Ready for Trailer tires, Radial or ???

[GGibson]

Getting ready for 4 new trailer tires, hauling about 9500 lbs. Trailer currently has l6" tires. Suggestions??? Radials??

 

[Prairie Dog]

This has been a debate for years now. Radials stop better but bias ply's handle the sideways flexing encountered by tandem axles better. Ever watch your tires when making a tight turn in a parking lot? It isn't pretty. The extreme flexing can pull loose the belts inside radials but I've noticed that just about all new travel trailers come with radials now.

If you go to radials make sure their load range "E"s.

 

[Boldt's Wagon]

I put the all steel cord 235/85R16 Michelin XPS Ribs on my trailer. No "trailer" rated tires were available at the time I bought the tires.



Now there is a new "trailer" rated tire available available in 16 inch (ST235/80R16, load range E, 3520 lb rating) , see:



http://www.titanstore.com/store/RADIAL_STII.html

 

[Turbo Thom]

When I replaced the tires on my old fiver I went with the bias-ply lowboy style. A lot stronger tire and I could feel the road better as to what the trailer is doing. I have had to many radial tires seperate or bubble out on the sides. When I need new tires on the Teton I will do the same thing and go with bias -ply. I do not like radials on a trailer at all.



. . Preston. .

 

[Matt42]

Originally posted by Boldt's Wagon

I put the all steel cord 235/85R16 Michelin XPS Ribs on my trailer. No "trailer" rated tires were available at the time I bought the tires.



Now there is a new "trailer" rated tire available available in 16 inch (ST235/80R16, load range E, 3520 lb rating) , see:



http://www.titanstore.com/store/RADIAL_STII.html

I absolutely, positively agree. I installed a set of Michelin XPS radial tires (steel belts AND sidewall) on the equipment trailer I use at work. We haul it in the worst conditions imaginable, except for land mines. They track well, stop well, wear well, and we have never punctured one. We've never had one bubble or separate, and not for lack of trying! Also very nice: they stand up to heat. In my opinion, they are worth every penny. I wish they made them in a size for my travel trailer.

 

[Okie-Go]

I would have to agree that a radial would be the better choice. When the time comes I will put Michelins on my 5er. I think the radials run cooler also. Make sure you keep an eye on the air pressure in them.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Radials do run cooler. I had to run a bias on one wheel on the way home from NY to WI last summer. I couldn't find a matching radial after a tread seperation on 2 of my tires (I was already running on the spare). The bias was quite a bit warmer than the 3 radials when I checked them at stops. Some people do swear by bias tires on trailers, though - as mentioned here.

 

[dmurdock]

From what I understand the big drawback to radials is that they don't hold up as well to scuffing as bias-ply's do (like when you make a sharp turn and the front trailer axle gets dragged sideways).

 

[bdaniel]

I just put Michelin 245/75-R16 load range E light truck tires on my fifth wheel and couldn't be happier. I kept hearing the sidewall argument but with the Michelins loaded to about 65% of their capacity and 80 pounds of air pressure I can twist them all I want in a turn and the sidewalls look fine.



The previous Carlisle ST load range D tires looked scary in a hard turn with the sidewalls pulled under because they were carrying 90%+ of their rated load capacity.



Bottom line is I am happy with my choice. I changed my 15 inch wheels to 16 inch and put on the Michelins. I think my tire problems are over. I had one OEM Carlisle tire to explode and another one had a sidewall separation.



Details are on my web site.



Bobby

 

[mberry]

Originally posted by bdaniel

I just put Michelin 245/75-R16 load range E light truck tires on my fifth wheel and couldn't be happier. I kept hearing the sidewall argument but with the Michelins loaded to about 65% of their capacity and 80 pounds of air pressure I can twist them all I want in a turn and the sidewalls look fine.



Bobby

I would do the same thing. Considering the quality of the LT tires and the load capacities not to mention the abuse they get just from being on our trucks I would use them instead of ST tires.



The only thing different I would do is that if my trailer sits for an extended period of time with radials, I would jack the wheels up off the ground.

 

[rweis]

My 3500 has LT 235/85/R16 load range D.



I am looking at a 5 er that has LT 235/85/16 load range G not radial.



Ideas on changing the 3500 to radial load range G?



I hear the discussion on the flexing of the 5 er side walls and the need to maintain stiffness there. Maybe just bring the truck to load range G and radial and use the truck spare for a short distance for the 5 er if needed. Would not have to carry 2 spares that way.





Bob Weis

 

[mberry]

Originally posted by rweis

My 3500 has LT 235/85/R16 load range D.



I am looking at a 5 er that has LT 235/85/16 load range G not radial.



Ideas on changing the 3500 to radial load range G?



I hear the discussion on the flexing of the 5 er side walls and the need to maintain stiffness there. Maybe just bring the truck to load range G and radial and use the truck spare for a short distance for the 5 er if needed. Would not have to carry 2 spares that way.





Bob Weis

A couple of questions.



1. Are you sure the trailer tires are LT and not ST?



2. What is the rating of G tires?



If it were me I would not change the truck to G tires unless all it was used for was towing the 5er.



If I used it for daily driving as well, I would probably leave the rears alone and change the fronts to load range "E". Then change the rears to "E" when the D's wear out. If money were no object I would change them all at the same time on the truck.

 

[clem]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

This has been a debate for years now. Radials stop better but bias ply's handle the sideways flexing encountered by tandem axles better. Ever watch your tires when making a tight turn in a parking lot? It isn't pretty. The extreme flexing can pull loose the belts inside radials but I've noticed that just about all new travel trailers come with radials now.

If you go to radials make sure their load r

ange "E"s.

Goodyesr makes a G rated tirer Called a G614 Steel ply side walls. They run with 110 psi

 

[clem]

235/85 R16 Load G Replacements

Been down that road, Good Year is the only one that makes a 235/85 R16 Load range G tire. . They have come out with a new tire to replace the G139 235/85 R16 load range G. The G139 had a problem of coming apart. So now the G614 is out, it is supposed to run cooler and not come apart. There is no other US tire maker that makes a 235/85 16 load G tire. I have ran across a tire made in China,but it has nylon side walls and a steel belt. If I were towing a backhoe around town they might work,but not running coast to coast towing a Avion 5th wheel thank you. The Good Year is hard enough to find. Wal-Mart and Sears don't carrie them,only truck tire dealers seem to stock them sometimes. We are stuck with 235/85 R16 load G tires from Good Year like it or not

 

[CPritchett]

I recently read where Michelin has come out with an xrv tire for 5th wheels and trailers. I haven't seen them but some of the tire dealers might have some info on them. I have had excellent service for years with Michelin tires.

 

[Boldt's Wagon]

The Michelin XRV tire is in 19. 5 and 22. 5 inch sizes only.

 

[clem]

Originally posted by mberry

A couple of questions.



1. Are you sure the trailer tires are LT and not ST?



2. What is the rating of G tires?



If it were me I would not change the truck to G tires unless all it was used for was towing the 5er.



If I used it for daily driving as well, I would probably leave the rears alone and change the fronts to load range "E". Then change the rears to "E" when the D's wear out. If money were no object I would change them all at the same time on the truck.

The rating for G rated tires is amost 4000lbs. Mixing E and D rated tires makes for a strange tow reg GM put D's on the Fr & E's on the rear of our 3/4 ton

 

[navyjoe]

As I remember, that ST you see on trailer tires only meens they are more resistant to cracking due to UV aging. It can be a factor for most trailers since few ever get driven enough to wear the tread out.



LT series tires are probably a better choice due to the high availability and many many choices. You can always cover them if they stay in the sun a lot.

 

[clem]

The point here is are there any other tires in 235/85 16 Load G that are not Special Trailer(ST) rated The answer is I don"t think so!