Community Forums

litespeed · 06-28-2012, 06:26 PM

A week or so back I posted a tire wear question...and now know that I wasted my 2 front tires due toe in adjustment. But now the fun begins..I have 305/70 22.5 Michelins....and they apparently are not in stock any wear....

Assuming I can't turn any up...wondering what my options are. In the car world...different size front and rear tires are common place..but on motor homes???

There seem to be several makes and models in the older 285-295/80 profile..all with diameters within 1-2 of my current tires. I really hate to run non stock si, mixed sizes...but I may not have the option.

Anyone have any experience or advice in this area?

Mr_D · 06-28-2012, 06:39 PM

I had to order my 305/70's months in advance of when I really needed them. I tried to get Continentals but they were not being made yet.
I went from 275/70's to the 305's because we needed the extra weight capacity. Kept the 275's on the rear.
The 305's are the only one that would fit in the wheel wells and would allow us to use the full capacity of the 14,600# front axle.
The 295's are about 2 inches taller than the 305/70's and it was just too much for our older rig.
Check with Newmar, Spartan and FL. They may be able to tell you where to find them.
I ordered mine from Superior Tire in Portlnd OR although Les Schwab had them also.

footdoc · 06-28-2012, 07:32 PM

I just got 8 of them installed here in Mobile....There was NO supply problem..and they were 4 months old....I needed to stay with the L load range and there were no other tire options I could find that were RV type tires...keep looking...I'm sure they are obtainable

litespeed · 06-29-2012, 08:07 AM

I can't get a straight answer from Michelin about 305/70 availability. I hate to ask...but the 80 series tires are 2 inches taller than the 70's ( and probably available) .....does anyone know if they will fit on the front of a 2010 DS without modifications?

Romeo · 06-29-2012, 12:15 PM

I switched from the Michelin XRV to the XZA3 (LR-H) for the added load rating and the fact that they are common long haul truck tires and are commonly available in my area. Following are the specs that would help one decide if they could be used for one’s application. The rim width could be a problem for some., depending on which rim size they have.

...................305/70-22.5..........275/80-33.5 (LR-H)
Diameter:....39.1”........................40.1”
Tire width:...12.3”........................10.9”
Max. Load:..7830@120 psi...........7160@120 psi
Rim width:...8.25-9.00”................7.50-8.25”

XRV
All-position radial designed specifically for
exceptional performance on recreational
vehicles and motorhomes

• Wide, “see-through” grooves promote drainage efficiency
to help improve traction on wet surfaces

• Multi-siping helps deliver dependable grip and long,
even wear

• Enlarged sidewall characters makes load/pressure information
easier to read, facilitating proper use and maintenance

• Stable tread with cool running compound engineered
to reduce squirm and lower heat for improved handling
and durability

XZA3
Ultra fuel-efficient tire that helps
deliver long original tread life

• Wider shoulder and footprint help
deliver improved shoulder wear,
handling and response

• Directional tread built for irregular
wear resistance and longer tread life

• 7/7/3* manufacturer’s limited casing
warranty

Romeo · 06-29-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

I had to order my 305/70's months in advance...

I went from 275/70's to the 305's because we needed the extra weight capacity...

The 305's are the only one that would fit in the wheel wells and would allow us to use the full capacity of the 14,600# front axle.

Mr_D why didn't you go with the XZA3's?

The XZA3's fit my wheel well; however one would think they wouldn't fit unless they got down and did a real close examination as I did.

Renden · 06-29-2012, 03:17 PM

Got my 305's in Canada from my Michelin local dealer at a very good price

I was in Quebec City (200 miles up in Quebec Province) for my alignement and balancing and they had 6 XRV's 305 on stock.....so they are available up here

litespeed · 06-29-2012, 05:22 PM

Michelin told me the tires are on back order....no availability date. This was a message on my phone...so I wasn't able to ask any questions. I am going to have to look for alternatives......

HHIDan · 06-30-2012, 11:15 AM

Renden, were those 305/70%?
Did you buy in NB or Quebec?
May I ask what a good price was? Need to buy 2 or 4 soon...

Harm · 07-02-2012, 03:48 PM

Litespeed: I just went through that with my '06 Dutch Star. Spartan has the 305's in stock but due to problems just as you stated about availability, especially if you had a problem on the road and couldn't get one, I decided to go with the 295/80's. They really fill the wheel wells and look good. Spartan put the fronts on first and dropped the air and turned them lock to lock to make sure the clearance was okay. They also reprogramed the speedometer for the 2 1/4 inch diameter difference. It also changed my fifth and sixth gear changes by 3 mph higher. I am very happy with the bigger tires and they are the exact same load range and pressure settings per weight as the smaller 305/70's they replaced. You can get a 295/80 at most any truck stop in an emergency and that makes it an even better upgrade.

Mr_D · 07-06-2012, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romeo

Mr_D why didn't you go with the XZA3's?

The XZA3's fit my wheel well; however one would think they wouldn't fit unless they got down and did a real close examination as I did.

Because they didn't have the weight capacity our rig needed after the front axle change. (12,000# to 14,600#) Plus I wouldn't have to run 130 psi in the 305's.

Romeo · 07-06-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Because they didn't have the weight capacity our rig needed after the front axle change. (12,000# to 14,600#) Plus I wouldn't have to run 130 psi in the 305's.

Yes, I saw where you mentioned that, but the 275/80-33.5 (LR-H) XZA3's are rated at 7160 x 2 = 14320 at their maximum pressure of 120# which sounds sufficient for a 14600# axle.

I will admit that I have a limited knowledge of weight loading of a chassis, but I would think that a capacity of 14320# for a front axle would be sufficient unless we were going to carry a full load of bricks in the basement.

When I was weighed, loaded for a trip, by RVSEF (all four corners weighed individually), the front axle had a total load of only 10,000# on my 10400# axle.

Am I missing something?

...................305/70-22.5..........275/80-33.5 (LR-H)
Diameter:....39.1”........................40.1”
Tire width:...12.3”........................10.9”
Max. Load:..7830@120 psi...........7160@120 psi
Rim width:...8.25-9.00”................7.50-8.25”

litespeed · 07-08-2012, 08:17 AM

I think I found a pair of 305's....so emergency over. I had concluded that 29/80 XZA2's were a workable alternative.

Will be watching tire wear a lot more in the future!!

litespeed · 07-24-2012, 01:18 PM

Finally got XRV's installed from a Les Schwab tires. This was after 2 other tire stores( with multiple locations) couldn't find any. Also had a call back from Michelin Customer Service that said they were out of stock and had no eta date of new stock.

Appears Michelin doesn't keep track of tires after they leave their hands..and apparently couldn't care less. Not clear if I was just lucky with the particular Les Schwab dealer or what? His computer told him his distributor had 10 tires in stock and he had them in 3 days or so.

So lesson learned...don't trust negative responses...just plan on making many calls yourself when chasing short
supply items.