Changing tire load range tires for ALASKA TRIP

I only use e load rated tires on my trailers. In 40 some yrs of towing and camping I have had my share of tire problems. My best advice is to plan ahead 2 hrs of planning will save 2 days of grief

JIMNLIN has it.
Our camper fully loaded is at 5000#.
Gross rating is 6000#.
Tires load rating is 7040#. ST 205/75/14 Maxxis.
Even though the wheels are rated for 65 psi, why would I change?

time2roll wrote:
2150 is 205-15-D LRC is 1820

Good catch....

2150 is 205-15-D LRC is 1820

Op asks if he should go from a load C tire to a load D tires. The load C tire may be overkill on his trailer....... we have no idea how much it weighs.
ST185-13 C at 1360 lbs.
ST205-14 C at 1760 lbs
ST215-14 C at 1870 lbs
ST205-15 C at 2150 lbs
So which size C load range tire is on the trailer...
And what is the trailers GVWR and axle ratings...
And what pressure are your current wheels rated at....

Generally if the wheels are wide enough for a larger size tire
and the wheels pressure can take 65 psi D tire
and the D tire upgrade can be ran at max 65 psi then a upgrade makes cents/sense in the long run.

I would put the highest capacity tires that will fit on your trailer no matter where you plan to travel. Most come tires that are marginal at best.

LIKE2BUILD wrote:

hawkeye-08 wrote:
On our last travel trailer, we switched from load range C to load range D and enjoyed the extra margin of safety. The C LR were right at the trailer capacity and I like some head room in capacities.

I can't comment on the AL-CAN HWY, but on my old TT I changed tires for the same reason as Hawkeye-08. The original C-range tires actually totaled LESS capacity than the trailer GVWR. The manufacturer was relying on weight transferred to the truck make up the difference.

Even though I always kept the tires at 50PSI it just always seemed like the sidewalls looked squishy. When I got new tires I went up to D-range and it was a night and day difference. The sidewalls were firmer, I have plenty of extra capacity, and it felt like the TT towed easier too.

If your wheels will support 65PSI I'd say go for it and give yourself the extra cushion.

KJ

Regardless of a AK trip I would go to a load range D when replacement time comes. While I have yet to make the trip, most post I read damage occurs when people fail to slow down for frost heaves not tire trouble.

I just bought 5 new tires for my TT for the Alaska trip. I went with truck LT tires instead of ST trailer tires. Might not be available in your size range.

I figure if I ruin a tire I can have another shipped.

:) Hi, we went to Alaska with our old tires and replaced two seven year old trailer tires as needed and replaced all of the tow vehicle tires on our way home. Depending on road conditions when you go, we drove many miles on gravel and it wears your tires out fast. My opinion, but I didn't want to destroy brand new tires on this trip so I let the gravel eat up my old tires. I'm OK with doing that, but some people aren't.

trail-explorer wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
It's really not that bad unless you're driving like a manaic. Hauling along four extra tires is adding weight that will cost you big time at the Canadian gas pump.

Hauling along a few extra spares tires have a such a miniscule effect on fuel cost, you'd probably never notice it.

Two mounted spares and four old tires is more than a few in my book. To each their own.

I was on the Alaskan Highway 2 summers ago with my old convertible Mercedes.

There is ALWAYS construction somewhere along that highway but other than that....I only suffered a cracked headlight lens and windshield. :)

Got to expect something when you do an 8800 mile road trip.

I put new tires on the car before the trip.