Community Forums

RickNC · 07-15-2018, 11:29 PM

I wasn't thinking about replacing tires this year until I lowered my spare today and saw it was badly cracked with dry rot. I have 4 Kumho Crugen HT51's on the rear axle (6 years old) and a pair of two year old Firestone Transforce on the front. LT-215/85/16.
The Firestones ride pretty hard on the front and am thinking of making them spares and replacing all six tires since the rears are nearing the end of their service life.

I have been looking at several tires including the Kumho HT51's Michelin Defender ltx, Cooper Discoverer HT3 and Yokohama Geolandar HT.
Anyone have experience with these tires or other recommendations?

FastEagle · 07-16-2018, 12:54 AM

Vanco is popular in that size.

VancoFourSeason - LT215/85R16 115Q Tire | Continental

kendall69 · 07-16-2018, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastEagle

Vanco is popular in that size.

VancoFourSeason - LT215/85R16 115Q Tire | Continental

They god BAD revies here:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...RatingsReviews

kendall69 · 07-16-2018, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickNC

I wasn't thinking about replacing tires this year until I lowered my spare today and saw it was badly cracked with dry rot. I have 4 Kumho Crugen HT51's on the rear axle (6 years old) and a pair of two year old Firestone Transforce on the front. LT-215/85/16.
The Firestones ride pretty hard on the front and am thinking of making them spares and replacing all six tires since the rears are nearing the end of their service life.

I have been looking at several tires including the Kumho HT51's Michelin Defender ltx, Cooper Discoverer HT3 and Yokohama Geolandar HT.
Anyone have experience with these tires or other recommendations?

I run the Michelin Defender ltx, on almost everything I own. Here's why. I live in the desert SW so temps get up around 120 every summer. Dry heat cracks are a huge problem in the sun all day long. The dealer I purchase them from (without me saying anything) said "looks like you have some cracks in your tires) ( they were 4 years old at this point and 50K miles.) He called Michelin and they gave me $70.00 per tire credit on a new set, and they always beat any posed tire price including Costco, Walmart, Tire rack etc. Who else stands behind their tires like that?

F4Jock · 07-17-2018, 02:58 PM

Kumho Crugen HT51 All-Season Radial Tire

RickNC · 07-17-2018, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F4Jock

Kumho Crugen HT51 All-Season Radial Tire

Have you used this tire on the steer axle? That is where I'm debating on what to use.

RickNC · 07-18-2018, 11:23 AM

So I dug through the old receipts for the motorhome today. All 6 tires were replaced with Kumhos HT51 on 3/12/2013 ( tires are dated 48th and 45th week of 2012) The front two were replaced on 12/18/2016 with Firestone Transforce HT. The calculated mileage on the Kumhos were 10472 according to the receipts. I have no information on why they were replaced.

I also spoke to a long time rv repair mechanic today and he suggested moving the 2 front Firestone Transforce tires to the rear axle along with 2 more new Transforce. He says he likes the better durability of the Transforce but agrees they are too stiff for comfort on a gas Class A front axle."
On the front axle and spare he is recommending the Michelin Defender LTX for ride quality and steering. Since I don't have ABS braking he said it wouldn't create any handling or braking abnormalities. He says he uses the same tire combination on his 1996 Rexaire

I'm leaning toward going that route....

F4Jock · 07-19-2018, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickNC

Have you used this tire on the steer axle? That is where I'm debating on what to use.

Yes. I have them there now and there are no problems. I have never used Michelins on the MH but as they do not perform well, wear quickly and are, to me, noisy on my SUVs (After lots of trials over the years I use Continental DWS06. In fact I like them so much I even use them on my Corvette!) and I consider them overpriced I did not get them for the MH.

After lots of on-line research I bought this model Kumho as a decently-priced tire that would meet the specs for my weight, give me good control and ride, be relatively quiet and wear well. Unlike others I put them on all six wheels. So far I am not disappointed. At the same time I upgraded my suspension with SumoShocks and new Konis all around.

Love the way the MH handles now but in my experience tire choices are a very personal thing. What I like you may not and vice versa. Thing is, you can always replace them with something else when they wear out and start over and, as much as I dislike Michelins, when my SUVs come with them stock I put up with them until they wear out and then go to my Contis.

RickNC · 07-24-2018, 08:57 AM

F4Jock, Thanks for the reply. I spent some more time looking at the Kumhos. but ultimately went with the Michelins for the front end. I also bumped the size up from a 215 to a 235 in order to lower the air psi . I stayed with 215's for the rears.

F4Jock · 07-25-2018, 04:58 AM

Rick. I wish you nothing but the best with them. As I said, tires are a very personal choice. I wouldn't go near Michelins with a ten-foot pole but some people swear by them. Rigs are also very different. Mine rides fine with the Khumos so . . . . In any case, hope they do all you need and more!

Daveinet · 07-28-2018, 08:41 PM

If you think the Transforce ride hard, they probably are over inflated, or the hard ride is in the suspension. On my previous Revcon, originally had Goodyears on it. I went to Bridgestone Revos on the front, because it was front wheel drive and I needed to solve some traction problems. They road softer than the goodyears by a lot. I then replaced those with the Transforce HT. The Transforce were substantially softer yet. I ran 80 psi, just to stiffen them up. I've even heard complaints about the Transforce being too soft and introducing side to side movement. I would be willing to bet that when you replace them, whatever you replace them with will ride worse than the Transforce HTs.

Incidentally, the Transforce are Nylon belted, which makes the lighter than steel belted, which helps the ride. It also makes the tire more compliant than a steel belted. Of course the main reason I had to have the Transforce was that they were speed rated for 106 mph.

stepside454 · 07-28-2018, 09:06 PM

I have Transforce’s on my 96 Bounder & am happy with them

RickNC · 07-30-2018, 08:17 AM

Thanks for all the replies! I had the tires installed on Thursday and drove it yesterday on a 160 mile day trip. Noticeably better ride, probably due more to the increased tire section and lower pressure than any difference in tire brand. Steering feel is about the same to me, Wife claims it self centers better.
This was my first time buying tires online, I bought them through Simple Tire. Price was $120 less than anyone in the area. They were delivered two days later to the tire shop I chose. Mounting and balance was $15 a tire. Good dates, 20/18 for the Firestones and 24/18 for the Michelins. It was a good experience!

RickNC · 08-18-2018, 10:51 AM

A little update. Came back from a 700 mile trip to the mountains. Tires have been flawless. The ride is now better than my f150. I reweighed the MH on our way out with a full tank of fuel, 1/2 tank water and a ~1/4 tank of waste.

The front axle came in 4480 and the rear axle at 5510. Front pressure I have at 55 psi and the rears at 50 psi.

Being able to reduce the front tire pressure with the larger front tire has made a quite a difference in comfort.