| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: Axles
Your trailer manufacturer does not have to use the axle rating from the axle manufacturer.
They are allowed to set the trailer’s GAWR below the actual axle rating to achieve the GVWR they desire for the unit.
In other words, the vehicle manufacturer may set the trailer’s GAWR to 5080# from 5200# axles. It is often seen when that manufacturer wants to use tires rated at 2540# for the unit.
Of course there are many other examples to use.
Look at your trailer's certification label for its certified GAWR.
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
05/21/13 09:59pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: LT tire options _ Another Poly Carcass Tire to Consider
Lots of need to know information in this Bridgestone Tire owner’s/warranty PDF. Maybe of the most interest is the statement about equal size found on the warranty page #32 and the warning about misapplications on the same page.
Click Here!
FastEagle
This thread says nothing about replacing a tire of a different size! So what is your point Calvin?
Chris
Then maybe you should have clarified what type of tire you’re recommending replacing on 6000# axles. Most come equipped with ST tires.
Look into the reference to see how one of their retailers are marketing your subject tire.
Look Here!
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
05/21/13 06:03pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: LT tire options _ Another Poly Carcass Tire to Consider
Lots of need to know information in this Bridgestone Tire owner’s/warranty PDF. Maybe of the most interest is the statement about equal size found on the warranty page #32 and the warning about misapplications on the same page.
Click Here!
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
05/21/13 02:47pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: China Bombs Got Me
FE - Honesty is the best policy!
Just "new post" the number of ST tires *YOU* have admitted to having gone through in your "new post"..:W
.
I quit posting information about my personal tire use because of the out of out of context comments with negative connotations.
For the record my trailer tire usage spans 10 years and more than 70,000 trailer miles. My trailer was fitted with OEM tires ST235/80R16D on 6000# axles. The tires were made in the USA and within less than a year they had all failed. That’s 10 tires in the first year. Since then I’ve changed out another three sets. My trailer is setting in storage right now with 3 & ½ year old tires on it and they will all 5 be changed when we head north this summer.
I’ve always stressed that I’ve never had a tire failure that I thought was reportable. For the past 7 years our tires have been ST235/80R16E rated at 3520# at 80 psi. In that period of time we have had three road damaged failures, two of which resulted in both tires being replaced on that side due to possible overloading. The last tire we lost was at highway speed heading south on US-25 in GA. We could hear the tire blow. We had to go about a mile to a pull-off. There was a nice clean 3 & ½” cut in the LH FWD sidewall. Never saw anything in the road. It’s still a mystery.
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
05/19/13 09:35pm |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: China Bombs Got Me
For reasons unknown to me, tire manufacturers are often reluctant to print industry standards. Industry standards are normally a combination of government regulations and inputs from contributing agencies such as the RMA or T&RA.
By DOT regulation the manufacturer of your RV trailer is tasked with determining and setting the correct tire pressure for your Original Equipment (OE) tires. The correct tire pressure is depicted on the trailer’s federal certification label and is depicted as the recommended cold tire pressure.
Industry standards will not violate those recommended pressures for your OE tires or replacements of the same size and load capacity. When replacements are different in size and/or design new recommended tire pressures will be determined by the installer. The information for determining the new recommended pressures will be determined using the amount of load capacity the OE tires provide by their recommended pressure.
In the reference provided below you will see the emphasis placed on the words; “NEVER use inflation pressures lower than those printed on the vehicle placard.” That’s a reinforcement of an industry standard.
Click Here for the reference.
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
05/18/13 11:52pm |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: traveling with cats
When we travel - full time or otherwise - our cat is with us. Our first big mistake was letting him ride in the trailer. It has three slide-outs and he hid in the bedroom slide-out and didn’t come out for three hours after we parked. Of course we didn’t know what slide he was in so we just had to wait. Even his most cherished treat would not get him to budge.
Luckily we have a large crew-cab dually that allows us to put a rather large tall gage back there along with a covered litter box, food and water. He has learned to ask to leave his cage when he has to use the litter box. Otherwise he is very acclimated to the cage.
Sometimes he is frightful on bad roads. So we carry some light tranquilizers we got on prescription. That way if we cross some borders we have proof of what’s in the bottle. We always have his papers with us and have never had any problems at border crossings.
Cat PIX
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
05/17/13 01:43pm |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Would you recommend a 5th wheel for me?
Hello,
I'm retiring next year and want to hit the road. I've done a lot of RVing in my life, but always as the passenger in someone else's rig. This time I want to go solo. I'm a 50 year female.
I've got two priorities:
*I want to have a vehicle I'd be comfortable driving in urban areas.
*I want a real mattress - not a chunk of foam - to sleep on. Even if it is just a twin, even if it has to fold up into the wall during the day like a murphy bed.
I was thinking about a 19' Sprinter Van conversion, but I just don't think they have enough room - I haven't seen one yet that had a "bed" I think I could sleep on.
So now I am thinking about trailers, so that I can unhitch the pickup truck and use it for exploring the area.
I've never used a 5th wheel in my life, but I've been told they are the way to go.
So, please, folks on this forum: do you agree that 5th wheels are easier to operate and tow?
And, very importantly: are they practical for a solo traveler who wants to hitch and unhitch weekly? Or is that a two-person job?
And finally: since I'll be traveling on my own, I don't need a huge amount of space. So it seems obvious to me that I should start by looking at the shortest trailers out there. But I want to ask: is there any counterintuitive reason why sometimes a bigger is easier to handle?
Do you have a truck?
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
05/08/13 02:29am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Need recommendation for tire pressure for TT tires
Hi,
We have a 21.5' Travel Trailer, with a GVWR of 4769. We are getting ready for our first camping trip of the season, and I'm looking for a recommendation of how many pounds of pressure to carry in the 5 tires, 4 on the ground plus a spare.
Here are some stats on the tires: Brand is Karrier, "for Trailer service only", Tubeless radials, Size is 205/75R14, Load range C, Max pressure, 50 psi cold, and yes, made in China. The TT is only a year old now, and these are the OEM tires. I understand the principle that more pressure in the tires means cooler running temps for the tires, but the trade-off is a rougher ride for the TT and its contents. We travel only 120 miles each way throughout the summer to our camping spots where we stay 3 or 4 days, then return. The roads are pretty much all paved and of good quality. However, we live in Phoenix, AZ, and tow to the high country, so at the lower elevations in summer, temps can be 100 degrees or more, though we leave early enough going or coming to avoid towing in over 100 degree temps.
The tires are all currently sitting at 37 psi cold. I'd be interested in any recommendations as to what pressure to carry in them throughout the summer. Thanks much for any input.
I’m a little surprised this thread has gone this far and no one has come up with the right answer.
Vehicle manufacturers SET the recommended tire pressure (s) for your trailer tires and certify those pressures on the vehicle’s certification label. Look on the LH forward section of your trailer for its certification label. I’ll bet it recommends 50 psi. That will be the CORRECT tire pressure for your tires at all times unless your owner’s manual has other pressure’s for special circumstances.
FastEagle
p.s. Tires with less than 80% of the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended cold tire pressure (s) are considered in the a “run-flat-condition. If they have been up to highway speeds in that condition they need to be removed for inspection by a tire professional.
|
FastEagle
|
05/04/13 09:56pm |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: S T tires
:)Here is the most informative post I have ever seen on ST tires,
Thank You Shaowcatche of irv2.com for this information.
As many of you have figured out I am a bit obsessive about information and with reported problems with trailer tires and about a 30% failure rate including a couple of folks on this forum who have had catastrophic failures.
Portion of a post by Mike Mitchell, NuWa (HitchHiker) CEO in a discussion regarding trailer tires on the NuWa Owner's Forum.
As we banter about regarding tire types and loading, I believe that we are finally starting to understand a few important things.
I have asked many times for someone to explain how a ST tire can be rated to carry more weight than a LT tire in a similar size, without a good answer.
The answer lies in what is called reserve capacity. To quote from Trailer Parts Superstore and this same statement exist on just about every tire site:
HEAVY DUTY 'LT' TRUCK / TRAILER TIRES
'LT' signifies the tire is a "Light Truck/Trailer" series that can be used on trailers that are capable of carrying heavy cargo such as equipment trailers.
If a tire size begins with 'LT' it signifies the tire is a "Light Truck-metric" size that was designed to be used on trailers that are capable of carrying heavy cargo or tow vehicles. Tires branded with the "LT" designation are designed to provide substantial reserve capacity to accept the additional stresses of carrying heavy cargo.
So what is reserve capacity? It is capacity beyond the rating of the tire, capacity that is held in reserve. This reserve capacity comes from the heavy-duty sidewall of the LT type tires. LT's rank at the top of the list when we look at P, ST and LT tires.
Now I finally have an answer to how a ST tire can be rated to carry more weight than a LT tire of similar size.
The ratings of ST tires infringe into the reserve capacity of the tire. This is double bad, because the design of the ST gives us a tire with less reserve capacity to start with as it has a lighter sidewall to start with as most ST tires are much lighter than their LT counterparts.
To quote one tire site:
"Put a different way, the load carrying capacity of an ST tire is 20% greater than an LT tire. Since durability is strictly a long term issue - and the results of a tire failure on a trailer are much less life threatening than on a truck - the folks that set up these load / inflation pressure relationships allow a greater......ah......let's call it load intensity."
There it is in print to be read. They make a calculated decision to give the ST tire a higher load rating because a failure is less life threatening.
I have on a number of occasions pointed out the weight difference between the different tires and have been told that does not matter. Well it does matter. The rubber in the average tire only makes up around 40 some percent of its weight, the rest is in the steel belts, gum strips, steel beads, and the carcass plies. The remaining 60 or so percent of the stuff in a tire is what builds in the reserve capacity.
So to review again, here are some weights:
1. Michelin XPS RIB LT235/85R16 LRE (rated to 3042lbs) Weight 55.41
2. Goodyear G614 LT235/85R16 LRG (rated to 3750lbs) Weight 57.5
3. Bridgestone Duravis R250 LT235/85R16 LRE(rated to 3042lbs) Weight 60
4. BFG Commercial TA LT235/85R16 LRE(rated to 3042lbs) Weight 44.44
5. Uniroyal Laredo HD/H LT235/85R16 LRE(rated to 3042lbs) Weight 44.44
6. GY Marathon ST235/80R16 LRE(rated to 3420lbs) Weight 35.4
So which tires on the list have the most reserve capacity? Well that is not a completely simple answer, as one of the tires is a G rate 110 lb tire and the rest are LRE at 80lb inflation. So if we disregard the G614, then the Michelin XPS RIB and the Bridgestone Duravis R250 due to their all-steel ply construction will have the most reserve capacity inherent in their construction. The twin Commercial TA and Laredo will be next and the Marathon would have little or no reserve capacity available because it was used up in its higher load rating, AND because of it's much lighter construction it had much less inherent reserve capacity to start with.
So what have we learn from this?
I think that the first thing that we learned was that a LT tire can be used at or near it max rated loading without having issues, as they built with "substantial reserve capacity to accept the additional stresses of carrying heavy cargo".
The second thing we may have learned is why ST tires are failing on mid to larger 5th wheels, in that they do not have inherent reserve capacity beyond that rated max loading. Again this is because they have less reserve capacity to start with and their greater "load intensity" used up any reserve capacity that might have been available.
Now, here is an interesting bit of information. I just called Maxxis Tech Line and asked the weights for two tires.
ST235/80R16 LRD 3000 lb rating at 65 lbs of air weights 38.58
ST235/80R16 LRE 3420 lb rating at 80 lbs of air weights 43.43
What??? The Maxxis load range E tire weights almost the same as the Commercial TA?? This is a ST tire that has heavier construction than the GY Marathon at 35.4 lbs. So it has more inherent reserve capacity due to its heavier construction.
Those that claimed its virtues maybe did not know why it was a better ST tire than some of the others, but there it is! It is a heavier built tire with more reserve capacity.
So as one chooses a replacement tire or is asking for an upgrade on a new trailer please get educated on where the reserve capacity exist. Is it inherent in the tire you choose or do you have to factor it into the weight rating of the tire you choose.
Evan though the specs quoted were all for 16 inch tires, the numbers on the specs for 15 inch L T verses S T tires should be right in line with the 16's
The thread Tire blow out - cause unknown
and the survey http://blog.goodsamclub.com/wp-conte...ireSurvey4.pdf
Your quoted posting has been around for more than a year. It’s made-up from three or four different writers. It’s full of half/partial untruths and its overall presentation is ambiguous.
A tire’s total load capacity is found on the sidewall of each individual tire. It’s not debatable unless it’s a passenger tire being used on truck or trailer axles where it has to be derated by about 10%.
Tires that have a single/dual rating will have their load capacity derated when used in dual positions.
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
04/30/13 10:36pm |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: What ply tires
Great another link to a trailer manufacturer's manual that says "Even though we supplied your new trailer with the cheapest tire our purchasing department could source, you should replace them with more similar cheap tires!" Break the cycle and install higher quality tires that do not fail just because they cheaply made like ST tires. Chris
There are options in their statement. Here is what it says.
"To maintain tire safety, purchase new tires that are the same size as the vehicle’s original tires or another size recommended by the manufacturer. Look at the Tire and Loading Information label, or the sidewall of the tire you are replacing to find this information. If you have any doubt about the correct size to choose, consult with the tire dealer."
FE
|
FastEagle
|
04/27/13 09:26pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: What ply tires
I belive trailer has a wight rating so why not youse it in stead of confusing the Isue with a fals ply rating
Here we have to adhere to DOT regulations. Tire/rim fitment is driven by the trailers GAWR.
FastEagle
On Edit: Here is a typical ST tire load inflation chart showing the relationship of load range and ply rating.
Look Here!
|
FastEagle
|
04/27/13 08:33pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: What ply tires
I had a blowout on my fever yesterday which caused som damage . I am looking at replacing all the tires but I noticed they are 5ply I have seen some that are 10 ply what is the right ply and what brand tire do you recommend because these only had 3000 miles !
Do you know why you lost the tire? Was it so badly damaged the cause is hard to determine.
According to Keystone specs for the trailer in your profile it would have 5200# GAWR axles. It would be unusual to fail a LRE tire so early on those axles. How old are the tires?
FastEagle
Here is the "hot off the press" 2013 Keystone owners manual. Lots of good information about tires and recommended replacements.
Click Here!
|
FastEagle
|
04/27/13 08:22pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: 15" tire recommendations
We bought a fifth wheel last fall and the tires are due to be replaced. It currently has mission brand ST225/75R15s on it. They are the original tires but have had only a few hundred miles on them but are cracking on the sides. Anyway I have read up on tires tell I'm blue in the face, but figured I would see what people recommend for that size. The other thing is even though we usually keep or speed below 65 there are the occasions that we do run around 70 if the weather and roads and traffic permit it. Also our fifth wheel weights 8440(ship weight) with a hitch weight of 1740.
You really don’t want to use more ST tires if you’re going to be traveling a lot of miles at speeds above 65 MPH.
You haven’t given enough information for anyone to give you accurate options. Tires/rims are fitted to your trailer’s GAWR by the vehicle manufacturer. It’s really an unsafe practice to use less load capacity than what is provided by your Original Equipment tires/rims.
Look on your trailer’s certification label for GAWR, tire size and recommended air pressure (s). Read your owners manual to see if the manufacturer has recommended other options.
If you ask a sales person (tire dealer) about “plus sizing” your tires and they can’t give an answer, seek out a more reliable source.
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
04/15/13 02:37pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: PLEASE HELP ON TIRES AND AXLES
Here is a reference to a tire just as durable as the XPS and at less expense.
R250
Please don’t put different sized tires on the same axle.
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
04/14/13 07:20pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Want to switch tires from ST to P
A couple of responders have mentioned Continental Vanco. Check the Continental Vanco Four Season, highway all season. 195/70/R15C maximum load, 1984 at 65 psi. Diameter, 25.7
Thank you for finding that tire.
Now that the winter storm has passed, I remeasured and find that I can fit a 26in diameter tire. There is 4in travel before the axle bottoms out and the wheel hub is 6in below the bottom of the TT. I don't see any problem going from 24.02 to 26in diameter because the total travel would be 4 + 1 = 5in.
That tire is a good candidate at 25.7in. I also found that Goodyear has a G26 Cargo tire in that size and load rating. That should help with availability.
I see that the letter C at the end of the size indicates cargo rating. Surely that is as good as LT.
HTH;
John
Actually the way the "C" is used is to identify those Vanco tires as being designed for the European market. They will still have to be derated for service on trailer axles.
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
04/12/13 10:20am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Tires 2013 Fuzion 322?
There is another option. The ST235/85R16 LRF. It’s rated at 3960# at 95 psi. They wont be as costly as the LT options. However, if you’re traveling at or above the internet highway speeds, none of the ST tires can sustain those speeds above 65 MPH for very long, especially when near their maximum load capacity.
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
04/12/13 12:03am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Tire Advice
Here are some manufacturer specs to ponder. Tire design has - to some degree - a bearing on what a tire’s overall diameter will be in comparison to the rim used for measurements. Tires like the XPS Rib may also be taller because of extra building materials used to achieve high mileage and durability. I don’t know if the “off shore” manufacturers are just rubber stamping their specs. The ST235/85R16E has the same specs at all manufacturers I checked. There are no deviations in basic design or tread depth so their figures should all match. I’m just suspect of the 31.7” diameter for a tire with only 10/32” tread depth when compared to a tire such as the Firestone TransForce HT LT235/85R16E with 15/32” tread depth and the same 31.7” diameter.
I found the GY G614 LT235/85R16G specs to have a tread depth of 12/32” with an overall diameter of 30.7”. Those figures are from the GY tire data book. I also looked at the specs for the same tire on the TireRack. They were the same.
The Michelin XPS Rib was the tallest LT235/85R16E tire I found with a tread depth of 15/32” and diameter of 32”.
The Bridgestone Duravis R250 is - like the XPS Rib - a steel cased tire but is a little shorter than the XPS Rib at 31.8” with a tread depth of 14/32”.
Another short tire in this series is the BFG Commercial TA with a 31.4” diameter and 15/32” tread depth.
FE
|
FastEagle
|
04/11/13 10:34am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Tire Advice
I do not where some of you get your info. The GY Marathon ST235/80R16E has a diameter of 30.7 inches. The GY G614 LT235/85R16G has a diameter of 30.7 inches. Looks the same!!!! Chris
Well I got mine from physically measuring the two tires: a Carlisle ST235/80R-16 and a Sailun LT235/85R-16. And man they ain't nowhere near the same. :)
I didn't know the OP has GY Marathon ST tires, maybe he has the Carlisle? And maybe he isn't comparing them to a GY G614?
Were your measurements from new mounted or unmounted tires?
FENew mounted Sailun vs old mounted Carlisle. 30 lb. Carlisle vs 60 lb. Sailun.
Sometimes the only way to find early tread separations is by actual measurements and then compare with the tire's specs.
FE
|
FastEagle
|
04/11/13 10:28am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Tire Advice
I do not where some of you get your info. The GY Marathon ST235/80R16E has a diameter of 30.7 inches. The GY G614 LT235/85R16G has a diameter of 30.7 inches. Looks the same!!!! Chris
Well I got mine from physically measuring the two tires: a Carlisle ST235/80R-16 and a Sailun LT235/85R-16. And man they ain't nowhere near the same. :)
I didn't know the OP has GY Marathon ST tires, maybe he has the Carlisle? And maybe he isn't comparing them to a GY G614?
Were your measurements from new mounted or unmounted tires?
FE
|
FastEagle
|
04/11/13 09:29am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: PSI in 17.5 Tires
I just put 215/75R17.5 Goodyear tires on my trailer and not sure what pressure to carry in them. According to the GY charts, I can co up to 125 PSI but just wondering if it might be best to use about a 100 PSI, which would more than carry the trailer weight....
I know some of you guys out there run this size tires and would sure like to hear your thoughts on this. Will running less PSI than the sidewall calls for be detrimental for the tire or in any way be unsafe? I realize this question has been batted around a lot, but now that I have this size on my trailer, maybe it will sink in my old brain.
Thanks a Lot.
Tire industry standards are pretty specific about what you should set as your new recommended tire pressure.
Here is a quickie on how it’s supposed to work for you. Get the information for your Original Equipment tires (OE) off the tire placard/certificating placard for your trailer. Use that information to set your recommended tire pressure. You should never use less tire pressure than what was required of your OE tires to achieve the load capacity requirements the vehicle manufacturer posted as a minimum requirement on the certification label.
Look in the reference provided below for more specific information. Just use the “plus sizing” information that applies to your particular situation.
Click Here.
Load inflation charts are pretty standard for the tire size you have selected so the Bridgestone chart should be identical to the Goodyear chart for the same sized tire.
FastEagle
|
FastEagle
|
04/11/13 09:20am |
Fifth-Wheels
|
