Info on tires and rims

[hitchikerman]

I would like to get new tires for my fiftheheel stepping up from a D rating to a E rated tire. My question is that the psi for a E rated tire is 80 psi and I have those steel wheels. Do I need to worry if the steel wheels can handle the psi

[j3ff9ack]

hitchikerman wrote:
Ugh I don't know if I can upgrade to a 16" wheel...I have a 2008 cougar fifthwheel trailer...how would I check to see if I have the proper clearance in wheel wells?

If you have 5 lug axles you won't be able to upgrade to 16" wheels - at least I've never found any. I just assume that I'm going to have to replace the tires a little more often than most folks and will save the wheel/axle upgrades for the next 5th.

[N3YMY]

fla-gypsy wrote:
My steel wheels only have a weight rating, not a psi rating.

Not true.

Have you checked the valley...?

[N3YMY]

hitchikerman wrote:
Going to crawl under trailer today and see if I can a pressure rating on the wheels.

You are not going to find it.

It is stamped in the valley of the rim.

You will need to dismount the tire...

[Greene728]

laknox wrote:

hitchikerman wrote:
I have fifteens...looking at those greenball tires at samsclub...225/75 15's

AKA "GreenBlows". The 2 best choices in ST tires are Maxxis and the Carlisle RH, in that order, from all accounts. Both have reports of failures, but seem to be many fewer than other China bomb STs. If you want true peace of mind, spend the extra $ and get 16" wheels and LT tires. Yes, they cost more, but they really are a cut above.

Personally, I have the Carlisles on my FW. Will be 4th year on them in 2016 and they've been excellent tires.

Lyle

Agreed!
There isn't any need in upgrading to 16in wheels and LT tires on a rig of your size. It won't hurt nothing but your wallet I guess. But I say get the Maxxis or Carlisle Radial RH in LRE and press on!
FYI, I too have the Carlisle Radial RH and have been extremely pleased with them. 3yrs now and great wear and ride!

[PhoneDude_8289]

Look up the specs on the size and ply you are interested in and compare the weight of the tire with different brands. There is in some cases a huge difference in how much the tire weighs. That in itself tells me there is more material in some tire brands. Thats how I chose the Maxxis 8008 10 plys I bought

[fla-gypsy]

My steel wheels only have a weight rating, not a psi rating. The chance of a failure due to running over the psi is minute compared to the chance of failure of an ST tire running near capacity. I decided to run E rated tires on the same steel wheels at a psi that corresponds to the weight carried plus a margin which equals to 75 psi. It has worked well for me.

[hitchikerman]

thanks for all the great information...now I have a much clearer understanding. Going to crawl under trailer today and see if I can a pressure rating on the wheels. Also maybe I should avoid those greenball tires from samsclub there's probably a reason why there about half the price of Maxxis tires.

[JIMNLIN]

LadyRVer wrote:
Just upgraded with 4 new tires, 15" to E rated. Have about a 9,000# fiver. Was told not to do the LT tires on a 9,000 fifthwheel. 3 different tire places told me that.

Yeah lots on newby car tire dealers out here that are clueless about tire replacement issues.
I would look for a dealer with more trailer tire experience than those three.
...................................................
Anyhow back to the OP question.
Many foreign made trailer wheels don't have a psi rating. Of the five trailers I have all of my trailer wheels have a PSI and a load rating. My truck tire dealer and implement trailer mfg sells trailer wheels or tire wheel combo's.
They will not accept wheels shipment from a wheel mfg without a psi or load rating. As the truck tire dealer says its too big of a liability issue for him to sell a wheel without both rating on the wheel.
If your going from a D to a E tire keep in mind the benefit of the E tire comes only at those higher pressures.

[LadyRVer]

Just upgraded with 4 new tires, 15" to E rated. Have about a 9,000# fiver. Was told not to do the LT tires on a 9,000 fifthwheel. 3 different tire places told me that.

[goducks10]

Most rims nowadays are rated in lbs. My 2013 rims have a weight rating. The weight rating will correspond with a PSI rating.
If you can find a lb rating on the rims that will help.
Also you don't need 16" if you can use E rated tires on those steel rims.
4 E rated ST tires are rated for 11320lbs @80 psi.
You probably only have around 85-9000lbs on your axle.

[garyp4951]

Just measure from the center of the axle half the distance of the tire diameter you are considering. Most dual axles are 33" center or more, so if you subtract 2" for clearance between them you could use a 31" tire.

[hitchikerman]

Ugh I don't know if I can upgrade to a 16" wheel...I have a 2008 cougar fifthwheel trailer...how would I check to see if I have the proper clearance in wheel wells?

[Charlie_D_]

rhagfo wrote:

hitchikerman wrote:
I have fifteens...looking at those greenball tires at samsclub...225/75 15's

That 5er has almost a 12,000# GVWR, if I were you I would be looking at upgrading to a 16" LT E rated tire.

Agree-OP keep in mind that the same size tire in a LT does not have the same load carrying as an ST tire. When I went to LT's I went up in size to get equal or greater carrying capacity.

[rhagfo]

hitchikerman wrote:
I have fifteens...looking at those greenball tires at samsclub...225/75 15's

That 5er has almost a 12,000# GVWR, if I were you I would be looking at upgrading to a 16" LT E rated tire.

[laknox]

hitchikerman wrote:
I have fifteens...looking at those greenball tires at samsclub...225/75 15's

AKA "GreenBlows". The 2 best choices in ST tires are Maxxis and the Carlisle RH, in that order, from all accounts. Both have reports of failures, but seem to be many fewer than other China bomb STs. If you want true peace of mind, spend the extra $ and get 16" wheels and LT tires. Yes, they cost more, but they really are a cut above.

Personally, I have the Carlisles on my FW. Will be 4th year on them in 2016 and they've been excellent tires.

Lyle