tire dilemma

lumpy790 wrote:
how do you read the tire production code?

Must say my trip was much less stressful with all 4 new tires :)

This website will help with that and other info. This guy is a long term career person from the tire industry...
http://www.barrystiretech.com/dotcoding.html

lumpy790 wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:

lumpy790 wrote:
a 16 inve$$$tment is out of the question.

Were just guessin' here as you din't tell us what size and load range tires you have or is the trailer a single/tandem or tri axle unit. The devils always in the details.
Give us some numbers and we can give you a better idea whats out here/what works and what doesn't work so good.

Had addressed that a little 2 posts up ;) but here are the details.

My THer is a 2 axle with 225/75x15 tires.

Most recommend the Goodyear Marathons on here over say the $15 cheaper Maxxis. Seems No one local has them in stock but can get them in a couple hours....at least that guarantees the tires have not been sitting there for years.

I have a quote of $600 for 4 Marathons with tax, installation and new valves.

The 225/75x15 were originally used as they were the "cheapest" option that met engineering standard for capacity on a sheet of paper. Real world experience proves out that these sized tires on 5200# axles is a maintenance nightmare for the majority. Going with this size tire will get you into a buy and replacement schedule between 2 and 3 years -maybe less if your travels are in triple digit temps predominately. The LT tires suggested by Lincster and JIMLINN will have 5-6 year lifetimes. The initial cost plays out easily if your trailer ownership horizon is longer term. The LT tire option will also get rid of "side of the road" tire changing and the associated headaches of chasing down the cheap tire option every couple years.

Michelin Site - Reading sidewall

Will your van tires fit the trailer? I would replace only van tires if possible, move old tires to trailer.

how do you read the tire production code?

Must say my trip was much less stressful with all 4 new tires :)

JIMNLIN wrote:
Pricing at tirerack.com for Firestone Transforce HT 16" LT225/75-16 E at 2680 lbs capacity is 151 bucks a tire times 4 equal 604 bucks.

Pricing for four 6 lug 16" white steel modular wheels at trailerpart.com is 42.95 times 4 = 171 bucks.

Thats 775 bucks for about the best tire and wheel set up for a trailer out here. My trailer equipment dealer/mfg sells wheels at those prices and one of my area tire dealers will match tirerack.com pricing if asked.

You don't need a 16" spare as your current spare works fine. I always use the 15" ST spare. Its never rolled on the road.

You left out the $62 shipping.

Why is a much more expensive 16 considerably better?

My THer is 4 tire not 6 so as long as you are using a quality tire 15 inch tire it should be just as good.

Could understand less sidewall being better on a 6 tire set up as they kill the tire sidewall.

how do you read the tire code?

Interesting topic.. I'm an rv noob here, but the first thing my buddy said when he saw my trailer was "get rid of those POS tires now dude"..
they were a brand by the name of "towmaster"..

So I fitted Maxxis UE168(n) bravo LT series tires.. my buddy has been using these for many years and has yet to have any failure.. they cost me $108 each, that may seem expensive for a small tire, but worth it for peace of mind.

JIMNLIN wrote:


You don't need a 16" spare as your current spare works fine. I always use the 15" ST spare. Its never rolled on the road.

I agree about 80% with this. When you need a full size spare, you will wish you had one. With the weight I haul in my hauler, I wouldn't want to run a ST tire under it, even for a spare.

JIMNLIN wrote:
Pricing at tirerack.com for Firestone Transforce HT 16" LT225/75-16 E at 2680 lbs capacity is 151 bucks a tire times 4 equal 604 bucks.

Pricing for four 6 lug 16" white steel modular wheels at trailerpart.com is 42.95 times 4 = 171 bucks.

Thats 775 bucks for about the best tire and wheel set up for a trailer out here. My trailer equipment dealer/mfg sells wheels at those prices and one of my area tire dealers will match tirerack.com pricing if asked.

You don't need a 16" spare as your current spare works fine. I always use the 15" ST spare. Its never rolled on the road.

Close to what I spent for the upgrade, I just went with the BFG commercials.
I kept two 15" spares.

One of the new rigs were looking at has 15" tires and I asked about swapping my trade in rigs tires/wheels with the new one, they won't do it, so we left and won't go back.
Not going that route again, especially with a heavier rig.

Pricing at tirerack.com for Firestone Transforce HT 16" LT225/75-16 E at 2680 lbs capacity is 151 bucks a tire times 4 equal 604 bucks.

Pricing for four 6 lug 16" white steel modular wheels at trailerpart.com is 42.95 times 4 = 171 bucks.

Thats 775 bucks for about the best tire and wheel set up for a trailer out here. My trailer equipment dealer/mfg sells wheels at those prices and one of my area tire dealers will match tirerack.com pricing if asked.

You don't need a 16" spare as your current spare works fine. I always use the 15" ST spare. Its never rolled on the road.