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Charlie_D_'s avatar
Charlie_D_
Explorer
Aug 29, 2021

Endurance Tires

New camper has Westlake ST205/75R15 tires on it.
Going to replace them with Endurance. While checking prices I came across ST225/75R15 Endurance for $15.00 each more tire. Would you use 225 vs. 205?

Grand Junction Transcend 240ML
UVW 6285
Hitch 598
  • Grit dog wrote:
    OP, this sure seems like something you can figure out without asking the Internet forums opinion…
    But since you did, I’m not in the habit of tossing new tires in the garbage. I’d run them for a while.

    Hope that helped! Lol.


    Simply pull em and sell on CL.
  • MFL wrote:
    Agree with most posts above!

    First thing, I'd run the Westlakes, for a couple years or so, depending on miles, and proper care.

    Next thing...yes the Endurance is likely a better tire choice!

    After deducting tongue wt, 6,500 is a close wt estimate on the tires. The OEMs have plenty of margin, fit the fender/wheel well clearance, a good fit for OEM wheels.

    When time comes to replace the Westlakes, the Endurance, in the oem size, and D-rating, at 65 psi, is best option.

    Jerry


    Why risk damage to the RV. Sell em while they look new. Sold my 6 NEXEN’s that cAme on my DRW at 200 miles for $650 and bought Michelin’s. Most people only get 25k on NEXEN’s before they have delimitation.
  • Grit dog wrote:
    OP, this sure seems like something you can figure out without asking the Internet forums opinion…
    But since you did, I’m not in the habit of tossing new tires in the garbage. I’d run them for a while.

    Hope that helped! Lol.

    I made that run them awhile mistake with my cheap OEM tires.
    I ended up with a blowout. Luckily there was minimal residual damage caused by the blowout.
    Toss out those cheap new tires now. A blowout and the potential for body damage is not worth the risk.
  • mooky stinks wrote:
    JIMNLIN wrote:
    The trailer shows a 7495 GVWR = 1875 lbs per tire....
    Dry weight says around 6265 = 1560 lbs per tire....

    This = around 1200 lbs of CCC so most likely the trailer will weigh close to its 7495 lb max gvwr.

    The Endurance ST 205/75-15 load D at 65 psi and a 2175 lb load capacity will give the trailer a nice 15% load reserve capacity. ?

    Some tire dealers have excellent experience with trailer wheels tech and tires tech (matching pressures/load capacities/proper width/etc).......others ??.
    For this trailer I would stick with the OEM sizes/load ranges.
    edit ....jim


    Are you forgetting tongue weight deducts from axle weight? The 7500 GVW would be closer to 6500 on the axles.

    Good point.....which makes the 205/75 tires even a better choice for this size trailers wheel load needs.

    Another good option for replacing a ST205/75-15 C or D tire.......I've ran several tandem axle cargo trailers as worksite tool trailers. Some came with the ST205/75-15 tires. These trailers ran lots of miles per year using up to two sets per year.
    I gave the ST tires to my other drivers/employees for their utility trailers/boat trailers and had my truck tire dealer mount LT215/75-15 D load range at 2095 lbs capacity or LT 235/75-15 C load range at 1980 lb capacity.
    These tires had enough tread depth to run in the 50k-55k miles of service before tread wear bars came close.
  • bob213 wrote:
    If you have the clearance above and the space between the tires I don't see a problem.


    AND the rim is wide enough! Check the min rim width needed for the larger tire and make sure the existing rims are within the range,
  • I changed from 205/75R15 LRC to Endurance 225/75R15 LRE. I only run at 65 psi as that is plenty of extra load capacity for me. I figure my trailer is about 8,000 lbs loaded. I find 30% extra tire capacity is nice to have for multiple reasons. 1. You never know if you are loaded evenly side to side. One side might have more weight on it than the other and be closer to the load limit of the tire than if you assume all are seeing an equal load. 2. Excess load rating gives you more buffer for a tire like the Endurance that is higher speed rated, but not for its full load. ST225/75R15 117/112N E is the rating for the Endurance. Notice it is 117 load rated (2,833 lbs) but only the 112 (2,469 lbs) is rated for N speed (87 mph). I assume the full 117 load rating is only good for 65 mph.

    It is true you need the room for the larger tire. Mine was rubbing on the bottom of my trailer with the original 205/75R15 tires. I swapped out my 3500 lb axles and springs for 5200 lb axles and springs and that brought it up some due to less sag in the springs. I also replaced my triangular equalizer between my spring packs with a much taller one which gave me some lift. I no longer see any rubbing, even with the new larger tires. In my case I had to upgrade my rims from 5 bolt to 6 bolt. I think the original rims might not have accommodated the 225 size tires due to being too narrow. You do need to check that also.

    If you want to go to the potential work of upgrading size, that is up to you and how much you travel. We often take trips of 3-6,000 miles and usually travel 70 mph. I upgraded my trailer at the beginning of the 2018 season and now after almost 4 seasons of use I have still very happy with the changes. If I only traveled locally, I'd have been fine sticking with the smaller size.

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