Community Forums

bamaboy473 · 07-02-2014, 08:19 AM

We'd like to think that spending more gets more value...but look at things like bleach and vodka and (possibly) tires.

Why does Clorox brand cost more than store brand?

Why is Stoli twice as much as other brands that are distilled the same number of times?

How does that fat guy get in magazines and on TV selling his French tires when spots are expensive?

WE pay those costs to advertise by agreeing to pay more at the counter.

I suspect that most private label tires (or off-brands) are made in the same factories by the same machines that make the stuff we know about. Keeps production levels constant.

Annierufus · 07-02-2014, 08:25 AM

Higher cost may be associated with higher quality, but not necessarily , the trick is to figure out when it does or does not. Not an easy task when it comes to things like tires.

Genset · 07-02-2014, 08:46 AM

Not being a Guinea pig, I go with the product with the best track record. So far been very glad.
Dave M

JayGee · 07-02-2014, 09:46 AM

2000 miles on my Samson tires. So far so good. Drive good, ride good. Time will tell.

joerdeluca · 07-02-2014, 09:54 AM

We put 6 new Samson tires on our 2002 38 foot Damon intruder last year, the tire store aired them up to 120 psi. and they road very rough, they are down to 100 psi and ride great.

bamaboy473 · 07-02-2014, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joerdeluca

We put 6 new Samson tires on our 2002 38 foot Damon intruder last year, the tire store aired them up to 120 psi. and they road very rough, they are down to 100 psi and ride great.

I think we'll do the same thing. Thanks for the post, and welcome aboard

Muddypaws · 07-02-2014, 10:10 AM

Every tire except one that has gone boom on me in 45 years of RV'ing has been made in China. The one exception was a 10 year old Michelin, my fault.

I will never put Chinese tires on my coach.

Michelins are the most expensive even with the FMCA discount, and frankly the ones I have now are not aging well. If I were looking for tires today I'd take a long look at Toyos. Made in Japan, high quality, reasonably priced (compared to Mich.) and very popular on RVs.

As others have said, tires are not something to skimp on.

bamaboy473 · 07-02-2014, 01:10 PM

I agree about most things Chinese due to lackadaisical quality control.

Samson are made in Isreal. Progeny is Alliance tire, Bridgestone, Dayton, and General Tire. They've been around for over 50 years, but just recently in the MH sizes.

If they're trying to buy themselves a nitch in the market by selling very inexpensively, then I'm all about helping them

JayGee · 07-02-2014, 02:02 PM

Actually I think they are now made in China. Seems like I read that they moved out of Israel a few years back. Pretty sure I read China on the tire too.

Walked out and confirmed that "Made in China" is on the tire.

adonh · 07-02-2014, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayGee

Actually I think they are now made in China. Seems like I read that they moved out of Israel a few years back. Pretty sure I read China on the tire too.

"Oy Vay"

hdossett · 07-02-2014, 03:31 PM

Put four Samsons on the rear of my rig this winter after two GYs went boom on the freeway. Have had four blowouts and one tread separation over the years, all GY.

Where I was towed into this winter had Michelin and Samson (China), $620 each for Mich., $185 for Samson, times four plus tax tag and title. (19.5")

With a 16 ply rating, they put in about 105-110 psi, it was too rough, and they wanted to follow the ruts so I dropped it to between 90-95. Much better ride. As good or better than the GYs.

I'll watch them pretty close and change them out in five years if need be. Got about a 1,500 miles on them so far.

H

P.S. Samson name was sold to China a few years ago.

bamaboy473 · 07-02-2014, 04:10 PM

I pulled the trigger on a whole set of 6 22.5" Samsons; $1450 delivered to the tire shop for mounting. Specified nothing made earlier than 1014.

Add the TST TPMS that I ordered Tuesday, and it's been a tough week on the wallet

....but why ask a question if you aren't ready to accept answers and experience?

Looks like I'll jump from sporting the oldest tires to newest tires....what do I win?

Muddypaws · 07-03-2014, 03:42 PM

Everything I've found says they are made in China.

FWIW Even 'name brands' are being made in China. Goodyear makes a lot of tires there. So does Michelin, Samson may be a Michelin affiliate according to some of the links I found. Bottom line, if like me you refuse to bet it all on Chinese tires I suggest you learn how to decipher the country code.

bamaboy473 · 07-03-2014, 04:10 PM

I'm good with knowing that those of us that might do 100 hours a year on our coaches are more interested in variable costs than those that do 1000 hours.

The money I save by buying a less expensive tire can be used to upgrade the MH in other areas that will actually count.

The safety issue, while valid, isn't all it's cracked up to be. Far too many people are riding on all sorts of tires and the number of blowouts is negligible.

MORE importantly (and the reason I choose the less expensive tire) is that the causes of blowouts are listed as road defect, intrusion by foreign object, under-inflation, etc. Nothing ever says in an official report, "...these tires are junk, so they blew because they're junk".

If we do our part and maintain tire integrity, then I believe that the tires will do their part. Anything less by one brand of tire (that showed up way too often in failure reports) would get the Feds all over them. Anybody know differently?

I'm saving about $3000 over replacing with GY670s. I'm going to replace the vinyl graphics with paint on the coach with that savings.

We all spend it; just where it goes is the question