Had our first major tire issue

[ddschuman]

Based on all of the threads I have read here, I had already come to the conclusion that we would replace our FW tires prior to our trip to Colorado in September even though our FW is only a year old. Unfortunately, we will need to replace sooner as after our arrival home from our trip this weekend we noticed one tire was low. We had checked all tires before the trip and all tires before coming home...all had adequate pressure. We to thought perhaps we ran over something along the way so we took the tire off to get repaired but found out it was not repairable. The belt separated and the tire has a bubble. I am just sitting here being very thankful that we did not have a blowout. That would have been a good way to ruin a trip. Now, time for the real decision...what to buy? I believe I will be looking back through all the tire threads (well maybe not ALL of them) and doing some tire research. I sure wish I would have gotten a few more months in first. Oh well...price we pay for our passions in life.

[Me_Again]

I ran Ribs for 6.5 years and now R250's. Both are good however I think the R250 is just as good or better than the Rib for less money. Chris

[ddschuman]

Got new tires ordered yesterday and will have put on next Wednesday. Just in time for another weekend camping trip. :). Decided to go with Bridgestone Duravis R250s. I went back and forth between those and Michelin Ribs XPS but the $128 less a tire won me over. I read review after review on both of these (not just here but other Internet sites as well) and couldn't find much disappointment (if any) in either one. I feel good about the decision and feel certain we will not be disappointed. Thanks again for all the input.

[gdweb]

Allworth wrote:
Another vote for Commercial TA. LT245/75R16 (LRE) will be almost an exact fit. 1/2 inch wider at the tread.

x2 and replace the spare too

[CC-skipjack]

I just had my second set of BFGoodrich commercial T/A's installed after having 7+ years of trouble free service from the 1st set. Don't mess with success!

[tsetsaf]

Here is what I did R250 You are lucky catching it before the boom.

[JEBar]

if you stay with load range E, Maxxis tires are hard to beat .... if you step up to load range G, Goodyear G614's carry a warranty that no other tire matches .... that being, if the tire is less than 5 years old and it goes bad, if they get what's left back, they will pay 100% of the damage and replace the tire

Jim

[Me_Again]

68% of the 50 pound tire! dyslexic? Ha! Ha!Chris

[Lowsuv]

The ST scale is so weak that the placard on the side of equivalent size tires shows the ST tire at a higher weight rating than the similar sized LT tire . even though the LT tire is more tire from the same manufacturer.
The LT Tire definitely is more tire than the same size ST tire .
from the tire rack website here is a comparison between ( nearly ) identical 235/80R16E tires :
From the tirerack website :
Goodyear ST 235/80 R 16 E price = $ 135 each
weight = 34 # each
section width is 9.2 " tread width= 6.8 " diameter is 30.7 "
rated 3420 # at 80 psi on ST scale
Goodyear LT 235/85 R 16 E price = $ 157 each
weight = 50 # each
section width is 9.3 " tread width= 7.0 " diameter is 31.7 "
rated 3042 # at 80 psi on LT scale
So the Goodyear ST tire is rated for 112.4 % higher load rating than the equivalent Goodyear LT tire .
And they will sell this ST tire for only 86 % of the LT tire .
And the ST tire has less mass for cordage , plys , caps and so forth because it weighs 76 % of the Goodyear LT tire .
This is very telling as to how much lower the ST standards are in relation to the LT standards .
Further the ST tire has plainly stamped on the sidewall " for trailer use only " .
The LT tire has no disclaimer .
to recap : the manufacturer is the same. both tires are 235 ( one is 80 = 80% and the other is 85 = 85% )
both tires are load range E or 80 PSI .
The ST tire is cheaper ( 86% cost ) .
The ST tire has less rubber and cords .
The ST tire weighs 76 % of the LT Tire .
The LT tire only gets a 3042# rating on the LT scale .
The cheaper / lighter ST tire gets a 3402 # rating on the less demanding ST scale .
This is very clear .
Goodyear , the manufacturer , has to build a much tougher tire for LT use such as on our heavy duty pickups .
The ST tire is UPRATED in sidewall weight rating due to the weak / cheap ST standard .
No way baby does the 34 # ST tire outperform the 50 # LT tire .
No way baby does the $ 135 ST tire outperform the $ 157 LT tire .

[ddschuman]

Thanks everyone! I sincerely appreciate all the input I have received.

[Mile_High]

Don & Carolyn wrote:
We also bought the Bridgestone R250. They were recommended to us by a 5th wheel owner who was also a semi driver.

My tires were recommended by a 5th wheel owner who was also a ballet dancer, same difference 🙂

Now if you're talking about a full time 5er owner, tire expert, or RV manufacturer, maybe a different story!

[Mile_High]

ddschuman wrote:
OK, hopefully not a dumb question but do you replace all 5 tires or is it OK to keep your spare? I am pricing tires as we speak & hopefully will have installed next week.

If it's a common tire, I wouldn't bother with the spare unless you plan to rotate all 5 to extend tread life. Mine hit age before mileage.

[B_O__Plenty]

I replaced four with XPS Ribs. Still on the fence whether to replace the spare. Thinking I may never need it, but if I do it will get me to a tire store.

B.O.

[ddschuman]

OK, hopefully not a dumb question but do you replace all 5 tires or is it OK to keep your spare? I am pricing tires as we speak & hopefully will have installed next week.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

ACZL wrote:

azdryheat wrote:
My last 5th wheel I put on regular Michelin LTX and had no issues for the two years I had that trailer. When I got my Voltage, and it was brand new, I immediately put on Michelin XPS Ribs. I'm not a believer in any ST trailer tire.

Trailer Life is a believer in ST tires!

YIKES! - Enter the real world!..:R

Trailer Life is a manufacturers "Brochure"!.:S

TL wouldn't / doesn't print *anything* negative about any advertiser or potential advertiser..:R

(Or products -tires- sold at CW)

Likewise articles submitted for publication.

BTW - TL *IS* a "believer" in trailers equipped by the mfgr with LT tires!..;) - Everybody is happy!!..:B


~

OP: XPS Ribs or BFG TA - both are Michelin tires.

~

[Don___Carolyn]

We also bought the Bridgestone R250. They were recommended to us by a 5th wheel owner who was also a semi driver.