Best trailer tires and source?

[RustyJC]

As Harvey says, "60 psi max" means just that. That's a wheel for a D-rated tire. E-rated tires require a wheel that's rated for a minimum of 80 psi.



Rusty

 

[SnoKing]

Funny thing is that D rated tires require 65 lbs of air! Something is not right! SNOKING

 

[Boehler]

Thanks Harvey,



I've been pulling my hair out over this.



This morning, I finally found the American Eagle Wheel Corp. "Installation Guide and Wheel Owner's Manual" along with all the other information that Glendale RV furnished with our Titanium fifth wheel. The manual says:



"Do not inflate the tire in excess of 60 p. s. i. (40 p. s. i. in California) while seating. If the tire will not seat using these pressures, check for obstructions, proper use of mounting lubricants or possible wheel/tire diameter mismatch. After mounting, please make sure to inflate tire to proper operational pressure. "



I hope it means that I'm OK. I'll check the inside of the rims for any other markings, while at the tire shop.

 

[MA2LA]

would going to a 245/ 75/ 16 be a bad move. it is the same diameter as the the 235 85 16

 

[SnoKing]

Usually LT245/75R16LRE are closer to the size of ST238/80R16LRE tires. They are slightly wider however. Both the LT235/85R16E and LT245/75R16E are rated to 3042 lbs.



Snoking

 

[ENafziger]

The Goodyear G114's are a nice tire. I just bought some for my trailer. They are Load H 16 ply rating, with a 4,805 lb/tire rating, and are made in the USA. The 215/75 17. 5 is a nice size that will be ~ 31" diameter and work for alot of applications. Speed rating is 75 mph at load, and they will take 125 psi of air.

--Eric

 

[HBarlow]

Eric,

Those Goodyears have a long history of tread separation. The RV websites are full of reports by owners who have experienced failures that did major damage to the fenderwells and sides of large fifthwheels.

GY tire failures have been reported and discussed many times right here in the pages of TDR. Many owners of large and heavy fifthwheel trailers on tandem axles have shifted to 17 or 17. 5" wheels and tires to avoid this problem.

 

[SnoKing]

Eric,



Those Goodyears have a long history of tread separation. The RV websites are full of reports by owners who have experienced failures that did major damage to the fenderwells and sides of large fifthwheels.



GY tire failures have been reported and discussed many times right here in the pages of TDR. Many owners of large and heavy fifthwheel trailers on tandem axles have shifted to 17 or 17. 5" wheels and tires to avoid this problem.

Read it again. He said G114's not G614's. G114 are 17. 5 diameter tires. Snoking

 

[BruteForce]

Not to derail, but I too am in dire need of new tires for my 43' 5th wheel. To try to stay within OEM specs (235 80 R16), I've narrowed down to these three:

Les Schwab: Geostar 235 85 R16 (G-Rated) ~$254. 53 each
Discount Tire: BFG Commercial All Season TA 245 75 R16 (E-Rated) ~$168 each
Discount Tire: Maxx M8008 ST (E-Rated) ~$206 each

The Geostar tires seem better situated for my huge 5th wheel and have the inner and outer tread (or lack thereof) defined just for big heavy trailers.

Geostar Tires Sizes and Specs - G300, G305, G335, G535, G580, G650, G574, G350, G750

. . but at a cost of about $90 more per tire than the Maxxis or BFG's.

 

[SnoKing]

Not to derail, but I too am in dire need of new tires for my 43' 5th wheel. To try to stay within OEM specs (235 80 R16), I've narrowed down to these three:



Les Schwab: Geostar 235 85 R16 (G-Rated) ~$254. 53 each

Discount Tire: BFG Commercial All Season TA 245 75 R16 (E-Rated) ~$168 each

Discount Tire: Maxx M8008 ST (E-Rated) ~$206 each



The Geostar tires seem better situated for my huge 5th wheel and have the inner and outer tread (or lack thereof) defined just for big heavy trailers.



Geostar Tires Sizes and Specs - G300, G305, G335, G535, G580, G650, G574, G350, G750



. . but at a cost of about $90 more per tire than the Maxxis or BFG's.

So, give us some more info on your trailer. Size? Year? Manufacturer? Model? GAWR from the placard, info from tag on axles. GVWR of trailer. Number of axles. Etc etc!

SNOKING

 

[BruteForce]

So, give us some more info on your trailer. Size? Year? Manufacturer? Model? GAWR from the placard, info from tag on axles. GVWR of trailer. Number of axles. Etc etc!

SNOKING

Heartland RoadWarrior 395 (42' and change). 3 axle (6000 pound axles).



Stock/OEM tires on it now are Towmax 235 80R16 and they're cupping really bad (almost no tread on inner and outer).



Odd that my signature line isn't coming through.

 

[ENafziger]

Those Goodyears have a long history of tread separation. The RV websites are full of reports by owners who have experienced failures that did major damage to the fenderwells and sides of large fifthwheels.

GY tire failures have been reported and discussed many times right here in the pages of TDR. Many owners of large and heavy fifthwheel trailers on tandem axles have shifted to 17 or 17. 5" wheels and tires to avoid this problem. <!-- google_ad_section_end --> <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
<!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->

Hmmm... the G114s I have are all 17. 5s? They seem to be a decent tire so far. I've only heard of one case with the 114s coming apart, and that was from someone who ran them at less than recommended psi.

--Eric

 

[SnoKing]

Heartland RoadWarrior 395 (42' and change). 3 axle (6000 pound axles).



Stock/OEM tires on it now are Towmax 235 80R16 and they're cupping really bad (almost no tread on inner and outer).



Odd that my signature line isn't coming through.

With 6K axles you can install any good LT235/85R16 LRE or LT245/75R16.



Best is Michelin XPS RIB or Bridgestone Duravis R250, both with all steel carcasses. Next up is BFG Commercial TA or any other well known poly carcass tire. Firestone Transforce HT, etc etc.



I just replace XPS RIBs with new R250's as they cost 50 buck less per tire. The Ribs were 6. 5 years on the ground and around 40K miles. Lots of tread left. I sold the 4 on craigs list for 200 bucks. 3 had date codes 7. 5 years old and one 8. 5 years old.



Snoking

 

[HBarlow]

6,000 lb. axles come with LRD wheels intended for max inflation pressures of no more than 65 lbs.

GY G-114s could be an improvement over previous attempts but I figure all GYs are about the same. I wouldn't put one on my trailer.

Edit: Perhaps not all 6k axles are LRD wheels but if memory serves most are.

 

[BruteForce]

I'm running 80PSI in current tires/rims as per OEM guidance.

 

[SnoKing]

6,000 lb. axles come with LRD wheels intended for max inflation pressures of no more than 65 lbs.



GY G-114s could be an improvement over previous attempts but I figure all GYs are about the same. I wouldn't put one on my trailer.



Edit: Perhaps not all 6k axles are LRD wheels but if memory serves most are.

Harvey you are over the place. Goodyear G114's are used on 7-8k two axle trailer in 215/75R17. 5 LRH 4805 LBS. 16" LRE LT's will work well on this 3 axle trailer with 6k axles. Snoking

 

[zzman]

Nitto Dura Grappler

I tried almost all the "ST" tires in 235/80/16 E size. About 1/2 the tires weren't even round. I would get about 30k miles at very best on the ones that were round.

Then I tried the Nitto Dura Grappler in LT 245/75/16 E. Had them put on my trailer in June of 2010. With over 100k miles on them, I would say they still have 40-50% rubber left.

My trailer is a 40' gooseneck flatbed. Empty weight is 8k. Max load is 16k for a total of 24k trailer and load.

Nitto's run about $175 each. Well worth the price.

 

[BruteForce]

I finally paid $265/tire for the 235/85 R16 Geostar 574 G-Rated tires (x7). It's an LT rated tire, 14 ply and good for up to 3750 pounds @ 110psi. Too bad my rims are only rated for 80psi.

 

[HBarlow]

If you study the inflation chart for those expensive LRG tires I think you'll see that they are not rated to carry any more weight than your original LRE tires at 80 psi so unless you change the rims also you didn't gain much with the considerable expense.

 

[BruteForce]

If you study the inflation chart for those expensive LRG tires I think you'll see that they are not rated to carry any more weight than your original LRE tires at 80 psi so unless you change the rims also you didn't gain much with the considerable expense.

Agreed. What I did gain was the strength of a 14 ply tire and the unique tread design that should withstand cupping better.



I'm still reviewing replacement rims, but that will probably wait until next year when we start using the 5'er again.