Opinions on changing trailer tires...

[Grizzly]

I assume your talking about the trailer manufacture and dealer for the trailer... your pretty much in a rock and a hard place. Any tire dealer will install the tires with no issues, If your still in pre perchase I would say look do you want to sell a trailer or not, if you do. Go to a tire dealer and pick up X rims and X tires and install them for me and give me Y amount of credit for your tires. Now go and order the next X amount of trailers with no spare and use my extra tires for spares... . or I'll go some place else..... the thing you have to remember ST tires are really cheap, like 50-75 each, rim is about 25-40$$ ask them how much a spare is, $150 for my ST E tires, so theres not a lot of $$ for tires on your trailer, so they have something round and cheap that works. your local dealer unless he is a dumb idiot should be willing to work with you on getting the tires you want installed. basicly there just stalling hoping you will just take the No as answer and buy the trailer.

Word of advice, I would ask a repepatal tire dealer what he would install, for size, brand ETC. Let his profesional opion be the direction of brand and such. Not someone on this board, or the dealer. Take our advice for towing opioions but unless we have the exact setup as you were only guessing. Also knowing the trailer weight would really help the tire dealer. and knowing how much the total will be.

Also as an FYI there are G and H rated tires and 17 rims that are really high in rating too if your looking for over kill.

But as a review.

Find a tire you are comfortable with.

Have the dealer give you a credit for your tires and get the ones you want.

hook up and drive and have fun.

Oh, I haven't given up on the 5er dealer. The 5er manufacture on the other hand is a loss cause because they feel that ST tires on a 5er is the greatest thing that ever happened to trailers. I'm getting the aluminum rims because they are stronger then the standard steel chrome rims. How do I know if they are strong enough for LT tires?

 

[steved]

How do I know if they are strong enough for LT tires?

I called the rim manufacturer and asked the load rating of the particular rim... most of the non-passenger car rims are load rated...



The rims I'm looking into are rated at 3k/each... but a different size in the same style was only 1850#s... so don't assume they are rated equally even in the same brand/style.



steved

 

[Grizzly]

I just found a Michelin Tire shop, 30 miles from the 5er dealer, that will give me full credit for the ST standard equipped tires with the purchase of 5 Michelin XPS Rib 235 85R16, range "E" at $243. 59 each. Bottom line, it will cost me $768, plus tax for 5 tires. Is it worth it?



Maybe I should keep the ST's, wear them out and keep my fingers crossed for NO blow outs. When the time comes replace them with the Michelin's from Costco at $210 each.

 

[steved]

Maybe I should keep the ST's, wear them out and keep my fingers crossed for NO blow outs. When the time comes replace them with the Michelin's from Costco at $210 each.

Is the saving on tires offset by the cost of the RV?? In other words, if a blow out causes the RV to be totaled, would the savings be justified??



That's my whole outlook on this topic... I really don't trust the ST tires on my trailer, even though they have less than 1k miles on them. If changing to an LT even saves me a single "downtime" from a blowout on this trip, its worth the additional cost to install the LTs...



steved

 

[Grizzly]

steved, I did order the stronger aluminum rims. How can I find out if they are compatable, or strong enough, for the Michelin XPS Rib 235 85R16 tires. Would you know if I can get a better price on 5 Michelin's then the $243. 59 each I was quoted? I can get them for $210 each from Costco, but they won't take the ST's in trade.

 

[steved]

steved, I did order the stronger aluminum rims. How can I find out if they are compatable, or strong enough, for the Michelin XPS Rib 235 85R16 tires. Would you know if I can get a better price on 5 Michelin's then the $243. 59 each I was quoted? I can get them for $210 each from Costco, but they won't take the ST's in trade.

Your dealer should be able to get you a weight rating for those rims... I usually find a dealer and call to verify, or call the manufacturer.



I never researched the michelins... I'm going to be reusing some used 17-inchers from my truck... so I can't help on the tires...



steved

 

[proflow]

Bit the Bullet

Heres what 7 new Ribs look like on 16" 3k lb rims on a 06 Raptor. These are 235/85 16's. Kinda tight to one another. As you can see pic on right for comparison. This 5er has been lifted 4" & was treated to a Fifth Airborne Pinbox also as well. Cant wait to see the ride difference! ---Proflow

 

[CUMMINZ]

The factory aluminum wheels on my DayDreamer are rated at 3700#s.



ProFlow... . Looks like your tow truck is a SRW. What is your average weight of your truck when you are towing?



CUMMINZ

 

[proflow]

I have it all wrote down from last scale. I'll have to find it. Those tires on the truck are rated @ 3960 ea. Will post back---Proflow

 

[jelag]

I've ordered 19. 5" steel wheels for my dually's and will use a 225R19. 5" tire rated at 4300. I'm also going to replace my trailer tires with single 19. 5" tires and wheels to match the tires on the dually's.

I've found there is about a 5/8" difference in the diameter of the 16" trailer tire, 17" dually tire, and 225R19. 5 tire I'm moving to... but the 19. 5" tire is designed as a truck tire with almost 1000 lbs load rating over the 16" and 17. 5"

The wheels are in the container now... . a few weeks away...

 

[proflow]

What kind of cash is that for say, 7 of those ?

 

[Grizzly]

What kind of cash is that for say, 7 of those ?

I'll take a wild guess and say $210 each plus $12 each for mounting and balance plus tax.

 

[JThiessen]

Heres what 7 new Ribs look like on 16" 3k lb rims on a 06 Raptor. These are 235/85 16's. Kinda tight to one another. As you can see pic on right for comparison. This 5er has been lifted 4" & was treated to a Fifth Airborne Pinbox also as well. Cant wait to see the ride difference! ---Proflow

Holy proflow!!! Looks to me like you are going rub tires when you go 'round the corners.

Thats one thing to watch out for when you upsize the tires. Your axles actually move forward and aft when you are turning.

 

[steved]

Well, doesn't look like i need to worry about it this time... I'm still going on the trip, but I'll be taking the slide-in and my small trailer... not the 18-footer. The guy whose truck I was going to haul out can't make the trip now, so...



At least I know this for next time though... thanks for all the responses, it was a very educating thread for me.



steved

 

[proflow]

Got about 1 1/2 inches in between them. Not enough ? If not Ill just make another sub frame. ---Proflow

 

[GOT-Torque]

Excellent thread, I've been wondering myself if I could put some real tires on my car trailer. Factory takeoffs are everywhere (e-rated 265/70-17).

 

[CROW]

To add to what JThiessen said, I have the Rotochoks to stabilize the tires on my fifth wheel trailer. When I put them on real tight I can feel the axle move forward and aft a little. I've checked and everything is tight and lubed so that must be the way these things operate. I am considering a new trailer in a year or so and am checking to see if they will put 8K axles and 17" tires on a trailer that usually has 7K axles and 16" tires.