BAC Forum
General Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: Marty and Suzie Schenck on August 28, 2015, 07:21:44 PM
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Has anyone on this forum had experience with the Firestone FS561 275/70R 22.5 tires? I am asking about that size only. My Thunder requires 18 ply J rated tires due to the high rated rear axle. There are only a few manufactures of that size and Firestone is one. I know Michelin, Goodyear, and Bridgestone do also but I am curious about the Firestones. Thanks, Marty
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Marty, J rated? Have you weighed your coach to see how much your front end weighs ready to roll? My 06 PT full of fuel weighs right at 14,000 on the front and my fuel tank is right behind the front axle. On your coach I wouldn't think it would be that heavy so you would not need J rated tire, H would do.
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Lee, my coach does not have a tag. It has a 21,000lb. rear axle. My coach completely empty except for full fuel and full fresh water (empty black and gray tanks) weighs 20,280lbs. on rear axle and 10,720lbs. on the front axle, so YES, I need J rated 18 ply tires. That is unless somebody makes a tire of a lesser rating that can haul that amount of weight. Marty
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Marty,
My new Bridgestone R250F's are H rated @ 7830 lbs @ 120psi. So I can carry 15660 lbs on my front end. Yours at 10K equals around 5K per side. It is not total weight of the front end, you take the total and divide it in half plus a safety margin. You probably only have a 12K front axle which would be 6K per side.
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I am not worried about the front, it's the rear that I care about. I don't want a H rated tire running at it's limit all the time. My question was about experience with a particular tire not what I should or shouldn't use. I have been running Michelin XZA2 Energy 275/70R 22.5 load range J tires for eight years and have not had one problem. I am going to change them due to time. I do not mean disrespect to anyone but I just wanted an answer to my original question, experience with a particular tire, brand, size and rating. Again, no disrespect, Marty
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Marty,
Yes, I had that same tire on my 2002 Patriot. Great tire, good ride and required very little weight to balance them on the front. They also were very inexpensive compared to everything else in the class except the Double Nickle.
Karl
p.s Bill said to tell you hi...
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Karl,
Interesting. How long and how many miles did you have on them when you switched coaches?
Steve
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Steve,
Had them about a year and just under 5,000 miles.
Karl
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Marty,
My error on the Firestone tire question... The specific tires I purchased for my 2002 Patriot were Firestone FS560 Plus not FS561. In going back through my files I found the original invoice and notice my error to your original question.
Karl
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Thank you all for your replies. It looks as if I have more research to do. Lee may be right about not needing J rated tires. The Michelins that I had put on 8 years ago may have been the only Michelin tire in that size that could handle the weight giving it the J rating. I don't know if it is time or technology but it looks as if Firestones FS560 16 ply H rated tire can handle the same weight in dual configuration. More research. Marty