what are they thinking - Grand Design

I have a new Reflection 303RLS from Grand Design. The tires that came on mine are E rated, sidewall states max pressure 80PSI, Max Load at 80PSi 2830, Not 2540 as stated by OP. Don't think they put wrong tires on trailer, but just in case, I would take a second look at them. I have looked at mine so many times, someone would think I have a love affair with them.

Don

youngone wrote:
I was told by the Northeast Rep from Grand Design that the 15 inch tires are E rated. Do you mean a Reflection 303?

Yes the 303 and placard listed D's and at 2540 and GAWR was 5080. So there is little or no reserves in the tires installed. Given the inflated ratings of ST tires, this is a problem in the making!

Nice layout for a 30' trailer BTW.

But when will the manufacturers learn about tires???

Chris

They are Westlake E range tires.


Grand Design is thinking exactly like every other mfg..........

I was told by the Northeast Rep from Grand Design that the 15 inch tires are E rated. Do you mean a Reflection 303?

JamesBr wrote:
Given that I have yet to see a 5th wheel yet that can balence 100% of its weight on the axles only, I fail to see why you need tires rated above GAWR to be safe. The weight on the axles transfers to the weight on the tires.

If I follow your train of thought all trailers are overweight unless they axles can carry 100% of the GVWR no matter what size the trailer is. Even if the trailer is long enough that there is less then a 1% chance the axles will take on the full weight of the trailer.

The reason why tires should be rated as high as they can is because the ST tires are the weakest link .
When the ST and LT scale ratings were implemented the threshold of the tests was set to a lower standard for ST than the LT rating .
For this reason ST tires are actually UPRATED as to the sidewall weight capacity .
A similar size Goodyear ST tire is placarded for 3450 # while the similar sized LT tire is placarded for 3042 # .
The reason to increase the tire weight rating in an ST tire is because it is UPRATED for weight placard without being more tire .
Plus it is cheap and easy at replacement time to build in a safety margin by going to a higher rated ST tire or an equivalent weight rating in an LT rated tire .
The ST tire scale assumes the trailer sits most of the time .
The LT tire scale assumes the truck move most of the time .
The reports of ST tire failures are about 20 times more prevalent than truck tire failures on this forum .

Peg Leg wrote:
It probably has 5200 lb axles, the tires being the lowest rating is therefore the GAWR. The GAWR can not be higher than the lowest rated component.

Exactly, 5200 lbs is a standard axle rating and GAWR has been set based on the capacity of the tires installed.

I did on his last trailer which he just gave to his son. Chris

Me Again wrote:
Friend just got a new 30 Reflection. Tires Westlake ST225/75R15D's rated to 2540. GAWR 5080. Chrid

Tell him to dump those and get some Maxxis E-rated tires.

Lyle

It probably has 5200 lb axles, the tires being the lowest rating is therefore the GAWR. The GAWR can not be higher than the lowest rated component.

Given that I have yet to see a 5th wheel yet that can balence 100% of its weight on the axles only, I fail to see why you need tires rated above GAWR to be safe. The weight on the axles transfers to the weight on the tires.

If I follow your train of thought all trailers are overweight unless they axles can carry 100% of the GVWR no matter what size the trailer is. Even if the trailer is long enough that there is less then a 1% chance the axles will take on the full weight of the trailer.