Replacement Tires for a Roadtrek 190 Chevy 3500

[Sensfan-ClassB]

Sorry,just don't remember for sure. AI says Bridgestone Durav

Sorry, can't confirm for sure. AI says Bridgestone Duravis.R500 HD. They had a highway tread, not an all terrain.

Thanks.
I’m presently comparing/contrasting the Bridgestone Dueler HT 685 with the Goodyear Wrangler Workhouse HT. Both are E-rated. FWIW, the numbers suggest that the Bridgestone may be the wiser choice for my Chevy Express 3500 190 Ranger.

 

[booster]

The original tires on the Chevies were Bridgestone Vsteels. They later changed the name to Bridgestone 265 which is a name not a tire size so dumb way to do it. They are still available, I think.

They were good tires, very durable, couldn't wear them out unless you went lots of miles. No blowout issues that I have heard of. They didn't handle as well as some other tires, though, and ride a bit rougher IMO. They still are not a bad choice for the 245-75-16 size on a 210 because of their durability and how heavy the 210s are in the rear.

 

[peteco]

I have always run the Bridgestone V-Steel 245-75-16 on my 210P. No problems. Here is some further info regarding tire specs that you may want to consider.

Tires on Chevy Class B's: Load and Speed Rating Spec

I am starting this thread to get the thoughts of members here, whom I find are very knowledgeable. Frequently on other forums people ask for recommendations on tires for their Chevy Roadtrek 190 or 210, and this may apply to the Roadtrek 200 as well. Many times Michelins are recommended...

www.classbforum.com

 

[Sensfan-ClassB]

Thanks to everyone for all your help
I sure have learned a lot about tires in a short period of time. The Bridgestone 265 5-Rib LT tires look like they will be a good fit for our RT190 Ranger.

 

[booster]

Certainly a safe choice as they are made for commercial so not all that abuse sensitive. Good to see they have the Vsteel back in the title and say R265 so much clearer description.

 

[jjrbus]

When I bought my RT it needed tires so I did some quick searching and came up with Bridgestone V-Steel 245-75-16 load range E. I bought the Bridgesone because I got a smoking hot deal on them. My tires will sit and rot so I will not spend big bucks on high mileage tires and would have bought any brand that was cheaper. Later to find out they were the OE choice for the van. I find TPMS and tire maintenance are more important than brand. I exercise my tires regularly and will not drive 1 foot on a low tire.

If memory serves me right the Bridgestone has a higher speed rating than the popular brands. Speed rating is no big deal I will not drive fast most think. Higher speed rating is achieved by a stiffer sidewall. Which has numerous benefits such as not flexing as much so they run cooler. Some run the ride is stiffer, only the most observant of people would notice the minor difference.

 

[peteco]

My tires will sit and rot so I will not spend big bucks on high mileage tires and would have bought any brand that was cheaper.

It is helpful to use tire covers if the van is going to sit for a long time. Also, ozone can affect a tire even when not exposed to the sun. Learned this when I found cracking on the side of the tire not facing the sun. Now I put 303 or Rubber Care protectant on the non-sun side when I rotate tires or when under the vehicle for other reasons. Most important is applying protectant every month on the sun side.

 

[peteco]

More from another post on tire cracking. Since this post I have been using Rubber Care as it is cheaper than 303. It seems to work as well as 303.

"Some tires are more prone to cracking than others. A while ago people had some cracking problems with Michelins, but I haven’t heard of that recently.

When I bought my 2006 Roadtrek 210 in 2011 the original Bridgestone V-Steel tires were 5 years old and had cracking. I replaced with the same V-Steels and used 303 Protectant like I had been using for many years on tires with good results. At 5 years on these tires I had no cracking at all on the sun side, so the 303 did the job. There was some minor cracking on the side not facing the sun. I have read that sun is the biggest factor in cracking, but ozone can also cause cracking, so this is what was happening to the non-sun side. So when I replaced the tires, I again have used the 303 treatment, but I also started treating the non-sun side when I rotate the tires. I have 4 years on the tires and there is no cracking on either side. So the 303 works well.

I try to apply the 303 monthly but sometimes I go more than that between applications."

 

[booster]

More from another post on tire cracking. Since this post I have been using Rubber Care as it is cheaper than 303. It seems to work as well as 303.

"Some tires are more prone to cracking than others. A while ago people had some cracking problems with Michelins, but I haven’t heard of that recently.

When I bought my 2006 Roadtrek 210 in 2011 the original Bridgestone V-Steel tires were 5 years old and had cracking. I replaced with the same V-Steels and used 303 Protectant like I had been using for many years on tires with good results. At 5 years on these tires I had no cracking at all on the sun side, so the 303 did the job. There was some minor cracking on the side not facing the sun. I have read that sun is the biggest factor in cracking, but ozone can also cause cracking, so this is what was happening to the non-sun side. So when I replaced the tires, I again have used the 303 treatment, but I also started treating the non-sun side when I rotate the tires. I have 4 years on the tires and there is no cracking on either side. So the 303 works well.

I try to apply the 303 monthly but sometimes I go more than that between applications."

I just looked at my service log and out Vsteels were on until the first of January of 2013. IIRC the van was built in May of 2007 by Roadtrek and it sat outdoors at Roadtrek and the dealer until October of 2008 when we bought it. That would have put the tire at close to 6 years if you add on time at GM before delivery to Roadtrek. They didn't have any cracks, but except for the first 18 months it has been inside except when traveling. I do use 303 a couple of times a year and do both sides if the wheels are off. Being inside is a big deal, I think, for tire life. Not just sun but as you said ozone. Even though we aren't in the city we get high ozone on hot, sunny, humid days high enough for semi major alerts for air quality. Have you been able to compare the ingredients in the Rubber Care to the 303? My guess is any patents would have run out by now so they probably could just legally duplicate the 303.

 

[peteco]

I first purchased Rubber Care several years ago. I buy it in the gallon container and that lasts me about 6 years. On the Amazon site it states:

• Rubber Care Ceramic is a high quality Aircraft grade Rubber treatment and conditioner. Restores and protects Rubber & Plastics. Meets Boeing Aircraft Specification D6-17487T

So I don't think they copied 303, but who knows???

 

[booster]

I did a bit of reading and sifting through varied AI interpretations that can be kind of humorous sometimes and it appears the rubber care from Aero Cosmetics and other brands is probably a silicon dioxide nano particle coating which makes it more durable than 303 protectant. The big question is if it is also a normal type rubber treatment that actually softens the rubber by entering it, usually with some kind of chemical. The MSDS is non committal on what is in it, though, but appears to be very tame and safe stuff so probably not hydrocarbon based.

The don't have any testing on the product actually protecting stuff or filtering UV or ozone, which is disappointing. 303 does have testing for UV and life on products. The Boeing testing appears to be a do no harm type test procedure for mostly corrosion.

Best guess might be it would be a bit less protective against UV but the thicker coating might be better against the ozone chemical type attack.

The only agreement I saw was that it lasts longer than 303 which washes off very easily.

No conclusion from me on this as it could go either way between the two products and that might make the much lower cost of the rubber care the leader.