15 inch wheel and tire blues

Perhaps it was the chuck holes at the Petrified Forest. Maybe that along with the hundreds of rough secondary roads we’ve traveled over the past fee weeks  who knows?

Not long after we left the Painted Desert I noticed a slight oscillating vibration in the T.O.A.D. It was barely noticeable. For awhile. 

Oh oh. 80 or 90 miles out of Flagstaff that subtle vibration became violent! I pulled over and the left read tire was wearing badly in the outside and worse on the inside. I drove at 50 mph or less the rest of the way into Flagstaff. 

Made it! I grabbed a site at Woody Mountain Campground on Old Route 66 for the night. Woody Mountain is nothing fancy but they have hookups, a laundry and bathrooms with showers and hot water. 

A nice hot shower and an ice cold beer later and I was ready to make my list of tire dealers to call in the morning. It dropped to 28 degrees overnight but we were safe and warm. 

As soon as possible I began calling tire dealers. I wasn’t discouraged when the first few said they couldn’t find a 15″ tire with a high (light truck) load rating and 6 ply. But when all of them said the same thing along with the leading internet tire suppliers I began to get nervous. Heck, I wasn’t even sure that the only problem was the tire. 

Jim at Northern Arizona Tire actually did some research and found a foreign made tire with the proper specs. I think it was in Phoenix. He said he could have it in two days. I asked him to please get it and call me when he knew for sure when he would get it. 

He called me shirtless adm said he would have it the next day around 3. Yay. I drive to a Denny’s around the corner and had breakfast. While I was there I asked to speak with the manager. I explained about the tire, told him that generally Denny’s was kind to RVrs and asked if I could hang out in his parking lot. He said “Sure. Judd don’t block my dumpsters.” Hey, I even had wifi. 

Around 9 in the morning Jim called and said the tire was in. Hot Damn! I was on a roll. Got the tire and an oil change an was on my way. Good as new!!!

So, if you ever need tires in or close to Flagstaff, call Jim at Northern Arizona Tire. (928) 774-4535. He easily could have told me he couldn’t find one. 

Oh, the reason it is so rare is that it’s a 15 inch wheel. The following year Winnebago even went with 16s. 

I may have to get a set of 16″ wheels just to make life simpler. 

I’ll get back to my travels the next post. I promise. 

Cheers. 

Border crossing

Looking toward New Mexico from Arizona at the state line. Boy, the scenery really changed. 

  

Speechless in New Mexico

As I rode through New Mexico toward Bandolier National Momument Park I enjoyed the change in scenery. 

However nothing could prepare me for my first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains from the ground. The road had been a gradual incline for miles and miles. All of a sudden we came both around a bend and to the crest of a hill. 

BAM!!!  There to the north in what must have been Colorado I saw this. 

  

I had to stop. I was humbled, speechless and in awe of the magnificence of our great United States Of America.  I believe there was a tear in my eye. It was beautiful. 

This set this day apart from all the others thus far. 

Cheers. 

Oklahoma

When we rolled out of Tulsa, we headed west through most of the state. Oklahoma certainly has some beautiful country not to mention some well seasoned automobiles. 

   
  

 

Oh, and they have oil for these fine pieces of Detroit iron too.