guinness1
Michigan
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I need some help in choosing new tires for my Niagara. The stock size is ST205/75 D14. I have heard many "Pros" about switching to radial tires. Any thoughts on switching? Also, the reason I need to replace is that my tires have extreme wear on the inside and outside of the tires while the middle of the tires look great. Could it be from under-inflation or heavy loads or combination of both? Thanks
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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You're correct about under inflated or over loaded. If they're stock tires and they've overloaded then the axles are probably overloaded also because by LAW the tires must be capable of handling the GVWR or the trailer. Radials are a good choice as they run coller than bias ply tires but I'd check yours and you may bind that they are already radials. Ok delete away now 
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4runnerguy
Glenwood Springs, CO
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Niagara's are very heavy trailers. For the stock tires, make sure you have them inflated right to the 50# every time you head out.
I asked a somewhat similar question here. If you go to the bottom of the page, you'll see that Oldman5 is using some Hankook tires rated for 2094# @ 65 psi. Note that Oldman5 only runs 60# as that is the limit for the rims on the PUP. The tires on our Arcadia are only rated for 1760# @ 50 psi. The Hankook website lists them under SUV/Light Truck and then Trailer. Sounds like the ticket!
Ken & Allison
2 Camping Cats (1 diabetic)
1996 4Runner, TRD Supercharger, Edelbrock headers
2007 Fleetwood Arcadia, Honda EU2000i
4 mountain bikes, 1 canoe, 4 tents, 8 sleeping bags, 2 backpacks
(You get the idea!)
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OldMan5
California
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4runnerguy wrote:Niagara's are very heavy trailers. For the stock tires, make sure you have them inflated right to the 50# every time you head out.
I asked a somewhat similar question here. If you go to the bottom of the page, you'll see that Oldman5 is using some Hankook tires rated for 2094# @ 65 psi. Note that Oldman5 only runs 60# as that is the limit for the rims on the PUP. The tires on our Arcadia are only rated for 1760# @ 50 psi. The Hankook website lists them under SUV/Light Truck and then Trailer. Sounds like the ticket!
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OldMan5 here----I am very pleased with the performance & wear of the Hankook tires as mentioned above. As noted I run them @ 60psi and I have not noticed any edge wear at all. I also raised the trailer slightly by moving the front spring mounting to the lower hole which raised the trailer about 1/2"-3/4". I was seeing some rub marks on the plastic fender wells on the heavy side even with the original tires, after about 2,500 mile this summer & some very rough roads I see no tire contact on the fender wells.
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If you go with the Hankook tires--I'm sure you'll be pleased.
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OldMan5
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ps.
The trailer handles great----I was told by Fleetwood & others not to use radials and stay with Bias tires--and that this trailer would handle well with radials. Wrong--- On freeway, forest roads, fast curvy mountain roads---I find no problems with handling. Look at what I'm pulling with!
* This post was
edited 11/09/09 03:55pm by OldMan5 *
2007 Fleetwood Niagara (AKA the ChuckWagon)
EU2000 Honda
1989 E150 Ford van (Restored)
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azemptynesters
Chandler, AZ
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We were having some irregular wear problems on our stock Loadstar tires similar to what you have described. We purchased Greenball Towmaster radials at Costco in the same size and load rating as the stock tires. We have not had any issues at all and they wear much better.
Dan
1986 Coleman Williamsburg (given to our son and his family)
2009 Fleetwood Niagara
1994 Toyota Land Cruiser
1997 Toyota 4 Runner
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4runnerguy
Glenwood Springs, CO
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Oldman5: Since I never posted a "Thanks" in my post, let me say thanks now for the tire information (we were on summer vacation by mid-June!).
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OldMan5
California
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4runnerguy wrote:Oldman5: Since I never posted a "Thanks" in my post, let me say thanks now for the tire information (we were on summer vacation by mid-June!).
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4RUNNERGUY
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You are very welcome-----I've had so many chances to screw things up in 35+ years of farm tractor & equipment repairs of all types, 18 wheelers & now automotive repairs and smog tech. When good things happen I like to share, the bad things I keep to myself
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Hopefully all ours camping adventures will be better because of this forum.
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OldMan5------
& thanks for the thanks
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Campingfools
Illinois
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Seems like this is a common complaint about Niagara OEM tires. Ours too wore excessively on the inside. The pup has never been over loaded, and it's tongue weight is right on the money. Did two things - adjusted the hitch so she tows perfectly level (used to he high 2"), and switched to radials. After three trips from Illinois to the eastern shore of Maryland, no signs of inside wear.
2006 Explorer EB V6 w/TP WDH (Picture is wishful)
2007 Fleetwood Niagara
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rglennie
Deep in the Trees
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I've taken my Tacoma about 5000 miles in it's first year (same length but slightly lighter than the Niagara) and I have inside tire wear coming out the wazoo - they're pretty much bald in a 2 inch wide strip. Since I kept the tires at 50#, the trailer level and the cargo to a minimum I had assumed it was due to the stressed-to-maximum axle flexing too much (we had a thread about this a while ago), but since I need to replace the tires anyways I'll try the radials and see if that solves my problem. Much cheaper, and much easier than ordering and installing a heavier axle tube from Dexter!
1972 Cadillac Eldorado convertible
2006 Honda Ridgeline
2008 Fleetwood Tacoma
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popupbound
Bettendorf, IA
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Joined: 10/27/2004
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OldMan5 here----I am very pleased with the performance & wear of the Hankook tires as mentioned above. As noted I run them @ 60psi and I have not noticed any edge wear at all. I also raised the trailer slightly by moving the front spring mounting to the lower hole which raised the trailer about 1/2"-3/4". I was seeing some rub marks on the plastic fender wells on the heavy side even with the original tires, after about 2,500 mile this summer & some very rough roads I see no tire contact on the fender wells.
.
If you go with the Hankook tires--I'm sure you'll be pleased.
.
OldMan5
.
ps.
The trailer handles great----I was told by Fleetwood & others not to use radials and stay with Bias tires--and that this trailer would handle well with radials. Wrong--- On freeway, forest roads, fast curvy mountain roads---I find no problems with handling. Look at what I'm pulling with!
Oldman5 - we too have wear issues on the stock Loadstar tires which came with the pup. We have the 2007 Niagara and we are looking to replace them this winter to be ready for next season. I have looked into the Hankook and I see that you have moved the front spring to the lower hole. Did you have to do this because the new tires were rubbing or was it just for more clearance? If we go with the Hankook tires, would they fit properly without moving the leaf spring? I did get the measurements for the Hankook and the Loadstar but I am not sure what all the numbers mean. Hankook - OD=26.3, SW=7.6, TW=5.5, TD=12.5 and the Loadstar - OD-26.3, SW=7.8 (I was unable to find the other numbers). Thanks for the help
Kim
DH 
DD (1990)
DS (1995) 
Dog Cosmo born 4/06, rescued 8/06
2004 GMC Yukon 4x4 5.3 L Towning Fleetwood Niagara
Nights Camped in 2005: 31
Nights Camped in 2006: 25
Nights Camped in 2007: 30
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