Tires--Load Range Increase

[S_NotFree]

Has anyone with a Class A increased their replacement tires, with the exact same size but gone up a load range higher? If so, did it make your ride much harsher?

I was going to do this, but the tire store is telling me that I am better off staying with the original size and load range because the coach was engineered for that tire and the ride would be harsh. However, to counter that argument, the higher load range tires are always more expensive and m Mfg's want to keep costs down.

Also, you could run lower psi in the higher load range tires that might offset some of the harsh ride.

Does anyone have any experience with this and your comments would be appreciated. In my case, Coach came with load range G tire and a H load is available.

Thx

[Hikerdogs]

S'NotFree wrote:
Thanks for all the replies...Since my Coach already had G's to start and the dealer had them in stock and it would have taken some time to get some H's in, I just went with the G's. mowermech, I don't think my coach is much more weight than yours. What pressure do you run in yours, same as the old F's or?

The dealer had the load range G's in stock because they are the most popular for that size. Our 2001 Adventurer came with 245/70R19.5 load range F tires from the factory. When it came time to replace them we had a hard time finding the same size load range F tires.

We wrote an e mail to Goodyear asking if load range G's would be an acceptable replacement. They not only said they were acceptable replacements, but recommended we go with them. The load range G's are far more popular should you need to replace one on the road. In addition they take the same pressures for the same load. Since they have a couple more plys they can hold more weight than the F's but require more air pressure to do it.

[mpierce]

You will be fine. IT is good to do that. Run one higher load range, but at the same pressure.

ie, if your load range F oem tires called for 100#, go to G's, and run 100#. You get a tire with a little tougher carcass, better able to withstand punctures and road debris damage. Usually just a couple dollars more.

I do that on my semi. ON the steer, I run one range higher. Those tires are close to their max rating, so it gives a little extra cushion. I keep the same range on the drives, because those are not loaded near as close to their max rating.

[S_NotFree]

Thanks for all the replies...Since my Coach already had G's to start and the dealer had them in stock and it would have taken some time to get some H's in, I just went with the G's. mowermech, I don't think my coach is much more weight than yours. What pressure do you run in yours, same as the old F's or?

[mowermech]

When I installed new tires on the rear of my coach, the shop told me that Load Range F tires in that size were no longer available from any of the manufacturers whose tires they carried, I would have to get Load Range G.
I used the inflation pressures from the coach GVW chart, and the ride was just fine. After the tires were installed, I drove the coach from Billings to Chattanooga. The coach handled well, and there were no problems.

[ywgclarke]

bigbaddad wrote:
I went from a load range G to H for comfort of mind and I also changed brand saving money. The inflation tables will show you all you need to know except one factor important to me...the risk in some cases of lowering pressure to get a softer ride. If your current G tire should run at 90 pounds the tables may well show the H could run at 80 pounds but I really would not do that because that is cutting it close to factors keeping the tire safely on the rim. If higher pressures were the case, say going down from 110 to 100, I wouldn't be concerned. In any case keeping the same pressures should not change the ride in a big way but the peace of mind is for you to value as you will.

I should have been more specific, you should always maintain the the recommended pressure of the lower load rated tire, but you don't need to run the higher load rated tire at it's maximum psi.

[bigbaddad]

I went from a load range G to H for comfort of mind and I also changed brand saving money. The inflation tables will show you all you need to know except one factor important to me...the risk in some cases of lowering pressure to get a softer ride. If your current G tire should run at 90 pounds the tables may well show the H could run at 80 pounds but I really would not do that because that is cutting it close to factors keeping the tire safely on the rim. If higher pressures were the case, say going down from 110 to 100, I wouldn't be concerned. In any case keeping the same pressures should not change the ride in a big way but the peace of mind is for you to value as you will.

[ywgclarke]

We went up a load range on our coach when we had it I felt the coach handled much better. I went up in tire pressure about 10 psi, but not to the max. for the new tire and the ride may have been slightly more firm, but it was worth the trade off as it handled better...seemed to track better with less sway. The tires were also cheaper because they are used on delivery trucks and I guess they make more of them. We went from a 245/70R19.5 F to a Bridgestone R 250, 245/70R19.5 G and they were $60.00 a tire less for the G than the F. You don't need to run them at higher pressure if you don't want to, but you must not exceed the psi rating of the rim. We had steel rims with SS simulators, so pressure was not an issue. It can be with aluminum.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

don't know what load range the original Toyos were on our 34' 2004 DP but what we have now are load range H. B F Goodrich ST230's and they ride much better than the Toyos.

[rgatijnet1]

Just do not confuse load range with tire pressure. You can go from a "F" to a "G" load range but to carry the same load, you need the exact same tire pressure in both tires, regardless of the load range.
Obviously the "G" will allow you to carry a heavier load but unless you plan to increase the weight of your coach, the air pressure will remain the same for your coach tires with whatever load range tire you install.

[S_NotFree]

Hey Brett, Good to see you still around. I stayed off site for a long time and also had a different alias years back and you often helped me way back.

This is a coach that I have bought but not yet picked up. Has 245/70/19.5 on it and is 34 ft and I have obviously not weighed it yet. It has 2 slides and is a Workhorse Chassis. The dealer is installing tires as part of the deal and will pay for the factory replacements and I had offered to pay the difference for a higher load range but his tire store, who I talked to, said the above. I do know I once went up a load range on an Expedition EL and it did turns better and did not sway as much when towing, but it had a much harsher ride and you could even feel paint stripes in road and did get old on a trip.

Scott

[tropical36]

S'NotFree wrote:
Has anyone with a Class A increased their replacement tires, with the exact same size but gone up a load range higher? If so, did it make your ride much harsher?

I was going to do this, but the tire store is telling me that I am better off staying with the original size and load range because the coach was engineered for that tire and the ride would be harsh. However, to counter that argument, the higher load range tires are always more expensive and m Mfg's want to keep costs down.

Also, you could run lower psi in the higher load range tires that might offset some of the harsh ride.

Does anyone have any experience with this and your comments would be appreciated. In my case, Coach came with load range G tire and a H load is available.

Thx

I don't see anything wrong with this practice and have probably done so on my rig, since it was OEM new. Don't concern myself too much with ride and like truck tires better than RV tires too. Then again, my old relic doesn't have a solid front axle either, so I might not see the difference all that much.

[wolfe10]

Tell us what tires you have and what tires you are considering.

Also, how close to the load limit of the present tires are you-- THAT is the most important issue here.