How much is a school bus tire?

In today’s blog post, we will answer the following question: How much is a school bus tire?  We will discuss the criteria you have to take into consideration when choosing the tires for your new converted school bus. We will also give you advice on how to maintain your Skoolie

tires and ensure a long and safe journey. 

How much is a school bus tire?

A set of school bus tires can cost you between $2,000 and $3,000 depending on the manufacturer and the place you are buying them. You can save money by purchasing used tires from eBay, Facebook market or on Craigslist, but new tires often come with a warranty and will probably last much longer. 

How to choose the tires for your school bus?

When looking for school bus tires, there are several things you need to consider. How is the weather where you are driving, how much weight your bus carries, and typical driving conditions are key issues when choosing tires for school buses.

Do you need strong radial tires that can withstand bumps against curbs in the city or maybe an ultra-fuel efficient tire for long stretches on the highway?

Selecting the right tire and carrying out regular maintenance is the key to fuel efficiency, tire life, and safety for both the driver and passengers.

What to consider when choosing tires for school buses:

Specs:

• Recommended tire size for your bus
• Maximum load capacity and weight required 
• Vehicle type and class (type A, B, C or D)
• Necessary flank resistance (essential for city driving where bumps against curbs may be unavoidable).

Terms:

• On what type of road do you most travel
• Are these tires for demanding service conditions?
• Weather conditions.

It is essential to learn how to choose the best tires according to characteristics and seasons. Fitting a suitable cover represents one of the strengths of our vehicle and therefore, let’s examine some of them:

• These are the tires that guarantee perfect adherence to the road, interacting and improving the ABS, which guarantees a faster braking of our vehicle.
• The best tires can last longer and, and in case they run flat it will still allow you to drive for 60 miles even if you have a puncture.
• You can choose between the different types of tires according to your driving needs, so you can choose your tires according to your driving style.
• There are also winter or summer tires, depending on the season. They will make your driving safe in any weather.
• 4 season tires – a possible choice if the correct parameters and the best brands are chosen.

When you have the right tires for your school bus, it is very important to make sure you maintain them!

Maintaining your school bus tires 

Underestimating the proper maintenance of tires or forgetting that they deserve important care like other parts of the bus, could become a fatal error with very serious consequences since the tires are the only contact between the vehicle and the terrain where it is travelled. 

A blowout at high speeds or the bus being wobbled by smooth tire tread could end in an unfortunate accident. Hence the importance of ensuring their quality to ensure safe mobility for the passengers.

Taking these details into account and in order to promote a culture of prevention when returning to school, the distributor details a series of tips below that will help keep the condition of school bus tires in good condition:

• Tilling: The correct depth of the tread guarantees an adequate grip on the ground. It is important to extend its wear time since avoiding it is impossible. Its depth should be checked regularly, this will help to maintain a braking distance within the expected, even more so on wet terrain. The optimal tread level for the rims should be at least 3mm.

• Pressure: Having optimal air pressure will prevent premature wear or deformation of the tire. If there is an excess, the useful life of the tires is reduced and can cause uneven wear. On the other hand, if the pressure is not enough, it will widen the bearing and can alter its shape.

It is important to check the air level in the tire once a month and before a long trip, not forgetting the spare tire. It is preferable to do it with cold tires. This tip will also help save fuel.

• Tire rotation: It is important to have similar wear on all four wheels. For this, a good practice is to rotate them. The change of the rear tires with the front ones and vice versa must be done every 6200 miles.

• Alignment and balance: Correct steering alignment together with a suspension in good condition has a positive influence on vehicle behaviour and safety. It is also important to protect the tires from uneven wear and for better driving. 

It is recommended to do it every 6200 miles, however, if any irregular wear or problems in the vehicle’s manoeuvrability are detected, a service centre should be consulted immediately to correct the defect.

The specialists emphasize that the function of the driver is also important, they must be careful when driving: avoid hitting the tires against the sidewalks, periodically wash the tires to prevent mud, stones or objects from entering that minimize their useful life, avoid sudden braking and maintain the proper pressure in each of the tires.

Complying with these tips will not only help to extend the life of the tires and to drive safely but also save fuel, save money by avoiding unnecessary corrections and the loss of time for the repair or change of tires. In addition, the tires must be cared for so that they can be retreaded and thus lower operating costs. It is important to emphasize that the poor condition of the tires can also damage the steering or suspension system.

The bottom line

The condition of your school bus tires is crucial for a safe journey. Even if you don’t use your Skoolie every day, the tires will wear out over time and you will have to replace them with new ones. 

Knowing when to change your school bus tires is a little less obvious. It is possible not to notice the wear on the tires since they are on the road less often than cars. However, they should still be changed quite often.

If you have any tips, comments or questions about the content, please let us know!

FAQ on How much is a school bus tire?

What is the ideal tire pressure during winter?

To ensure excellent road holding and optimal driving comfort, when winter is on its way, + 0.2 bar must be added to the pressure indicated by the manufacturer in order to take into account the contraction of the air.

Are RV tires different?

Yes, RV tires are different from truck, van, trailer or car tires.  The quality of your tires plays an important role in your RV trip. Good tires will save you money in potential repairs, cause accidents, and can potentially save lives. As with all vehicles, the tires are the point of contact between the motorhome and the road. 

What are the best tires for RVs?

The best tires for RVs are the Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude and Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor Tires. On our list, there is also the Michelin XPS RIB Truck Radial Tire, Goodyear Unisteel G614 RST Radial Tire and the Sailun S637 Trailer Radial Tire.

What kind of tires do school buses use?

School buses use  conventional 10R22. 5 or 11R22. 5 size tires. These are too believed the tires with a longer lifespan and that have less mileage shortfalls. 

How long do school bus tires last?

School bus tires last between six to ten years, depending on the type of tires, the brand, but also on how many miles you used them for. Tire manufacturers recommend replacing your school bus tires after 10 years of use. 

How many tires does a school bus have?

A school bus has six wheels. Two of them are on the front axle  and four tires are on the  dual axle. Smaller  buses can  have four axles (two wheels on both axles). 

References

• Bus Tires – School Bus Conversion Resources – Skoolie.net
• School Bus Tire Prices Continue to Climb
• Guide to School Bus Tire Maintenance | IMI