Tires and shocks

[Snkbyte]

So now that we've taken care of the emergency repairs so far this trip (4 batteries, coach water pump, new actuators for engine cover) it's time to get back to buying what we had planned to on this trip...new shocks and tires!
Going with Koni on all axles including the 99 series on the solid beam front, but sort of hung up on the tires. They will be 295/80R22.5 Michelins however not sure which model - the XZA-2 or the CoachHLZ.
With the new batteries we are about a 100# over the weight limit on the front passenger tire.The HLZ are rated at 8270# max while the XZA-2 are 7830# (current GY670 are 7830 also). The axle is identified as a 15,660# rating but reading elsewhere on this forum and I understand that it is actually the exact same one they are now calling 16,000# and was only lowered so it matched the tires supplied at the time.
So, is anyone running the HLZ? If so how do you find the ride and handling? Also, if you do have them what shocks are you using?
As always any feedback would be appreciated.

Thx
Rob & Holly

[Jose67]

Replaced ours in August 2017 with the HLZ because of the weight rating that you mentioned. The end result has been the best riding tire ever! I wish that I had done it sooner.

I vote Michelin 295/80R22.5 HLZ.

[brobox]

I can't speak for the tires, but after meeting Jose, he is a perfectionist and I can believe he researched the HLZ's before installing them. His coach in person is a work of art with upgrades and mods. He owns a Prevost in an Aspire body.

On my RBQ I also had the heavy front end problem, the Koni's solved that to no end. 48 MM Bilstien should be outlawed for anything heavier than a VW. JME

[Snkbyte]

Thanks Jose67 and Brobox...Coach HLZ decided on!

In a bit of a quandary about the shocks now. Was told by Koni that they had an EVO99 that worked for our application but when I went to UltraRV to order they said no and said the FSD8805-1018 was all that is available for us. Just checked with Spartan and they confirmed what UltraRV said.
So wondering if I should just stay with what I have (Bilstein) or if upgrading to the FSD is worth the price even if its not as good as the EVO99. Can't see any specs on Koni site as to size of the FSD...is it bigger than the 48mm Bilstein?

Rob

[FreshAir]

The Koni 99B-3209 will definitely not fit a pre-2017 Aspire and are not the correct replacement for the Billstein 24-187015 original shock. They are too short. Believe me I tried them.

* * * * * * * * * Expanded Length* * * * * * *Collapsed Length*
Koni 99B-3209* * * *23.59"* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 14.92 "

Koni 8805-1018* * * 28.82"* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 17.48 "

Billstein 24-187015* 29.67"* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *17.91 "*

As I have posted before, I put the Koni 8805-1018 FSD's on last Sept. They are very good shocks. I had switched to them from Billsteins on another coach. I'm happy with them.

Last fall Ultra RV had a sales agent who was mistakenly giving out the Koni 99B-3209 instead of the Koni 8805-1018 number. Jon from Ultra fixed that quickly after I had the short Koni's installed. It was the solid axle vs. IFS that confused the sales agent.

There are no Koni 99B EVO series shocks available for the Aspire's w/solid axle's. If there were I would have had s pair on the front years ago.

Would I still change to the FSD Koni's after putting a couple of thousand miles on them? Yes. There a completely different design than the Billsteins and will give a MH a better ride.Talk to a shock expert.Are they as good as the 99B EVO series, I can't say.
Pat

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Snkbyte

So, is anyone running the HLZ? If so how do you find the ride and handling? Also, if you do have them what shocks are you using?
As always any feedback would be appreciated.

Thx
Rob & Holly

Rob, we also changed to the Michelin X Coach HL Z tire two years ago. You'll really like them if not only for the ride improvement but knowing you have the extra peace of mind knowing you have a better tire in regards to less chance of a failure. Personally, I sleep better knowing there there. We only did the steers.

Of course you know I also went to Koni's.

Regards, Pat

[Jolar01]

X Coach HL Z a much better tire, replaced on 2016 Aspire RBQ 9 months ago. Did tons of research only way to get safety margin on front axle weight issue.
Larry

[Snkbyte]

So...after twenty some emails, phone calls and texts with Entegra, Spartan, Bilstein, Koni, Reyco, Ultra RV products, Shock Warehouse and folks on this forum, we finally took a leap of faith and ordered the Koni shocks for all three axles even though there wasn't a clear agreement on the model numbers that would fit our coach. We ordered the following from Ultra RV -

- Koni 8805-1018 for the steer axle
- Koni 8805-1009 for the drive axle
- Koni 8805-1013 for the tag

Delivered all to the team at East Bay Tire in Yuma today for install while the coach was getting outfitted with new Michelin steer tires. Everything went as planned although doing the tags took quite a bit longer due to the tight confines of the lower shock bolts and the brake drums.
Won't get a chance to really appreciate the full benefits of this upgrade until April as we are staying in the Yuma area now until the beginning of April but I'm sure we'll be a lot less anxious with the Michelins then we have been for the last while driving on the Goodyear steers.
Thanks much for the advice by all parties we've been in touch with and a big thanks to the lads at East Bay for a job well done.

Rob & Holly

[Mr_D]

Glad you got it figured out. As you seem to have found out the EVO 99 shocks aren't made for a beam axle the last I knew.

[Snkbyte]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Glad you got it figured out. As you seem to have found out the EVO 99 shocks aren't made for a beam axle the last I knew.

Yup...I had thought that was the case but when I was told by Koni themselves that they had a series 99 that would work for the beam I guess I got little exited (wife says I'm easy that way lol!).
After some back and forth we finally got clarification on that but then there was a big discussion as to what would work for the tag - even as I ordered them I thought there would be a good chance that the -1013 wouldn't fit and would have to be returned.
I guess all the stars were lined up in our favour as it all worked out.

Rob & Holly

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Snkbyte

So...after twenty some emails, phone calls and texts with Entegra, Spartan, Bilstein, Koni, Reyco, Ultra RV products, Shock Warehouse and folks on this forum, we finally took a leap of faith and ordered the Koni shocks for all three axles even though there wasn't a clear agreement on the model numbers that would fit our coach. We ordered the following from Ultra RV -

- Koni 8805-1018 for the steer axle
- Koni 8805-1009 for the drive axle
- Koni 8805-1013 for the tag

Delivered all to the team at East Bay Tire in Yuma today for install while the coach was getting outfitted with new Michelin steer tires. Everything went as planned although doing the tags took quite a bit longer due to the tight confines of the lower shock bolts and the brake drums.
Won't get a chance to really appreciate the full benefits of this upgrade until April as we are staying in the Yuma area now until the beginning of April but I'm sure we'll be a lot less anxious with the Michelins then we have been for the last while driving on the Goodyear steers.
Thanks much for the advice by all parties we've been in touch with and a big thanks to the lads at East Bay for a job well done.

Rob & Holly

Good post Rob. Happy to know you got a good number for the tags. That now provides a complete Koni shock list for the I-beam Aspires.

Oh! On a side note, Rob, how about this weather were currently having here in Yuma. It's definitely not the short sleeve stuff we pay the big bucks to come here for. Coldest winter I've seen in the 15 winters we've been coming here. We've been at the Quechan Casino,"Q". in west Yuma for the last week.. Burr!! it's cold. Heard it Snowed today in Salome, 80 miles north, where we winter.

Apologies for the thread interruption.
Pat

[Mwoodofd]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

.

Last fall Ultra RV had a sales agent who was mistakenly giving out the Koni 99B-3209 instead of the Koni 8805-1018 number. Jon from Ultra fixed that quickly after I had the short Koni's installed. It was the solid axle vs. IFS that confused the sales agent.

There are no Koni 99B EVO series shocks available for the Aspire's w/solid axle's.

This is not good news. I ordered the EVO-99B-3209 for my 13 Aspire in March of 2018, and had them installed, and have driven about 5000 miles on them, with my new Michelin Steer tires...........

Below is the text from my invoice from Ultra.

Koni EVO 99B-3209 - Alpine Peak/RR4R Front/Workhorse UFO/Spartan MountainMaster I-Beam/Tiffin Phaeton PowerGlide 99B-3209

I am not going to be happy if this is not correct for my Classic I-Beam front end.

[Snkbyte]

Originally Posted by Mwoodofd

This is not good news. I ordered the EVO-99B-3209 for my 13 Aspire in March of 2018, and had them installed, and have driven about 5000 miles on them, with my new Michelin Steer tires...........

Below is the text from my invoice from Ultra.

Koni EVO 99B-3209 - Alpine Peak/RR4R Front/Workhorse UFO/Spartan MountainMaster I-Beam/Tiffin Phaeton PowerGlide 99B-3209

I am not going to be happy if this is not correct for my Classic I-Beam front end.

So much confusion!! This really should be a lot simpler shouldn't it?
As reported by FreshAir in post #5 of this thread there is apparently quite a difference in the extended and collapsed length of the 99B-3209 and the 8805-1018. Maybe has something to do with the different years, yours being a '13 and ours a '16.
Hope neither one of us is in for a nasty surprise down the road!
Safe travels....
Rob and Holly

[Mwoodofd]

Rob, it is confusing. I sent an e-mail to Ultra RV for their answer on the shock for my coach. It is either right, or wrong. Will see what they answer. I understand mistakes being made, and none of it is intentional. I believe that if mine are wrong, they are a quality supplier, and will do the right thing.

My ride has been good, but if the collapse and extension lengths are too small or short, I see possible problems. Just have to change them out. Just drove to California and back to Dallas