Community Forums

frEEk · 12-02-2011, 04:52 PM

Working on a plan to spend the winter in an RV traveling to ski resorted. One of the options I'm working towards right now is a DP with 22.5 tires. Seems pretty clear that no-one makes snow tires in this size; hell, snow suitability isn't even mentioned on any tire descriptions I've seen yet. Checked with a couple tire dealers that didn't have any strong opinion (seemed to be guessing). So I ask those with experience: what is a good tire recommendation when you are bound to hit snow? Needs to be available in 245/75R22.5 or compatible (I imagine 255/75 or 70 will work, tho a skinnier tire would be preferable for snow).

Mr_D · 12-02-2011, 05:22 PM

I've driven many miles on snow and glare ice with just the standard XZE2 Energy Michelins with no trouble. But I wasn't trying to get to a skiing area, I was either trying to get to AZ or home!

lonestarace · 12-02-2011, 05:25 PM

Chains/Cables
Make - Security Chain Co.
Model - Super Z
For 245/75-22.5 for single ZT859 = $190 on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Security-Compa.../dp/B002KQG8US

For 245/75-22.5 for duals ZT956 = $300 on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Security-ZT956.../dp/B002KQI6GW

frEEk · 12-02-2011, 06:14 PM

Ouch, those are some pricey chains! The DP already comes with chains, and I'm sure I'll need to use them to crawl up a ski road at some point, but I really don't want to have to pull the chains out everytime the road gets a bit of snow on it. That will all but guarantee a break by the end of the trip, and I've read how costly RV chain breaks tend to be. Like the looks of those Z chains, but damn they ain't cheap.

The XZE2s don't look to come in the size I need.

So what tire is going to get me the farthest before I need to resort to chains? There has got to be options out there as the local highway plows don't seem to use chains most of the time.

Thanks.

bluepill · 12-02-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

I've driven many miles on snow and glare ice with just the standard XZE2 Energy Michelins with no trouble. But I wasn't trying to get to a skiing area, I was either trying to get to AZ or home!

I think that conventional wisdom about snow tires on cars and light trucks may not apply to a vehicle that weighs over 20 K lbs. I don't recall seeing "snow" tires on busses and semis that operate in the Winter in Northern NY State. I would believe that the higher pressure on the contact patch, combined with deeper groves in the tread would give you better traction in the snow.

Certainly be smart to carry some traction sand just in case.

Bill Adams · 12-02-2011, 06:28 PM

Cables or chains.......

Aguyfromcalg · 12-02-2011, 06:31 PM

The highway plows have weight to help with traction. Also they are clearing their own path. You have weight and clearance in your favour. I am a big believer in using snow tires for winter driving. I know in your case that can be very expensive for the occasional ski trip but maybe a few retreads with a more of a winter type tread?( I know I will be shot down for suggesting this. )

ottffss · 12-02-2011, 06:33 PM

Hey fellow RV skier birds of a feather (BOF)!!!!

First - I'd do some homework on where you will park in order to hit those ski resorts... Some (very few) ski resorts do offer RV sites as reading the posts in this BOF thread may help (ignore the thread title shown below and just read it, it goes off topic - and onto this topic - fast):
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/wint...on-109088.html

But in Colorado you are up a creek
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f38/where...tml#post987698

And moving between ski resorts can be challenging to find a place to park or just existing...
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/esse...use-45353.html

Then you can move on to your tire chain concern with this product - ideal for RV due to storage size and simplicity to install, and minimize fender damage:

Autosock Autosock or http://www.autosock.com is Colorado CDOT commercial truck approved (maybe other states too) and may be what you are looking for - easy store, easy install, inexpensive (relatively), unlikely to cause vehicle damage...

kcir · 12-02-2011, 06:45 PM

you are just looking for trouble in the snow, bring a fat wallet to get towed out. I have seen motor homes in 90 degree weather stuck on wet grass at Nascar events.

frEEk · 12-02-2011, 07:15 PM

bluepill, certainly not an uncommon theory, and the complete lack (that I can see) of snow tires for commercial trucks seems to confirm that. But i figure there has still got to be M+S rated tires, or at the very least some models with better traction than others (ie, not straight treads with zero sipes).

Aguyfromcalg I most certainly agree about the value of snow tires. I live in a ski resort so for about 4 months of the year I drive on snow every time I leave the house. Suffice it to say my car always has 4 good snows (no costs spared there). However, there simply appear to be no snow tires for 22.5 rims. And since I am planning the next 3 or so months of constant travel (max 3 days in one resort) the cost is well spread out and very worthwhile. If I end up with a class C with 16" tires, I will definitely buy full snows (and probably eat them up completely this winter with all the driving). As to the retread idea, I have read that option. Supposedly bandags [sp?] makes something decent... but as you've noticed, retreads don't seem to have many fans when it comes to RVs.

ottffss, great info, thanks! Where to park is a concern I'll admit. I'm expecting to boondock pretty much all the time. As much as hookups or at least short power would be nice, I'm not willing to pay $50 a night for it. $20 MAYBE, and i ain't gonna find an RV park for $20. I'm expecting more along the lines of quiet pull offs wherever I can find them. Means driving to the ski parking lot every day, but c'est la vie. I don't mean to get comfy in any one spot anyway. Trying to cover alot of ground. Cold weather RVing is certainly quite a challenge too. I've spent weeks reading up on that and trying to find a suitable unit (frankly I've come far short of an ideal model so far). It is going to be challenging, and I'm gonna have to spend some real money on propane, this I accept. Thankfully I'm not a 80F kind of person. 59F/15C is very comfy to me. Still, I expect I'm going to have to do some work with reflectix and expanding foam to survive. Autosock is interesting, but temporary. I want something that will get me from Utah to Colorado at least between the bases of hills without having to stop and strap on.

kcir, I've seen my share of cars (usually 4x4 SUVs... it is a cliche but it's true) in the ditch. IMO it is much more about driver knowledge than outright danger. Even with super cheap snow tires in an ill-advised rear wheel sports car, I spent years getting thru even the worse snowstorms safely, passing ditched cars much more capable than I along the way. But to your point, I do have 3 credit cards with lots of room at the ready and am not kidding myself about needing to lean on them at some point. Course, I will do my best to travel when the roads are better and park/ski when the snow is really coming down.

Aguyfromcalg · 12-02-2011, 07:28 PM

Just a thought. Check with the local school bus companies to see what they use for winter driving. 22.5 winter tires could be very rare but not impossible to find.

Aguyfromcalg · 12-02-2011, 07:51 PM

Ok found a tire for your consideration.
Goodyear G622 RSD 245/75 R22.5. 14PR
All season tire load range G
Manufacturer part number (sku) 756319265

ottffss · 12-02-2011, 07:54 PM

freek - you thinking of doing a blog? I'd be curious where your ski travels lead you too.... Sounds like fun... Ducking under the radar at those snooty ski towns.....

BTW which hill you live at now????

frEEk · 12-02-2011, 08:12 PM

Aguy, good find, thanks! That looks alot like the tread pattern I usually see from the plows around here. Definitely a contender.

ottffss... thinking about it, but definitely not sure yet. I can tell you I plan on covering most of BC (I live in Whistler, the snootiest north of Aspen and Vail... but oddly snooty in both the by-tourist and anti-tourist ways... very lame on both sides), and of coruse also want to his some of Utah and Colorado, being the obvious meccas down south. Oh, and try to get to Jackson Hole too of course. I've been telling people how Whistler is the best for a decade and hearing the same from those who have traveled... bout time I confirm that for myself!