Replacing only 2 tires on 5ver

wtmtnhiker wrote:
Hi all,
I have a 37' 5ver that has a big bubble in one of the tires. I replaced 2 tires last year and I still have 2 to do. The trailer has Mor Ryde suspension. Does anyone know the proper procedure for replacing just 2 tires? I was recently told by the Goodyear dealer that I should put the 2 new ones on the same side and have the two used ones on the same side. He said that even a small difference in the tread depth would cause the new tire to carry more of the load, thus uneven load distribution. I can't picture that with the suspension I have. Any input?

For proper suspension you should have two like tires on each side. Have the latest new ones on one side of the trailer, and the other tires on the other side.

rattleNsmoke wrote:
I would think to put the new(er) tires on the axle bearing the most weight. That would require a trip to the CAT scales to see the difference.

And if you do not relax the drive train and trailer "pull" on the scale you will not get a very good reading. On a CAT scale the operator will most likely take the weight before you have a chance to put the truck in neutral and release the brake to equalize out things.

Controllers that have boost settings make this worst yet!

If you are looking for subtle differences then find a chicken coop that leaves the scale on and in view when it is closed, as the CAT operators do not have a lot of patience with non commercial vehicles in most cases.

If you are going to do this on a CAT scale go talk to the operator ahead of time and ask if they can work with you and take weights when "you" are ready!

You could try to get the weight split between axles with equalizers 5 times and get five different results. Moving forward/backward/how hard you braked/boost/in gear etc will all effect the readings.

Chris

I would think to put the new(er) tires on the axle bearing the most weight. That would require a trip to the CAT scales to see the difference.

JIMNLIN wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
Its best to have the new tires on the same axle for equal braking especially on wet pavement.

I'm having trouble understanding this statement. Why would having the new tires on one side as recommended by the dealer result in poorer braking?

The brakes on one axle get the same amount of amps when braking. If one end on the axle has a new tire and the other end has a old tire the old tire can/may slide easier than the new tire. Wet pavement simply multiplies the problem.

Read carefully what Goodyear is saying about "handling and performance".

Due to braking rotational forces during a hard braking event the rear axle can lift the front axle, through the equalizer bar, enough that the front axle tires can slide. Results are flat spotting. For that reason I prefer my new tires on the rear axle.
Other may prefer the front axle.

My late uncle never put new tires on a front axle (car, truck or trailer) unless absolutely necessary. His experience was that the deeper tread tended to kick up more junk to cause flats on the rear. He might buy 4 tires, but he put 2 new ones on the rear, run them for a couple thousand miles, then swap them to the front and put the other 2 new ones on the rear. As a farmer, it would only take him about 2-3 weeks. :-)

Lyle

Francesca Knowles wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
Its best to have the new tires on the same axle for equal braking especially on wet pavement.

I'm having trouble understanding this statement. Why would having the new tires on one side as recommended by the dealer result in poorer braking?

The brakes on one axle get the same amount of amps when braking. If one end on the axle has a new tire and the other end has a old tire the old tire can/may slide easier than the new tire. Wet pavement simply multiplies the problem.

Read carefully what Goodyear is saying about "handling and performance".

Due to braking rotational forces during a hard braking event the rear axle can lift the front axle, through the equalizer bar, enough that the front axle tires can slide. Results are flat spotting. For that reason I prefer my new tires on the rear axle.
Other may prefer the front axle.

If Goodyear says this:

JIMNLIN wrote:
Goodyear says this in there RV website;

Mixing tire types and sizes.
When you mix tires of different constructions, sizes and depth of tread wear, it can affect handling and performance. Goodyear recommends using the same size and type of tire on the same axle – i.e., all radial ply or all bias ply, all the same size and all the same tread pattern – as well as maintaining your tires so that they all have approximately the same depth of wear.

And the tire dealer says:

wtmtnhiker wrote:
I was recently told by the Goodyear dealer that I should put the 2 new ones on the same side and have the two used ones on the same side.

You either misunderstood what he said, or you need to find a new Goodyear dealer.

Not the same side - the same axle (the long tube with brakes on each end). Unless the older ones have a LOT of tread wear, there shouldn't be much difference in weight bearing between the two axles. What Goodyear is saying is to put the new tires on each end of the front axle and the older ones on the rear.

JIMNLIN wrote:
Its best to have the new tires on the same axle for equal braking especially on wet pavement.

I'm having trouble understanding this statement. Why would having the new tires on one side as recommended by the dealer result in poorer braking?

Its best to have the new tires on the same axle for equal braking especially on wet pavement.

Goodyear says this in there RV website;

Mixing tire types and sizes.
When you mix tires of different constructions, sizes and depth of tread wear, it can affect handling and performance. Goodyear recommends using the same size and type of tire on the same axle – i.e., all radial ply or all bias ply, all the same size and all the same tread pattern – as well as maintaining your tires so that they all have approximately the same depth of wear.

Actually the taller tire transfers weight to the side with the shorter diameter tire. However the amount of weight transferred wouldn't be enough to worry with.

Put the new ones on the front axle and the others on the rear