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Topic: Front Tires (Read 1 time) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Front Tires
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111015
This is an interesting topic to me as I have the same question.  I had experinced some odd tread wear on my from tires and went for an alignment. While correcting the problem the technician said that when my fronts wear out change the tread design.  My 2008 came with Michel
Re: Front Tires
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111023
wrote: I had experinced some odd tread wear on my from tires and went for an alignment. While correcting the problem the technician said that when my fronts wear out change the tread design.  My 2008 came with Michelin mud and snow tires all the way round. The tech said it makes no sense to have mud and snow tires on the front and I should switch to a straight tread design like a big tractor trailer rig uses.
--- JMHO, but you might want to look for a different “tech”.  The Michelin LTX M+S that has been the OEM tire on the Ford E-450 chassis for at least seven years is not a true "snow" tire; it's a general purpose/"all-season" tire useful for a variety of road applications.
 A true “snow tire” will have a heavier “block” tread pattern, be made of different rubber compounds, and have more apparent “biting” edges on the outside edges of the tread pattern. The designation "M+S" on an all-season tire simply means that the space between the tread grooves on the tire is very slightly wider than on a "highway rib" or another; this tread pattern helps to “throw off” any mud or *light* snow that might “pack” in the tread grooves and reduce traction.
 If you don’t care for the tread pattern on the Michelin M+S tires, look at the other options on this page; the A/T2 or the XPS rib (more expensive than the A/T2) might suit you.  Or, there are a few other manufacturers who make tires appropriately sized and “use-designed”, i.e., “E” load rated, partial or all-steel, and all-season tread designs, for the Ford E-450 chassis; a search will bring up options.
 You didn’t say where you had taken the rig for the alignment, but if it wasn’t a shop which has experience in aligning the Ford E-450, you might want to search out a shop which does; unless the root *cause* of the “odd tread wear” is discovered and corrected, *any* tread pattern is going to wear in the same way.

As ever, YMMV.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Front Tires
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111024
The M/S type of front tire is probably not necessary for longitudinal traction UNTIL you use your brakes.  At that point, the tread design is just as important on the front as on the rear.  On our rigs, the front tires provide approximately 1/3 of our braking force.  The mechanics on a tractor-trailer are different.  The front tires comprise 1/9 of the weight bearing and braking force.

Tire design and selection is always a series of compromises and decisions.  Rubber compositions with higher friction factors wear faster.  Longer tire life comes from a "harder" rubber mix that does not abrade as quickly, but that means less surface friction.  A dry road tire ideally will have minimal tread to maximize rubber contact to pavement.  A wet road tire has lots of deep but narrow tread to give the water a place to "squeegee" out, thus maintaining surface contact.  Mud and snow tires have more open tread to allow ridges to form in the mud or snow, thus enhancing traction on the surface ridden upon.

We often think of traction in mud and snow as the ability to move forward, climb a hill, pull out of a soft spot, etc.  That is a function of the rear tires only.  Braking is very much front and rear, so on mud or snow, the more open tread is just as important on the front as on the rear.

So... if you are rarely if ever going to be driving on mud or snow, the move away from a M/S rated tire makes a lot of sense.  Think southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Florida.  If you are a mountain and marginal weather lover, you probably should have the M/S tires all around - IMHO.

Ken F in OR
'08 MB
Re: Front Tires
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111027
Quote
The tech said it makes no sense to have mud and snow tires on the front and I should switch to a straight tread design like a big tractor trailer rig uses.

Mike
Hi Mike, The Michelin LTX (OEM on our vintage rigs) are classified as an all season tire. All of the vehicles I own, including the motorcycle, are mounted with all season tread design tires. I don't drive in mud or snow but I do drive on wet roads where hydroplaning (Vp) can be an issue and all season tires are superior under these conditions.

John '04 23.5FL