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Old 06-29-2011, 05:24 PM   #1
dieselguy
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I'm just curious

I'm not meaning to bash anyones reasoning on purchase decisions but I'd like to know something and don't know how to ask it other than just lay it out on the table. What is the true driving force on the MOC concerning the seemingly mass movement of buying Goodyear G614's. I well understand the Chinese tire issue, but there are other tire options out there with reports of equal satisfaction that don't require a withdrawl from your 401K to buy them. I just don't get it.
 
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Old 06-29-2011, 05:30 PM   #2
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I went to the G614s because GY allowed me full retail allowance and all out of pocket expense on Marabombs toward purchase of G614s, 5 for 5 ,only cost about $300.00 to upgrade....no brainer.
It's like Ins. You probably will never use it, but you can't go back and get it after the fact. If your Ins. learns you knew that you were unsafe they will refuse to pay. After owning a towing co. I've seen too many instances where folks took chances and paid the price. I may have a failure next time out but I don't have to be on edge when I'm traveling. 4 Marabombs with broken belts left me where I was going to make a change.
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Old 06-30-2011, 01:42 AM   #3
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I can understand the move to G614's. They have the highest weight rating. Damage caused by a blow out can cost more than the tires. I however chose the BFG Commercials.
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Old 06-30-2011, 02:23 AM   #4
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Weight rating here was the major factor. Fully loaded, the 3750 approaches 16,000 pounds. I could find no other LT-type tires that had the weight rating I required.
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Old 06-30-2011, 02:26 AM   #5
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Yes, G 614 tires are probably an overkill, but who wants anymore problems?
I put them on last year & now can drive with confidence. Of course these tires are not infallible, as anything can happen...my cost with trading my Missions in (they had 4,000 miles on them) $1130 includes tax, mounting & balancing...well worth it! This last winter, we started out going to Mission, TX for a couple of months & then to Florida...started & finished in WI...over 4,000 miles and they look like new yet.


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Old 06-30-2011, 02:30 AM   #6
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I'm looking at the BFG Commercial T/A's in 235/85/16. They are only .7" larger in diameter so no problem there. The Mountaineer's are a little lighter than their big brother Montana's. The thing that bothers me is the Maribombs are rated #3420 and the BFGs #3042, both E rated, a difference of #378 per tire or combined #1512 less capacity. That said, with the lighter weight of my Mountaineer, I'm trying to convince myself that the BFG's would be a good move. I just do not trust the Maribombs, but the G614's would be gross overkill. I even have the 110# rims to support them, but the cost is more than twice a set of BFG's.

The thing I read here is that those of you that have installed the BFG's are happy with them and no reported incidents that I'm aware of, and you have them on the heavier Montys. I understand the G614 thinking, but for the lighter Mountaineer, do I really need them.
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Old 06-30-2011, 03:14 AM   #7
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It truly is all about peace of mind. Yes, G614's are overkill for many, but not after having a blow out on the interstate and a "mere" $1800 damage to the rig (we were REALLY lucky, if you can believe any part of having a blow out is any way lucky). So on top of the deductible, we sprang for the best rated tires we could find,and new rims to hold them, and we have never looked back. I check the pressure before each trip, and re torque the lugs every other trip. I know my efforts will not totally prevent a recurrence, but I feel far more confident when I hit the road that I have the best equipment I could get to keep us safe.
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Old 06-30-2011, 03:51 AM   #8
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It's all about the weight. One of the things that always makes these tire threads confusing,for me at least, is that most people just put in their rig model # and then start talking about various tires. Well I don't know off the top of my head what various rigs weigh or what their axles are rated for by just reading the model #.

For the heaviest rigs with 7000 lb axles there is simply no other tire out there other than the G614 that fits your existing rims and is also rated to take more weight than the axle. 7000 lb axles mean 3500 lbs per tire. My Mission bombs were rated at exactly 3500 lbs. max and for my rig I had 14000 lbs on two axles. Do the math and you see that the bombs Keystone provides, have NO margin for error.

With G614s I have the option of putting in exactly the correct amount of pressure to match my ACTUAL weight; and I have the peace of mind of knowing that they are built to handle more than I'm putting them through.

It would really help people understand the issues on these threads if they put in weights along with models and showed how (the math) their particular tires worked for their situation. There's no way you should buy G614s if you don't need them for the weight they can carry. Likewise, you should never buy something like Michelins because somebody on the MOC says, "I've used Michelin XYZs for years with no problems." Unless you know the tire mentioned can handle the weight YOU are going to put on it, move on. Recommendations that aren't supported by the math are meaningless.
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Old 06-30-2011, 04:12 AM   #9
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Paul, I agree with everything except your comment "There's no way you should buy G614s if you don't need them for the weight they can carry" We're back to personal preference here. Are they over kill on my 2955, probably but we plan to put lots of miles (already have approx 13000) and long timeing in the unit so we're constantly adding weight. That part of the reason I'm going to upgrade to the MorRyde IS system with the disc brakes.
Just my thoughts and feelings
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Old 06-30-2011, 04:54 AM   #10
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It is like the hula hoop craze.Eveyone gets one so you need one also. The primary reason to me is the tire load rating of that LT tire. We are right at the max with our present general tire that have been without issue.(3083 X 2=6166 X2=12332 on our 06 3400 and we struggle to keep there) We will get a quality tire with a acceptable tire load rating what ever that tire might be. Because we are long timers and do a lot of road miles they may be the G614's. We already have the IS system and the TPMS. The 5th wheel GCWR rating of our 08 F-350 is 23,500 however our anchor F-350 weighs in at 9K ready to tow so that leaves us 14,500 for the 3400 although it has a GVWR of 15,500...So looking at the numbers we need to keep the weight on the axles down to 12,332 which we do by weighing in every year. There is much to consider....
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Old 06-30-2011, 05:47 AM   #11
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MIchelle and Ann:

Agree on the personal preference. I should have added there's no way you should buy G614s 'because it's a MOC fad'.
If you want to buy added margin for error (I did) go right ahead. I want to fly down the road enjoying the scenery, not worrying about my tires.
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Old 06-30-2011, 07:23 AM   #12
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Thanks for the responses up to this point and beyond ... your statements have put more into focus.
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Old 06-30-2011, 08:54 AM   #13
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On the weight issue, for the Mountaineer which I commented on a previous post. The GVWR is 14315, GAWR 6000 lb axles, UVW is 10930, and cargo limit is 3325. The BFG's at (3042 x 4 = 12168) should be good to go for the axle rating and the weight. It's ironic that the Maribombs have a higher safety margin at (3420 x 4 = 13680). Now what I need is an American made G rated Kevlar reinforced tire for $50.
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Old 06-30-2011, 09:01 AM   #14
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After bending both axles I upgraded to Morryde IS 7000# axles. These were the tires Morryde recommended.
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Old 06-30-2011, 10:08 AM   #15
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I've stated my opinion on here before...of course they are fine tires but, again, IMHO, overkill. Where does it end...a 350/3500 truck is fine and all you need, but a 450/4500 would be better, or an MDT would be even better...but all overkill.
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Old 06-30-2011, 11:14 AM   #16
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As the VP once said: Two words: Peace of Mind!!!! I just don't think you can state that a margin of safety is Overkill. These 614's allow a good safety margin and that was what I was looking for when I bought mine. I will agree that everyone is entitled to their opinion and this is mine. Also, I think one needs to be careful stating a 350/3500 truck is all you need. As Richfaa says, his 350 truck weighs 9,000 lbs allowing him only 14,500 for his trailer. If he is towing at max weight, as many of us do, especially fulltimers, then his truck is NOT enough truck without downloading weight from his trailer.

I attended a "Life on Wheels" conference a few years ago and took a seminar on brakes, suspension, weights and so on. The emphasis was on safety and towing safely. It was stated by the instructor, and I don't remember his credentials, but a "decent" safety margin was 20% above manufacturers ratings. Now, we all know that these trucks have a built in safety factor, but why do we always seem to go to the limit? We do the same thing in aircraft. If the aircrafts useful load is 2300 lbs we always seem to load 2290 lbs in the darned thing.

I guess the bottom line is whatever you feel comfortable with, but please don't try to convince others that a 350/3500 truck is "all you need". With the trailers getting heavier and heavier each year, it is doubtful that the truck manufacturers are keeping pace. AND what about the guy with a slightly older truck buying a new, and heavier, Montana, then loading it with all the extras we all need, (like Bingo) (grins my friend). This is akin to saying that any diesel will do the job, maybe so, but do you really feel comfortable doing it???

My rant is not meant to step on anyone's feet and I apologize in advance if I have offended anyone!!!!!
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Old 06-30-2011, 02:40 PM   #17
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Bingo and Bahlin's responses are very good. While I don't have G614's they are not overkill and would be worth the safety many others simply cannot offer. I have a good LT tire. I am saving now for the best...G614's!
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Old 06-30-2011, 05:03 PM   #18
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Well, not all of us buy G614 tires. I bought my Bridgestone Duravis R250's after much research and recommendations from people whose opinions I thought were valid. The tires totally meet my needs. Hopefully, those who purchased G614s did so for the same reasons. G614's a fad? I don't think so. They're a quality tire. Many people here have had good experiences with them and personally, I would go with a recommendation from current users on rigs similar to mine before I'd buy in to slick marketing hype.
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Old 06-30-2011, 05:59 PM   #19
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. . . then there's the argument that it always costs a little more to go first class. Some are happy in their Civics, others find that they prefer the Lexus. A fellow RVer I know told me if I didn't want an expensive hobby I shouldn't have gotten into RVing. He was right.
Like the man said, once you've exceeded the threshold needed for safety it's all personal preference.
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Old 06-30-2011, 06:43 PM   #20
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This will be my last follow-on in my post. I guess my underlying motive for this post was for experienced RVers and novices alike ... know your weights and buy accordingly ... not just because several here on the MOC have done so. Some of us have the shorter and lighter fivers ... in my case, a lighter fiver with a heavier pin weight. My pin weight is 2370#, front axle 4980#, and rear axle 5285#. People somewhat new to RVing need to realize the difference in weight between recreational RVing and fulltiming ... also the difference in axle and pin weights depending on size and floorplan. I just wanted to point out to people in the research mode that perhaps you will never need a tire like the G614s ... spend the extra bucks on another mod or another "toy". There are other tires mentioned throughout this forum that are capable of giving you equal "peace of mind".
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