Baby’s got new shoes.

UPDATE – October 2023.  I bought two new Toyos and installed them on the front.  I rotated the old front tires to the dullies, replacing the two oldest tires. The two Toyo’s were right at $1,000, mounted and balanced.

UPDATE – October 19, 2020.  I just bought two more tires,  same brand and size.  The new ones got installed on the front and the one ones got rotated to the rear.  I now have two 2020 on the front, and  2 2017, and 2 2012 on the dullies.

Or in this case,  the Southwind has a couple new tires.

On our pre-purchase inspection,  I inspected the tires and knew I was going to need to replace several of them.  I couldn’t read the date codes on the inside dullies, but suspected they were the same as the outsides, 4408 (week 44, year 2008).  The two front tires were 3512’s (week 35, year 2012)  (  Click Here – How to read a date code )

I thought I had four 2008’s (dullies),  two 2012’s (steers), and one 1998 (spare). I was prepared to buy 6 new tires and use the 2012s as spares.  However,  when I had all the tires off while inspecting brakes,  I got a pleasant surprise.  The two inside dullies were also 2012’s, not 2008s.

I had four 2012’s, two 2008’s, and one 1998.  This changed the equation a little bit.

I decided I’d run the four 2012s on the rear.  These are almost 5 years old, in good condition, and I don’t see any UV cracking in the sidewalls.  I should be able to get 3-5 years out of them.  I bought 2 new tires for the front,  these are date codes 0117 (week 1, year 2017).  I moved one of the older 2008 tires to replace the spare (the spare was a 1998 tire)

245-70-R19.5

I bought Roadmaster (Cooper) RM170 – 14 ply

If you’re in NW Ohio and in need of tires, see Dave and the crew at 795 Tire Service. They are good people,  we deal with them a lot in our business.  We got the tires for $215 each, plus $50 to mount, balance and stems.  Good deal from good people.  They are just west of I-280 on OH-795.  If you need tires and are in the neighborhood,  give them a call.

TIRE REPLACEMENT / ROTATION

I ran across this plan several years ago and seems like a good idea.  Basically, I buy two new tires every two or three years. When I do the tire purchase, the inside dullies go to the tire shop for the new tires.  The new tires go on the front and I move the old front tires to the opposite side, on the outside of the dullies.  The outer dullies cross over to the inner dullies.  By crossing the tires to the other side,  the tires will always be turning in the same direction.

This purchase / rotation does a couple thing; it helps space out the big financial hit over time, and keeps nice fresh tires on the steering axle of the motorhome. The tires continue to turn in the same direction. And by swapping sides,  I change the UV exposure when I’m parked.  also the last three years of the tires life,  the UV exposure is minimized when the tire is on the inside dully..

LUG NUTS (21mm)
Torque to 150 ft-lbs

WHEEL SIMULATOR NUTS (1-1/8 inch)
Snug up by hand

WEIGHTS and PRESSURE

I ran the Southwind across a scale right after I bought it.

EMPTY WEIGHT
Front > 5,840 lbs
Rear > 11,000 lbs

Empty weight supported by each tire
Front tires – 2,920 lbs each
Rear tires – 2,750 lbs each

ESTIMATED FULL WEIGHT
Front > 6,500 lbs
Rear > 13,000 lbs

Estimated full weight supported by each tire
Front tires – 3,250 lbs each
Rear tires – 3,250 lbs each

Recommended tire pressure – 80 – 85 psi