looking for new tires (portland)

[mattinmt]

Hello alpine owners,
I am in the market for new tires for 2000 alpine coach. Does anyone have any recommendations on where to buy in Portland or Eugene? Also what tire are you riding. Brand. We drive a lot so looking for good all around tire.

Thanks
Matt

[Beagle RC Air]

We purchased 6 new R280 Bridgestone 295/75/R22.5 tires from GCR Tire Center at 10360 N. Vancouver Way in Portland, Or.
Did some shopping first and they were best for the Bridgestone tires we wanted.

[Old Rv'er]

America's Tire, Les Schwalb, Costco will order the size but won't put them on. No sales Tax in Oregon, so you save that little fee. If you confine your travels to the West half of the country, Les Schwalb cannot be beaten for service-closed on sundays.

We have the Goodyear G670 Tires on our coach, and I like them. 4 years old in december, so next year late we need to think about new ones.

Those are the only two shops I have ever used, find good service, I stay with it. Oh I did buy new tires for my truck at America's Tire, and I liked them as well.

[Dave and Jaime]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beagle RC Air We purchased 6 new R280 Bridgestone 295/75/R22.5 tires from GCR Tire Center at 10360 N. Vancouver Way in Portland, Or. Did some shopping first and they were best for the Bridgestone tires we wanted.

After 5000 miles we are very happy with our Bridgestone R250 ED tires, availble in H rating 11R22.5 size for about $1000 less than Michelons (from the same dealer). Out the door with 7.5% sales tax and balancing and alignment: $2500 for 6 new ones dated within a couple months of installation.

[OldForester]

After 12,000 miles we continue to be very happy with our Bridgestone R250's in 295/80R22.5, and we bought them from Les Schwab in Junction City, OR, who also happens to be a SmartTire dealer/distributor. The Bridgestones have extra tread depth over the Goodyears, and are know to have very good casings.

[Dave Stanley]

I bought Toyo's last year from Les Schwab here in Vcaville, CA to replace the originals, got a great deal as he gave me $ 50.00 credit per tire for the old ones, cause he could sell the old ones to truckers as they were only 5 years old.

I think L.S. is the place to buy tires. just my thoughts

[Tom and Patty]

All I need is a couple more coaches riding on Bridgestone, and I'll get a new set free!!

Just kidding.

Any major brand tire will be good. I happen to run Bridgestone R260. It is an all-position tire with 22/32 deep tread. This tire is designed for high scrub (lots of turning, starting and stopping) which fit us perfectly for all of our two lane mountain driving. We have 30K miles on the tires now, and no irregular wear at all. They have never been rotated or rebalanced. Do as I say, not as I do!

Tires have been in very short supply for the last few months. Most new tires should have little or no age.

Good luck in your hunt. It would seem $2500 to $2700 is a good buy for major brands, excluding Michelin.

TD

[kraig]

Nolans Tire Factory in Gresham. You can warranty at any Tire Factory. Call 503 666 6759 talk to Chuck. I have been buying all my truck and passenger tires for close to 40 years and never had a problem they didn't take care of. While Les Schwab may have good service, I think you can get a better price somewhere else. All their advertising has to be paid for by somebody!

[NorCal C&H]

We went with the Bridgestone R280's - Les Schwab in Bend, OR. and are VERY happy - much improvement over the Toyo's. I am sure the R250's would have been fine but we do more long distance than short trips and was told the R280 Long Haul tire (versus Regional) would stand up better.

As I said in an earlier tire thread, SHOP around on the phone once you decide which tire you want. I called 5 or 6 Les Schwabs and got 5 or 6 different prices for the SAME tire, SAME service.

Be sure to ask how much they will give you for your old tires. I got $ 75 each and I'm sure they sold them to some trucker for $ 100. I also opted for spin balance. I had tried Equal and was not pleased.

Harold

[two sailors]

Matt,
I am also replacing tires this fall. Maybe we could get a deal on a dozen.

Brad

[lundy]

Today, I tried to educate myself on tires to be purchased in Portland. I think I know less, now, than I did this morning. I stopped by 3 suppliers and got all kinds of reasons to buy this or that tire.

I read that some of you like the Bridgestones, but some like a higher profile than others. Others may still like Toyo's, the ones that came on my rig. Good Year and Michelin are choices.

The common thread on all of you is that you replace them in 5 or so years. You never replace them because you have no tread left. So that leaves me to believe any, quality tire, should work. How about Kelley's? You don't see advertising on them so they cost less - under $2000 with trades but balancing extra.

My story is that I have 25,000 miles on a 5 year old coach. Absolutely no sign of wear and what good reasons can you give me to spend $800 for Bridgestones, or $1000 for Good Years or $1500 for the Michelin's?

I was told at the time of purchase of the motor home that I would not be satisfied with the Toyo's they put on them - not so much of a problem. I am concerned about safety and would appreciate some good, valid reasons to buy this or that tire. I don't believe in my brother-in-law thinking that Chevrolets are lousy cars because he has trouble with one in 1948!

I have about 3 weeks to make my decision and would appreciate all of your comments. One other thing. Eventhough I have never had a tire problem in 40 years of all types of RV'ing, service could be an issue.


Lundy

[OldForester]

Lundy,

The main reason I would pay the $800 for the Bridgestones are the strong casings they are known for having, leading to less chance of a massive blowout and tread separation-safety being the most important event with tires, in my view. My brother has capped a lot of truck and bus tires over the years as a Bandag recapper and he always paid more for the Bridgestone casings because he had fewer problems with them, and said the truckers he sold tires to got more miles out of the Bridgestones with fewer problems than any other brand, including Michelin and Goodyear. The second reason is the deep tread depth for longer mileage, which applies less in your situation.

The 295/80 R 22.5 profile I put on our coach tests almost spot on with the odometer and the Silverleaf when I look at the mile markers or test areas along the highway. In 5 miles it usually isn't off more than 0.1 of a mile, if that. The 11R 22.5 Toyos were off about 0.2 of a mile in 5 miles before I took them off, but that may be do to the wear on them. So that 295/80R profile gives a good match with accurate speed, and has the high load rating to boot.

[lundy]

OldForester,

Thanks for your reply. I guess the difference in 250 and 295 is hight. If so, the speedo would be off with the lower profile tires.

There are a couple of Portland dealers that I contacted yesterday for Bridgestone but one sells used tires to garbage trucks and such. Therefore, he takes trades and the other does not give credit.

[frankdamp]

Another vote for Les Schwab. I got a set of 6 Toyos for our Georgetown - out the door with new stems, spin balanced, taxes and everything for $2300 and change.

Our local store went out of its way to find the newest tires in the warehouse because they were for an RV. They were less than 6 weeks old when they put them on.

A significant improvement in road noise and a slightly better ride than the GYs we took off, which were dated 2001.