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Sky_Boss · 04-19-2012, 08:51 AM

Hello folks,

My "new" 2006 rig has the following:

Front tires are Goodyear G149 RSA LT tires. 245/75 22.5 DOT about 2 years old (don't remember the exact DOT).

Duals are Mich XRV 235/80 22.5 DOT about May of 05.

The Goodyear tires are in great shape but according to documentation are only for freewheel/steer wheel use. The Mich still have a lot of tread, are in decent shape and no obvious weather checking.

Some of the issues for me are:

1. The 235/80s are only made by Mich...well, I haven't found anyone else anyway.

2. Rotation between front and back can't be done. Is that really a big deal?

3. I've read on several threads that the 245/75 size is not a bad alternative across the board. There seems to be some opinion that they are more available in general. Any pros or cons?

4. The 245/75 is available in a few different brands.

I think I'm good for the bulk of this summer since we are just learning the rig and don't plan any super long trips. Maybe by Labor Day we will make a 600-700 mile round trip but nothing longer than that is on the schedule.

So, from what I have read my Michs won't drop dead just because they are 7 years old. I would think that my smart move would be to get my rig to a tire shop and have them inspected. Probably want to do that for wheel alignment anyway. Just not sure about mixed tires for long term.

Thoughts or ideas?

doc · 04-19-2012, 09:19 AM

Don't bet your life on it. We blew an inside dual a few years ago just as we pulled off I-20 in Columbia SC at the Flying J. The tread looked great on it as well. This was a 2000 model year and happened in the early spring of 2007. Now it may have been that the tires were older than that. I know Winne buys in large lots. My point is these Michleins looked nearly new and had been covered for the majority of there lives. Glad it was at low speed (just starting off from a red light) and right beside the Flying J. Had it been a steering axle tire at highway speed, it might not have turned out as well. Good luck to you.

Sky_Boss · 04-19-2012, 09:10 PM

Ya got a point my friend. I just wish all 6 tires were the same size and age. Might cost more to get them all replaced but having the different sizes and ages makes me think too hard.

JimM68 · 04-19-2012, 09:25 PM

I wouldn't worry about the different sizes/ages part at all.
Not unusual to replace the steer tires first as they "age out"
As long as all the tires on an axle match and the wieght rating is ok, different sizes front to rear don't matter much.

For the rear duals, it is important to maintain some clearance between them. This needs to be checked when going to wider tires. The 245's are 1 cm wider that 235's, half times 2 ends up that they will use up half an inch of the clearance you have between the back tires now. If you have 2", then they will work. If you only have one inch, then you wanna stay with a 235 tire.

RUNDLC · 04-19-2012, 09:30 PM

FWIW, I drive for a local school district, the tire rep is on site a least once a week. I have talked to him about this same issue. I wanted to know what kind of deal he could get me on the michelins, he said he could get them alright, but would HIGHLY recommend going to the truck tire , he said you could find them anywhere across the nation if you have tire issues on the road.

Try that with michelins, anyway I needed to save cash, he said to pull off the good michelins put them in place of the 2 outdate ones, install trucks upfront and upgrade when I could for the rears later.

Now if money is no object then your best bet may be to buy all new truck tires, that way you get new and con rotate when you have too.

Just my 02