Community Forums

IASM · 07-17-2015, 10:27 PM

I was thinking of upgrading to a larger tire for more capacity and have found these Michelin tires on national backorder with not available. I find it odd since the tire is oem to several brands and folks are buying motorhomes with these tires. I'm wondering if the switch would be wise because if one had a tire failure it could be sidelined for months. I also wonder if someone buys a coach or has this tire size that there so hard to find. Your thoughts?
Rod

NHRA225 · 07-18-2015, 04:56 AM

I know that mine is much older but 2 weeks ago I had New Michelin's - all 6 installed and upped from XRV's 255/80 R 22.5 to XZA3's 275/80 R 22.5 and they clear when the Air is Dumped. Best decision I made- Major improvement in Ride and Handling.
See this for size comparison as I did.
>Tire Size Calculator

Gary RVRoamer · 07-18-2015, 09:55 AM

Tires are produced in large batches at the factory and warehoused against future sales. Sometimes the forecast for sales volume is less than perfect and the warehouse runs out of a model/size before the next batch is made. Sizes and types used in motorhomes are a tiny percentage of the tire manufacturer's business, so they probably aren't going to disrupt the factory schedule to rush a new batch through. They might up the quantity on the next batch, but that doesn't help you now.

365/70 is a real oddball size, so almost sure to be hard to get and ultra expensive. I would avoid it unless it was the only solution for my needs.

Do you really need extra weight carrying capacity? Is there a higher load range available for your current size? Or another alternate that isn't the wide & low type? You only need enough weight-carrying capacity to meet or exceed your axle ratings. Exceeding the GAWRs by more than 10-15% is a waste of money - just capacity you can't use. Especially if your actual (scale weight) axle weights are significantly less than the GAWRs.

IASM · 07-18-2015, 04:47 PM

Hi Gary
I have 8630 on one tire and 8330 on the other. The 315s are good or 9090 lbs and the front suspension is rated at 18k. The bigger rubber would do two things for me. Give me a little more headroom for rated capacity and also allow me to reduce the air pressure to 105 from 130. There priced thru fmca at about the same price as a 315. Im hoping your right in that being backordered will get corrected.
Rod

alpha99 · 07-18-2015, 04:56 PM

Michelin will pay 100% of another brand or 70-75% off Michelin's since XRV's (not available) or any other Michelin.

Currently have 255/80R/22.5.

Suggestions?

NHRA225 · 07-18-2015, 05:03 PM

That's a Deal- You need to Run at that.

Steve Ownby · 07-18-2015, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IASM

Hi Gary
I have 8630 on one tire and 8330 on the other. The 315s are good or 9090 lbs and the front suspension is rated at 18k. The bigger rubber would do two things for me. Give me a little more headroom for rated capacity and also allow me to reduce the air pressure to 105 from 130. There priced thru fmca at about the same price as a 315. Im hoping your right in that being backordered will get corrected.
Rod

Your 315s are most likely on 9" wide wheels. The 365/70s require 10.5" width wheels.

Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

Peralko · 07-18-2015, 08:28 PM

The 365/70 tires are standard on the front and tag axles on Prevosts, and have been for a while. Also, many Prevost owners are switching to 365/70 tires for the same reasons given by the OP--perhaps that is part of the shortage. They are not as oddball as some may think.

G Shaw · 07-18-2015, 08:53 PM

I put 365 on the Freightliner when I upgraded to 18000 lb front axle. You are right to run them at 105 and believe me the ride is so much better than the 315's were at 120 lbs. Talk to Michelin (head office)and and get a delivery date, that's what I did.

IASM · 07-18-2015, 11:37 PM

I have been communicating with Michelin by phone and email but so far have no information. I have wheels on there way. They were also out several weeks. Its great the economy is doing better it seems. Im not in a big hurry but I do like a solid plan. I posted the thread mostly to let people know what's going on if there thinking of doing the upgrade .
Rod

pmgia · 07-19-2015, 12:01 AM

I couldn't find any tires 255/80 R22.5 I tried a number of ideas. I was told that all of the tires are going to the manufacturers because the RV market is so hot right now. Winnebago said they could get me some, but they wanted a fortune to put them on and I'd have to wait 3-4 months for an appointment. I've heard the dealers can get them from Winnebago?

I finally called FMCA and they gave me the number of four dealers close to me, a couple that I didn't know about and one of them had four, they said they would try to find me two more, they called two days later and found two, said he would honor the FMCA deal for all six tires, originally he thoughts he'd have to charge a premium for the extra two. I'm not sure on DOT dates, but at this point what choice do I have.

They get installed this next week, but I'll avoid Michelin on all other vehicles because of this "shortage" and I'll try to buy my next coach with a more standard size.

One other note - CampingWorld had them for almost $800/tire, I told them at that price they can rot on the shelf, they don't honor the FMCA or WIT programs.

Gary RVRoamer · 07-19-2015, 07:41 PM

Quote:

The 365/70 tires are standard on the front and tag axles on Prevosts, and have been for a while. Also, many Prevost owners are switching to 365/70 tires for the same reasons given by the OP--perhaps that is part of the shortage. They are not as oddball as some may think.

Granted, but all the Prevosts on the highway are still just a drop in the bucket compared to common commercial truck sizes like 11R22.5 or the 295/75R22.5. Tire companies think in terms of hundreds of thousands of tires, not a few thousand here and there.

IASM · 07-20-2015, 08:34 PM

I got an email from Michelin that the 365/70 will go into production the second week of august. Not sure how that equates to getting to the warehouse for distribution. I guess they should have fresh build dates.
Rod

Mr_D · 07-20-2015, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

365/70 is a real oddball size, so almost sure to be hard to get and ultra expensive. I would avoid it unless it was the only solution for my needs.

Not really for high end MH's. All CC Magna's from 6986 (ours is 6999) came with that size as did all later Magna's and Affinities plus lots of Prevosts did also. But, that's still a drop in the bucket compared to class 8 truck usage.
As to price, they aren't much different than the 295/80's under the Advantage program.