tire size February 22, 2003, 12:45:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19228I want to call around for new tires and can't remember the size. I could crawl through the snow and shovel the snow away but it's easier to "ask the experts" :-). I know part of it - R16.5. This is for a '89 Chevy. Advice??? The right front tire has a slow leak but the tread is good. The Michelin tires are 4 years old, except for a new spare last year. We've driven it about 40 miles since we got home last spring, maybe twice a month just to keep things moving. We're leaving in 3 weeks for another long trip, at least 10,000 miles.Opinions please! Do we replace all of the tires (not the new spare) or just the one with the leak and buy one new tire for the front right, put the spare on the front left and keep the old front left as a spare. It doesn't seem soon enough to replace all of the tires. They still look new. I know the tires will break down before the tread wears out. I don't want to patch the leaking tire because I'd never relax on the highway. Money is an issue (retired :-))but not over safety.Thanks,Karen
Re: tire size Reply #1 – February 22, 2003, 01:17:34 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19229I don't know about your tire size, but as far as the leak, we had slow leaks on two occasions last year, and both were due to faulty valve stem. They replaced the valve stems with metal ones. Checked the air pressure regularly for a while afterward to make sure that fixed the problem before we felt comfortable though.
Re: tire size Reply #2 – February 22, 2003, 04:21:47 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19234Karen,I would take the LD to a good tire dealer and get his advice on whether the slow leak should be repaired. If it is through the tread portion (such as a nail), a repair should OK and should not be a safety issue. If the leak is
Re: tire size Reply #3 – February 23, 2003, 08:34:14 am Yahoo Message Number: 19242QuoteI want to call around for new tires and can't remember the size. I could crawl through the snow and shovel the snow away but it's easier to "ask the experts" :-). I know part of it - R16.5. This is for a '89 Chevy. On our '83 they are 8.75 R 16.5, but still verify your before buying, of course.Steve
Re: tire size Reply #4 – February 24, 2003, 02:45:38 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19265Thanks for the replies. The snow melted enough to get at the tires and much to our surprise, the tire doesn't seem to be leaking. Hubby is wondering if the valve may have been slightly stuck and filling the tire stopped a leaky valve. It's held the same pressure for 3 weeks. Barry, Larry and other cold blooded lizard types, why don't you come and visit us in NJ next winter? We won't be here but you'll love the weather! :-) Barry, you can set up a tent for your barbecue. Larry, the campgrounds will have lots of empty spots and the beach will be tranquil and even sunny some days. Just don't stay out too long if you value your fingers and toes.Karen
Re: tire size Reply #5 – February 24, 2003, 03:48:27 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19270"Larry, the campgrounds will have lots of empty spots and the beach will be tranquil and even sunny some days. Just don't stay out too long if you value your fingers and toes."KarenMy sister-in-law has a second home in upstate NY, in a little village called Gilbertsville, near Cooperstown. We have spent a couple of Christmas/ New Years weeks there and have enjoyed it immensely. We have also enjoyed flying home afterwards. The Lake effect snow is something to experience. A nice place to visit but....You probably will not find us RVing the North East too much in the winter but you are quite welcome to come out West and visit. Our beaches are nice in the winter and a lot less crowded than in the summer. Another plus in never having to winterize unless the Sierras beckons you in February. The skiing is great.Larry---waiting for today's El Nino rain to begin.
Re: tire size Reply #6 – February 24, 2003, 04:28:23 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19274Karen,I'm glad your tire 'healed' itself. Thanks for the invitation to NJ winter, but based on my experiences, the problem is finding campgrounds that are open
Re: tire size Reply #7 – February 24, 2003, 08:38:58 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19278QuoteThanks for the replies. The snow melted enough to get at the tires and much to our surprise, the tire doesn't seem to be leaking. Hubby is wondering if the valve may have been slightly stuck and filling the tire stopped a leaky valve. It's held the same pressure for 3 weeks. Karen Karen: Your message about the tire valve possibly having been stuck raised a red alarm with me. I hope you and your husband realize that the valve itself is not meant to hold air with any integrity. It is the valve cap which holds the stem pressure. Please make sure you have good valve caps on all your tires, and stay safe.Gus Weber
Re: tire size (valves and valve caps) Reply #8 – February 24, 2003, 11:55:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19282QuoteI hope you and your husband realize that the valve itself is not meant to hold air with any integrity. It is the valve cap which holds the stem pressure. Sorry, I can't agree with that completely. The valve itself is meant to hold the air pressure integrity. The valve cap keeps the valve clean, and in an emergency, should the valve fail, may keep pressure in the tire. Most of the caps are cheap plastic and I'd have to see it to believe they would hold any pressure. I suspect however that a high quality valve cap may be able to hold pressure should the valve fail or become marginal.Here's an excerpt from the Michelin website that talks about valves and valve caps (http://tires.michelin- us.com/care/tire_saving_tips/reg_care/air_pressure.html):Valves and valve caps The tire's valve is a very important maintenance item in terms of keeping the inflation air in your tires. These valves are ordinarily rubber, can deteriorate over time and should be replaced when you buy new tires. At high speeds, a cracked, deteriorated rubber valve stem can bend from centrifugal force and allow air lossThe valve cap is likewise an important item. Buy some good quality valve caps that can contain the inflation air should the core of the valve fail for any reason. Valve caps also keep out moisture, which could freeze and in turn depress the valve core, causing loss of air. The cap also keeps out dust and dirt particles, which could also interfere with the proper operation of the valve core and cause loss of air.Don't mean to be negative, Chuck.
Re: tire size (valves and valve caps) Reply #9 – February 25, 2003, 08:38:55 am Yahoo Message Number: 19284QuoteI hope you and your husband realize that the valve itself is not meant to hold air with any integrity. It is the valve cap which holds the stem pressure.Sorry, I can't agree with that completely. The valve itself is meant to hold the air pressure integrity. The valve cap keeps the valve clean, and in an emergency, should the valve fail, may keep pressureJust for the tally, my vote goes here.Steve
Re: tire size Reply #10 – February 25, 2003, 09:36:32 am Yahoo Message Number: 19287I also agree with Chuck and Steve on this that the valve itself is meant and designed to hold the air pressure without the need for a cap. Caps are only meant to keep water and dirt out of the valve and only the metal type with rubber washers in them will prevent air from leaking out in the event the valve fails for some reason.It is also possible for the valve core to work lose from vibration inside the stem and that can cause a slow leak though this doesn't happen often. You can check the valve core for leaks like you would a gas line with a soap solution or something similar. If they leak it could be it is bad or just lose and needs to be retightened. They do sell metal valve caps that have the rubber washer and have a removal/retightening tool for the valve core designed into the top of them. They're a good item to have and many truckers carry them although some mainly as an overtime insurance device. They also sell replacement valve cores because they are more common to fail than loosen with vibration.Mike
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Topic: tire size (Read 4 times)
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