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Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic (The GMC needs new shoes and I hate searching for new tires)
Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic [message #336221] Mon, 20 August 2018 21:47 Go to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
Hello everyone and let me say I hope you don't mind this subject being brought up.

First, I have Michelins, they are 10 years old and have severe side wall cracks on all 6 tires. The spare is covered on the back.
The mechanic sells about 30 different makes and types of tires. He has been mentioning how he has had a lot of Michelin returns because of side wall cracks and other damage. These are tires he has sold to customers under a year old.

I have my guard up now. Since Michelin is the most expensive tire on the tire list, I question going into Michelins knowing that there has been recent tire concerns.

I was shown a Tire called a Bridgestone Dueler. I saw a set of these tires that were removed from a Suburban. They had 85,000 miles on them and looked good tread wise and no damage to the sides or tracks.

He looked up the size I Need for the GMC and the link listed below is in the Dueler tire family.
The link takes you to a page that talks about the tire, lists specs and conversation about some travel they have experienced.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/wheels-tires/129-0805-bridgestone-duravis-r500-hd-tire-test/

The mechanic has a set of these tires and he really likes them and has suggested them for the GMC Motorhome.
I'd appreciate anyone taking the time to look it over and giving an honest opinion....

Thanks for your support.

slc
Gatsbys' Cruiser


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
Re: [GMCnet] Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic [message #336224 is a reply to message #336221] Mon, 20 August 2018 22:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mike Kelley is currently offline  Mike Kelley   United States
Messages: 467
Registered: February 2017
Karma: -2
Senior Member
SLC:
No help on the Bridgestone Dueler as no experience w/ them - I really like Firestone Transforce for the price, the ride, and minimum of complaints!
My mechanic - a long time GMCer also uses and recommends them!
Mike/The Corvair a holic

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 20, 2018, at 9:47 PM, slc wrote:
>
> Hello everyone and let me say I hope you don't mind this subject being brought up.
>
> First, I have Michelins, they are 10 years old and have severe side wall cracks on all 6 tires. The spare is covered on the back.
> The mechanic sells about 30 different makes and types of tires. He has been mentioning how he has had a lot of Michelin returns because of side wall
> cracks and other damage. These are tires he has sold to customers under a year old.
>
> I have my guard up now. Since Michelin is the most expensive tire on the tire list, I question going into Michelins knowing that there has been
> recent tire concerns.
>
> I was shown a Tire called a Bridgestone Dueler. I saw a set of these tires that were removed from a Suburban. They had 85,000 miles on them and
> looked good tread wise and no damage to the sides or tracks.
>
> He looked up the size I Need for the GMC and the link listed below is in the Dueler tire family.
> The link takes you to a page that talks about the tire, lists specs and conversation about some travel they have experienced.
>
> http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/wheels-tires/129-0805-bridgestone-duravis-r500-hd-tire-test/
>
> The mechanic has a set of these tires and he really likes them and has suggested them for the GMC Motorhome.
> I'd appreciate anyone taking the time to look it over and giving an honest opinion....
>
> Thanks for your support.
>
> slc
> Gatsbys' Cruiser
> --
> GatsbysCruise. \
> 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
> Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO -
> UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

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Re: [GMCnet] Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic [message #336225 is a reply to message #336224] Mon, 20 August 2018 22:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Harry is currently offline  Harry   Canada
Messages: 1888
Registered: October 2007
Location: Victoria, BC CANADA
Karma: 3
Senior Member
Beware of tires that give really high mileage. The compound is more plastic than rubber.
They do not stop very well in rain. Very little traction in wet weather.
Re: [GMCnet] Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic [message #336226 is a reply to message #336224] Mon, 20 August 2018 22:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
k2gkk is currently offline  k2gkk   United States
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
Senior Member
I've used Bridgestone Duelers on both a 2004 Ford F-250 and 1999 GMC Sierra 2500. No complaints at all.

D C "Mac" Macdonald​
Amateur Radio K2GKK​
Since 30 November '53​
USAF and FAA, Retired​
Member GMCMI & Classics​
Oklahoma City, OK​
"The Money Pit"​
TZE166V101966​
'76 ex-Palm Beach​
k2gkk + hotmail dot com​

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Mike Kelley
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2018 22:10
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic

SLC:
No help on the Bridgestone Dueler as no experience w/ them - I really like Firestone Transforce for the price, the ride, and minimum of complaints!
My mechanic - a long time GMCer also uses and recommends them!
Mike/The Corvair a holic

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 20, 2018, at 9:47 PM, slc wrote:
>
> Hello everyone and let me say I hope you don't mind this subject being brought up.
>
> First, I have Michelins, they are 10 years old and have severe side wall cracks on all 6 tires. The spare is covered on the back.
> The mechanic sells about 30 different makes and types of tires. He has been mentioning how he has had a lot of Michelin returns because of side wall
> cracks and other damage. These are tires he has sold to customers under a year old.
>
> I have my guard up now. Since Michelin is the most expensive tire on the tire list, I question going into Michelins knowing that there has been
> recent tire concerns.
>
> I was shown a Tire called a Bridgestone Dueler. I saw a set of these tires that were removed from a Suburban. They had 85,000 miles on them and
> looked good tread wise and no damage to the sides or tracks.
>
> He looked up the size I Need for the GMC and the link listed below is in the Dueler tire family.
> The link takes you to a page that talks about the tire, lists specs and conversation about some travel they have experienced.
>
> https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fourwheeler.com%2Fhow-to%2Fwheels-tires%2F129-0805-bridgestone-duravis-r500-hd-ti re-test%2F&amp ;data=02%7C01%7C%7C203d51f0d5f44ec036da08d60713b004%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636704178468893192&sdata=MTonepehXb6iM%2BU6Ho bLprTEELJoeiwkorbgunvrV98%3D&reserved=0
>
> The mechanic has a set of these tires and he really likes them and has suggested them for the GMC Motorhome.
> I'd appreciate anyone taking the time to look it over and giving an honest opinion....
>
> Thanks for your support.
>
> slc
> Gatsbys' Cruiser
> --
> GatsbysCruise. \
> 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
> Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO -
> UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flist.gmcnet.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fgmclist_list.gmcnet.org&amp ;data=02%7C01%7C%7C203d51f0d5f44ec036da08d60713b004%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636704178468893192&sdata=gSH%2BMh5FrrraKzqAoN UMBNxQWiqJu7DGLbBZIhQr77o%3D&reserved=0

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Re: Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic [message #336231 is a reply to message #336221] Tue, 21 August 2018 08:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
Senior Member
Beware of that nylon layer. They take a memory when they sit as RVs do. I highly recommend the Cooper HT3. Especially when on sale at Farm and Fleet at 25% off and free Visa debit card gift. About $120 a piece when I got mine. These replaced Michelin LTX which are sill in my garage and look like new but over age. No cracks.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: [GMCnet] Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic [message #336235 is a reply to message #336225] Tue, 21 August 2018 09:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
powwerjon is currently offline  powwerjon   United States
Messages: 849
Registered: March 2013
Karma: -2
Senior Member
Mike,
You don’t say if you still have 16.5 inch wheels or newer 16 inch wheels. If you have the 16.5 inch wheels the Firestone Transforce tires are the only one available that is being made that I would put on a GMC. Great tire for low to medium mileage use. If you have the 16 inch wheels then the field has more selections available for you and a wider range of pricing.

First of all, I have run Michelins for over a decades on several GMC’s including my current coach which is a Buskirk Stretch. I have NEVER had issues with any of the Michelins. That said I driven the coaches I have owned over the years many miles ( 1998 thru today 120K+miles). I have in the past used the Firestone RTS tire, BF Goodrich tire, Goodyear G159 and Goodyear 149 tire, the 149 tire being the newer version of the 159 tire and are a steel sidewall tire in both versions and was a harsher riding tire with a rut running problem especially is you ran at a higher pressure above 70 psig. The Firestone was an Poly sidewall tire that improved the ride and drivability greatly, difference between night and day. I still have a set for the 75 Avion purchased in 1999 to move the coach around the shop and they well be replaced by Michelins when the coach is ready to be sold. I have also run steel sidewall on the back and poly side walls on the front and the ride was acceptable. The best ride has always been the poly sidewall in all 6 positions on the coach. I also run a 225 75R LRE tire on the front only if you run a 235 or 245 tire on the back. I am NOT a proponent of overside tires. I do not what to reduce the mechanical advantage of my final drive. I have run a number of different ratios over the years. The 3.07 that was in our 1977, 403 engine coach was a real dog. That got switch out to a Jim K. 3.55 and that really woke up the coach and I could run with any coach including a 455 coach. The present stretch coach uses a 3.21 final with a 3.50 chain drive for a final ration of 3.667 and that is a great gear for going down the road and driving out west while towing a Honda CR-V.

IMHO I consider the Michelins to be the best tire if your driving 8 to 10K+ miles a year and I change them every 5 or 6 years unless the miles are high. If your a 2 to 4K miles driver as a majority of GMC owner are then you can consider a less costly tire for your applications. I only use a Load Range E tire as the D rated is false economy and should only be use on a 23 foot coach and early manuals listed the D rated tire as acceptable for all early coaches, check the door on your glove box. 26 foot coaches end up weighting more than the name plate on the coach and use a D rated tire at your own risk. Starting at the higher end below the Michelin tires, the BF Goodrich Commercial T/A All-Season 2 andBridgestone Dueler H/T 685 tires are good choices. Cooper Discoverer HT3, Firestone Transforce HT, General Grabber HD, General Grabber HTS, Goodyears Wrangler HT make good LRE tires. A number have run the Hankook or Kumho tires with good service. I know that I have not mentioned all tires that that could be used.

Let’s talk tire pressures, if you look a suggested pressure on the tire sidewall you will find them at the 80 psig listing and they ride and steer like a big truck. I have run ranges between 55 and 65 psig depending on the coach. It is good if you could have the coach weighed at each tire and set your tire pressures as needed.

The choice of tires is pretty wide depending on what you want to spend. Buy tires on how much you drive your coach and not necessary by price. Remember a low cost tire can cost you thousands of dollars to repair damage to your coach instead of spending just a little bit more.

My comments are based on MY Experiences. All the tires I have listed have been used by fellow GMC owners with success depend on service usage.

Good Info on tires and ratios,

This is a very good article by Byron Songer and list many of the items that I have mentioned in the above text and read it just before I sent this email.
http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Songer_Tire-Safety.pdf

http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Brown_Drive_Tire_Ratios.pdf

JR Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 30’ Stretch
1975 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan


> On Aug 20, 2018, at 11:29 PM, David H. Jarvis wrote:
>
> Beware of tires that give really high mileage. The compound is more plastic than rubber.
> They do not stop very well in rain. Very little traction in wet weather.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org


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Re: Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic [message #336240 is a reply to message #336221] Tue, 21 August 2018 11:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jhbridges is currently offline  jhbridges   United States
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
Senior Member
I use the Coopers. Local guy has sold them to me for years for the right price. Unless you spend a lot of time on the road, they'll age out long before they wear out. Consequently, shopping price among the known brands is probably the move.

--johnny


Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons. Braselton, Ga. I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
Re: [GMCnet] Need an opinion on a tire suggested to me by a mechanic [message #336305 is a reply to message #336226] Thu, 23 August 2018 09:42 Go to previous message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
Thanks for your thoughts.
As I mentioned, I hate having to select tires for the GMC. Just it's weight alone brings concern and having to consider the aging factor and other things, at least to me, makes this a difficult selection.
I'd just go with what I had, Michelins, but the return rate at the mechanics over the last year has been just too high to consider comfortably.

I really appreciate your thoughts and recommendations.
The Bridgestone DURAVIS R500 HD seems to be made for vehicles that carry extra weight and "sound" like they may be a good choice. A bit pricy, not as much as Michelin but more that the others. Choices, choices, choices! ! !

Again, thankyou for your help.

slc
Gatsbys' Cruiser
Glacier X 260


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
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