Tire Load Range

[Mile_High]

Getting ready to shop tires, and noticed those friggen idiots at CW put Load Range G tires on the front of my coach before we bought it. The coach requires Load Range H. Shame on me for not checking it thoroughly. We have been running 900 lbs overloaded on the front tires for 3 years.

Ironically, at least half of the tire quotes I get come at me first as LRG even though I ask for LRH.

Just a word to the wise - Know and understand the Load Range of your tires when shopping - its just as important, if not more important, than the size.

[Mile_High]

Bill, just went and looked at the HSL2. Good looking tire! This guy was priced a little high so I'm still looking. Snowing here anyway.

[WILDEBILL308]

I am running Continental 275/80R22.5 HSL2 load range"H". They ride verrey good and I haven't had any problems. They were over $100.00 ea cheaper than the Michelin discount price for a comparable tire.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Bill

[Mile_High]

ItsyRV wrote:

Mile High wrote:
I don't need to know the plys at all, I just have to look on the max load on the side of the tire and it says 6,175 lbs and the correct tires on the back of the same brand and model in H say 7,160 lbs. It's really pretty simple.

That means nothing. What carry capacity does your motorhome specify? If the specifications calls for a specific carry capacity, so long as the tire meets that carry capacity, the correct tire was installed. now if you want excess capacity above what the manufacture calls for, that is a whole different thing. My small RV calls for a load "index" of 115 but my personal preference is to go 121. If I don't tell the tire dealer I want the excess capacity, they most likely will specify tires with the 115. What is on the tire itself has nothing to do with what your motorhome requires. Now if you asked specifically to use a certain carry capacity or the motorhome specifications called for a certain carry capacity, they should have followed your instructions or the manufacturer specifications. But max carry capacity written on a tire in no way indicates what is required.

I already said the tire does not meet the carrying capacity of the motorhome in the first sentence of my post. I'm not sure how much simpler I have to get and how far off the track you folks want to take this.

I'll make it simple - the vehicle tag says it takes a 275/80R22.5 LRH tire and has a front axle capacity of 14,320 lbs (obviously this capacity is bound by the 7,160 lbs max load capacity of the tire). Clear there?

My actual front axle weight runs 13,140 lbs per CAT. Good so far?

I just found out CW put 275/80R22.5 LRG tires on front of the coach back before we bought it, not LRH as specified. What does that mean to me? The LRG tire only has a max load capacity of 6,175 lbs each tire or 12,350 lbs on the front axle, so in reality I have been overloading the front tires by 790 lbs without knowing it since CW installed those tires 3 years ago.

Its that simple - no pressure issues, no greek load/speed index numbers if that is what you want (G= 144/141L, H=149/146L), just simple screw up by CW and I didn't notice so I've been overloading my front tires - a far worse risk than running aged tires in my mind. A warning to others - an easy mistake for a tire Dealer if he is sloppy and doesn't really check the vehicle spec.

[rgatijnet1]

Check your tire inflation chart for ANY tire that you have or want to put on your coach. Going to a higher load rating DOES NOT mean that you can run a lower tire pressure in most cases. In other words to carry the same weight a tire with the F or G rating will have to be inflated to the same tire pressure. Going to a higher load rating tire usually means that you have the ability to carry more weight IF you increase the tire pressure accordingly.

[Mile_High]

tropical36 wrote:

Mile High wrote:

ItsyRV wrote:
G and H share similar loads depending on ply. You need to know how many ply in the H and the G to determine if the rating is appropriate. There are a few other Load Ranges that share similar crossovers due to construction. I don't know why tires in that group carry different load ranges when their actual carry capacity is the same; but they do. I guess it's similar to the load "index" issue with LT tires that are both 120 and 115 depending on mounting characteristics.

I don't need to know the plys at all, I just have to look on the max load on the side of the tire and it says 6,175 lbs and the correct tires on the back of the same brand and model in H say 7,160 lbs. It's really pretty simple.

Not sure I understand... and are you saying that you just always inflate to max, without any regard to what the rig actually weighs?
I always look up my particular tire on the inflation chart and then add 10 - 15psi for all the variances, before leaving on any trip.

Huh?

[tropical36]

ItsyRV wrote:

Mile High wrote:
I don't need to know the plys at all, I just have to look on the max load on the side of the tire and it says 6,175 lbs and the correct tires on the back of the same brand and model in H say 7,160 lbs. It's really pretty simple.

That means nothing. What carry capacity does your motorhome specify? If the specifications calls for a specific carry capacity, so long as the tire meets that carry capacity, the correct tire was installed. now if you want excess capacity above what the manufacture calls for, that is a whole different thing. My small RV calls for a load "index" of 115 but my personal preference is to go 121. If I don't tell the tire dealer I want the excess capacity, they most likely will specify tires with the 115. What is on the tire itself has nothing to do with what your motorhome requires. Now if you asked specifically to use a certain carry capacity or the motorhome specifications called for a certain carry capacity, they should have followed your instructions or the manufacturer specifications. But max carry capacity written on a tire in no way indicates what is required.

By translating some of this and with the only real reason some will go with a higher tire rating, is because they wish to run them at a lower tire pressure, which again, is spelled out on the tire inflation charts.

[ItsyRV]

Mile High wrote:
I don't need to know the plys at all, I just have to look on the max load on the side of the tire and it says 6,175 lbs and the correct tires on the back of the same brand and model in H say 7,160 lbs. It's really pretty simple.

That means nothing. What carry capacity does your motorhome specify? If the specifications calls for a specific carry capacity, so long as the tire meets that carry capacity, the correct tire was installed. now if you want excess capacity above what the manufacture calls for, that is a whole different thing. My small RV calls for a load "index" of 115 but my personal preference is to go 121. If I don't tell the tire dealer I want the excess capacity, they most likely will specify tires with the 115. What is on the tire itself has nothing to do with what your motorhome requires. Now if you asked specifically to use a certain carry capacity or the motorhome specifications called for a certain carry capacity, they should have followed your instructions or the manufacturer specifications. But max carry capacity written on a tire in no way indicates what is required.

[tropical36]

Mile High wrote:

ItsyRV wrote:
G and H share similar loads depending on ply. You need to know how many ply in the H and the G to determine if the rating is appropriate. There are a few other Load Ranges that share similar crossovers due to construction. I don't know why tires in that group carry different load ranges when their actual carry capacity is the same; but they do. I guess it's similar to the load "index" issue with LT tires that are both 120 and 115 depending on mounting characteristics.

I don't need to know the plys at all, I just have to look on the max load on the side of the tire and it says 6,175 lbs and the correct tires on the back of the same brand and model in H say 7,160 lbs. It's really pretty simple.

Not sure I understand... and are you saying that you just always inflate to max, without any regard to what the rig actually weighs?
I always look up my particular tire on the inflation chart and then add 10 - 15psi for all the variances, before leaving on any trip.

[Mile_High]

ItsyRV wrote:
G and H share similar loads depending on ply. You need to know how many ply in the H and the G to determine if the rating is appropriate. There are a few other Load Ranges that share similar crossovers due to construction. I don't know why tires in that group carry different load ranges when their actual carry capacity is the same; but they do. I guess it's similar to the load "index" issue with LT tires that are both 120 and 115 depending on mounting characteristics.

I don't need to know the plys at all, I just have to look on the max load on the side of the tire and it says 6,175 lbs and the correct tires on the back of the same brand and model in H say 7,160 lbs. It's really pretty simple.

[Mile_High]

WILDEBILL308 wrote:
One more reason I don't go to Camping World.
Have you checked out the discount tire program through FMCA? https://www.fmca.com/rv-discount-clubs-benefits
Bill

Looking at them now. Nice to see some options. Goodrich doesn't have my size, but it looks like the Continental HSR2, Hankook AH22. They show the Michelin XGA-3+ which I have now, but Michelin says they don't make anymore. I have to go to the X line energy Z, but I don't see a load range H on the quote from FMCA.

[ItsyRV]

G and H share similar loads depending on ply. You need to know how many ply in the H and the G to determine if the rating is appropriate. There are a few other Load Ranges that share similar crossovers due to construction. I don't know why tires in that group carry different load ranges when their actual carry capacity is the same; but they do. I guess it's similar to the load "index" issue with LT tires that are both 120 and 115 depending on mounting characteristics.

[WILDEBILL308]

One more reason I don't go to Camping World.
Have you checked out the discount tire program through FMCA? https://www.fmca.com/rv-discount-clubs-benefits
Bill

[Lwiddis]

More important IMO.