering power and
decrease
> stopping power); finally while your current rims will probably be
OK to use
> they are not optimal for the 11R (9:00 vs. 8:25) a fact which will
also
> compromise somewhat the total tire performance
>
> Do not listen to those who are not unbiased experts in just what
tires are
> required for RV usage. Remember also that RV are the only vehicle
on the
> road that "operates at 100% of its capability 100% of the tire."
Tires are
> no place to compromise; there are some very important people on
board your
> coach. Do the right thing and have your coach weighed properly,
> wheel-by-wheel as is done by the RVSEF, only then will you be able
to make
> sound judgments re: tires, pressures, etc. If you have any other
questions
> or if I have misread your original question please do not hesitate
to ask
> additional questions.
>
> Regards,
>
> Neil LeKander
> Author "The RVer's Ultimate Survival Guide"
> author@...
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of John
> Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 6:44 PM
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Tire Question...12R22.5
>
> I have started looking for new tires for our coach as it has the
> origional tires on it. While they are showing no cracking at all,
I am
> still concerned about their age and would like to start swapping
them
> out before I have to do it from the side of the road. The current
> tires are 12R22.5 which seems to be a lot more uncommon than
> 11R22.5s(which I run on my dump truck). From talking to a couple
tire
> people they say the 11R22.5 are a little smaller(shorter). Has
anyone
> switched from the 12s to the 11s? Any recomendations on a
particular
> brand?
>
> Thanks,
> John Cassel
> 98 Wanderlodge LX
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>