Community Forums

smlranger · 07-19-2017, 01:57 PM

For anyone pondering using the FMCA member discount pricing on either Michelin or Continental tires, I wanted to share some issues I have had recently trying to purchase six Continental tires for my coach. FMCA has recently added Continental tire discounts to its member benefits. My issues have been as follows:

I located three Continental tire dealers in my area who sell the large truck/bus tires needed for my coach. None of them were familiar with the discount program. So I contacted FMCA who put me in touch with their contact with Continental. I spoke with the FMCA contact and he apologized for the problem and said since it was a new agreement between FMCA and Continental, some dealers were just not up to speed. He promised to intervene.

In a few days my preferred dealer called me to say he had ordered six of the Continental tires for me and they would honor the FMCA discount pricing. He understood my desire to get tires with fresh DOT date codes.....nothing older than 6 months.

The tire dealer called me today and said he had the tires but they were 3 years old. He called his contact at Continental and told them this was a RV customer and 3 year old date codes was a no go. He asked them to check their warehouse inventory for newer date codes. He told me their response was they did not have the manpower to do that and he (and me) would have to take whatever we get.

I have let FMCA know of this recent response.

So, at this point I have decided to take advantage of FMCA's discount pricing on Michelin tires for the coach.

Mr_D · 07-19-2017, 02:00 PM

I ran into the same "problem" a few years ago with a large west coast truck tire chain (NOT Les Schwab). They would not guarantee the dates nor would they even look at them for me.

smlranger · 07-19-2017, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

I ran into the same "problem"

It is no question Michelin sells more tires for motorhomes so I suspect they are more apt to provide fresher date codes. My dealer says he has a bunch of Michelin XZA2 tires in his own warehouse in NC so he is confident they can provide date codes that will be acceptable to me.

Continental's own advertising touts their HSR2sa tire as 'ideal for buses and larger RV's'

AFChap · 07-20-2017, 12:56 PM

I have run Continental HSLs since about 2008, and have never had trouble getting tires in the 6-12 mo old range. I have bought them at Best One Tire in Ohio & Alabama, and at Southern Tire Mart in Texas.

smlranger · 07-20-2017, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFChap

I have run Continental HSLs since about 2008, and have never had trouble getting tires in the 6-12 mo old range. I have bought them at Best One Tire in Ohio & Alabama, and at Southern Tire Mart in Texas.

Go figure. I am using Colony Tire in Richmond, VA and they have stores in VA, NC and SC. Perhaps a dealer in another area who sells more of their tires might have more influence on their regional warehouse. I am disappointed that I left a message after this most recent glitch for the Continental rep who works with FMCA and he never called me back. That did not leave me with a warm and fuzzy feeling about Continental's customer service.

Also, if the warehouse has tires sitting around for 3 years, doesn't sound like they are selling many....at least in that particular size.

Gary RVRoamer · 07-22-2017, 10:40 AM

I've not encountered that with Continental, but the date availability is largely dependent on the size, i.e. the popularity of the size. Tires are made in batches by size & model, so sizes sold in large volumes get produced on a more frequent basis than oddball sizes or models. The ones made less frequently get stored in a warehouse and once in a while you run into the age problem. Michelin procedures are the same, but they may sell more of your particular size than Continental (or vice versa).

For my coach I bought Continental HSR2 in the popular 11R22.5 size and got tires that were all less than 3 months old. "Your mileage may vary".

smlranger · 07-22-2017, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

I've not encountered that with Continental, but the date availability is largely dependent on the size, i.e. the popularity of the size. Tires are made in batches by size & model, so sizes sold in large volumes get produced on a more frequent basis than oddball sizes or models. The ones made less frequently get stored in a warehouse and once in a while you run into the age problem. Michelin procedures are the same, but they may sell more of your particular size than Continental (or vice versa).

For my coach I bought Continental HSR2 in the popular 11R22.5 size and got tires that were all less than 3 months old. "Your mileage may vary".

Mine are 295/80/22.5 which is one of those listed in the Continental/FMCA program. That seems to be a pretty common size for larger coaches. I didn't discuss using the 11R size with the dealer.....really didn't think about it at the time.

Gary RVRoamer · 07-23-2017, 12:52 PM

295/80 is a common size for large diesel motorhomes, but only for motorhomes. It is rarely used at all in commercial trucking, which is the lions share of tire production volumes. Any motorhome-only tire by definition is low in sales volume as far as a major tire manufacturer is concerned.

Be aware that the 11R22.5 has a lower weight capacity than a 295/80. It generally works fine for drive or tag axles, but on the front you would probably need a 12R22.5 as a sub for a 295/80.

AFChap · 07-23-2017, 02:44 PM

My original tire size was 275/80R22.5. I have got them in Continental HSLs, but am now running 295/75R22.5 as they are easier to get from my Texas Southern Tire Mart dealer. The two are very close in size, w/the 295/75 being 0.25% bigger in overall diameter and circumference than 275/80.

smlranger · 07-23-2017, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

295/80 is a common size for large diesel motorhomes, but only for motorhomes. It is rarely used at all in commercial trucking, which is the lions share of tire production volumes. Any motorhome-only tire by definition is low in sales volume as far as a major tire manufacturer is concerned.

Be aware that the 11R22.5 has a lower weight capacity than a 295/80. It generally works fine for drive or tag axles, but on the front you would probably need a 12R22.5 as a sub for a 295/80.

You jogged my memory. I did ask the same dealer (before settling on the Continentals) for Hankook AH-12's which I had used on my Winnebago Journey. I asked about AH-12's in 11R22.5 and he did say he was not sure they would handle as much weight as the 295/80's I had on the coach. That is why I did not ask about that size in the Continentals.

Gary RVRoamer · 07-24-2017, 07:07 PM

11R22.5 tires can carry 6945 single or 6395 dual. The dual rating is plenty for a 20,000 or 24,000 lb rear drive axle or a tag. Plenty of capacity there.

Coaches that need a tire in the 295/80 size range may have a steer axle GAWR that exceeds 13,500 lbs. If so, a slightly larger tire is needed, usually either the 295/80 or a 12R22.5. My coach had a 14,600 lb steer axle, so I kept the 295/80 size there and used the more common 11R on the back only.

smlranger · 07-24-2017, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

11R22.5 tires can carry 6945 single or 6395 dual. The dual rating is plenty for a 20,000 or 24,000 lb rear drive axle or a tag. Plenty of capacity there.

Coaches that need a tire in the 295/80 size range may have a steer axle GAWR that exceeds 13,500 lbs. If so, a slightly larger tire is needed, usually either the 295/80 or a 12R22.5. My coach had a 14,600 lb steer axle, so I kept the 295/80 size there and used the more common 11R on the back only.

Gary, my steer GAWR is 14,200.