Need an opinion on tire swap

[Chippendale]

I am in the process of purchasing a new Heartland Gateway 5th wheel, and of course it has Chinese tires on it. We were in Santa Fe in August of 2012 and had to purchase a new set of tires to get home. All Discount Tire had were LT 235/85 R16 Load Range E Michelin tires, so I bit the bullet and purchased them. The manufacture code says they were made in May of 2012.

I am just wondering if the 2 year old Michelins would have more life in them than the equipment Chinese tires will have. I am wondering if I should go to the hassle of getting the dealer to change them out. I am not trading the old rig in, I am taking it to PPL for them to sell it for me. I am sure I will have to pay them to change the tires.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

[FastEagle]

Chippendale wrote:
I am in the process of purchasing a new Heartland Gateway 5th wheel, and of course it has Chinese tires on it. We were in Santa Fe in August of 2012 and had to purchase a new set of tires to get home. All Discount Tire had were LT 235/85 R16 Load Range E Michelin tires, so I bit the bullet and purchased them. The manufacture code says they were made in May of 2012.

I am just wondering if the 2 year old Michelins would have more life in them than the equipment Chinese tires will have. I am wondering if I should go to the hassle of getting the dealer to change them out. I am not trading the old rig in, I am taking it to PPL for them to sell it for me. I am sure I will have to pay them to change the tires.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

A lot is going to depend on the model Gateway you're purchasing. Some have 6000# axles and others have 7000# axles derated to 6750#.

FastEagle

[Jarlaxle]

Jhuff8181 wrote:

donn0128 wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
Going to be hard to find a 16" tire with a higher load rating than his 235/85 R16 Load Range E Michelin tires.

They are still only rated at 3042 each. G614's are rated up to 34 something. But they require wheels that can handle 110PSI to achieve that rating.
If a person needs more than 3042 each they would be wise to upgrade to 17.5 inch wheels and tires with upwords of 4000 pounds load rating each.

My fifth wheel has a GVWR of 15,500 lbs. The G614's have a dual load rating at 3415 lbs at 110 psi. They cost about $320 each. For five of them that's about $1800 mounted and balanced. Going up to 17.5 will cost about $3500 for tire and wheels. Is it worth the added costs?

What were the OE tires on that beast?

I would try to use 225/70R19.5 truck tires before swapping to oddball 17.5's.

[Jarlaxle]

Ivylog wrote:
Going to be hard to find a 16" tire with a higher load rating than his 235/85 R16 Load Range E Michelin tires.

An LT265/75R16E has a higher load capacity and the same diameter. Note that ALL tires of the same size and load range have the same weight capacity!

[Jhuff8181]

donn0128 wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
Going to be hard to find a 16" tire with a higher load rating than his 235/85 R16 Load Range E Michelin tires.

They are still only rated at 3042 each. G614's are rated up to 34 something. But they require wheels that can handle 110PSI to achieve that rating.
If a person needs more than 3042 each they would be wise to upgrade to 17.5 inch wheels and tires with upwords of 4000 pounds load rating each.

My fifth wheel has a GVWR of 15,500 lbs. The G614's have a dual load rating at 3415 lbs at 110 psi. They cost about $320 each. For five of them that's about $1800 mounted and balanced. Going up to 17.5 will cost about $3500 for tire and wheels. Is it worth the added costs?

[donn0128]

Ivylog wrote:
Going to be hard to find a 16" tire with a higher load rating than his 235/85 R16 Load Range E Michelin tires.

They are still only rated at 3042 each. G614's are rated up to 34 something. But they require wheels that can handle 110PSI to achieve that rating.
If a person needs more than 3042 each they would be wise to upgrade to 17.5 inch wheels and tires with upwords of 4000 pounds load rating each.

[Ivylog]

Going to be hard to find a 16" tire with a higher load rating than his 235/85 R16 Load Range E Michelin tires.

[fj12ryder]

donn0128 wrote:
Yes, by a long shot. I would not hesitate to install the two year old LT tires as long as they will safely handle the load.

I absolutely agree, and the key phrase here is "as long as they will safely handle the load."

[edbehnke]

heck, go all the way and upgrade to G614s.

[BurbMan]

donn0128 wrote:
Yes, by a long shot. I would not hesitate to install the two year old LT tires as long as they will safely handle the load.

X2, worth paying to have them swapped, otherwise you will be out of town somewhere with the new trailer and be buying another set of Michelins to get home.

[Ivylog]

SWAP THEM OUT! Two years old is nothing. I buy 2-3 year old takeoffs from PU trucks to put on all of my trailers as they age out (10+ years) before I wear them out.

Yesterday I got a nail in a tire on one of my heavy loaded equipment trailer in the middle of nowhere without a spare or a air compressor... my :S It almost made it to a town before it blew (sidewall temp of 155 a few miles before it gave up) so took it off and for $35 I was able to buy a three year old E rated used tire with 40% tread.
No way would I pay $2100 for 6 new tires when I can buy the same tires used for usually $40/tire. I carefully examination the sidewalls (for running low pressure) and inside for any separation plus I reject any tire that take more the 2 oz to balance. Been doing this for decades without any problems.

PS: I own over 10 trailers of various types and YES it put them on my 5er and my son's 5er and YES I temp my tires on a regular basis.

PSS: If you have a IR temp gun, point it up on a clear day and see how low a temp you can get. Yesterday I got a reading of -38 degrees which is the temp at over 30,000 feet. It will read the temp of clouds or water in a lake at 60 mph. Yes, I sometimes get bored while driving. :B

[ol_Bombero-JC]

You should have posted in the 5th wheel forum.

Tires are *always* a hot issue there, and a search will yield hours of reading!.

Michelin XPS Ribs are an *excellent* choice.
(IMO) pay for the mounting & get two more XPS Ribs (assume that's what you bought).

BTW - Michelin has many distributors - any tire dealer should be able to get tires with current date codes in one day (except on weekends).

Chinese tires are at the bottom of the barrel - except when no other choice is available (ex: for 15" rims).

~

[azdryheat]

Here's what I did as soon as I took delivery of my brand new Voltage toy hauler: I replaced the 6 brand new Chinese tires (Akuret) with Michelin XPS Ribs. Cost me $2100 but I refuse to have Chinese tires on my rig. My previous trailer, an Everest 5th wheel, had Michelin LT's on it and I never had any tire issues.

[donn0128]

Yes, by a long shot. I would not hesitate to install the two year old LT tires as long as they will safely handle the load.