New 5th wheel, what's the best tire to put on it.

You did not give us any info on the rig. However that tire size on 6 lug wheels would indicate 4400 to 5200 lb axles. There is another thread going on the same subject that should answer your questions. Read the whole thread. He came back and said he had 15" rims. You best solution is to upgrade to 16" wheels and LT tires if you can. Chris

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27541177.cfm

What's the date code on them? It's in one of the ovals near the rim. 4 digits - the week and the year. I had exactly the same thing on our previous 5er. The tow master tires, 15 Ds, blew apart every 4 years, just like clockwork even if they were used much or not, stored jacked up or not and covered or not. The axle weights and 6 lug hubs allowed me to use 16" LT. I got 16" 6 lug wheels from etrailer,$196, and Dunlop LT Es from discount, $604. $800 on the button and no more problems! I will go to LTs on this 5er when the STs are about 3 years old, if they make it that long. I store it jacked up so I spin the tires before every trip to make sure there's no humps or bumps. I hope I can catch a bad one in time. The first owner blew out a Carlisle and he put the same thing back on. I'm more impressed with these carlisles than I was with any of the tow masters which always had humps in the sidewalls, from the get-go. Craig

So, I just bought a used 5th wheel from a rather large camping center in north carolina. I've had the trailer less than two weeks and had a blow out on the first trip out less than 15 miles from home and less than a hundred miles on it since I got it. It's got towmaster tires on it right now in a 225 75 r15 on a 6 lug rim. When it blew it caused some pretty significant damage to the wheel well, fender, and bent up some gas lines. My biggest question is what the best solution is for replacement tires. I'm looking to go with either a G or E rated truck tire since I can't seem to find anything not made in china that's available in a trailer tire

1. move up to 16'' rims, install metal valve
stems. Inflate tires to the max capacity.
2. Check the age of the tire located on side of tire. months/year manufactured. All things being equal, I throw tires away between 6 and 7 years old, regardless how much thread is left.
3. Tires blowing is just a default given for all RV's. Some just sooner than others. Buy good tires not cheap ones, don't skimp on tires to save a few bucks!!!!
4. I use Good Year G rated, 10ply tires. Good Year warranties their tires and will pay for damage to your RV caused by a defective tire.

You won't need a G rated tire for your 5th wheel. A good LT tire is your best bet IMO. If you have to upgrade to 16" rims for an LT, you may want to look at Maxxis ST tires. They have more weight and are a better ST than the others, according to popular opinion. Sailun is another that is getting some attention. These are all options untested by me, personally. Just giving you the information that I've gathered recently as I am in the tire buying mode right now, too.

If you have 16 inch wheels there are many choices .
One is the Bridgestone Duravis R 500 available in 16 but not 15 ..
In a 15 inch wheel there are at least 2 different LT graded tires in a 225/70 R15 size that can be fitted to your current wheels .
They are :
Goodyear Cargo G26 rated 2470 # , made in germany and france.
Continental Vanco 2 rated 2470#, made in germany and slovokia .
Neither are made in china.
Both are graded on an LT scale .
Both will fit where a ST 225/75R15 trailer tire goes on your stock RV 15" wheels .
Recent discussions on this forum have shown that LT tires are graded using a tougher standard .
Increasing the Weight rating in pounds as posted on the sidewall is more important than brand .

I ordered continentals from tire rack on a monday and they were delivered by wednesday recently .
Goodyear G26:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Cargo+G26&partnum=27R5G26&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&tab=Specs

Continental Vanco 2 :
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsptireMake=Continental&tireModel=Vanco+2&partnum=27R5V2&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&tab=Specs
The best way to improve your chances of not having a tire failure is to increase the load weight rating in pounds as shown on the sidewall .
That is measurable .
To rely on brand for improvement is similar to going to a casino .
That is not measurable .

It's an 06 Crossroads Cruiser 30QB bunkhouse. Approximately 34 feet long. It has 15 inch rims on a 6 lug bolt pattern. The tire that blew was manufactured in the 26th week of 2012 and it appeared to me to have delaminated along where the tread meets the carcass. Honestly it looks to me like what a retread looks like when one of them goes but I know it's not a retread. I'm seriously considering upgrading to a 16 inch tire I just have to look around and find out what the rim will cost me and where to find 5 of them since if I'm going to replace the 4 on the ground I have to replace the spare as well. But if possible I would like to stay with the 15 inch rim. Also the tire that blew was an E range tire, all 4 on the ground were E range and they are all in the 2012 date range of manufacture.

You will be much happier with 16 rims and tires. What is the measurement center to center of the axles? Price Firestire Transforce HT in LT235/85R16's in 33" or more an axles. LT245/75R16 if a little under that. Chris

I'll have to measure it soon. Does anyone know if the 6 lug trailer rims are the same as the 6 lug chevy rims?

ridgerunner609 wrote:
I'll have to measure it soon. Does anyone know if the 6 lug trailer rims are the same as the 6 lug chevy rims?

Trailer rims are zero offset. Using any other offset does not work. Bearing failures and clearance issues. Chris