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02-23-2004, 04:34 AM
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#1
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 1,839
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Tires not round?
So I was bored last night and decided to drive the bus, just because I can. When I started down the road once I got up to about 50 mph the rig started shaking very violently. I guess from sitting so long out in the cold the right front wheel wasn't exactly round anymore. I drove a little slower for a few miles for them to heat up and then it was fine.
Is this a normal thing for big trucks, do I need to more air, or has my rubber degraded too much.
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02-23-2004, 08:51 AM
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#2
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington (USA)
Posts: 465
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Hi Steve,
I think this is one of those never-ending argument kind of things. I've heard of it more often with regard to bias-ply tires (rather than radials) where the plies "take a set" and give you that "square" feeling...but that's "what I've heard" rather than "what I know".
Trailering guides in magazines (Trailer Life, Trailer Boats, etc) and on-line resources often suggest that maximum life for a tire with regard to degradation of material is 7 years. How this applies to large tires versus smaller trailer and motorhome tires isn't something I've seen information on and the problem is that anyone you're likely to gather information from (typically) has an interest in selling you new tires, which isn't bad if you find someone willing to share honest information but...
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02-23-2004, 11:28 AM
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#3
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: near flint michigan
Posts: 2,657
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We have four big trucks on my fire department since i've been there. Two are newer with radials. Two older with bias ply. There are no problems with the newer trucks as far as "square" tires are concerned.
both the older (1980) (1974?) trucks with bias ply tires have had problems with square spots in the tires.
I"m no expert, but it doesn't seem like a big deal. After 5 or 10 miles, the tires heat up and everything is fine.
New tires for my skoolie would cost more than i paid for the bus when i bought her. I've been pretty good at horse tradin. So far i've gotten three upgraded tires. Two are realatively new retreds, and one slightly used steer tire. $75. is all i had to spend, but i'm good at being a weasel and finding things for free or cheap.
__________________
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes (who will watch the watchmen?)
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02-23-2004, 05:11 PM
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#4
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 1,839
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My tires are NOT tubless and they are very old. The rubber is probably just so thick on the sides they stay deformed for a little while.
I suppose if ice was forming in there it would really unballance the tire too?
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02-23-2004, 06:02 PM
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#5
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Grundy, Virginia
Posts: 632
Year: 1985
Coachwork: ThomasBuilt
Chassis: International Harvester S-1700
Engine: 9L IHC V-8 Diesel 180HP
Rated Cap: 60
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Low tire pressure can cause bad steering problems
You have probably already done this, but if not, you might check your tire pressure. Very low tire pressure can cause terrible steering problems, such as bouncing and shimmying. There seems to develop a harmonic resonance of some sort at speeds that vary with the vehicle and tire combination.
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02-23-2004, 06:36 PM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 1,839
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Honestly my tires don't say what the proper inflation is... So I don't know what they should be.
If anyone can take a guess this is what I am running on
All my tires are tubed:
Front: Firestone Longhauler 8.25-20
Rear: Firestone Super All Traction Heavy Duty 8.25-20 10-Ply
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02-23-2004, 06:54 PM
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#7
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: West Tennessee
Posts: 57
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How much air have you been putting in your tires? I was running 95lbs in my 10R22.50's
EldoMike
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02-29-2004, 04:42 PM
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#8
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 1,839
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Since its warm out today I decided to check the tires. The fronts do say that they should be at 75 psi. Both of them were sitting at 60 psi, that's not bad (I don't think?) so I don't think that was a big part in the tire doing what it did. I filled them up to 65 for now, they are widowmaker wheels and I'm scared of overinflating them.
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02-29-2004, 08:31 PM
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#9
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington (USA)
Posts: 465
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Hi Steve,
Put some air in those tires! Underinflation causes a lot of heat and a lot of stress on the sidewalls; it's the #1 reason you see 'gators' (thrown treads) on the highway.
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04-12-2004, 03:52 PM
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#10
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 1,839
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When I drove the bus to the campsite this weekend I still had the same problem. They seemed alright after a while, I think maybe the shuttering is from all of the play in the steering. It seemed that if I held the steering wheel to the left side of where I could feel it engaged I could drive as fast as I wanted without the front wheels shuttering and about shaking the bus apart.
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04-12-2004, 09:00 PM
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#11
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Summit, Oregon
Posts: 125
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: DD 6-71N
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On My '45 Dodge on which I built my first house truck the tires did the same thing. Every time I drove it. Many thousands of miles. It's just the way it is. No big deal.
Jerry
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