tire size effect on wheel bearing life

[meanmatt]

My little 5th wheel has really small 13" wheels. The wheel bearings show wear right about 5-6,000 miles and need replaced. Since lifting the trailer to fit my Dodge I now have room to step up to a 205/75/15 tire . So in theory would the wheel bearings have a better life with less revolutions per mile ,and slower wheel speed going down the road ?

 

[B.G. Smith]

The bearing will turn less revolutions as you say but they will have possibility of more side loading with the taller tire. I would definitely go with the bigger tires, also when you replace the bearings this time, try to find replacements that are name brand and made in USA. Some of the Chinese bearings are not too swift. Properly maintained(repacked annually or every 10,000 miles) the bearings should wear out the trailer. bg

 

[meanmatt]

Well that milage was out of China bearings . Also expremented with 4 different brands of greese . All did good except the stuff I borrowed from work . The new set of bearings are SKF brand still made in Mexico. The bearings are all at . 002"-. 003" end play ,I would rather them around . 005" but the next notch in the axle nut is around . 007"and up so I will try alittle tight and watch the temps . Taking a short 500 mile trip in a couple weeks sould tell me . I'll bring my heat gun and check to seel what they're running at .

 

[B.G. Smith]

You should be good to go with the SKF bearings and the clearances you have. I would think they have to meet some pretty tight specs. I just repacked all of mine and on the last trip when I shot them with the pyrometer they were about 110/120 deg. Kinda hard to get a correct temp if you use the trailer brakes to stop. bg

 

[meanmatt]

The exhaust brake helps alot with lessoning brake use . Still I just readjusted all the brakes . So the temps should be pretty even . I wonder about people swithing to larger size tires and wheels. Do the tires last longer milage wise ? I'm at 10,000 miles in 3 years on the little tires. Thanks the the Nevada sun they will probably rot before I get the thread worn off.