Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Thor Forums > Thor Tech Forums > Modifications and Updates
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-20-2017, 08:25 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
djnash's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 35C
State: Florida
Posts: 110
THOR #4067
Tire and rim upgrade

Has anyone upgraded thier rims to aluminum and increased the tire size from 19 to 22 inch. Any advice would be great. Thanks. (Thor hurricane 35c)

__________________
djnash is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2017, 09:50 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31K
State: Florida
Posts: 145
THOR #3520
Considering that your rims support not only the static weight on your coach but also the shock loading, (think potholes, railroad tracks), I would give this some serious second thoughts. Promises from people trying to sell aluminum rims notwithstanding, I believe you would find that steel has more strength and more elasticity than aluminum.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca
__________________
CasaLoca is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 02:24 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
djnash's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 35C
State: Florida
Posts: 110
THOR #4067
Thanks for the reply but getting rid of the 19 inch rims is my main priority. I recently had the opportunity to drive a coach with 22 inch rims and it was night and day difference.
__________________
djnash is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 02:30 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31K
State: Florida
Posts: 145
THOR #3520
I offered no opinion on the rim size, only the comparative material strength between steel and aluminum.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca
__________________
CasaLoca is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 02:43 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Windsport 29M
State: Indiana
Posts: 3,692
THOR #5196
We had aluminum rims on our Tuscany which weighed a lot more than a Hurricane. You run in to several problems trying to switch to 22" wheels and tires. Wheel well size, bolt pattern, increased unsprung weight, and the real biggy, overall gearing and road speed.

You would not gain anything by changing wheel size and it would be very expensive even if you could find wheels that would fit.
__________________
SuperD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 04:58 AM   #6
Member
 
State: California
Posts: 44
THOR #6924
My 2015 Outlaw came with 22" Alcoa Rims.
__________________
drhadley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 11:10 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
djnash's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 35C
State: Florida
Posts: 110
THOR #4067
Thanks all for the input. Forgot about wheel well. And good info on rims. I just see so many rvs and big rigs woth aluminum rims thought it would save weight.
__________________
djnash is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 12:25 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Windsport 29M
State: Indiana
Posts: 3,692
THOR #5196
I've never weighed either combination but know the 22" would be considerably more. Also, aluminum rims weigh a lot more than you would thing, material has to be thicker than steel to carry the same weight. It was a good thought though!
__________________
SuperD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 02:01 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
Quote:
Originally Posted by djnash View Post
Thanks all for the input. Forgot about wheel well. And good info on rims. I just see so many rvs and big rigs woth aluminum rims thought it would save weight.
Aluminum rims, particularly when forged rather than cast, typically do weigh less than same-size steel. I think you're right on that.

Another problem you could encounter is with tires hitting chassis at full wheel lock. Notice in Ford specs that all chassis do not have same amount of front wheel cut.

I think the fallacy in your argument is assuming the difference between how the two coaches drove was due to wheel size. Unless they were otherwise identical coaches, the way they drove could have been different for a million reasons.
__________________
Chance is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2017, 03:23 PM   #10
Site Team
 
EA37TS's Avatar
 
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,726
THOR #1469
There have been a few studies done by motorhome technical sources that have compared the ride of 19.5 and 22 inch wheels and tires on the smae chassis and determined the 22 inch will provide a smoother ride although the difference may be minimal.

The 22 alum wheels are my coach are stamped Ford.

If you look at the F53 specs I believe until you get to a certain GVWR the 19.5 is standard with the 22 being an option.

Your issue will be the wheel wells on your coach and whether or not they are large enough to handle the 22 inch wheels and tires.

Another item to consider is if the increased height due to increased tire size will require an adjustment to the mounting of your leveling jacks. You would need to determine if there are other downstream impacts to a larger wheel and tire change.
__________________
Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
EA37TS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2017, 01:17 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Hooligan2's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2016 Siesta Sprinter 24ST
State: Florida
Posts: 602
THOR #2812
You might find this interesting.

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/P...h19.5_22.5.pdf
__________________
U.S. Coast Guard retired- 1956-1985
Pensacola, Florida
2016 Siesta 24ST
1972 Moto Guzzi Eldorado
Hooligan2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Thor Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.




All times are GMT. The time now is 10:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2