Tire Time May 16, 2017, 02:55:53 pm Hello,The time has finally come. Still have our original Michelins on our 2008 MB. Never had a flat and still no checking on sidewalls or in the tread. Trip to Alaska coming up this summer and knowing I have passed a lot of people's limit on time, I wasn't out to set a longevity record. These tires have been great! Pressure has stayed consistent. The spare has never seen the light of day. I did notice yesterday that the fronts are finally showing a little wear on the inside tread. I have never had the front end alligned-Tire wear and handling have always been good. As an added note I still have the original Trojan house batteries. They show no sign of a dropping their charge. Any battery recommendations when I do start shopping?Does anyone have any last minutes advice before I start beating the bushes for a price? With the record I have with these Michelins I can't see making a change unless someone can make a good case for making a change.Thanks to all of you for being there. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.Bill 1 Likes
Re: Tire Time Reply #1 – May 16, 2017, 04:02:53 pm Bill, on my '08 MB, my first set of Michelins had alligatoring in the sidewalls, enough to be of concern, at 3 years. I put on Goodyear All Steel belt tires, had a harder ride, less drift on turns and with cross winds because the tires were stiffer, and they lasted 5 years before cupping from a front end out of alignment meant it was time to replace. I could not get the same Goodyears, so I put on the current version of the original Michelins. I miss the tightness of the Goodyears, but if I run the Michelins at 75 front and 80 rear I don't drift very much.I will say this - regardless of how the tires looked, I would never go more than 6 years on a set of tires. Blowouts usually don't give much warning, if any...Ken F in OR 1 Likes
Re: Tire Time Reply #2 – May 16, 2017, 04:08:11 pm "Still have our original Michelins on our 2008 MB."Congratulations! Yours seems to be the exception to the rule. Like others on the Forum I change out my tires on average of every 6 years, ±. I also started out with the Michelins, X2 sets. However, my experience was not stellar. I had sidewall checking early on with both sets and a blowout on the last set. That's when I switched over to Goodyear G947s. They are a steel sidewall tire and somewhat firmer than the Michelins which, in my opinion, gives a better road feel. I run 65/75 front to rear.As to the batteries, I long ago changed from the Trojans to the LifeLine AGMs. I no longer have acid holes in my clothing and do not have to sit on the ground fumbling flash light, water bottle, etc. just to top off a ¼" of fluid. They've provided good service for over five years.
Re: Tire Time Reply #3 – May 16, 2017, 05:36:29 pm My 26.5 MB had Toyo tires on it when we bought it. They looked almost new but were 6 years old. I put off replacing them and had a blowout on our first long trip. Went to Discount tire to buy all new Michelin's. The manager recommended BF Goodrich commercial TA all season's. He said they were a little less expensive and he had very good experiences with them. And had seen less failures then he had with the Michelins as far as sidewall checking. So that's what I have on my rig now. Very happy with the ride they give. Way better than the Toyos. BF Goodrich is owned by Michelin. 1 Likes
Re: Tire Time Reply #4 – May 16, 2017, 06:38:46 pm i replaced house batteries with Trojans (batteries). It is still hard to beat the performance of good old flooded lead acid batteries when properly vented. charged and maintained. I'm a Michelin believer. good ride, good wear, low road noise, strong.
Re: Tire Time Reply #5 – May 20, 2017, 11:43:27 am What's the group consensus on tires these days? I know Michelin has long been a fan favorite, but saw they had a recall issue back in 2013. Has this been resolved? Do LDers still like Michelin? What about Goodrich and/or Goodyear?Our (Cooper) tires are going on 5 years, but we rarely use the rig (10k miles in 5 years), so there is some alligatoring. We have Tireman valve extenders so we're under control there. I've always been anal about tire pressure, and we keep the rig around 1k CCC (9-9.5 loaded vs 10.5 GVWR), so it drives really well.Has anyone bought tires online and had a (known) mechanic install them? I've done that many times for our passenger cars, but I understand you want to also make sure you have the most recent mfg date for RV tires to get a jump on the 5-7 year life. Is that why people go to larger, higher vol operations to ensure fresh tires? However, with valve extenders, etc, is that why people hang out to make sure everything is installed correctly? That is, large(r) shops tend to be hands-on training centers.
Re: Tire Time Reply #6 – May 20, 2017, 01:13:58 pm What about... Goodyears?My experiences with Michelins have been poor. Since I've switched to Goodyear G947s I've been quite pleased with the 'road feel' and the ride. With a steel sidewall they are somewhat firmer but not uncomfortable. Goodyear G947 Tire LT225/75R16/10 115 BW - Walmart.com 2 Likes
Re: Tire Time Reply #7 – May 20, 2017, 02:14:15 pm My 2004 MB got new tires 2 years ago by the previous owner. But Discount Tire put rubber stems on. First chance I get they will get metal. On 2 previous motorhomes both times after telling the tire place to replace the stems they didn't. Had to return and have them replace with new stems. So I watch them put the new stems on each time.
Re: Tire Time Reply #8 – May 20, 2017, 06:05:39 pm For what it is worth, the Goodyears I put on that lasted 5 years, versus the Michelins lasting 3 years, were the G947's. The only reason I went back to Michelins was that I could not get an assurance from the tire place that the Goodyears would be no older than 6 months.Ken F in OR
Re: Tire Time Reply #9 – May 20, 2017, 07:08:08 pm " I could not get an assurance from the tire place ..."Wow! That's strange. Guess they did not want you business.
Re: Tire Time Reply #10 – May 20, 2017, 08:50:02 pm We had the recalled Michelins replaced via our local Ford dealer about a year after the recall. Always liked Michelins. Had them on the big rig as well before the 4-door Norcold on AC set the coach on fire. The tires survived ;->We are not heavy users of our replacement RV, a 2013 27-foot RB LD. We appreciate the big tire chains and their convenience, but are watchful and insist on current dates, etc. s/Terry Apple
Re: Tire Time Reply #11 – May 20, 2017, 11:42:04 pm I really like the Goodyear tires on our light 4X4 FJ40, but I had terrible luck with the E-rated TA's mounted on one of our previous 1 ton pickups carrying a big camper. One tire blew up deep in Mexico, likely due to a de-lamination, and we lost 4 more to tread separation/delamination that we fortunately caught before they self-destructed.Discount Tire got "tired" of replacing the tires with their certificates for no cost, so after replacing five tires gratis, they took all of the Goodyear tires back and gave me a new set of Michelin LTX tires. I have been using and abusing these tires on several trucks since then and they have been excellent tires on the pavement, on gravel and rocky terrain, under heavy loads, and in wet and light-muddy conditions.I have Michelins on the Lazy Daze.(Not to get too far off topic, but it was fascinating to watch the guy in the tire shop in Mexico remove my tire and mount a nice used tire with no machines or electricity in his shop. Seating the bead was a "blast!") 1 Likes
Re: Tire Time Reply #12 – May 21, 2017, 05:23:21 pm Since the Michelin tires and Trojan batteries have provided exceptional service, why wouldn't you replace them with the same?They have satisfied YOUR standards for nine years. Both are quality products.BTW, over the last 15 years, most forum members, running Michelins, have been very satisfied with them.Trojan batteries have been the Industry's standard for decades, you will not find a better lead-acid battery, for the price.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Tire Time Reply #13 – May 21, 2017, 07:03:30 pm Lazy, they sure did want my business. They contacted Goodyear. Goodyear was not able to give them a guarantee on the date, which they passed on to me. They did get a date guarantee on the Michelins.Ken F in OR
Re: Tire Time Reply #14 – May 21, 2017, 11:34:04 pm Quote from: Blueox25 - May 20, 2017, 11:42:04 pm(Not to get too far off topic, but it was fascinating to watch the guy in the tire shop in Mexico remove my tire and mount a nice used tire with no machines or electricity in his shop. Seating the bead was a "blast!")Did it involve flammable liquids?Larry
Re: Tire Time Reply #15 – May 22, 2017, 10:07:45 am "BTW, over the last 15 years, most forum members, running Michelins, have been very satisfied with them."---I've never had any issues with Michelin tires; currently running the third set of M+S tires (these were not under the fairly recent recall), and will go with the "Defender" badged LTX Michelins for the next set. If Michelin comes up with an "improved" tire in the appropriate size and load rating (with a M+S tread pattern; no "highway tread" for me), I'll research them and decide, but I have no current plans to change from a product that has worked well for me for 14 years and 102k miles. Critical requirements are buying 6 super-fresh, date-matched tires, installing them correctly (including having the tires mounted so the DOT codes are visible on the outside sidewalls), airing to the proper pressures for the coach weight/load, and thoroughly inspecting and accepting the installation before leaving the shop. To answer a common question that often pops up (in the oft-repeated tire discussions) at this point: yes, new tires can be mounted without removing the long valves from the wheels. Many shops will refuse to do this because it takes a bit more time and certainly more care to mount a new tire on a wheel with a long or U-shaped valve stem, but a good tire shop with competent, trained, careful techs can and will do it right. Frankly, there are a lot of crappy tire shops with poorly-maintained equipment, high turnovers of untrained and often clueless installers, and plenty of aging "shelf stock"; it's up to the rig owner to know what s/he wants and needs and to make sure that the selected shop complies with the requirements. As ever, YMMV. 2 Likes
Re: Tire Time Reply #16 – May 22, 2017, 10:28:22 am Larry,Yes it did. The guy sprayed ether starting fluid into the tire (mounted on the wheel) and tossed a match at it. The ether exploded and the bed was set on both sides. I wonder how many mistakes he had made in order to find the perfect amount by trial and error.It was a great show and I got an excellent used tire for about $20, bubble balanced, and I got lots more miles out of it. He got a nice tip. About 25 miles from the nearest paved road!HD 1 Likes
Re: Tire Time Reply #17 – May 22, 2017, 10:47:10 am Mexican mechanics are some of the most innovative and resourceful anywhere! A throttle cable on a very early model Honda Civic wagon broke on one of my rambles through México many years ago; a guy replaced it with a leather shoelace thong and I went on my way! A bit of a different "feel" and a few surges here and there, but the throttle didn't flop around! 2 Likes
Re: Tire Time Reply #18 – May 22, 2017, 11:20:29 am I have had similar experiences and am always impressed by their resourcefulness, ingenuity, and overall helpfulness. After rebuilding a broken trailer spring and bent axle, a Mexican blacksmith called his friend and had him bring his old pickup and drive me and my parts back to my disabled trailer. The driver wouldn't accept payment or a tip and just smiled, waved, and drove home.That trailer had a bit of a lean to it, but worked just fine with the Mexican springs, fashioned from old car springs, for years!Very little gets thrown away in Mexico. Almost everything can be fixed or re-purposed.HD 3 Likes
Re: Tire Time Reply #19 – May 22, 2017, 02:57:31 pm Resourcefulness often follows closely with necessity right behind. How many mix matched tire's have made it onto a car in need? Sometimes we just do what we have to in order to get up the road just a bit more. Sometimes timely replacement of parts, tire's and such just escapes reason or budget.There was a TV show on a season or two ago called "Cuban Gold". An excellent show about the needed resourcefulness of taxi drivers living in Cuba. Boat motors going in taxi cabs. Ingenuity at every turn. Cobbled together cabs from all makes of relic automobiles.Many of us use this ethic as a guiding light. I must have two or three junk drawers around the house. Their contents hunkered down just waiting to prove themselves. "I can do that. Really! Let me at it", says that old plastic thingamajig. Homemade engineers are often the most creative. Not bound by any constraints of congress. These geniuses just slapping together creative solutions to a problem. One after the other. Amazing!Kent 1 Likes
Re: Tire Time Reply #20 – May 22, 2017, 03:02:24 pm Quote from: Kent Heckethorn - May 22, 2017, 02:57:31 pmMany of us use this ethic as a guiding light. I must have two or three junk drawers around the house. Their contents hunkered down just waiting to prove themselves. "I can do that. Really! Let me at it", says that old plastic thingamajig. Homemade engineers are often the most creative. Not bound by any constraints of congress. These geniuses just slapping together creative solutions to a problem. One after the other. Amazing!KentI think that's called a "kludge" Kent!
Re: Tire Time Reply #21 – May 22, 2017, 05:13:15 pm Original Michelins on our 2007 were a nightmare. Now have had Firestones Transforce- a commercial tire less expensivefor 5 years, look and ride like new.Bob
Re: Tire Time Reply #23 – June 09, 2017, 09:12:03 pm I went to a set of Michelin XPS RIB steel-belted tires on my 2006 23.5' Rear TK in mid-2009, after the checking on the sidewalls of the original Michelins got to the danger point. Michelin agreed, and with 3700 miles on the original tires, they credited me with 75% of the price, and I was allowed to upgrade to the more expensive tire.No more wandering, acceptable (but firm) ride, much better handling, and no sidewall checking (tires are kept covered when stored). At 8 years and 20,000 miles, I'm shopping for another set. The price has gone up about 20% in 8 years, which I guess is no worse than a lot of other products, and Discount Tire seems to be the place I'll end up.I understand the XPS RIB is standard equipment on the big UPS trucks. They must be happy with the service they get from them. Any other experiences with this tire, or an alternate place to buy them for less?
Re: Tire Time Reply #24 – June 09, 2017, 09:19:36 pm I went with the Firestone Transforce when my Michelins failed me. Belts on the front tires separated.What a difference! Much improved ride and handling, plus longer life and less expensive. What more could you ask for?
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