New Trailer Tires

[Jerky]

I did it!! I finally made a trip withwout having a trailer tire blow. Before I converted to 16" tires I ran 10 ply Carlisle Tires and always had tire trouble. After reading many posts here I finally went to Les Schaubs and talked to them about my troubles. The manager told me he put on Toyo HT's and had been running them for about three years now on his trailer and had no trouble at all. To make a long story short I ended up with 16" Toyo Tires. We tried several sizes on my trailer and ended up with 225/75/16 HT's. They did say China on the sidewall but!
I just pulled it 2000 miles with out any tire trouble at all. That is a first in about eight years with my trailer and 15 " tires. Hope the next trip is as good as the last one. - Dean

 

[CKelley1]

i just got my 16"rims and i am going with the same tire size in toyo

 

[Bob Cochran]

Congrats a good feeling isn't it. I personally run Michelin 16" XPS highway rib but will not work for everyone and what counts is what works for you. Michelin is real proud of these tires lots of $'s!!!!! I use them on my truck as well highway rib drivers and traction tread on rear duals. These tires are heavy and am sure does nothing for mileage.

 

[HBarlow]

You replaced a set of 15" car tires with 16" light truck tires. That solution works every time it's tried. Many folks mistakenly endure the constant tire failures, highway breakdowns, and damaged trailers with 15" tires thinking 16" tires won't fit their trailers. A LT225/75 R16 tire is only a fraction of an inch taller than a P or ST225/75 R15.

You had to spend some money but now you can relax as you drive.

 

[CKelley1]

harvey i was suprised the heavy duty rims was only $35 each and you are right i can relax while i drive

 

[HBarlow]

Yeah, I know. They were only something like $29/wheel several years ago. I bought a set of four for a 32' Avion TT I owned but sold it and bought a second hand Travel Supreme fiver before I got around to making the switch.

You'll be very happy you swapped yours out for good tires. There will probably be a couple more TDR members or non-member browsers we don't ever hear about who will read your post or the original poster above and follow your examples.

 

[NIsaacs]

Good job!

After 30 years of using pickup take-offs on all my trailers and aways having to carry 2 and 3 spares, my Son insisted on 4 new ones for my car/equipment hauler (he is a small tire dealer). Jeeze is that a good feeling! ST 235/80R-16 ten ply made in China.



This summer I hauled a Chevy 4 door 4x4 dually, lifted, with 35 inch tires from Show Low, Az. to Ray, ND. 1500 miles and had two flats before I got out of Navajo County!! Since it was for my Son he hooked me up.



I used the '01 in my sig, GCW was about 18,000 lbs and averaged 11. 76 mpg. With the empty trailer on the return I averaged 16. 2 mpg. I was in no hurry on the way up so I drove about 5 under the limit and right at the limit on the return.





"NICK"

 

[MChrist]

Our Jayco Featherlite actually has 14's!!! Are those even crappier than 15's?? I think gvwr is around 7000-7500 ish...

 

[EricBu12]

I replaced all my 15" tires with 16" and BF Goodrich Commercial T/A tires.

When on a long trip, the tires only go up 10# in air pressure from a cold of 80 PSI.

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Here is where the rims have a pop off cap for servicing the Bearing Zerk Fitting.

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[HBarlow]

Our Jayco Featherlite actually has 14's!!! Are those even crappier than 15's?? I think gvwr is around 7000-7500 ish...

"Are those even crappier than 15's??"

Yes.

 

[Matt42]

I replaced all my 15" tires with 16" and BF Goodrich Commercial T/A tires.



When on a long trip, the tires only go up 10# in air pressure from a cold of 80 PSI.



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Here is where the rims have a pop off cap for servicing the Bearing Zerk Fitting.



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Did you also have to replace the hubs or brake drums? Or did you have the good fortune of originally having 15 inch wheels with 6 lugs? Good looking outfit, by the way.

 

[Matt42]

You replaced a set of 15" car tires with 16" light truck tires. That solution works every time it's tried. Many folks mistakenly endure the constant tire failures, highway breakdowns, and damaged trailers with 15" tires thinking 16" tires won't fit their trailers. A LT225/75 R16 tire is only a fraction of an inch taller than a P or ST225/75 R15.



You had to spend some money but now you can relax as you drive.

A problem that I have with converting is that my TT came with ST rated load range B (not C) Marathon tires in ST-205/75R15. I replaced them with Carlisle ST-205/75R15s in load range C, and they were nearly identical in dimensions. It is difficult to convey my dislike for the Carlisle tires without resorting to invective, so I will not do so here. I ended up replacing them with Michelin LT 215/75R15 load range C. Those Michelin truck tires have been way more than satisfactory, but I had to fabricate a 1/8" shim for each brake drum to keep the tires from rubbing on the frame. The additional diameter, minuscule that it is, is still enough to create interference between the top of the tire and the inner fender. Now, depending on where I look, Michelin may (or may not) have discontinued that size.



If I could find a 16 inch LT rated tire that would fit in the limited space, I would change out the brake drums, wheels and tires in a heartbeat. As matters stand now, I would have to go back to my springover conversion (which cleared but was waay too much overall lift), or replace the axles with a straight set instead of a drop set.

 

[EricBu12]

My trailer had 15" 6 lug. . so no change needed.

 

[HBarlow]

Matt,

If you like the travel trailer you have and plan to keep it for a few years and tow it long distances it might be worth the trouble and expense to replace the axles in order to put some real wheels and tires on it.

SouthWest Wheel's website: Southwest Wheel Company Steel and Aluminum Truck Wheels is a good source for the parts and their website is handy for checking on prices to help you decide.

You'll find that new axles complete with brake assemblies, hubs, and bearings are not prohibitively expensive and they are easy to change as a do-it-yourself project.

However, if you can continue to use 16" Michelin LT tires that fit in the fender wells you are probably okay as is. You should be able to check Michelin's website for availability of the tires you use or call them if necessary.

 

[GAmes]

Here is where the rims have a pop off cap for servicing the Bearing Zerk Fitting.

So you are a big time gambler I see. How many pumps of the handle did it take to get grease to come out the front of your hub? You know that is the only way to get new grease in the outer bearing, right? How do you know that no grease squeezed past the seal and onto the brake surface? Why would you want to use nearly a half tube of grease to fill the hub cavity, only to have it expand from the normal heat build-up while traveling and possibly be forced past the seal? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

When you see ST think SCAM TIRE. They are manufactured differently. They are designed to LOOSE 1/3 of their strength 3 years from the date of manufacture regardless of usage. The Tire Industry knows that as long as there is tread people won't replace tires. The ST tire will bring you back to buy more tires. The excuse that the ST tire is stronger to withstand dragging sideways on 2 or more axles is in my opinion just an excuse. We naturally make tight turns slowly so no harm is done. A lot of intestates I travel have 70 MPH speed limits so the 65 MPH limit on ST tires is not adequate for me and to me an admission of inferiority. My Michelin LT tires are rated to carry a little more than I haul and they run cooler. Heat is the enemy. After 6 years I replace my truck and other vehicle tires even if tread is still good. Your average tire will deteriorate beginning the day it was built. A 7 year old tire is no longer safe. An ST tire will fly apart in less than 3 years carrying the load it was rated to carry. As we all know we have a responsibility to others on the road. An ST tire flying apart is definite safety hazard. Don't be bothered by the fact that Michelin is made in France. They never shot at us, the Japanese did.

 

[Cummins12V98]

It amazes me what people are willing to go cheap on! My life and my family's life can be lost because someone is willing to buy cheap Chinese tires. Go cheap on something that is only going to affect you and your family if you want. My life is more valuable than that. Les Schwab is the last place that you want to buy a quality tire. People brag about the 50,000 miles they got out of their tires from them for their Ram. I just look at them and say for the same price at Costco my Michelins went 100,000 miles. They have good "service" but that is it. I guess that some get off on being met at the car door and being asked "what can I help you with". It is worth it to buy high quality, they will back up their product if there is a problem. I have seen Good Year replace a blown tire and the damage to my Dads trailer no questions asked. Discount Tire, Costco and Wingfoot dealers are all good places to buy a quality truck or trailer tire.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Cummins 12v98 I agree with you. Some dealers are either not knowledgeable or put the dollar first. Anyone buying a tire or tires should look at the date of manufacture on the side-wall [inner] and not buy if it was not made in the year they are buying. Some dealers will tell you "this is a new tire it has never been on the ground". That is sales B. S. The truth is a tire begins to deteriorate the day it is built. As I have said elsewhere on here I replace at 6 years. 7 years is when records show tires begin to fly apart. It seems like a waste to replace tires with lots of tread but age is age and 7 year old tires are too old to be safe. ST tires are another story -- they fly apart in 3 years or less. I won't buy any ever again. The LT Michelin tires I use on my trailer are excellent. Next year my Ram tires will be 6 years old and they are being replaced with another set of Michelins ["E" rated] It is better to pay a little more and get a lot more than pay a little less and get a lot less. -- email address removed --

 

[HBarlow]

It amazes me what people are willing to go cheap on! My life and my family's life can be lost because someone is willing to buy cheap Chinese tires. Go cheap on something that is only going to affect you and your family if you want. My life is more valuable than that. Les Schwab is the last place that you want to buy a quality tire. People brag about the 50,000 miles they got out of their tires from them for their Ram. I just look at them and say for the same price at Costco my Michelins went 100,000 miles. They have good "service" but that is it. I guess that some get off on being met at the car door and being asked "what can I help you with". It is worth it to buy high quality, they will back up their product if there is a problem. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .....

I agree exactly with what you wrote above. There is no substitute for top quality tires.

SAM's Club covers more territory than Costco and is also a great source of top quality tires at the same prices as Costco. My local club knows me so well and I have bought so many tires and batteries from them they provide VIP treatment when they see me arrive.

We do differ when you got to the part about Goodyear tires. I won't buy one. It is true that Goodyear replaces blown RV trailer tires and pays for the damage very frequently but if the owner purchased Michelins or BF Goodrich tires instead he wouldn't experience the blowout or trailer damage.

 

[AABEN]

All ST tires are rated at 65 MPH. I had trouble with the Good year ST . Replaced with Firestone LT Transforce 10 ply. Have 40. 000 miles still look very good. I think I can get 40. 000 more miles. The Good years did not like the 75 & 80 MPH on the inter states.