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meant2shop · 05-02-2019, 11:08 PM

I have a 2006 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37C. Odometer is currently at 21,652. Have had it for 4 years.
Purchased it used, in early 2015 from local dealer. Although the MH only had 10,825 miles when purchased in early 2015, I believe it has the original Michelin tires on it, 235/80 R22.5 XRV.

Since my DH passed away in late 2017, I've been debating about selling this beautiful RV that I love or keeping it, as I'm not using it, but have considered renting a space at a place closer to the Coast, and driving there when the mood strikes, I need a change of scenery, or weather dictates, etc.

I live in So Oregon where summers are hot and winters are wet, and cold, with some ice and snow

The MH is not covered in the winter, and the tires are not covered nor have they been treated. I park on flat gravel surface. Pls don't chastise me, I'm just telling it like it is. I don't have a tire monitoring system either.

Today, I discovered that the outside rear tire on the driver's side is flat. I had very recently drove the MH to town for an oil change. Grateful the flat tire did not occur while I was driving the MH there or back home.

On the iRV2.com website comments, I note a mix of both good and not so good comments regarding Michelin RV tires. I also note some positive comments re Hankook RV tires.
I don't want to spend a ton of $$ for the tires, but I do want something that is reliable and safe. I need to replace all 6 tires now.

What brand(s) should I consider? Hankook, Goodyear, General, or?

If I decide to go with Hankook, which MODEL tire should I be considering?; there are lots of models/styles on their website under the Truck/Bus Category.

Can I buy RV tires through Costco? Does Les Schwaab carry RV tires, including Hankook brand? Any other recommendations for RV tire retailers in So Oregon, Grants Pass/Medford area that will order RV tires?
I know Henderson's Line Up is in Grants Pass. They are very knowledgeable, but very pricey too.
pointS Tire and Auto in Medford, which I've used for my two other vehicles, has the space and bay area to accommodate an RV, but I'd have to have it towed to them and that's at least 40 miles from my house.

Will I need to have the MH towed to the tire retailer I select? Or are there retailers that would/can do the tire replacements at my home?

Recommendations for best brand of tire to consider, retailers in my area, what I can expect to pay for each tire, plus for balancing, stems, and installation much appreciated. Have I forgotten anything to ask on this subject? If so, please provide answers to those questions in your response.

Many thanks - very stressed about this...
meant2shop
Merlin, OR (just north of Grants Pass, OR)

theroc · 05-02-2019, 11:33 PM

Call Les Schwab and arrange to have them put some Toyos on your rig. Since you've been reading posts here on iRV2 on tires, you know that many of us replaced our Michelin XRVs with Toyos.

They will probably recommend a Toyo M154 in size 245/75R22.5 ...this is usually the substitute size for the Michelin 235/80R22.5

Sumitomo ST 718 and the Yokohama RY103 will be a little bit less in price compared to the Toyo but probably not by a lot. They are good choices but it seems the Toyo is the most popular with RVers. I'm not sure if Les Schwab will be able to get those for you or not but you can ask. But again, they do a huge business with Toyo.

Les Schwab is an Oregon-based company and many of us in the PNW are Les Schwab fans. They are one of the biggest Toyo dealers in the country. Even though I haven't bought all my tires from them, I've purchased many from them for my cars and trucks --and motorhomes-- through the years and have been happy. My brother has never bought tires from anywhere else since I think the 1960s.

Call your local Les Schwab and ask them how to handle it. They may be able to come out and replace/repair the one tire where you can then drive it to their facility. If not, they can suggest the best way to do it.

It's been awhile since I've purchased tires for a motorhome so I'll leave the price to somebody else but Toyo, Hankook, Yokohama, Sumitomo (all good brands IMO) will all be much less expensive than Michelin. Many will tell you to buy Michelin no matter what the situation but not all of us think that way.

Keep us informed on what you do.

edited to add: do you have ERS? (Emergency Road Service)

2nd eta: Both the Les Schwab stores in Grants Pass are commercial truck tire dealers so will have 24-hour dispatch for road service and in all probability can come to you to get the flat repaired or changed out with the new tire so you can make it to their facility to get the rest done. Don't pay for towing as that will be expensive ...unless it's covered by the ERS you have if you have one and there's no other way to do it. I'm thinking that Les Schwab will help you with it, however.

Les Schwab Tire Center ----> go HERE for website
1694 NW 6th St
Grants Pass OR 97526

(541) 479-2671

Les Schwab Tire Center ----> go HERE fore website
320 Union Ave
Grants Pass OR 97527

(541) 955-5200

Domo · 05-03-2019, 08:48 AM

Toyo - YES.

beenthere · 05-03-2019, 09:46 AM

General HS series.. General tire has made more major advancements in tires than any I can think of started making truck tires when first truck was made.. and made in USA. Company may have been sold to outsider's{Continental} but still engineered and made here. and my 295's were way less money than others. http://www.generaltire.com/sites/def...BR-DATA-GT.pdf

meant2shop · 05-03-2019, 11:43 PM

Thanks for recommendations. I spent most of today going to local tire stores in Grants Pass OR to get quotes for 6 tires including Balance/disposal/mounting etc.
Went to Les Schwab, on 6th St first. The manager, Matt, was really pushing the Toyo brand tire, as many of you have mentioned and praised.
He said the size Michelin Tire I currently have on the rig, 235/80 22.5 XRV, is no longer available (not true). The size is now
245/75 22.5. I asked about Hankook and Goodyear. He checked into each and called me later in the day. Said the size needed was not available in the Hankook, and said the Goodyear cost a “whole lot more” than the $2058.30 out the door price he quoted me for the Toyos, with a Veteran’s discount.

Then I went to two other Tire Stores in Grants Pass - Tehama Tire and Tire Pros.
I relayed to each what I learned at Les Schwab re the tire size change. Both did on line research and also called other mgr/experienced tech - they both told me the new Sz 245/75 2.5 Tire is NOT the best, or even a good fit for my 2006 Pace Arrow 37C. Said the difference in size, while not great, would result in a rough, not smooth ride, def uneven tire wear due to ill-fit, and and I wouldn’t be happy with that size tire. The wheels on my rig, which are original, were designed for the Michelin 235/80 22.5 XRV tire that it came with originally from the factory. In order to get that same ride/feel and even tire wear, the “new” 245/75 22.5 size tire would require a different size wheel. I’m not changing my wheels.

So am seriously considering going with the quote for the Michelin’s from Tire Pros of $3132.36, which includes everything and veterans discount. Works out to $490 per tire plus $32 per tire for mounting/disposal/balancing, etc.

I can order the 6 tires from Costco for about $500 less ($2540), but then I have to drive 90 miles r/t to Costco and may need to make two trips to Costco as not sure all 6 tires would fit in my F150, and the weight of all 6 tires in the truck bed is a factor as well.
Also, if I order them from Costco, Tire Pros would install them for no additional charge, but I would not be able to have the Costco tires rotated or repaired for free at Tire Pros, since I didn’t buy from them.

Tire Pros said they’ll come to my house at no charge to inspect and repair the flat so I can then drive my MH to their store in Grants Pass and get the new Michelin tires installed. The store/shop was well organized, and the customer service was outstanding. They went out of their way to listen to me, investigate re the two sizes and different brands, call their SME’s, promptly call me with addl info, and do their best to try to save me money. They were about $305 cheaper than Tehama Tire Co., for the Michelin tires, BTW.

Haven’t committed to anyone yet. Mulling it over.
Curious if General, Yokohama, and other brands mentioned/suggested in this forum are available in the 235/80 22.5 XRV size, and what is their comparison price for 6 tires.

Thinking I should call Fleetwood to confirm the info I was told re tire size for my rig, is accurate, which will help decide which brand to go with.

While I’d love to save $1000 on the cost for 6 new tires, I don’t want to sacrifice a smooth ride, even tire wear, and proper tire fit for the wheels I have (if true).

Meant2shop
Merlin OR

theroc · 05-04-2019, 01:18 AM

I don't agree that you will need new wheels by going to the 245/75 nor do I agree they will give you a worse ride and uneven tire wear do to ill fit. In fact, I'm almost tempted to call it bogus what they're telling you.

The 235/80R 22.5 is proprietary to Michelin. Sure they want to sell you Michelins. And Fleetwood will in all likelihood also recommend that you stay with the XRV as that is their OEM tire.

But no, you will not find the 235/80 in other brands. The 245/75 is extremely close and not an "ill-fit" at all.

I'm almost certain that any other brand that is not a tier-one tire will cost less than Michelin.

I've said this on quite a few threads on tires on this forum --I refuse to buy Michelin because I believe that the premium price you pay for a first-tier tire is not worth the extra cost as much of it is advertising costs, etc. Not everybody agrees with me. You'll see that some on this forum will buy nothing but Michelin tires and claim that any other brand of tire is unsafe. I don't agree.

It sounds as if you're convinced that Michelin is the way to go. It's okay if you want to do that. And a dealer that you feel good with and is giving you good service might be worth it to you too. It's just something I personally wouldn't do.

I've already stated my preferences as to where to buy and what brands. That's the nature of these forums. We all have our own preferences, opinions, and beliefs. We can state them even though some of us disagree with others. You then have to make up your own mind after listening to each advice-giver.

MRUSA14 · 05-04-2019, 03:33 AM

Do not be concerned about rotating the tires as there is no good reason to do so. The tires will age out before they wear out so rotating them is unecessary. Almost nobody rotates tires on a motorhome unless they have a bad problem with irregular wear.

Crasher · 05-04-2019, 08:53 AM

I am another former Michelin owner. I went with Toyo replacement tires. IMO, Michelin's are overrated and overpriced. Any of the mentioned brands will perform just as well with a substantial savings. Also, the 245/75/22.5 is a much more common size than the 235 Michelin. If you ever have a tire failure due to a road hazard, the 245 is available at most truck tire dealers, whereas, you could have to wait awhile to find a Michelin 235/80/22.5. Also, if your coach is aligned correctly, you will never need to rotate the tires. It's your choice and your money, so buy what you prefer from a dealer you trust.

tap4154 · 05-04-2019, 09:38 AM

Recently replaced my badly-cracked and aged-out Michelins (they had small cracks from day one btw) with Toyo and noticed a better ride immediately. Have also read many others who have had Toyos for many years with no cracking or other issues. The tire shop I bought them at does tire change-outs for a very large local RV chain here in So Cal, and puts Toyos on most of their coaches.

Michelin gets a lot of brand loyalty from their massive decades-long ad campaigns, but I prefer word of mouth and the experience of actual owners.