Chevy Express 3500 Church Van Tires?

[Gebo]

I'm getting some 245/75/16's for my 2008 Chevy Express 3500 15 passenger Church Van. Probably averages 2000 miles/year so mileage is not important. What do you recommend? Safety is my utmost concern. My tire guy said not to waste my money on a Michelin but to get like a Firestone because he said I should be replacing them every 6 years???????

Opinions

 

[FSully1]

Look at Firestone Transforce H/T. I purchase these for the company fleet, GM and Ford vans usually loaded heavy and never had any major issues.

 

[901Memphis]

If traction is a concern, i'd spring for the Michelin since something like the LTX M/S2 has a 720 AA rating over something like the Firestone Destination LE 2 which is 520 AB.

A lot of people are advocating 6 year expiration dates now. You can usually get up to 10 safe years out of a tire unless you bake them in the sun. The tire places won't mount/balance tires older than 10 years on the DOT date

 

[EdwardC]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
If traction is a concern, i'd spring for the Michelin since something like the LTX M/S2 has a 720 AA rating over something like the Firestone Destination LE 2 which is 520 AB.

A lot of people are advocating 6 year expiration dates now. You can usually get up to 10 safe years out of a tire unless you bake them in the sun. The tire places won't mount/balance tires older than 10 years on the DOT date


I think that the traction rating is the same between those two, the first letter is traction (both A) and the second letter is temperature.

I think though, a vehicle like that the first filter should be to make sure the load index of the tire is high enough. The transforce tires sound like they would fit the bill, same would the Light Truck LTX M/S2s.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

How about the General Grabber HTS?

The Goodyear CS Fuel Max is supposed to get better gas mileage, and it's on rebate.

 

[WiskyBadger]

Originally Posted By: FSully1
Look at Firestone Transforce H/T. I purchase these for the company fleet, GM and Ford vans usually loaded heavy and never had any major issues.
These! We put them on all of work vans that are loaded to the gills. Good traction and wear well.

 

[mrsilv04]

On a one ton van, you likely need an LT rated tire, such as LT245/75-16.

Could use a Cooper Discoverer H/T.

Lots of ambulances in this area use the Transforce H/T tires.

Just on that, there can't be that much wrong with them, even for a Firestone.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I wouldn't go for a Michelin - doesn't seem worth it if you are replacing every 6 years ... if they make it that long before dryrotting apart.

Also - make sure the left rear is an LT tire and that it is PROPERLY INFLATED. There are a lot of deadly wrecks with 12 and 15 passenger vans because the left rear (or either) is not properly inflated and blows out under load.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Our church van is an E-350 Club Wagon. It has three Goodyear Wrangler RT/Ses and one Firestone Transforce HT. All are LT245/75R16.

Personally, I like the Firestone Transforce HT.

 

[Gebo]

 

[Gebo]

 

[Gebo]

It won't be a BF Goodrich....LOL

Thank God that all is well!

 

[Bgallagher]

Originally Posted By: FSully1
Look at Firestone Transforce H/T. I purchase these for the company fleet, GM and Ford vans usually loaded heavy and never had any major issues.


+1 Good tire for your application

 

[HangFire]

You're in Virginia, not San Diego, right? You can probably go 7 years or more on a set of tires, but there is an age limit. Just because it has tread doesn't mean it's still safe.

Keep them cool and out of the Sun while not in use and they'll last longer.

 

[ccap41]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
I wouldn't go for a Michelin - doesn't seem worth it if you are replacing every 6 years ... if they make it that long before dryrotting apart.

Also - make sure the left rear is an LT tire and that it is PROPERLY INFLATED. There are a lot of deadly wrecks with 12 and 15 passenger vans because the left rear (or either) is not properly inflated and blows out under load.


+1 to this.

If it is only seeing a couple thousand miles a year I, personally, could not justify Michelin's prices. There are plenty of other high quality LT tires on the market. But yes, With it getting driven so little each year make sure you check those pressures.

 

[Gebo]

I always check tire pressure with the little button on the left side of the dash. I can see front and rear pressures in the "odometer" window. I check when cold and when on a long trip. I run 50 in front and 75 in rear.

 

[SteveSRT8]

^^^No offense but the rear is spec'd for 80 psi on that truck.

We have a few of these vans in our fleet. IME there is no finer tire than the Michelin LTX MS2 for an LT tire, they ride well and last forever.

In your application you may want cheaper, then the choices get dizzying...

 

[Gebo]

I'm with you. I guess I have drunk too much michelin Koolaid. If I am responsible for 10-13 kids while on the van, I willing to spend a little more. The pics above are from what happened to the van tire yesterday while on a Youth Trip. My Youth Pastor called and told me it felt like a wheel was out of balance when he got to 65 mph on the Interstate. I told him to pull over immediately and check all the tires and that is what they found.

If it were just my van, I'd go with the H/T's but since we are hauling precious cargo that doesn't belong to me, I'm gonna go Michelin. I don't wanna cut any corners. Especially after 9 kids saw the tire yesterday and have probably told their parents and sent them pics! I gotta go with peace of mind for all parties. Call me ignorant (LOL) but I can't afford to not buy Michelins (IMHO) at this point.

 

[IndyIan]

I think more important that tire brand, as they all pop pretty much the same hitting some trash on the road, is keeping the speeds reasonable. Not so slow as to be a hazard, but keeping up with 80mph traffic in the left lane is increasing the risks quite a bit compared to even 70mph.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Reasonable speeds become even more important as tires get cheaper.

I can tell you from experience, when I hit the brakes in the rain in a 9000 pound service van those LTX MS2's bite the road like no other tire. May save someone's life.

These are huge vehicles, his likely weighs 6k pounds before any kids even get in it! Tires IMO are even more important as the vehicle gets larger and heavier...