Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Firestone Transforce tires (Wagon Wheels?)
| Firestone Transforce tires [message #347279] |
Tue, 03 September 2019 14:34  |
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ljdavick
Messages: 3548
Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
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My 16.5" Firestone Transforce HT tires are only 10 years old. I'm expecting them to explode within the next mile, or two. When I first got the coach I had considered buying 16" wheels from Jim K, but my budget went to safety items like brake lines. I bought the Transforce HT tires and they are the only tires I've experienced in a GMC. Ken H compared these tires to wagon wheels and I understand the comparison. A pothole wakes up the cooktop with a loud report!
My question is regarding handling and ride - do other tires really make the coach handle better? Do they smooth out the ride? I'm taking the coach in to Jim K later this month to have the front end looked at, as it's always seemed sloppy to me - not at all car-like as reported by others. I'm thinking the tires might be part of the problem. It would be a stretch to buy new wheels and tires, but if there is a compelling reason not to buy the Transforce tires, I'd likely make the switch.
Lord I hope I haven't sparked a new Tire-Wars thread...
Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
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| Re: Firestone Transforce tires [message #347281 is a reply to message #347279] |
Tue, 03 September 2019 14:44  |
6cuda6
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
Karma: -6
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Im sure a new set of tires and an alignment would make things better......you might have also a shock absorber issue if they havent been looked into recently.
I cant say though if it will move your coach from a lumber wagon to a Cadillac but im sure it will move the tires from hockey pucks to basket-ball criteria.
Rich Mondor,
Brockville, ON
77 Hughes 2600
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| Re: Firestone Transforce tires [message #347295 is a reply to message #347279] |
Tue, 03 September 2019 20:43 |
C Boyd
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
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Sir, I replaced my 16.5 Goodyear G159s which by everyone's advise should have been replaced long ago but still look great and kept inside. As for a reason for not buying Firestone's; Col Ken had a bad experience with them so good enough reason to find something else. I went to Walmart website and at the time they were @$94 Free delivery to house. So far we have bout 4,000 miles on them with no complaints. Getting ready for Mansfield..
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Milestar-Steelpro-MS597-LT8-75-16-5/830462668
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
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| Re: Firestone Transforce tires [message #347302 is a reply to message #347279] |
Wed, 04 September 2019 08:09 |
bobby5832708
Messages: 237
Registered: November 2006
Location: Winter Springs FL
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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Here's my story as best as I can remember it:
When I got my GMC in 2006 the first tires I put on the new Alcoa wheels were 16" Firestone Transforce and, in my opinion, they were the worst "driving" tires I've used, constant steering corrections and relatively rough ride. It also seemed like they needed more rebalancing than other tires. I sold them to my neighbor after a couple of years, he probably still has them in his shed.
Then I bought Toyo Open Country HT's. These were much better at "driving" and riding than the Transforces. The Toyo's were the best driving tire I've had. They lasted about 4 years until one developed a bubble in the tread. During their lifetime I also played around with ceramic balancing beads, with inconsistent results.
Then I bought 2 Goodrich Comm TA's. When on the front, the "driveability" was somewhere between the previous two tires, not bad but not as good as the Toyo's. These 2 Goodriches then proceeded to have tread seperation within 80 miles of each other when they were barely 3 years old. When they failed while on a trip I replaced them with Dextero (foreign) tires at Walmart because that was all that was available on a Sunday morning in the middle of South Carolina.
I bought 4 Goodyear Wranglers to replace the remaining Toyos. They drove a bit worse than the Goodriches. These Goodyears would all develop lumpy sidewalls and two were warranty replaced within the first year. They got to the point where they wouldn't run smoothly because the sidewalls weren't right. I put airsoft beads in them and they still wouldn't run smoothly. I ended up replacing them with more Dextero tires from Walmart.
The Dextero tires from Walmart drive and ride surprisingly well. I have had 2 of them fail (belt seperation) when at 3 and 4 years old. For what they cost (substantially less than the Goodyears and Goodrichs which didn't last as long) I can't really complain.
As the Dextero's fail or age out I am now replacing with Bridgestone Duravis R500. Currently I have 5 Bridgestones and 1 Dextero on the GMC. The Bridgestones ride and drive pretty good, just a bit worse than the Toyo's but definitely better than the Goodyears and Goodriches. Time will tell how durable these Bridgestones will be, I'm happy with them so far.
I park my GMC in my yard on the southwest side so it's always in the sun. I do not use anything to shield the tires. It's always driven in the southeast, primarily Florida, where it's pretty much always hot and humid and sunny. I usually drive the speed limit, maybe 5 or 10 over if that's what traffic is doing. Maybe this has something to do with tire life.
As they say, "Your Mileage May Vary".
Bob Heller
2017 Winnebago 29VE
Winter Springs FL
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| Re: Firestone Transforce tires [message #347306 is a reply to message #347279] |
Wed, 04 September 2019 09:05 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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My experience, zero issues with Michelin LTX in 12 years, and zero issues with Cooper HT3 in 3 years.
A far cry from the old General Jumbo days.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] Firestone Transforce tires [message #347340 is a reply to message #347331] |
Wed, 04 September 2019 18:07 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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That's in sharp contrast to my experience with the Walmart here. After
finding the Westlake tires on line, I went to the store hoping to order
them. They had dozens of others listed on their web site, but not those.
So, I went home and ordered them on line, specifying delivery to the store
(vs to my home) for free. When I was notified they'd arrived, I entered
the store through the tire department, asking whether I needed to go to the
"Pickup" office or not. "Yes -- they'll deliver them back here." I did, &
they did, but not until I went home, cleaned & polished the wheels and
brought them (4, later the other 2) and the airsoft beads to the store.
The "Service Manager" wasn't very friendly, and claimed to have no
experience with balancing beads, but he did as I asked. Only when I was
ready to pay my bill for the mounting did I learn that they charge only the
state's disposal fee of $1.50 for each of the 6 tires I left for them to
dispose of.
I'd expect every Walmart to follow the same policies (or for HQ to heard
from me immediately). Note that I didn't attempt to get them to touch the
coach, only the wheels.
I suggest you find someone else to talk to at your closest Walmart -- the
head manager, if necessary.
Ken H.
On Wed, Sep 4, 2019 at 4:24 PM Larry Davick via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> I have to share this story. I called my local Walmart to see about
> ordering the Milestar tires that I see online and schedule the
> installation.
> After a few minutes I get to talk with a woman who shuts me down right
> away - "The website is a competitor" - "We don't sell those."
> I asked if she had tires this size - no.
> If I order them can they install them - no. They are too small. (?) They
> don't do that.
> I asked if they install tires on cars - yes but only up to about 22".
> Uhm, these are only 16.5"...
>
> Needless to say I must have been talking to the wrong employee. I may
> choose a different Walmart and visit them. The customer service was
> astonishingly terrible, but then I'm used to folks like Jim K and Nick...
> It's tough to measure up to those guys. Then again I've had terrible
> customer service at Costco's tire center too (as well as good service.)
> --
> Larry Davick
> A Mystery Machine
> 1976(ish) Palm Beach
> Fremont, Ca
> Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
>
> _______________________________________________
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Firestone Transforce tires [message #347373 is a reply to message #347343] |
Thu, 05 September 2019 09:42 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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Larry,
It's worth considering replacing wheels and tires two at a time. Buy two new 16" Ions from Jim and put the tire of your choice on the front, then eventually work your way to the back. With 10 year old tires, you'll need to replace the rear 16.5s with something, but not the wheels at this point.
I have Coopers on my coach after having two each of the previous Kumhos and BFG Commercial T/As fail at 3 - 4 years. So far the Coopers have been great.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: [GMCnet] Firestone Transforce tires [message #347376 is a reply to message #347373] |
Thu, 05 September 2019 10:00 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Customer service is a Big thing on the phone.
In CA don’t assume your talking to a Male,Female or a trans gender.
If you cannot see their chest and their croch, do not refer to them as a
sir or man .
On Thu, Sep 5, 2019
at 7:49 AM Carl Stouffer via Gmclist wrote:
> Larry,
>
> It's worth considering replacing wheels and tires two at a time. Buy two
> new 16" Ions from Jim and put the tire of your choice on the front, then
> eventually work your way to the back. With 10 year old tires, you'll need
> to replace the rear 16.5s with something, but not the wheels at this
> point.
>
> I have Coopers on my coach after having two each of the previous Kumhos
> and BFG Commercial T/As fail at 3 - 4 years. So far the Coopers have been
> great.
> --
> Carl Stouffer
> '75 ex Palm Beach
> Tucson, AZ.
> Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive,
> Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American
> Eagles,
> Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] Firestone Transforce tires [message #347381 is a reply to message #347376] |
Thu, 05 September 2019 11:00 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Wtf Kanomata? Relevance please?
Sully
Bellevue wa
On Thu, Sep 5, 2019 at 8:01 AM Jim Kanomata via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> Customer service is a Big thing on the phone.
> In CA don’t assume your talking to a Male,Female or a trans gender.
> If you cannot see their chest and their croch, do not refer to them as a
> sir or man .
>
> On Thu, Sep 5, 2019
> at 7:49 AM Carl Stouffer via Gmclist wrote:
>
>> Larry,
>>
>> It's worth considering replacing wheels and tires two at a time. Buy two
>> new 16" Ions from Jim and put the tire of your choice on the front, then
>> eventually work your way to the back. With 10 year old tires, you'll
> need
>> to replace the rear 16.5s with something, but not the wheels at this
>> point.
>>
>> I have Coopers on my coach after having two each of the previous Kumhos
>> and BFG Commercial T/As fail at 3 - 4 years. So far the Coopers have
> been
>> great.
>> --
>> Carl Stouffer
>> '75 ex Palm Beach
>> Tucson, AZ.
>> Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive,
>> Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American
>> Eagles,
>> Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk@appliedairfilters.com
> http://www.appliedgmc.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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