RV Tires

[GooseHunter]

I need new tires for my 31 foot 5th wheel. I am leaving on a trip next week and would like to do a replacement while home rather than on the road, if you know what I mean.



I have two axles, I am running factory tires, 5 years old; Goodyear LT 235 85R, Load Range G. Have had no problems over the 5 years of several light trips, no more that 2000 miles one way each. The trailer is rated at 12,000 pounds and I probably never go over that weight as I run with empty tanks when traveling.



That Goodyear tire now is $328. 00 a piece.



Available are Surong, (China) 14 ply LR G $180. 00



I can find no Maxxis available in 235 ST LR G.



Thanks for any advice,



Dean

 

[HBarlow]

Well, I'm afraid you won't like my advice. I will only buy Michelin XPS Ribs for mine. Yes, they are more expensive than other brands but results are worth the money.

If you don't want to spend the money for Michelins my advice would be go to a SAM's Club and buy a set of BF Goodrich Commercial T/As in LT235/95R16 LRE. I think they are priced around $180/tire.

BF Goodrich tires are also an excellent tire and cost considerable less. They will probably provide excellent service on a trailer weighing no more than 12,000 lbs. If your GVWR or loaded weight is only 12,000 you probably don't have more than 5,000 lbs. on each axle, 2,500 on each tire. I'm guesstimating because double slide trailers are always heavier on the street side than the curb side.

I certainly would not put a ChiComm tire on my trailer. When they shed their tread and/or blowout the damage to trailer sidewall and fender wells can be extensive, ugly, and expensive to repair. Sometimes a blown trailer tire can go undetected by the driver and tear out kitchen cabinetry, plumbing, wiring, even start a fire that results in total loss of the trailer.

Why did your trailer have GY LRG tires if it only weighs 12k?

 

[RustyJC]

I didn't find any acceptable alternates for the Goodyear G614s in LT235/85R-16G sizes and load ratings when I upgraded our 5th wheel (see signature). I paid just under $2500 for 5 each 215/75R-17. 5 load range J (4805 lbs @ 120 PSIG) Michelin XTAs complete with new aluminum J-rated wheels, 4 sets of center caps and lug nuts, mounted and balanced including freight. Despite their 17. 5" size, these tires have about the same diameter as the G614s. Having experienced 2 tread separations on the G614s, the investment in the Michelins was worth it to me.



As Harvey says, the Michelin XPS Ribs in LT235/85R-16E should be perfectly satisfactory for your 12,000 lb 5th wheel. I used them on our previous Jayco Designer XL 3610RLTS with a 13,500 lb GVWR that was OEM equipped with LT235/85R-16 load range E tires and never had a hint of a problem. Heck, I like them so well that I have 6 XPS Ribs on the truck right now.



Rusty

 

[ringneck]

Barlow is wright,I got 235 85 16 Ribs,i can run as fast as i need. Trailer tires are rated 55 to 60 miles per. I have a 32ft cameo and i run e rated tires,Do it wright the first time.

 

[HBarlow]

... ... ... ... ... ... ... the Michelin XPS Ribs in LT235/85R-16E should be perfectly satisfactory for your 12,000 lb 5th wheel. I used them on our previous Jayco Designer XL 3610RLTS with a 13,500 lb GVWR that was OEM equipped with LT235/85R-16 load range E tires and never had a hint of a problem. Heck, I like them so well that I have 6 XPS Ribs on the truck right now.

Rusty

I did something similar back in the late '90s before I bought my first Dodge Ram. I put four new XPS Ribs on a Furd F-250 that I used to pull an Airstream back then.

I loved the Michelins until we got about an inch of snow on the street in my residential neighborhood in Lubbock. My Furd was stuck sitting on top of a thin sheet of ice and shallow snow. I decided I didn't want to put XPS Ribs on drive tires again after that experience.

Ordinary street Michelin A/T tires have worked great on the rear of my duallies, even pulling heavy trailers on ice and snow in the mountain west when I was transporting.

 

[RustyJC]

I loved the Michelins until we got about an inch of snow on the street in my residential neighborhood in Lubbock.

Not a problem in Houston! :-laf After living in central Ohio for 22 years, I can assure you that we don't pull the 5th wheel where it's snowing, either. :-laf:-laf



Rusty

 

[GooseHunter]

Michelin XPS Rib Tire For An RV

Taking this information from the Michelin RV website the XPS Rib is rated as a regional tire. Here is the load specifications as they relate to single or double wheel on each side of the axle, and at various tire pressures. I will be near the maximum load for each tire at 80 PSI needed for max rated load.



My wheels are rated for 100 PSI so I see no problem there.

 

[Bob Cochran]

I add my vote for the Michelin XPS highway rib for the RV. I also use these for the front tires and the Michelin XPS tractions for the rear duals.

 

[KcoleKennyc]

I have towed lots of heavy loads on Michelin and B. F. Goodrich. Never had any trouble with the Michelin's but blew several of the Goodrich. Tried the Goodrich because they were cheaper, won't do it again.

 

[Grizzly]

I too have Michelin XPS Ribs LT235/85R-16E on my 5th wheel. I strongly recommend them.



george

 

[HBarlow]

Taking this information from the Michelin RV website the XPS Rib is rated as a regional tire. Here is the load specifications as they relate to single or double wheel on each side of the axle, and at various tire pressures. I will be near the maximum load for each tire at 80 PSI needed for max rated load.

My wheels are rated for 100 PSI so I see no problem there.

I don't understand your trailer weight calculations. All you have given us is it is 31' long and weighs 12,000 lbs. on tandem axles, four wheels.

A 12,000 lb. fifth wheel doesn't carry 3,000 lbs. on each tire. If you meant your trailer has a GVWR or actual loaded weight of 12,000 lbs. around 20% or 2,400 bs. is carried on the kingpin leaving only 9,600 lbs. divided between the four tires.

If you put the ChiComm Surong tires you mentioned in your first post on your trailer you will soon "see the problem. "

 

[HBarlow]

I have towed lots of heavy loads on Michelin and B. F. Goodrich. Never had any trouble with the Michelin's but blew several of the Goodrich. Tried the Goodrich because they were cheaper, won't do it again.

I'm sorry to hear that. Your report is the first I've ever read of poor service from BF Goodrich Commercial T/A tires used on heavy trailers.

Maybe I shouldn't suggest them as a lower priced alternative to Michelins.

 

[TLane]

I looked up the prices on Discount tire's website for Michelin XPS ($275) and the LTX M/S ($159). Both LT235/85R16E1. Is there a reason why the XPS is $116 more? Is the LTX just as good for a trailer? They are both rated the same (load range E), so I don't understand the huge difference. I'd use them on my travel trailer, so I won't be putting huge miles on them. They'll probably have lots of tread left when I put on newer tires (I'll probably put less than 5k miles per year on them).
I'd like to switch to 16" truck tires but $275 per tire is steep.

 

[RustyJC]

The XPS Rib is all steel construction (body and cap plies). The LTX is fabric and steel construction (fabric body with steel cap plies).



Rusty

 

[GooseHunter]

The XPS Rib is all steel construction (body and cap plies). The LTX is fabric and steel construction (fabric body with steel cap plies).



Rusty

Just talked to a tire salesman at Costco. He said the Michelin XPS Rib has a tougher and more ridged sidewall. This tire will ride rougher. A motor home would not ride as smooth on the XPS Rib tire, for instance.

Also, the tread on the XPS Rib is supposed to give more miles under the same conditions.



BTW, Costco price for the XPS Rib LT235 85R 16 LRE is $281 plus $15 for mounting, and taxes.



I ordered mine locally, $295 each, installed.



If you want to order them, TireRack.com has them for $255 plus shipping from Reno NV, plus $30 coupon for an order of four tires. Shipping Fedex is $124 to Utah from NV.

 

[HBarlow]

Just talked to a tire salesman at Costco. He said the Michelin XPS Rib has a tougher and more ridged sidewall. This tire will ride rougher. A motor home would not ride as smooth on the XPS Rib tire, for instance.
Also, the tread on the XPS Rib is supposed to give more miles under the same conditions.

BTW, Costco price for the XPS Rib LT235 85R 16 LRE is $281 plus $15 for mounting, and taxes.

I ordered mine locally, $295 each, installed.

If you want to order them, TireRack.com has them for $255 plus shipping from Reno NV, plus $30 coupon for an order of four tires. Shipping Fedex is $124 to Utah from NV.

Congratulations on a wise decision. Michelin XPS Ribs are expensive, no doubt about it, but they will prove to be worth their price.

Many owners of heavy tandem axle fifth wheels all over the country use them and won't use anything else. I'm in that group.

 

[HBarlow]

I looked up the prices on Discount tire's website for Michelin XPS ($275) and the LTX M/S ($159). Both LT235/85R16E1. Is there a reason why the XPS is $116 more? Is the LTX just as good for a trailer? They are both rated the same (load range E), so I don't understand the huge difference. I'd use them on my travel trailer, so I won't be putting huge miles on them. They'll probably have lots of tread left when I put on newer tires (I'll probably put less than 5k miles per year on them).
I'd like to switch to 16" truck tires but $275 per tire is steep.

I guess I'll never understand why some TDR members are fond of using the "dry weight" of an RV trailer. The dry weight figure provided by the factory is an utterly useless number. No trailer that is ever completed and delivered out of the RV assembly plant actually weighs that figure. All of them, every single one completed, weighs more than that when it is shipped. NO RV owner ever pulls one at anywhere near dry weight. You stock the trailer with LPG, water, tools, camping gear, food, clothing, personal items, and more. The ONLY nunber that is of any value for determining weight is either the GVWR stamped on the VIN tag or an actual scale weight.

I can only guess at the normal traveling weight of your trailer. It is probably between 10,500 and 12,500 lbs. A set of Michelin light truck tires like you asked about would probably give you good service. That is basically the OEM tire on some Dodge Rams and they are good tires. I use them on my current dually and the previous two as well. That tire is not as good as an XPS Rib but is an excellent tire. ,

 

[TLane]

Harvey,



The weight I listed in my signature is what the trailer weighed on the scale when I bought it. That includes propane but not much else. I had to get it weighed because I bought it used, out of state, and they wouldn't accept the mfg's data. So we took it to the scale. Based on previous experience, we put about 1000 lbs of stuff in our trailer. I only put a few gallons in the fresh water tank and travel with the other tanks (almost) empty. So my guess is more like 8,500 to 9,000 lbs, with 1,000 lbs of tongue weight (I have a tongue weight scale). That leaves me with 8,000 lbs on the tires, or about 2,000 each. The only way to know for certain is to take it to a scale.



I missed a chance to weigh at a DPS scale while on vacation this summer. As I passed by, I said "next one of those that's open, I'm pulling in to find out my axle weights". I never saw another one open over the next ~2,000 miles. I've done it before and they are usually happy to measure each truck axle, and both trailer axles together; they even printed out a little receipt so I didn't have to rely on my memory.



According to Michelin's web site, the LTX M/S is rated for 3042 lbs; that should cover me even if I'm at 12,500 total. But that would be running right up to the limit, which I prefer not to do. Interesting, the XPS Rib has the same rating. I'm sure it's a much more durable tire, however.

I'm currently running 15" Maxxis tires. I've had good luck with them in the past, but I'm considering swapping to 16" wheels and LT type tires. Mainly because you can get a decent 16" LT tire in just about any tire store while on a trip; but getting a good 15" ST tire has never happened for me (I've bought too many tires while on vacation). I live near DFW, and even the tire stores here have to order the tires. Also, I got a second spare tire carrier and now carry two spares. My plan is to buy two new tires every two years, so the oldest tires on my trailer will be 6 years old (and those will be the spares).

 

[HBarlow]

TLane,

In your case a set of 16" six lug wheels purchased from Southwest Wheel Company Steel and Aluminum Truck Wheels and a set of Michelin LT 225/75R16 in LRD would be a more than adequate tire, much more durable and worry free than any brand of 15" tires, and not very expensive.

You can compare prices and features on the Michelin or SAM's Club websites.

The LT225/75R16 LRD tires are only a fraction of an inch larger than the heavy duty balloons sold as ST tires in 15" and the difference is off the chart.

 

[Grizzly]

I looked up the prices on Discount tire's website for Michelin XPS ($275) and the LTX M/S ($159). Both LT235/85R16E1. Is there a reason why the XPS is $116 more? Is the LTX just as good for a trailer? They are both rated the same (load range E), so I don't understand the huge difference. I'd use them on my travel trailer, so I won't be putting huge miles on them. They'll probably have lots of tread left when I put on newer tires (I'll probably put less than 5k miles per year on them).

I'd like to switch to 16" truck tires but $275 per tire is steep.

Michelin XPS Rib tires have sure gone up in the last three years. I paid $1050 for 5, LT235/85R-16E for my 5th wheel in Nov 07 from my local Discount Tire Store here in Albuquerque. That included mounting, balancing and sale tax.



george