Maxxis M8008 Trailer Tires

[AMink]

As always, I'm interested in the LT vs ST tire discussion. Our new 5er TH came with ST235/80-16 tires. The Michelin ribs seem to be the choice but they aren't manufactured in that size. I'd have to go up to a 235/85-16 which is fine BUT...I've read about "reserve capacity" in the LT tires but how much is it? The ST's are rated at 3520# at 80psi, the Ribs are rated at 3042# at 80psi. That's almost 2000# over four tires! Trailer GVW is 13,800 with a pin of around 2000-2500 depending on what's in the trailer. The tires could conceivably carry 12,000 but that's not a lot of wiggle room.

The other concern I have is the Ribs are summer/warm weather tires. We use the trailer all year 'round in temps well below freezing. I don't know how that would work on the trailer. Anyway, just musing here with some thoughts and concerns. I'd go to a G rating but then I'm looking at new rims since I don't think the ones I have are rated at 110#.

 

[GAmes]

With less than 2000 miles on the Goodyear Marathons that came on my new Northwood 5er I pulled them off and sold wheels & tires on Craigs list. I bought a set of 16 inch wheels, changed my rear tires early and now have Michelin LTX M/S on truck & trailer, a total of 12 tires all the same size. I'm currently in AK, have done several tight turns on pavement and gravel, gone through a lot of miles of gravel & mud road construction and couldn't be more satisfied.

 

[NIsaacs]

If you are talking about a RV, then a rib style tire is much better. Anytime you have breaks in the outer ribs on a trailer tire, you have a tire that grabs the payment to much in tight maneuvers. It is my belief that most ST fail because of their A/S style tread and tear themselves apart in tight maneuvers.

SNOKING

I think you are more right than wrong here, and wonder how the LT's handle this. My wife asked me why my tires were so out of alignment on my new trailer the other day. I told her because when I parked I was turning, this was with only 4k load on it. I notice this more on my goosenecks than my bumper pulls. On a goose or fifth wheel you can really see the side wall stress.

Nick

 

[TFucili]

In addition to my sincere belief that ST tires are of shoddy construction in general, I've been nursing a crackpot theory that, in some fashion, lines up with the side load theorem. One of the "features" of ST tires is "extra stiff sidewall to prevent sway". So let's assume that on most tires the sidewall and tread carcass are a balanced stiffness based on the load range of the tire. As you encounter bumps, etc. the whole tire flexes and acts as part of the suspension. Now, make the sidewall significantly stiffer, and, in my amateur view, you will now concentrate the flexing in the area where the sidewall meets the tread, right where I have seen tread separation, tire delamination on numerous trailer tires. Take your credit card, grasp it at each end, and bow it repeatedly. Now, take the same card and hold the center against a sharp edge, and repeat the process. See that white line develop where the stress is now concentrated? I am not a tire engineer, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express some time ago...

 

[SnoKing]

In addition to my sincere belief that ST tires are of shoddy construction in general, I've been nursing a crackpot theory that, in some fashion, lines up with the side load theorem. One of the "features" of ST tires is "extra stiff sidewall to prevent sway". So let's assume that on most tires the sidewall and tread carcass are a balanced stiffness based on the load range of the tire. As you encounter bumps, etc. the whole tire flexes and acts as part of the suspension. Now, make the sidewall significantly stiffer, and, in my amateur view, you will now concentrate the flexing in the area where the sidewall meets the tread, right where I have seen tread separation, tire delamination on numerous trailer tires. Take your credit card, grasp it at each end, and bow it repeatedly. Now, take the same card and hold the center against a sharp edge, and repeat the process. See that white line develop where the stress is now concentrated? I am not a tire engineer, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express some time ago...

Not to discredit marketing completely, however! The sidewall stiffness of ST falls between P or Car rated tires and LT truck tires. Most ST tires have very baseball shape and really bulge out at contact point under load. Special compounds? Please give me a break, if ST tires were all the their marketing claims they would cost at least $250 each and would not fail as often as they do.

I have to remember that not much has changed in their design over the years and that their original intent was for local service on utility type trailers. Now they have found their way to tall and heavy 5th wheel trailer, large boat trailers, horse trailers that travel for hours on interstate highways, and fail at the task!

And interesting study would be, do they hold up better on single axle trailers vs multi axles trailers with similar loading per tire. When a tire looks like it is going to be ripped off the rim in a tandem axle jackknife, what do you thing is happening inside that tire?

Chris

 

[TFucili]

100% agree!

 

[LandShark]

Had my new Michelin XPS RIB 245 75r 16 tires installed this week by Discount Tire. Total was just shy of $1200 for 4 tires, installed, new valves, lifetime balance, etc.

I'm not to concerned with winter performance with this tire as I have no problem with just slowing down in poor conditions (plus I have chains for the trailer). I may lose a bit of braking power, especially in rain, but that remains to be seen. Hoping that superior Michelin rubber compounds will partially make up for lack sipes and lugs.

I examined the old Maxxis tires when they were removed and I think snoking's assessment about the edge lugs gripping so much in turns, that the tire gets torn apart, is correct. All the damage was at the edge lugs where the rubber was torn down to the cords and steel belt. One thing I noticed was that only the forward axle tires were noticeably damaged.

 

[AH64ID]

I have a set of R500HD's on a trailer now and they do very well in wet/cold/ice conditions. I think they do better than the softer tread GY Marathons in all conditions. I wouldn't hesitate to put them on the stock trailer for winter use.

 

[DClark]

R owners V tires

You guys who run bigger trailers that have 16" wheels can have the luxury of going to LT tires. If I had 16" wheels i would go to LT tires in a heart beat. But many of us run smaller trailers that have 15" 5 hole wheels (26' 5er) and cannot get 16" wheels to fit, therefore we are stuck with ST tires. In my own situation I am just now looking for replacement tires. I have looked at what is offered locally in ST tires and also what has been said about tires on this forum and others. I can't use a LT tire as they are too low a load range. I did find that if I moved my tire size up from the 205 to a 225 ST I can now get a load range E 10 ply tire from most brands locally supplied. I do have the room for the larger tire (1'' larger dia.) and that is what I am going to do. I wish there were more threads from RV owners, who have smaller trailers with 15" wheels, who would get in on this tire story. This thread is dealing with only half the story when you leave out the 15" wheel found on smaller trailers. If any of you know of a source for a 16' 5 hole wheel that will fit most of these smaller RVs, I would like to hear about it. Thanks for the input about tires.
DClark

 

[RustyJC]

If any of you know of a source for a 16' 5 hole wheel that will fit most of these smaller RVs, I would like to hear about it.

I don't know if such a wheel is available or not, but if it is, you could almost certainly find it at www.trailertiresandwheels.com .Ask for Scott.

Rusty

 

[Killer223]

Hercules have been great for me. a little over 4 years on mine and no issues yet. my maxxis ones all bubbled on me.

 

[GAmes]

If I had 16" wheels i would go to LT tires in a heart beat. But many of us run smaller trailers that have 15" 5 hole wheels (26' 5er) and cannot get 16" wheels to fit,

Have you checked to see if you can install brake hubs with 6 lugs? They aren't too expensive. If that fails there is always replacing the entire axle assemblies.

 

[AH64ID]

You guys who run bigger trailers that have 16" wheels can have the luxury of going to LT tires. If I had 16" wheels i would go to LT tires in a heart beat. But many of us run smaller trailers that have 15" 5 hole wheels (26' 5er) and cannot get 16" wheels to fit, therefore we are stuck with ST tires. In my own situation I am just now looking for replacement tires. I have looked at what is offered locally in ST tires and also what has been said about tires on this forum and others. I can't use a LT tire as they are too low a load range. I did find that if I moved my tire size up from the 205 to a 225 ST I can now get a load range E 10 ply tire from most brands locally supplied. I do have the room for the larger tire (1'' larger dia.) and that is what I am going to do. I wish there were more threads from RV owners, who have smaller trailers with 15" wheels, who would get in on this tire story. This thread is dealing with only half the story when you leave out the 15" wheel found on smaller trailers. If any of you know of a source for a 16' 5 hole wheel that will fit most of these smaller RVs, I would like to hear about it. Thanks for the input about tires.
DClark

You didn't say what load rating you have now or what axle size... but based on 5 lug 15's I am going to guess a pair of 3500lb axles??

If so take a look at the Goodyear Wranger HT in LT215/75R15. It's a LRD tire rated for 2096lbs which is more than a ST205/75R15 LRC and will fit most applications that came with 205's. It's an upgraded tire in every category.

My folks use them on their 5 lug 3500lb axle and they tow great.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Wrangler+HT

 

[TFucili]

My box trailer had 225 ST tires on 15"/five lug rims. Last tire replacement I went with Toyo HT LT235/75-15. I was fortunate to have enough fender clearance, and room between the axles to upsize. They are LRC, but at 1985 lbs per tire it is plenty for this trailer. I also had a buddy with a car hauler, and another with a travel trailer go with the exact same tire. Trouble free, and no more China-Bombs.

 

[DClark]

You didn't say what load rating you have now or what axle size... but based on 5 lug 15's I am going to guess a pair of 3500lb axles??

If so take a look at the Goodyear Wranger HT in LT215/75R15. It's a LRD tire rated for 2096lbs which is more than a ST205/75R15 LRC and will fit most applications that came with 205's. It's an upgraded tire in every category.

My folks use them on their 5 lug 3500lb axle and they tow great.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Wrangler+HT

Sorry for the lack of info. You are correct on the axle weight. Trailer is 8600 GVWR. The tires I am looking at are 225-75R-15 10 ply E rated. They have a load rate of 2830 per tire. I have the room for the 1" extra dia. I pull double with a 20' IO Bayliner on a dual axle trailer. Done that for 18 yrs with this same setup with no problems. Both trailers track perfectly. No "tail waging the doggy". I just want a little larger margin of safety with a higher rated tire. By the way I'm running the same truck you are except G56 trany.
DCalrk

 

[AH64ID]

I would look into those LRD LT215/75R15's over the LRE ST's.