Trailer Tires

Most RV tire problem are caused because they don't have enough reserve capacity for the load on them.IMHO you need at least 20% extra capacity.If your hauling a heavy 5er bite the bullet and go with the 17.5 wheels and commercial tires.It will be cheaper and safer in the long run not fixing blown tires on the side of the road and constantly buying new tires. Also repairing damage to your rig from exploding tires.

donn0128 wrote:

mabynack wrote:


I've read several recommendations against putting LT tires on RVs because the sidewalls aren't built for the abuse they get when you take a tight turn with the trailer.

Pure BS!
Have you ever watched a steer tire during a tight turn?
My 2005 fifth wheel came stock with LT tires. They performed flawlessly for 7 years, yes seven years. Replaced with more LT tires. The naysayers either have no clue or are ignorant about using a quality tire. Just ask one of them how many ST tire failures they have experienced over the years

I got to agree 100% with Donn0128, have you ever looked at the tires on a semi?? All the same casing, maybe different tread design but not always.

Steer tires need to be new tires, once the tread wears down they are capped and used as drivers, have you ever looked a a semis set of drivers in a tight turn??? Then after being capped again, they mat be drivers, or be put on a trailer.

I will always put LT's on my 5er.

mabynack wrote:
I checked the rating on the rims on my 14,000 lb fifth wheel last night and they're rated for 3045 lbs. I couldn't find a pressure rating on them, so I'm still not sure if I can go to a load range G tire without changing the rims.

Don't know if this is a "normal" situation or not...a 14K GVWR coach on four wheels rated for a total of 12,180 lbs. I do know that my 15K rig has wheels rated to 15K (3750) for what its worth!

I ended up with new 614's only because of the weight rating. The Bridgestone is a great tire...had them on my truck!

mabynack wrote:
I checked the rating on the rims on my 14,000 lb fifth wheel last night and they're rated for 3045 lbs. I couldn't find a pressure rating on them, so I'm still not sure if I can go to a load range G tire without changing the rims.

OK I am going to explain to you how to have many miles of happy trailering.

Measure center to center of your axles!

Greater than 33 inches - Install LT235/85R16E Bridgestone Duravis R250's

Less than 33 inches - Install LT245/75R16E Bridgestone Duravis R250's.



If you want to spend a couple hundred more to for no good reason then install Michelin XPS RIBs.

Compare the tread pattern to the high end GY G614 trailer tire.



Do it and don't look back!!!!!

Your trailer depending on year may have come OEM with load range D ST tires rated to 3000 pounds, so a LT tire rated to 3042 exceeds that, and it a MUCH better tire!

Chris

I checked the rating on the rims on my 14,000 lb fifth wheel last night and they're rated for 3045 lbs. I couldn't find a pressure rating on them, so I'm still not sure if I can go to a load range G tire without changing the rims.

mabynack wrote:

B.O. Plenty wrote:

mabynack wrote:
According to one Forum "NHTSA tire complaints website show Carlisle are number one in trailer tire complaints."

I've read several recommendations against putting LT tires on RVs because the sidewalls aren't built for the abuse they get when you take a tight turn with the trailer.

No matter what brand of tire I research I find a slew of negative reviews and horror stories.

Lt tires not suited for RV??? Nonsense! Don't tell that to any of the thousands including myself, that are using them. Compare an unmounted ST to a LT tire side by side. The "stiffer sidewall on the ST tire" thing is an absolute myth. It's just the opposite. This argment will never go away..

B.O.

Thanks. My goal was to wear out the last set of RV tires I bought. They blew out after a year and about 13,000 miles. They still looked like new when they exploded. I use ST235/85R16s in Load Range E.

Michelin Ribs or the less expensive Bridgestone Duravis R250's are both excellent 16" tires, from all reports.

Lyle

mabynack wrote:
Thanks for all the input. After comparing LTs and G-load rated STs, I've found that no matter which one I choose, it's going to cost me over a $1000. The Michelins mentioned in one post are going to run me $370 each. The Goodyear STs in load range G are going to run over $300, and will require new rims rated for the increased tire pressure.

There are other, off-shore, non-Chinese, brands that seem to be getting good reviews. Hankook and Sailun both come to mind, from my reading here. Just make sure your rims are rated to 110 psi to handle the G tires.

Lyle

Francesca Knowles wrote:

newman fulltimer wrote:
i got the popcorn whos bringing the beer

I'm workin' on it but it might be a little late...
The fellas were so busy checking the tires for country-of-origin that they forgot to secure the kingpin! :M

Oh, now that just su... er, FOAMS! :-)

Lyle

B.O. Plenty wrote:

mabynack wrote:
According to one Forum "NHTSA tire complaints website show Carlisle are number one in trailer tire complaints."

I've read several recommendations against putting LT tires on RVs because the sidewalls aren't built for the abuse they get when you take a tight turn with the trailer.

No matter what brand of tire I research I find a slew of negative reviews and horror stories.

Lt tires not suited for RV??? Nonsense! Don't tell that to any of the thousands including myself, that are using them. Compare an unmounted ST to a LT tire side by side. The "stiffer sidewall on the ST tire" thing is an absolute myth. It's just the opposite. This argment will never go away..

B.O.

Thanks. My goal was to wear out the last set of RV tires I bought. They blew out after a year and about 13,000 miles. They still looked like new when they exploded. I use ST235/85R16s in Load Range E.

mabynack wrote:
Thanks for all the input. After comparing LTs and G-load rated STs, I've found that no matter which one I choose, it's going to cost me over a $1000. The Michelins mentioned in one post are going to run me $370 each. The Goodyear STs in load range G are going to run over $300, and will require new rims rated for the increased tire pressure.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the going price for many RV tires. Just paid $304 for the GY 614's. Depending on the weight of your rig these may be an option...Sailun 637 Hankook F19