Trying to buy new tires for my 2011 Laredo 295 RK. I'd rather buy LT Tires. But, when I try to find tires that match the diameter of my existing ST tires (30.6) I find that they seem to require a 6.5" x 16" rim.Mine are only 6 x 16. 1)Can I stretch the spec?2) I'm looking at Goodrich Commercial T/A all season, LT 245/7516E1 120R B They seem to meet all the specs that I need. Anyone have any experience with these tires?3) Before I noticed the wheel width problem I tried to buy Michelin XPS RIB LT 245/75R16E. I asked the dealer to verify Manf Date. They called Michelin, they said the last date of manf. was April 2013.Can't convince myself to buy tires almost a year old.

chloesmom wrote:Trying to buy new tires for my 2011 Laredo 295 RK. I'd rather buy LT Tires. But, when I try to find tires that match the diameter of my existing ST tires (30.6) I find that they seem to require a 6.5" x 16" rim.Mine are only 6 x 16. 1)Can I stretch the spec?2) I'm looking at Goodrich Commercial T/A all season, LT 245/7516E1 120R B They seem to meet all the specs that I need. Anyone have any experience with these tires?3) Before I noticed the wheel width problem I tried to buy Michelin XPS RIB LT 245/75R16E. I asked the dealer to verify Manf Date. They called Michelin, they said the last date of manf. was April 2013.Can't convince myself to buy tires almost a year old.So go buy Bridgestone Duravis R250's. Chris

I got the BFG Commercial tires last fall and they are great. Just pulled from Iowa to Florida a couple of months ago. My 5er weights 12400 loaded for travel with 9880 on the axles. I asked for as current as possible on date code, they were only 6 weeks old.

Does it have 5200 pound or 6000 pound axles? If it has 5200 axles, then LT215/85R16E are rated to 2680 and go on 6 inch wide wheels. Diameter is similar to ST's you have now. Get the BS Duravis R250's for less than RIBs and be happy for many years.If you have 6K axles, what is your center to center measurement? If 33" or more and you have the clearance above why not LT235/85/R16E's?Chris

Thanks for the help so far!I really liked the Duravis R250, until it wanted to use a 6.5 rim, mine being only 6.Do you have an opinion regarding stretching the spec and going with the 6" rimAlso, just got off the phone w/brigstone. They told me that ST tires have a stiffer sidewall than LT tires. From what I understood (reading the forum) it was just the opposite. Any thoughts?Background: I can't go with a larger dia. tire. I just make it into my shed as it is and I want min load range of E 120Were those BF Goodrich tires Commercial T/A 245/75R16E?

I've read that before about ST tires having stiffer sidewalls. I've compared LT's and ST's and simply cannot see it. I can sit on an ST tire and feel it give, I can sit on an comparable LT tire and feel nothing. Also if you look at loaded LT and ST tires, there is usually a noticeable bulge on the ST tires.So I guess I just don't understand what they mean by "stiffer".

Need tires Wheel size 6x16 | Good Sam Community

Me_Again
Explorer III
Mar 04, 2014
chloesmom wrote:
Trying to buy new tires for my 2011 Laredo 295 RK. I'd rather buy LT Tires. But, when I try to find tires that match the diameter of my existing ST tires (30.6) I find that they seem to require a 6.5" x 16" rim.
Mine are only 6 x 16.
1)Can I stretch the spec?
2) I'm looking at Goodrich Commercial T/A all season, LT 245/7516E1 120R B They seem to meet all the specs that I need. Anyone have any experience with these tires?
3) Before I noticed the wheel width problem I tried to buy Michelin XPS RIB LT 245/75R16E. I asked the dealer to verify Manf Date. They called Michelin, they said the last date of manf. was April 2013.
Can't convince myself to buy tires almost a year old.

So go buy Bridgestone Duravis R250's. Chris
iawoody2
Explorer
Mar 04, 2014
I got the BFG Commercial tires last fall and they are great. Just pulled from Iowa to Florida a couple of months ago. My 5er weights 12400 loaded for travel with 9880 on the axles. I asked for as current as possible on date code, they were only 6 weeks old.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Mar 04, 2014
Does it have 5200 pound or 6000 pound axles? If it has 5200 axles, then LT215/85R16E are rated to 2680 and go on 6 inch wide wheels. Diameter is similar to ST's you have now. Get the BS Duravis R250's for less than RIBs and be happy for many years.

If you have 6K axles, what is your center to center measurement? If 33" or more and you have the clearance above why not LT235/85/R16E's?

Chris
chloesmom
Explorer
Mar 04, 2014
Thanks for the help so far!

I really liked the Duravis R250, until it wanted to use a 6.5 rim, mine being only 6.
Do you have an opinion regarding stretching the spec and going with the 6" rim

Also, just got off the phone w/brigstone. They told me that ST tires have a stiffer sidewall than LT tires. From what I understood (reading the forum) it was just the opposite. Any thoughts?

Background: I can't go with a larger dia. tire. I just make it into my shed as it is and I want min load range of E 120

Were those BF Goodrich tires Commercial T/A 245/75R16E?
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 04, 2014
I've read that before about ST tires having stiffer sidewalls. I've compared LT's and ST's and simply cannot see it. I can sit on an ST tire and feel it give, I can sit on an comparable LT tire and feel nothing. Also if you look at loaded LT and ST tires, there is usually a noticeable bulge on the ST tires.

So I guess I just don't understand what they mean by "stiffer".
goducks10
Explorer
Mar 04, 2014
If you have the money would these work? Looks like the weight rating is good and the rim size is right.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=XPS+Rib&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=275R6XPSR&tab=Specs
Me_Again
Explorer III
Mar 04, 2014
chloesmom wrote:
Thanks for the help so far!

I really liked the Duravis R250, until it wanted to use a 6.5 rim, mine being only 6.
Do you have an opinion regarding stretching the spec and going with the 6" rim

Also, just got off the phone w/brigstone. They told me that ST tires have a stiffer sidewall than LT tires. From what I understood (reading the forum) it was just the opposite. Any thoughts?

Background: I can't go with a larger dia. tire. I just make it into my shed as it is and I want min load range of E 120

Were those BF Goodrich tires Commercial T/A 245/75R16E?

So you did not answer my question on the axles installed. What is the GAWR listed on the placard?

Chris
Busdriver
Explorer II
Mar 04, 2014
I have the bf goodrich commerical very good tire. I don't think a half inch will make any differance.
chloesmom
Explorer
Mar 04, 2014
12500 is the total gross vehicle weight. Have load range E with 3042 weight capacity on it now. Want at least that much capacity. Have a height restriction with my storage bldg. So, I don't want to a diameter much over 30.5
wilber1
Explorer
Mar 04, 2014
Just looking at the Tire Rack spec charts for different 235 tires. All of them show a measured rim width of 6.5" but can be used on rims ranging from 6" to 7". Some of them 6" to 7.5".