310 Tires???

[Surprise]

I'm the overjoyed/overwhelmed new owner of a 84' AS 310! It has been sitting for 14 years. I'm pricing tires first and have gotten quotes for "Hercules " brand tires, made by Cooper. The tire size is 8r x 19.5.
Does anyone have advice on these? I live in the Phoenix area and would like to start gathering info/stories while I renew this beast! Thanks for any help!

Danny Batsell
623-330-5035

Pics to come as soon as I get the mh towed home.

p.s. Any Kohler dealers in the Phx area? I need tune-up parts for the Gen.

[crazeevw]

Love to know what kind of price you're getting on these tires. Best I can do around here in Florida is $222. Cooper are American made. Haven't heard too many good comments on the Chinese tires as of late.
Best bet on Kohler is to do a Google search for a dealer, I would post Kohler question in the trailer section as well.
Can't wait to see photos.
Thanks, Derek

[pgr32e]

Don't know about motor homes, but I've been running Coopers on the car, the truck and the Airstream for years now with no complaints.....Phil

[Mike Leary]

We'll be at the KOA #186 in Flag for a couple more weeks, shoot on up if you feel like it. We've had Bess for twenty years, we know a tad about these dears. As to tires, hands down, Goodyear G647 RSS 8R19.5 load range "F" is our choice.

[ScrapIrony-2]

Congrats on your find!
Uhm, if you aren't aware of it, you will need to have the motorhome 'towed' on a flatbed wrecker or trailer.
JulianneJ on the forums is from Surprise...she has a traila...if you see her, tell her howdy for me...m

[Surprise]

To Crazeevw: most quotes are $1500 for six Hercules tires. One quote of $1900 for The Bridgestones.

To ScrapIrony-2: Yes, I have been told about the flatbed tow, but not the reason? Is it so the rear doesn't scrap or the tranny doesn't burn up?

[ScrapIrony-2]

The front 'bonnet' under the bumper is fiberglass, and conventional towing would rip it loose...it can be low-towed for short distance, but someone has to be behind the wheel.
Chances are that if you need a low tow, the unit isn't running, and wrestling that puppy without power steering is a challenge...unfortunately, I know this from experience. I recommend Good Sam Emergency Road Service, as they will save you BIG bucks should you need towing or repairs while on the road.

[Phoenix]

FYI, found a post on another site that says that Costco has Michelin XZA's in size 8R19.5. See extract, below:

"Bought the set through Costco for $1,900 (did not include mounting, but did include disposal of the old tires). The new tires are fresh manufactured with June 2011 dates from France. Then I found a local shop to mount and balance the tires for $19 each. Mounting prices ranged from $32 to $50 per tire, at other tire shops (Camping World, $42 each)."

[Keyair]

Congrats on the 310!

Your Kohler will most likely be the same as mine from 1984.. a 7cm21.
You can find most of what you need at the local parts store... Oil, fuel and Air filters...

If yours is the same look carefully for oil leaks from the underside... a common problem on these, and I did a thread in the Generator section on how to fix it.

Copied and pasted this from my other thread.

Service items for the 7000w Kohler Genset..
Fram Air Filter #CA6605 $9.99
Fram Oil filter #PH3600 $3.99
Got both from the local Autozone, although they had to get the airfilter from the warehouse.
FYI, the Filters removed from the unit were both NAPA filters:
NAPA GOLD Air Filter #2265
NAPA GOLD Oil Filter #1516

[Surprise]

Thanks for the info! I'll cross check your numbers with mine when I remove them. I'm also lucky that my mh came with all original manuals, paperwork, and every receipt since it was built.

[Surprise]

Looks like I'm getting a free tow with AAA. Probably going to use Firebirds in Phoenix to perform the tire swap. I'm vacationing up in Vancouver right now, but can't stop thinking about coming home and getting started! Is this normal Airstream disease?
Haha!

[ScrapIrony-2]

I am sorry to have to be the one to inform you that your aluminitis is frequently a lifelong, then terminal, disease. THERE IS NO CURE. but if you'll play with the Airstream frequently, you may find that the symptoms can be downright pleasurable, although some folks find an incurable need to go out and buy other Airstreams to compensate for a deprived adulthood...or...maybe just 'cause they can...
I(Scrap-2) wear Michelins because of a great record...a bit more pricey, but sometimes the name deserves itself. I have heard good things about a Japanese tire, but age does not allow my memory to come up with a name...maybe someone else out there knows of which I speak(NEVER got to use that phrase before, so I thank you)...ask...someone WILL know. Hope to see you somewhere down the road, swap lies, and share a cold beverage...m

[Mike Leary]

One can expect 50k+ out of quality tires.

[MaryContrary]

ahh welcome to the '84 310 club
one of the things i most value about this forum was reading thru every one of bkahler's and guy99's posts.
when i was a new owner, bkahler passed me the scanned original '84 service manual, and kohlr manuals. & he has posted tons of 310 wiring schematics and diagrams throughout his posts.
pm me & i'll send all the files to you
i have followed in their footprints for diagnosing every issue and repair with my moho....i cant thank them enough

[Keyair]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

One can expect 50k+ out of quality tires.

Aside from you Mike, most of us will replace them due to aging before we wear them out!

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by Keyair

Aside from you Mike, most of us will replace them due to aging before we wear them out!

True, Bess gets over 8K a year. The Goodyears I'm replacing look brand new, since I use the tire sealer a lot, but the tread is getting to that point where I could prolly get another 2K out of them, but the worry factor is just not worth it. Since I'm up here, I'll bite the bullet, spend $2500.00 and drive easy with fresh rubber. I have found a place up here that (says) they know how to align P-30 s, so I'll do that before we go back south in Sept.

[Mike Leary]

f.y.i., I looked in my files. Those rear duals were bought in 06, I got 65K out of them, they were rotated twice, side to side.

[Surprise]

Well about 3 weeks ago I opted for the Dyna-Traks, China made tires. $1500 out the door from Advanced Tires in Surprise AZ. The tire guy was able to get a really good balance out of all 6! I chose these not only for the price but this same brand is used on all the airport equipment at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, where I work. They seem to hold up well in the heat! I spent 5 days and nights working on my 310 and finally she was ready for her maiden voyage after her 14 year slumber! I left around 8pm on a friday and drove with my 3 year old boy riding shotgun up to Forest Lakes AZ. It performed almost flawlessly in the mountains! Tires were all smooth and quiet. The beast didn't like going down hills very slow! Even downshifting into 2nd, I still had to keep using brakes to slow it down. Up the hills was fine. I will be posting pics and a complete rundown on all work performed and yet to come. Thanks for everyones advice! Danny

[Mike Leary]

I've run Toyo tires, but did not get half the miles out of them than I do with the Goodyears.

[elbundi]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

I've run Toyo tires, but did not get half the miles out of them than I do with the Goodyears.

Thanks for the real world experience Mike. So long as the Goodyears are not twice the cost then I think they'll be the ones I get next. I've done less than 5,000 in about 3 yrs of ownership. Hope to do better in the next 3 and beyond.