Need new tires 205/75/14 thoughts?

JIMNLIN wrote:

LarryJM wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
Another popular 14" choice is the commercial grade Maxxis U-168 LT. Bigger 15" tires take more room between the tires/sides and on top but will give you a few more options.

I think those Maxxis are 1" larger in dia than the normal ST205R75X14 and 1/2 at the larger 14" sizes so make sure they will fit and allow the proper clearances for your particular axle type and configuration.

Also, I might have missed it, but those are not listed specifically for trailers like the KUMHO 857s are.

Larry

I guess we could bring "we can't use a LT tire on a trailer "******that other folks recommend just because of what ever reason or agenda you have. Why go there as the subject has been beat to death.
The BFG Commercial T/A aren't listed specifically for trailers either but thousands of trailer owners find they make a excellent upgrade option from a OEM ST tire.

My Maxxis dealer recommends the the U-168 LT to his customers for their trailers especially guys that are on the road.

I only made the observation based on what I could document. I do not think dealers sort of like TT salesmen are the most reliable source of good information and their is no way to verify what any particular dealer might say unless that dealer personally posts their recommendations so you might not think one has to mention this or that, but that is only your opinion which I don't share in this case. If a reader wants to ignore what the tire manufacturer says for their particular tire then that's their decision.

Notice I never said not to use them in case you think I did.

Larry

Chances are that Discount can order other tires if that is what you want.

I replaced my tires, which were the originals, just this past spring. I went round and round about which tire, which size etc.. Going up in size in my case it would have created some clearance issues so that option was out. I ended up putting the Carlisles on however I did go to a D range which gives a little better weight rating.

After reading a zillion tire threads and reflecting on 25 years of towing boats and 10 years of towing travel trailers I went from 205/75/14 tow max at 1760lbs per tire to
215/75/15 carlilse RH's at 1874 lbs per tire. My reasoning:

1. My personal gy marathon st blowouts were both on tires that were over 6 years old with zero maintenance (I'm smarter now).
2. Towing at over 65mph doesn't feel comfy anyway so no worries there.
3. Discount Tire stocks them so if I do have to replace one I don't have to wait 3 days.
4. Capacity went up 440 lbs and is now 496 lbs over the gvwr of the trailer and 2096 lbs over the "loaded for camping" weight tongue weight and all.
5. No clearance issues and no need to purchase 5 new 15" wheels to go the lt route.

Trailer is a Heartland 23rb stick and tin with no slides and TV is a 1/2 ton Suburban with the tow package. Equalizer hitch.

Time will tell if I've made a good decision....

LarryJM wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
Another popular 14" choice is the commercial grade Maxxis U-168 LT. Bigger 15" tires take more room between the tires/sides and on top but will give you a few more options.

I think those Maxxis are 1" larger in dia than the normal ST205R75X14 and 1/2 at the larger 14" sizes so make sure they will fit and allow the proper clearances for your particular axle type and configuration.

Also, I might have missed it, but those are not listed specifically for trailers like the KUMHO 857s are.

Larry

I guess we could bring "we can't use a LT tire on a trailer "******that other folks recommend just because of what ever reason or agenda you have. Why go there as the subject has been beat to death.
The BFG Commercial T/A aren't listed specifically for trailers either but thousands of trailer owners find they make a excellent upgrade option from a OEM ST tire.

My Maxxis dealer recommends the the U-168 LT to his customers for their trailers especially guys that are on the road.

JIMNLIN wrote:
Another popular 14" choice is the commercial grade Maxxis U-168 LT. Bigger 15" tires take more room between the tires/sides and on top but will give you a few more options.

I think those Maxxis are 1" larger in dia than the normal ST205R75X14 and 1/2 at the larger 14" sizes so make sure they will fit and allow the proper clearances for your particular axle type and configuration.

Also, I might have missed it, but those are not listed specifically for trailers like the KUMHO 857s are.

Larry

gmw photos wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
Another popular 14" choice is the commercial grade Maxxis U-168 LT. Bigger 15" tires take more room between the tires/sides and on top but will give you a few more options.

Just a general observation here: it's true, if a user can go up to a 15" from a 14", that is a good thing. However, each case needs to be looked at carefully, as some trailers have absolutely NO room for a tire that is larger in diameter. Some, like my FunFinder did not even have room to go one size larger even in a 14". So I had to choose a tire that was the same overall diameter as the tire that was factory fitted.

That is an EXTREMELY IMPORTANT POINT and if you have the Tor-Flex type axles even more critical since IIRC the spec is a minimum distance at max load since the distance between the tires changes as the load changes. I think the min is 1", but most I have seen tend to use 2" basically empty so 15" are generally a no go with those closely spaced axle trailers. I'm one of the few and hopefully more that have gone the KUMHO route and hope others will too so we can get some real world hands on experience if these are infact a good choice and actually better overall than the every popular 14" Maxxis. IMO these finally give us an appropriate safety margin in the load area over the often meager ones from a lot of the manufacturers.

Just remember to get the load you need the 14" load D tires which are 65psi tires so new rims might be needed too.

Larry

JIMNLIN wrote:
Another popular 14" choice is the commercial grade Maxxis U-168 LT. Bigger 15" tires take more room between the tires/sides and on top but will give you a few more options.

Just a general observation here: it's true, if a user can go up to a 15" from a 14", that is a good thing. However, each case needs to be looked at carefully, as some trailers have absolutely NO room for a tire that is larger in diameter. Some, like my FunFinder did not even have room to go one size larger even in a 14". So I had to choose a tire that was the same overall diameter as the tire that was factory fitted.

Another popular 14" choice is the commercial grade Maxxis U-168 LT. Bigger 15" tires take more room between the tires/sides and on top but will give you a few more options.

Kumho 857 size 205R14 for 2271 # load rating .
the tire you have are 1820 # If I Recall Correctly .
tire rack link is :

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Radial+857

i recently ordered on Monday was promised Friday delivery and received my tires on Wednesday from tire rack .
on tire rack web site is a list of installers . just put in your zip code .