kzspree320
Jun 03, 2017Explorer
Can tires have too much reserve capacity?
I had a blowout on my way home on Memorial Day. I had gone over 1,800 miles of our 2,000 mile trip and was getting close to home. Rear tire on passenger side blew. Got the estimate yesterday and damage about $3K. I never want this to happen again. I had checked the tire pressure and it was 77 psi (max 80) right before we left for home. Tire was a Goodyear Marathon 235/80/16 E rated tire with stated capacity of a little over 3,400 lbs.
Info on my fifth wheel is GVWR of 13,940# with 2 axles each rated for 6,000 lbs. Add the pin weight and you get to the GVWR. The E rated tires should be enough since the 2 tire ratings per axle are over 6,800 lbs. I want all new tires and am willing to spend to get good ones. My fifth wheel is a 2014 so my tires are not old but I just want all good rubber.
I see 2 decent options. Get the Michelin XPS Ribs or the Duravis r250 size 235/85/16. I have enough space so that's not a problem. The tires are only rated for 3,042 each, which is enough if both sides weigh the same, but I doubt that's the case. I normally weigh abut 12,500 ready to camp. Subtract pin weight and estimate 10,000 lbs on axles. That's just 2,500 lbs per tire if they are all equal, which I seriously doubt since the heavier appliances and reclining love seat are in one slide out on the same side as the bedroom slide. I actually think the tire that blew was on the light side of the camper.
The other option is to go to the Sailun S637 G rated tires with a rating of about 4,000 lbs per tire. Sure seems like overkill but maybe not. My rims are rated for 3,980 lbs and 110 psi (stamped inside rims). Seems like I could run about 100-105 psi and hopefully never have a blowout.
My question is this, "can you have too much reserve capacity on tires?" Would the stiffer tires place too much stress on the remainder of the suspension system, since a E rated tire might absorb more stresses than a G rated tire would.
I know there are a million of these tire threads and I have read most of them. All thoughts and opinions on this subject is welcome and appreciated. I need to make a tire decision soon. Thanks. Keith
Info on my fifth wheel is GVWR of 13,940# with 2 axles each rated for 6,000 lbs. Add the pin weight and you get to the GVWR. The E rated tires should be enough since the 2 tire ratings per axle are over 6,800 lbs. I want all new tires and am willing to spend to get good ones. My fifth wheel is a 2014 so my tires are not old but I just want all good rubber.
I see 2 decent options. Get the Michelin XPS Ribs or the Duravis r250 size 235/85/16. I have enough space so that's not a problem. The tires are only rated for 3,042 each, which is enough if both sides weigh the same, but I doubt that's the case. I normally weigh abut 12,500 ready to camp. Subtract pin weight and estimate 10,000 lbs on axles. That's just 2,500 lbs per tire if they are all equal, which I seriously doubt since the heavier appliances and reclining love seat are in one slide out on the same side as the bedroom slide. I actually think the tire that blew was on the light side of the camper.
The other option is to go to the Sailun S637 G rated tires with a rating of about 4,000 lbs per tire. Sure seems like overkill but maybe not. My rims are rated for 3,980 lbs and 110 psi (stamped inside rims). Seems like I could run about 100-105 psi and hopefully never have a blowout.
My question is this, "can you have too much reserve capacity on tires?" Would the stiffer tires place too much stress on the remainder of the suspension system, since a E rated tire might absorb more stresses than a G rated tire would.
I know there are a million of these tire threads and I have read most of them. All thoughts and opinions on this subject is welcome and appreciated. I need to make a tire decision soon. Thanks. Keith