Tell us what size and brand tires you have.

[Astrodokk]

And where did you get them?

I have 8Rx19.5 all around. Firestones in front and four Michelins in rear duals. The PO got them from TireRack I think he said. They are from the 90's according to the DOT code (ends in three numbers only which are 303), so more than 12 years old. Any tire from 2000 on, ends in four numbers. Gotta replace them now that I'm back into the Airstream thing again.

I'm buying new tires this weekend, and I've kind of decided on Costco Bridestones for $215 each. Costco doesn't install, so will have to go to a shop and pay a premium for balance and installation. Les Shwab or McLea's will do them.

Are the 225/70x19.5's nicer feeling and riding? I like the idea of wider and lower. Can I go with 225's in front and 8's in rears?

Like the idea of traction in rears, like knobbies (jk), but I really only do freeway driving, so M&S tread is fine.

Brands and sizes. What do you all run?

[Keyair]

Dynatracs on the front in 225/70 19.5.
They were put on in 2010 when I drove it back from KS. They were all I could get within the timeframe I had, as I needed to replace the tag axle tires that were 12yo at that time.
All the rest were and are 8R 19.5's of various makes.
The 3yo tires were on the front so they moved to the tag, and the drive axles were 6yo(now 8)

The MH drove fine on the way back, but I have no point of reference for ride and handling.

I will need to replace the drive axles next and I too am going to go for a traction tire for them. I nearly got stuck on a simple mud puddle because of the rib pattern.

I like the look of the Goodyear G847.. but not the price.. at $365


Bridgestone M724 looks good too.. and price looked about $250

[Astrodokk]

Will you be replacing the rears with 225/70's too, or keep them 8R19.5 with the traction tread?

[Smartstream]

I'm running Goodyear G647RSS all the way around. They are not cheap but I got a deal on some close outs at Camping World. I carried out and mounted myself. Used Dyna Beads for balancing. They are the only name brand M&S rated tires I found in this size. Mike Leary runs this tire on Bess also.

Cheers, Dan

[Astrodokk]

Interesting about the M&S rating.
If I chose to go with 225's, I wouldn't have to change rims, right? We have 6" wide rims which the 225's require, if I'm not mistaken?

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by Astrodokk

Interesting about the M&S rating.
If I chose to go with 225's, I wouldn't have to change rims, right? We have 6" wide rims which the 225's require, if I'm not mistaken?

Goodyear says 225's want a 6.75" rim.

Truck Tire Selector, Retreading, and Technology | Goodyear Commercial Truck Tire Systems Hit the "Tire Specs" button to get the numbers.

I believe I have seen at other sites that they may be used on a 6" rim also. The 8x19.5's also are taller and roll fewer revolutions per mile which will drop your highway engine RPM a bit. With the gearing in our coaches that is a good thing. I also run a Gear Vendors overdrive unit to help keep the revs down.

Cheers, Dan

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Astrodokk

Will you be replacing the rears with 225/70's too, or keep them 8R19.5 with the traction tread?

Check the sidewalls of your 8R19.5s. You will probably find the rear tires are almost touching, and the 225s are wider. You don't want the sidewalls touching, as that generates heat from the friction, and contribute to tire failure.

[Astrodokk]

Yes, I researched last night and 225's recommend 6.75" wide rims, which I am NOT going to spend $$$ on, since my 6's are just fine. So 8Rx19.5 it is!
I've also decided that I'm going to a shop that sells AND installs them, rather than purchasing and taking to a different shop for installation. It's just less hassle for me.
Valley Tire and Brake even has free loaner cars.
I'll update as to which brand I ended up with after I get them.

Les Shwab quoted me $299.00 each for Double Coin RT500 that they say is similar to Continentals or Generals. Metal stems $7.75 and balance is $20.50. I've never heard of Double Coin, and except for the Goodyear G647RSS that Dan has, none that I've looked at are stamped with M&S neither.

[Astrodokk]

McLea's Tires don't want to mix 225's in front and 8's in rears due to "changed handling characteristics", so they refused to do only the fronts if I wanted 225's. They would have to order 8's.

So I'm debating Double Coin or Gladiators, which are both made in China. Gladiators are $218.00 plus tax and $5.00 disposal fee per tire. Free balance and install at Calvary Tire and Brake.

Double Coins are $299.00 plus tax and extras at Les Shwab as I stated above.

I think this will be a no brainer.

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by Astrodokk

Yes, I researched last night and 225's recommend 6.75" wide rims, which I am NOT going to spend $$$ on, since my 6's are just fine. So 8Rx19.5 it is!
I've also decided that I'm going to a shop that sells AND installs them, rather than purchasing and taking to a different shop for installation. It's just less hassle for me.
Valley Tire and Brake even has free loaner cars.
I'll update as to which brand I ended up with after I get them.

Les Shwab quoted me $299.00 each for Double Coin RT500 that they say is similar to Continentals or Generals. Metal stems $7.75 and balance is $20.50. I've never heard of Double Coin, and except for the Goodyear G647RSS that Dan has, none that I've looked at are stamped with M&S neither.

Double Coin are made in China. Some on here have said they don't track well as steer tires. Shwab also sells Toyo which is a better quality tire. Take a look at your valve stems, they are probably already metal and don't need to be replaced like the rubber stems that rot. That is one of the money makers they sell you.

Cheers, Dan

[Keyair]

Having the taller tire on the rear, could in theory reduce the castor angle of the front suspension, and make it less want to return to center... But I doubt it would really be noticable... look at all the lift and leveling kits they sell for trucks... and we have twice the wheelbase!
I do understand their issue with liability tho.

Read this...

Wheels

• To convert from 8R19.5 to 225/70 R19.5 tires may require the purchase of new wheels. The 8R19.5 size can fit on a 5.25-inch-wide wheels, and the low-profile 19.5 tires require 6-inch-wide wheels. Besides a better fit of tire to rim, the wider wheels will provide enough dual-wheel spacing for 225/70 R19.5 tires. Dual-mounted tires should never touch, and the 5.25-inch rim is too narrow to give proper dual-wheel spacing for the newer tire.
  
  

Tire Diameter

• Tires sized 8R19.5 have a diameter of 33.1 inches, and 225/70 R19.5 tires are 32 inches in diameter. Changing tire sizes will result in a speedometer that indicates faster than the vehicle is actually moving. 8R19.5 tires will rotate 628 times in a mile, and 225/70R19.5 tires rotate 644 times. The result is a 2.5 percent speedometer error with the new tires. The Goodyear website states that no gearing change is required for this amount of error.
  
  
• 
  

Load Capacity

• Both the 8R19.5 and 225/70 R19.5 tires have load range F capacity ratings. This makes the capacity for the two tires sizes similar but not exact. The low-profile 225/70 R19.5 tire has a load capacity of 40 to 140 lbs. higher depending on the vehicle location of the tire. A set of six 225/70 R19.5 tires mounted on a truck, replacing 8.R19.5 tires, would increase the tire set load capacity by 440 lbs.
  
  

Read more: The Effects of Changing From 8R19.5 to 225/70 19.5 Tires | eHow.com The Effects of Changing From 8R19.5 to 225/70 19.5 Tires | eHow.com

[Keyair]

Read this post too..
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f160...ces-63333.html

Robfike's comment is important...

[Astrodokk]

Thanks. I read the entire thread.
The 225's don't seem to touch each other as they have sufficient clearance between them, as long as the inflation is correct. What about that size being on 6" wide rims vs the recommended 6.75" rims? I read somewhere that the tire fits better on the wider rim than it will on the narrower, which can cause a malfunction at speed. I suppose then that if they were wider rims, it wouldn't work on the rear dualies.

This is why I passed on McLea's offer of 4 used Cooper 225's for the rear at $80.00 each (2010 date), and 2 new 225's up front due to the confusion I have about the rim width requirement (recommended).

Oh well, I'll figure it out by the end of the day!

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by Keyair

Having the taller tire on the rear, could in theory reduce the castor angle of the front suspension, and make it less want to return to center... But I doubt it would really be noticable... look at all the lift and leveling kits they sell for trucks... and we have twice the wheelbase!
I do understand their issue with liability tho.

Read this...

Wheels

• To convert from 8R19.5 to 225/70 R19.5 tires may require the purchase of new wheels. The 8R19.5 size can fit on a 5.25-inch-wide wheels, and the low-profile 19.5 tires require 6-inch-wide wheels. Besides a better fit of tire to rim, the wider wheels will provide enough dual-wheel spacing for 225/70 R19.5 tires. Dual-mounted tires should never touch, and the 5.25-inch rim is too narrow to give proper dual-wheel spacing for the newer tire.
  
  

Tire Diameter

• Tires sized 8R19.5 have a diameter of 33.1 inches, and 225/70 R19.5 tires are 32 inches in diameter. Changing tire sizes will result in a speedometer that indicates faster than the vehicle is actually moving. 8R19.5 tires will rotate 628 times in a mile, and 225/70R19.5 tires rotate 644 times. The result is a 2.5 percent speedometer error with the new tires. The Goodyear website states that no gearing change is required for this amount of error.
  
  
• 
  

Load Capacity

• Both the 8R19.5 and 225/70 R19.5 tires have load range F capacity ratings. This makes the capacity for the two tires sizes similar but not exact. The low-profile 225/70 R19.5 tire has a load capacity of 40 to 140 lbs. higher depending on the vehicle location of the tire. A set of six 225/70 R19.5 tires mounted on a truck, replacing 8.R19.5 tires, would increase the tire set load capacity by 440 lbs.
  
  

Read more: The Effects of Changing From 8R19.5 to 225/70 19.5 Tires | eHow.com The Effects of Changing From 8R19.5 to 225/70 19.5 Tires | eHow.com

I don't know where eHow gets their info but the link I posted in post #6 above is from the Goodyear official site and the numbers don't agree. Tires can vary in spec from different manufacturers but I'll believe the manufacturer before I believe eHow. My Airstream has 8x19.5 tires on 6" rims not 5 1/4"

Cheers, Dan

[bkahler]

Stay away from Long March tires, I believe they are a Chinese tire. We bought 6 of those back in 2007 and all of them were out of round. We went through h*ll trying to prove they were the source of the vibration. Ended up going with Toyo's and they have been excellent.

Brad