1988 -345 Tires and Seat Belts

[MacInDaBox]

Last week I purchased a 1988 345 and it is in nice condition but:

It needs 6 new rear tires. The front 2 are fairly new and are Michelins. Is there a good place to buy tires and how much should I pay? I live in San Diego if that helps.

I would like to take a trip with 6 but only have 4 seat belts. Has anyone installed seat belts in the dining booth or in the sofa? If so what is a price I should expect to pay?

Thanks,
Jerry

[winner]

Are you sure you don't have seat belts in the dinette and for the sofa. We originally thought we did not have seat belts in our 345, but found them tucked under the wooden seats in the dinette and stuck down under and behind the sofa. I would think that on all 345's A/S would have had to have seat belts unless someone has removed them. As for tires, we have not heard good things about Michelins on Motor Homes. I.m sure someone on the forums can advise you best on tires for a Motor Home.

[eraffety]

Jerry -

Just to clear up some confusion - do you have a 1987 or 1988 345? You say you purchased a 1988, but in your profile/ID it states you have a 1987.

Just wondering . . . which is the typo?

[MacInDaBox]

I feel a little foolish on the seat belts. Sure enough when I searched underneath I found them. Guess the previous owner just did not use them.

Model year is a good question. The sales receipt ($110,000), warranties and product literature are all dated June 1987. However, the registration, title and some literature from Airstream call it a 1988.

Is there a difference between the two model years? Is there a chance motorhomes are sold like cars and introduce the new model year in the previous calendar year?

Still looking for what I should pay for tires. The 6 I want to replace are made by Cooper.

[winner]

There is certainly a sure fire way to get the correct year model!
Call Airstream 1-937-596-6111 - Ask for Customer Service, Ms Vicki Lasier, Sales Distribution Manager - Give her the VIN of your vehicle and if you have it, the Airstream Number (It starts with a !A9JG***************** She can give you the exact date and year of mfg and the year Model Number and the Chasis Number. I had to do that when I bought my 345 because it had a l986 chassis and was a 1987 Airstream/

[74Argosy24MH]

For my vin M24D4Vxxxx. M for motor home, 24 length, D layout, 4 last digit of model year, V Versailles (build plant), xxxx line up number.

Discount Tire prices were $750 for bias type (6), $1300 for Michelin, which they naturally were pushing hard. I have never had Michelin on anything other than a car, guaranteed 1 flat a week, I swear they had magnetic cord. Winner, what have you heard? It is new tire time for me next spring.


John

[MacInDaBox]

8 R 19.5 XZA TR Michelin

Discount Tire $239.00
Costco $189.00


Significant difference when you are buying 6 or 8 tires.

[Daddy4Bob]

I had a couple of questions about tires as well.

I have bought from Discount Tire for years and have been very pleased with their service, so I talked with them about replacements for our A/S. They want to charge $15 per tire to handle and balance them. Since I need to replace the inside rears and move the front to the back, that adds up to an extra $90. Is that charge standard for these bigger tires?

Also, I was wondering about replacing the front with some tires that are a little wider than those skinny '8 R 19.5's. Any comments and/or problems with doing that?

[74Argosy24MH]

I've never heard of an extra charge even on 22.5's. Maybe they are used to smaller tires and don't like working with them or they are too large for their equipment. Be careful with tire height when moving your tires to the duals, you could end up putting most of the load on the outside tires. A wider tire will need a wider rim and clearance will come into play. You also end up with a situation of what size to use for a spare. They might look narrow from the front, but they work.

John

[wb13798]

hi
i would not put wider tires on the front. i have a 310 and the 8rs rub in a tight turn. not a lot of room under there . just bought two goodyears for the front and they charged me $20 per tire to mount and it was more to balance. i was told they had to charge for mounting to pay for the equipment required for large tires. if you ever lift one of the tires you will see that it is heavy. well that is my two cents

[wb13798]

forgot
do as you may . i wouldnt waste my money on michelins. some folks like them but i have had too many blow outs and friends of mine have had the same problem. a friend of mine has a newer A S and he has this year blown 5 of the six tires on his motor home and they are michelins. he has put some hours on the side of the road wating for road service. i call that dry camping.
later al

[TRAPEZE]

I went with the GOODYEAR G670 RV 225/70R19.5 Mount, balance, tax, out the door at $212.50 each, for a set of eight. I found the best price at goodyear, but I had to haggle a bit.
These tires ride great for me. They are made for RV’S!!!

[MacInDaBox]

Are these equivalent sizes for the 1988 345 classic with alcoa aluminum rims?

Are there problems changing from one to the other?

[TRAPEZE]

Mac,

I do not know if your 88 is the same as my 85, I am sure someone here will know the answer to that.

I have Alcoa Aluminum rim’s and did change from 8R19.5 to the GOODYEAR G670 RV 225/70R19.5 with no problem. They run cool, ride smooth and no issue with full turning in the front wheel wells. No problem with the spacing between the duel rears. I have lost about 6% on my speedometer. (At 70 MPH on my Speedo, I am actually at 66 MPH)
I do not see this as an issue, as I can do the math

Scott

[MacInDaBox]

I was going to buy 8. But I guess I really have to buy 9. I have a spare that has never been used. Because of size difference, I guess it has to be replaced.

Notice you said you bought 8 when you switched. What did you do about the spare?

Jerry McLaughlin

[TRAPEZE]

I must admit, I did not even conceder the spare. Looks like I need to do some more shopping!!!