Rick, Jack, et al,
I just put six new Michelins on my truck about a month ago. I don't have the
numbers in front of me but they were the top of the line and specified for
this truck (GMC Dooley) for towing.
Boy was I shocked! I couldn't keep the truck between the white lines (yes we
did a full reallignnment) on the way home! I had set the tire pressures at
55 all around which is the way I ran the previous set of Michelins for 8
years on the same truck. After raising the pressures to 65 it stabilized
some what. Towing with the Sprite in the nose of the trailer and no second
car (read that lots of weight on the ball) it is barely acceptable regarding
tracking and steering response.
The Michelin is definately a different tire than the ones I took off.
Different not Better! The tread design uses a series of blocks on the outer
edge in stead of the continous tread of the old outer edges. Also the side
wall bulge is much larger (at 65 pounds) suggesting that the sidewall design
is more compromised for ride than optimized for towing.
I am going to try more pressure for VIR in July when we will take two cars.
But beware this is not the old tire we are used to!
Any one else experience this behavior?
SuperDave
----- Original Message -----
From: <JWoesvra@aol.com>
To: <NeotoyRick@aol.com>; <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2001 8:35 PM
Subject: Re: Tow Vehicle Tires
> In a message dated 4/29/01 4:08:08 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> NeotoyRick@aol.com writes:
>
> << The OEM
> Firestone Steeltex Radial R45 tires have a single max load rating of
2650lbs
> at 80psi and are LT 225/75R16 M/S. Anyone have a recommendation for
tires
> and where to get them?
>
> Sorry if a bit off topic, but thanks for any help.
>
> Rick Gurolnick >>
>
>
> I just got 6 Coopers of that size for my "89 Ford F350. I checked into
> Michelins and am convinced that Coopers are just as good if not better.
> However, the Goodyears that came off were OEM on the truck and still had
> plenty of tread after 150K miles. The side walls were rotten though. For
the
> kind of hauling we do, the highest load rating you can get is the best in
any
> brand. The truck tires usually are very little trouble.
>
> Now trailers....that's another story. I usually pop one or two every trip.
No
> matter how careful I am, I seem to always snag one on a curb or something.
> Why don't they steel belt the side walls??
>
> Jack Woehrle
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