Another Subj . . . TIRES

[ken_burke]

All . . . .A very worn out subject.
I really need your help in buying a new set of 5th wheel tires. We have a heavy (3000 #s per wheel) Cedar Creek. We bought 5 GY Marathon tires within the last year. ST235/80/r16. Pressure of 80 #s. 2 of the 5 tires have blown out within less than a year. Don't want to buy more Marathons.
Questions . . . . Will LT tires work better than ST tires for heavy 5th wheel? Can we use 235/85/16 tires, and would that help carry the load. I see that "Me Again" recommends Michelin XPS tires, and Duval R250 tires. Any other recommended tire for a heavy 5th wheel??
Which tires have a stronger side wall??

thanks . . . . ken and sue.

[ckwizard777]

Me Again wrote:

bucky wrote:
ST2358016 sidewalls are far stronger than any LT tire. That's what they are made for, to minimize sway.

Could you link to the data that documents those statements.

Chris

He wont be able to because I just replaced my Marathons with XPS Ribs and there is no comparison the Ribs are much more hefty and considerably heavier.
I fondled both the old Marathons and the new Ribs while they were installing them and there is no way you would walk away thinking ST are better tires.
In fact I kept thinking that the ribs must be the most under rated tires in history or they have a ton of reserve capacity.

[Hannibal]

JIMNLIN wrote:
Tire experts say a 15-20 percent reserve capacity is a better idea.

This has been my experience as well. Our previous 10.4k lb Jayco 5th wheel was close to the limits of our Marathons. Couldn't get 3 years out of them. E rated Denmans solved the problem. We just replaced our seven year old D rated Marathons on our current 8500 lb 5th wheel. I'm sure on the big guys reserve is also the answer.
I bought five E rated Towmax tires this time out of need verses availability.

[Me_Again]

bucky wrote:
ST2358016 sidewalls are far stronger than any LT tire. That's what they are made for, to minimize sway.

Could you link to the data that documents those statements.

Chris

[ken_burke]

JIMNLIN wrote:
Is that 3000 lbs per tire a estimate or actual scaled weight ?
Rv trailers with slide outs are notorious for weighing several hundred lbs different side to side...plus running in a strong side wind all day long can over load a tire on the down wind side if it doesn't have any reserve capacity. Tire experts say a 15-20 percent reserve capacity is a better idea.

What is the trailers GVWR ?
Does your trailer have 6k or 7k axles ?
Lots of 16" trailer wheels rated for G tires (3750 lb ) at 110 psi. Check your wheels for proper load and pressure rating.

Not sure what the actual trailer (cedar creek) GVWR is, but it is about 14,000 pounds. Our trailer weighs 15,000 pounds, each axle is about 3000 pounds, and the pin weight is about 3000 pounds.
We were at the FROG raley last year and had the trailer weighed by individual scales. Very accurate. Our tires are rated at 3400 pounds, but apparently the tires fail under 3400 pounds.
We have 6000 # axles, which is a design mistake on Forest River's part. A 5th wheel this size should have 7,000 # axles. Going to 7,000 axles and higher rated tires, wheels, etc,would be very expensive.
thanks for asking.
ken and sue

[cummins2014]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Me Again wrote:

ACZL wrote:
GY G614's= $250-$300/tire.
Sailun= <$200/tire (only competition for the GY 614's) and high praise so far.

Price is not an issue if GY gives him 4 or 5 G614's to replace the Marathons. They have done this for others that had trouble with their Marathons.
Chris

That must be why their prices are so high. Customer Support.

Seriously, I do agree, can you imagine if they lacked in customer support with the issues they have with their tires .

[Cummins12V98]

Me Again wrote:

ACZL wrote:
GY G614's= $250-$300/tire.
Sailun= <$200/tire (only competition for the GY 614's) and high praise so far.

Price is not an issue if GY gives him 4 or 5 G614's to replace the Marathons. They have done this for others that had trouble with their Marathons.
Chris

That must be why their prices are so high. Customer Support.

[fj12ryder]

I had Carlisle ST tires that blew out at less than 2 years and 8,000 miles, so I would wonder about the validity of a survey that showed them having "the highest satisfaction rating there is in trailer tires in this size".

I've compared the Carlisle ST tire, and the Sailun LT tire, and there is absolutely no comparison in sidewall stiffness. The Carlisle feels like wet cardboard compared to the Sailun.

IMO there is a good reason the Carlisle is so cheap. They may be adequate on a lighter trailer, but there is no way I would ever put them on a heavy, tall trailer.

[Allworth]

9000 pound Jayco.
14000 pound Titanium.

Hummm?

[bucky]

ST2358016 sidewalls are far stronger than any LT tire. That's what they are made for, to minimize sway. I got Firestone Transforce LT2358516Es om my Jayco when I got it used and they gave me no trouble for 2 years. One started losing air, and the pinhole was in a bad spot. The 09 date code persuaded me to not replace just one.
I started shopping tires, load ratings, reviews, ratings, comments here, etc. I must admit I have an advantage with all of this as I am in the tire and auto repair business.
I went with Carlisle ST2358016E RHs. Rated at 3520 lbs, with the highest satisfaction rating there is in trailer tires in this size. I was considering the Marathons until many many contacts in the tire industry suggested otherwise. I was concerned with the speed rating of ST tires but I never tow at 80 anyway. Actually ST tires do not have speed ratings like Ps and LTs do.
The cost difference also surprised me, as the Carlisles cost me $99 per tire, and the 2358516 LTs were in the $190 range each. Discount Tire Direct has the Carlisles at $122 with free shipping. That was the best price I found online. I'm buying at pretty deep wholesale, but you can get close.
My Jayco is sitting at 9000lbs on the axles/2700 pin loaded for camping, so I have 5,080 lbs of "extra" capacity.
I'm sure that many will disagree, so have at it. I'm a big boy, you won't hurt my feelings.

[blofgren]

With the size of your trailer you should definitely think about going with G rated tires if your rims will handle the 110 psi. I had Sailuns put on my trailer a couple of months ago and they are holding up very well so far. The trailer weighs 15,500 lbs fully loaded.

[Me_Again]

ACZL wrote:
GY G614's= $250-$300/tire.
Sailun= <$200/tire (only competition for the GY 614's) and high praise so far.

Price is not an issue if GY gives him 4 or 5 G614's to replace the Marathons. They have done this for others that had trouble with their Marathons.
Chris

[cummins2014]

ACZL wrote:
GY G614's= $250-$300/tire.
Sailun= <$200/tire (only competition for the GY 614's) and high praise so far.

I would love to see a G614 in in a 235/85/16 for $250 per tire , maybe $300 at best. Please post a link to that price of $250

Sailun on the other hand can be had for around $170 per tire. Simple Tire is one source .

[carpetguy2]

Have a 2010 FR Sandpiper #14500 and went Michelin Xps ribs 235 85 16 no issues with fitting
Had 235 80 16 .
Also have 6K lb axels.my rims couldn't hold 110 psi I was told .

[ACZL]

GY G614's= $250-$300/tire.
Sailun= <$200/tire (only competition for the GY 614's) and high praise so far.

[Cummins12V98]

wilber1 wrote:

Dtank wrote:

wilber1 wrote:

ken burke wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
I would not buy another ST tire, but it looks like you need "G" rated LT tires rather than the "E" rated tires like the Michelin Rib. The "E" rated tire's weight limit is 3042 lbs. If you're at 3000 lbs. per wheel, it won't give you much leeway.

However the "G" rated tires can be inflated to 110 psi, so if you wanted to run at sidewall pressure you would need wheels that will allow you to inflate to 110 psi. I run "G" rated Sailun S637 tires on my 15,000 lb. triple axle toyhauler, and inflate them to 100 psi.

. . .
Thanks, but I don't think that the "G" rated tires will fit on a 16 inch wheel. As for tire ratings, the Marathon's are rated for 3400#s, while our 5th wheel weighs 3000# per tire. I think that the Marathon's are under-rated.

I have been using E rated Marathons for 13 years on fivers under 12K GVWR and have never had a problem with any of them.

.


Buy lottery tickets!

.

I keep hearing that but two sets, one U.S. made and one Chinese over 13 years and no failures. Makes me wonder what people do with them.

Mind you, I am running them at 1000 lbs under their load rating.

Very well could be why the success with the Marathons. Most RV.s use the tires max load carrying capacity to determine their weight ratings. So Most RV's with little cargo are at the tires max and they just don't hold up.