Community Forums

Sacramento Bob · 07-02-2009, 03:13 PM

Greetings Group! I hope this posting is in the right section. Apologies if it is not.
Here is my question. I presently have Michelin XRV 235/80R22.5 LRG tires on my Workhorse W22 Chassis. I have been price shopping and found that COSTCO offers the XRV Pilot for $330.99, the XZE for $361.99 and the XRV VI for $269.99.
I eleimnated the XZE since I don't like the features it offers.
When I tried to research the Pilot and the VI, I couldn't find them in any of the brochures that Michelin has on line. I called the company and the phone tech advised me that there are "other designations applied by independent dealers but the basic Michelin XRV is model # 87511". Has anyone else come across this situation and if so, what did you find out?
Thanks for your time.
Bob in Sacramento, CA

Noelj · 07-03-2009, 12:55 PM

I am not an expert, but I have found that Michelin tires sold by stores like sears, Cosco, Sams, Walmart,and such are NOT the same as those sold at and by Michelin dealers. May be the same internally, but all have different names. I found this when trying to replace just two that I had on my toad. I had bought all 4 at one of the box stores, and found that to be the only place to get duplicates. Since then, I have continued to use Michelins, but buy them at a Michelin tire dealer. I have seen my same tires at all Michelin dealers. That's my bit, just for what its worth.

Sacramento Bob · 07-09-2009, 02:06 AM

Noel, Thanks for your reply. I made the jump today and had six new tires installed at the local Michelin Dealer. Was very pleased with the fact that they were only two months old. I had heard some scare stories about dealers selling tires that were YEARS old as opposed to months so I mentioned that I wanted fresh tires. They delivered. Sure a comfort to know they are on now.
Only problem I have now is getting folks to donate to my "I'm Broke" fund.
Wonder if Obama would give me a Stimulus Check!
Thanks again,
Bob in Sacramento, CA

Noelj · 07-09-2009, 06:28 AM

Hope they work out OK for you. When we bought out MH, it was 5 years old, and the tires looked good, so we didn't think too much about them. Had a blowout on our first long trip. Thank Goodness I had invested in Good Sams emergency road service. Got home and immediately replaced all 6 tires. You are right on needing a loan then. I am beginning to look at replacing them again, with 5 years and almost 60,000 miles. Really dreading what it will cost now.

azloafer · 08-22-2010, 08:34 PM

I have XRV's and I was looking for a spare tire. I noticed that a dealer on Ebay had them but they said XRV Pilot on the label. I posted the picture on this forum and asked what the "Pilot" meant because I was afraid to buy the tire thinking it might be inferior. No one knew...or at least no one replied to the post re the word "pilot". Joe

azloafer · 09-13-2010, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sacramento Bob

Greetings Group! I hope this posting is in the right section. Apologies if it is not.
Here is my question. I presently have Michelin XRV 235/80R22.5 LRG tires on my Workhorse W22 Chassis. I have been price shopping and found that COSTCO offers the XRV Pilot for $330.99, the XZE for $361.99 and the XRV VI for $269.99.
I eliminated the XZE since I don't like the features it offers.
When I tried to research the Pilot and the VI, I couldn't find them in any of the brochures that Michelin has on line. I called the company and the phone tech advised me that there are "other designations applied by independent dealers but the basic Michelin XRV is model # 87511". Has anyone else come across this situation and if so, what did you find out?
Thanks for your time.
Bob in Sacramento, CA

I was looking at an XRV to be used as a spare and I questioned what the "pilot" tag meant. I posted a photo for all the tire experts to see, but no one seemed to know. The tire was for sale on EBay. I have the feeling that all XRV's are NOT the same, some being made for the lower price. I ended up passing on that tire. Joe

Gary RVRoamer · 09-14-2010, 07:31 AM

Michelin sells tires though several distribution channels, and those channels may sell at different prices and have different warranties, hence the use of identifying names. As best I can tell from the limited info available, the XRV Pilot is the same base tire as the XRV that Michelin sells through their own sales network. Don't have any fact s to back that up, though.

a k · 09-14-2010, 07:44 AM

pilots came on my Essex

RJay · 09-14-2010, 08:09 AM

Just something to keep in mind. The XRV was designed to give an RV a softer ride and as a result they redesigned the side wall. In the past there were a rash of XRV failures with zipper blowouts around the sidewall. Michelin may have redesigned the tire since but I have not heard. My rig has XRV's from the factory and are showing signs of sidewall cracks. I run them at a higher pressure than the charts calls for anyway but I also monitor the sidewall temperature when traveling.