Michelin XPS rib or Goodyear G614

I happen to like my g614's. Just north of 22k of tires on 21k of axles on a trailer with a gvwr of 18k. The 75 speed limit leaves lots of headroom in states with higher then 65 speed limits.
Keep in mind the two biggest causes of tire failure are overloading, and underinflating. I have so much headroom on my tires they can be 30 psi underinflated, and still be within specs (I run 110 psi). In theory, subtracting pin weight, I can support the trailers gvwr on 2 axles at full pressure.

Get rid of the Power(blowout)Kings now. I had 2 blowouts on the same trip and the four that were left all separated. I immediately went to Discount Tire and bought XPS Ribs.

Good decision getting those "Delivery" tires off your new toy hauler. When camping last weekend a couple pulled in with a brand new triple axle TH they had taken delivery of the previous day with six Power King Tow Max balloon's, opps I meant tires on it.
In the seasonal section of the park I noticed a new park model with 2 large sliding patio doors in it had arrived recently with, wait a minute you guess it Power King Towmax tires under it.

Now you tell me how many miles that park model will be towed compared to how manys miles the TH will likely be towed.
Anyone purchasing a trailer new or used which they don't plan on using as a seasonal camper needs to get the cheapest bidder sourced "delivery" tires off their new vehicle and install a quality tire if they want to avoid tire failures and vehicle damage.
Why do I call them delivery tires you ask? Because that's all the manufacturer is concerned about.
The manufacturers don't know how many miles each individual unit they build will be towed and therefore they see no business reason to install any other than the cheapest tire for delivery to the dealer lot.
Once it is sitting on a dealer lot it is the buyers responsibility to ensure it has got the appropriate tires on it for their own purposes for the trailer.
This is where consumer education and forums likes this are invaluable for new owners.

Hunter4593 wrote:

Me Again wrote:
6 XPS Ribs at 3042 each provide for 18252 lbs of capacity on the axles. What is the GAWR?

The Bridgestone Duravis R250's or M895's are cheaper and as good as the Ribs.

Do you have at least 33" center to center on the axles for LT235/85R16's, if not look at 245/75R16's. With three axles G614 might be an overkill, and they are VERY expensive.

You are wise to dump the ST's!

Chris

GVWR is 18000. Will check Center to Center measurement today. I do know that space between tires is tight so may have to look at the 245/75/16.

Decided to go with the 245/75R16 Michelin XPS RIB's. Reading all the various comments about the different brand, they seem to have the best good/bad ratio. Also wasn't sure about wheel air capacity, so at $600 cheaper then Goodyears, seemed like the right choice. When I measured center-to-center, there is a 2 inch difference between Axles. Rear to Center is 34.5" and Center to Front is 32.5", ( anyone else think that is weird?) so I went with the 245/75R16. It also came from factory with 2 different brands of tires. Front and Rear Axles have Power King Tow Max tires and Center Axle had a tire brand called Hi-Run (Also kinda weird?).

Thanks for all the input and I hope everyone has a great RV'ing summer!

JIMNLIN wrote:
The cumulative experience of members on this or any trailering forums can go above and beyond the tire placard and OEM type problematic tires as we know what actually works and what doesn't.

There are many good tire dealers out here also that can help a trailer owner with the best replacement tire selection for his trailer requirement. Those dealers also know what the actual replacement policy/legal issues is for proper tire selection.

However some don't have the experience to offer anything other than the tire placard or more of the same from the trailer mfg. Sound familiar ??

Wow a real life story from someone that tows commercially and has to comply with actual rules and regulations. Not some want to be internet tire sales promotion shill.

Thanks Jim, you are always a voice of reason to what is happening in the real world of tire use, equipment and weight laws. I retained my CDL for years after driving the 8500 gallon tanker truck from 76 to 79 and only gave it up when they started requiring a DOT physical. But this kid from Taylors SC worked on airplanes and has a keyboard, so he knows more than both of us combined, even though he has never been through a chicken coop and subjected to a real vehicle inspection.

Another poster was having problems with his Montana tire upgrade until I finally got him to visit a commercial tire shop. Guess what they willingly replaced his ST with LT tires. Some just don't get it, or they are paid to deceive the masses.

Chris

The cumulative experience of members on this or any trailering forums can go above and beyond the tire placard and OEM type problematic tires as we know what actually works and what doesn't.

There are many good tire dealers out here also that can help a trailer owner with the best replacement tire selection for his trailer requirement. Those dealers also know what the actual replacement policy/legal issues is for proper tire selection.

However some don't have the experience to offer anything other than the tire placard or more of the same from the trailer mfg. Sound familiar ??

All your marbles are loaded like dice in a game that the house always wins. You wrap your sales promotion in false safety jargon.

Chris

Me Again wrote:

FastEagle wrote:

Hunter4593 wrote:

Me Again wrote:
6 XPS Ribs at 3042 each provide for 18252 lbs of capacity on the axles. What is the GAWR?

The Bridgestone Duravis R250's or M895's are cheaper and as good as the Ribs.

Do you have at least 33" center to center on the axles for LT235/85R16's, if not look at 245/75R16's. With three axles G614 might be an overkill, and they are VERY expensive.

You are wise to dump the ST's!

Chris

GVWR is 18000. Will check Center to Center measurement today. I do know that space between tires is tight so may have to look at the 245/75/16.

One of the new twists I’ve recently encountered with light truck tires is a warranty provision disallowing coverage for LT tires used in misapplications.

Here is a link to the Michelin Standard Limited Warranty.

Click here

If you call or eMail Michelin of North America and give them the tire information off your trailer’s certification label I’m sure they will not recommend the XPS Rib to replace those tires.

There are other options in 16” sizes and many more in the 17.5” sizes. Many of the 17.5” tires are medium duty truck tires designed for low profile trailer service and will have higher speed ratings than the ST tires.

FastEagle

When are you going to hang up your crusade to keep people on cheap ST tires. A lot of us see right through what you are doing! Market market market!

Does this go hand and hand with when you said a few years ago that the government was going to ban LT tires on trailers.

I just leads one to think you are a paid shill!

Chris

I just want to point this out to the readers. I did not mention ST tires in the enclosed previous post. Chris did.

Isn't the reader entitled to both sides of the story? Violating safety standards are in the hands of the vehicle owner. For instance, it's click it or ticket in this state. Take your chances. It's well published so it boils down to the users choice. So, when it comes to replacement tire selection, lets give them all the marbles to play with.

FastEagle

FastEagle wrote:

Hunter4593 wrote:

Me Again wrote:
6 XPS Ribs at 3042 each provide for 18252 lbs of capacity on the axles. What is the GAWR?

The Bridgestone Duravis R250's or M895's are cheaper and as good as the Ribs.

Do you have at least 33" center to center on the axles for LT235/85R16's, if not look at 245/75R16's. With three axles G614 might be an overkill, and they are VERY expensive.

You are wise to dump the ST's!

Chris

GVWR is 18000. Will check Center to Center measurement today. I do know that space between tires is tight so may have to look at the 245/75/16.

One of the new twists I’ve recently encountered with light truck tires is a warranty provision disallowing coverage for LT tires used in misapplications.

Here is a link to the Michelin Standard Limited Warranty.

Click here

If you call or eMail Michelin of North America and give them the tire information off your trailer’s certification label I’m sure they will not recommend the XPS Rib to replace those tires.

There are other options in 16” sizes and many more in the 17.5” sizes. Many of the 17.5” tires are medium duty truck tires designed for low profile trailer service and will have higher speed ratings than the ST tires.

FastEagle

When are you going to hang up your crusade to keep people on cheap ST tires. A lot of us see right through what you are doing! Market market market!

Does this go hand and hand with when you said a few years ago that the government was going to ban LT tires on trailers.

I just leads one to think you are a paid shill!

Despite everything you say, BFG/Michelin is warrantying a failed Commercial TA that replaced Marathon ST on my friend Cardinal and paying for the trailer damage. And it was outside the window for recalled TA's. AND this happen about three months ago, so it fails in your recent window.

How about a little real world experience and not your internet hype just for once. Why would someone hate LT tires the way you do, and really hate the best in the XPS RIB. Do they cut into sales of cheap tires????? You always say Michelin HQ is just a short distances from your house. Why don't you go down and cut a deal with them to promote a good product all over the web?

Chris

Jeez here we go again with that worthless internet myth of what Michelin says they will or won't do.