Duravis 250 vrs XPS rib tires

[RVTRKN]

The Bridgestone Duravis 250 tires are 25% cheaper than the Michelin XPS rib tires I want to get for my 5ver. I'm kind of woriied if I go with the Bridgestone, I have allways liked and trusted Michelin. What are your opinions, and don't worry I'm thicked skin. :-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[DavidC]

Sometimes you get what you pay for, I would probably go with Michelin. I know I did with the truck as the trust is there.

Dave

 

[SnoKing]

I ran XPS Ribs for 6.5 years and around 40,000 miles on my 5th wheel and sold them on CL for $200. One was actually 8.5 years old and was getting hair line cracks.

I installed Bridgestone R250's this time based on price and really think they are as good as Ribs or better. They have a Nylon cap that is not listed on the Rib and weigh more because of the sidewall protector ridges. R250's have been on for a few years three round trips to Arizona! Because I have only around 10K on the axles, I run them at 71 lbs. With your trailer I would run 80 lbs. I started with 65 lbs according to the Placard with the ribs and after a few years measured a bit more wear on the outside, so upped them to 71.

Semi trailer in the site next to me at Circus Circus RV in Feb 2015.

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My Trailer with R250's.

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SNOKING

 

[RVTRKN]

Can you expand on the "Nylon Cap"? Your not saying that the surface of the tire is nylon are you, I took that as a nylon cap over the steel ply. Which would then bring up the ability to keep a good bond to the rubber. I'd hate to throw a thread after twisting from the turning of a close radius of the dual axle and the heavy 5ver on tires close to the weight rating.

 

[RVTRKN]

Also I found the Weight Ratings for both which is around 3K per tire and the AF has a GVWR at 15K.

 

[RustyJC]

Do you have 6000 or 7000 lb axles? The XPS Rib and Duravis are fine for 6000 lbs axles but don't have sufficient weight rating for 7000 lb axles (a minimum of 3500 lbs/tire would be required - Goodyear G614 RST or equivalent territory.)

Rusty

 

[SnoKing]

The Nylon Ply or Cap is an additional ply in the steel belt area of the tire. Like Rusty pointed out above, these are the two best tires for 6K GAWR trailers, for trailers with 7K or derated 7K axles you should be looking at Goodyear G614's or Sailun S637's. SNOKING

 

[RVTRKN]

This is all I have at the moment and will have to contact Northwoods mfg. for that info. Mine, as in signature, is the 33.5v. It shows 235/85R16E load range. Sorry for the poor picture.

 

[RVTRKN]

The math works out to 11,250 lbs after 25% pin weight is calculated, and is under the 12K axle weight at 3K per tire, if at 15K max GVWR.

 

[SnoKing]

Look at the placard on the left front corner of the trailer. It will list the GAWR. If that number is above 6,000 then LRE LT tires are out! You size tires to GAWR not the actual lower loaded weight! By law they have to meet or exceed the GAWR.

With a 15K GVWR and a 20 % average pin weight, that leaves 12,000 on the two axles. So given the year, my guess is that it has 6K axles, and these two steel ply carcass tires are the only two I would consider installing. Also if it does have 6K axles, it would be my bet that the rims are not rated for LRG (110 lbs inflation) tires, also based on the vintage of 2005.


SNOKING

 

[RustyJC]

Hmmm.....our previous 2004 Mobile Suites had a 16,000 lb GVWR and came with 7,000 lb GAWRs and LT235/85R16 Goodyear G614 RST load range G tires rated 3750 lbs at 110 PSIG. A 15,000 lb GVWR 5th wheel loaded to capacity with 20% assumed pin weight (3,000 lbs) would be carrying 12,000 lbs on the axles - really no margin if it's equipped with 6,000 lb axles. Be aware that some ST235/85R16 tires such as Northwood is listing above as the OEM tire carry a 3500+ lb rating for load range E, so you could have 7,000 lb GAWRs and the manufacturer could still supply a ST235/85R16E tire that (on the surface, at least) is rated for that 7,000 lb GAWR. If that's the case, to go to an LT tire you'd have to look at the Goodyear G614 RST LT235/85R16G or equivalent. The Michelin XPS Rib doesn't have sufficient load capacity for anything over a 6,000 lb GAWR.

Rusty

 

[Jim W]

I just don't like Japanese tires so I would go with the Michelin Tires if this was me.

Look at what they did with the Firestone/Ford fiasco and now we need TPMS on vehicles. Oh BTW Bridgestone is the parent company of Firestone they were purchased some time ago in the late 80's. If my memory serves me correctly.


Jim W.

 

[SnoKing]

Hmmm.....our previous 2004 Mobile Suites had a 16,000 lb GVWR and came with 7,000 lb GAWRs and LT235/85R16 Goodyear G614 RST load range G tires rated 3750 lbs at 110 PSIG. A 15,000 lb GVWR 5th wheel loaded to capacity with 20% assumed pin weight (3,000 lbs) would be carrying 12,000 lbs on the axles - really no margin if it's equipped with 6,000 lb axles. Be aware that some ST235/85R16 tires such as Northwood is listing above as the OEM tire carry a 3500+ lb rating for load range E, so you could have 7,000 lb GAWRs and the manufacturer could still supply a ST235/85R16E tire that (on the surface, at least) is rated for that 7,000 lb GAWR. If that's the case, to go to an LT tire you'd have to look at the Goodyear G614 RST LT235/85R16G or equivalent.

Rusty

Given you ST235/85R16E scenario and 7K axles, it would still be questionable if the rims are rated for LRG inflation of 110 pounds. SNOKING

 

[RustyJC]

Given you ST235/85R16E scenario and 7K axles, it would still be questionable if the rims are rated for LRG inflation of 110 pounds. SNOKING

That would certainly have to be determined by examining the rims. If they're not, they would have to be upgraded to handle the 110 PSIG inflation pressure.

Rusty

 

[SnoKing]

That would certainly have to be determined by examining the rims. If they're not, they would have to be upgraded to handle the 110 PSIG inflation pressure.

Rusty

So if buying rims and tires at this point, then the 17.5/G114's come into play. With a 15K GVWR, if the trailer is being used near that mark, it deserves a look for peace of mind. SNOKING

 

[RustyJC]

Yep, I upgraded the 2004 MS discussed above to 215/75R-17.5 Michelin XTAs rated 4805 lbs @ 120 PSIG. Best money I ever spent after 2 Goodyear G614 RST failures (these were the early, failure-prone G614s.) The 17.5 Michelin XTAs never gave a problem. The current 2014.5 MS has the 17.5" Goodyear G114s, and so far they're doing fine.

Rusty

 

[RVTRKN]

I have to order the tires, so now I have to take a trip to Parker AZ where it's located.

 

[JR]

My 14k GVW trailer originally had 10 ply tires on it. I asked the seller why he had 10 plys on such a heavy trailer, I got the deer in the head light stare.
I'm shopping for new tires also as mine are now 4+ years old and just dont trust them on longer hauls. The local Good Year tire store recently started carrying Sailun tires. I was quoted around $185 a tire mounted and balanced for the S637 235/85/16s (14 ply). Im supplying my own valve stems. They are considered a steer/trailer tire and are speed rated to 75mph. Given these tires have excellent reviews and are literally almost half the price of similarly rated tires, I believe I am going to give them a try. My situation is a little different though, these aren't going on a high end trailer with expensive fiberglass wheel wells they are going on a trailer with fender wells strong enough to support a full size truck with 56" boggers....other than the skid marks in my drawers and possibly a cheap steel wheel there's not a whole lot of collateral damage when/if one lets loose.

 

[RVTRKN]

Northwoods manufacturing says 6Klb axles.

 

[RVTRKN]

Ok, mystery over, I just bit the bullet and rode my Harley to Parker, hers the pics! There 6K lbs axles, but I noticed a typo on the tag, GVWR is typed at 1500.