I've read most of the tire threads on here but am still not sure what to do...
Got some China bomb 16" E load tires on my 3 axle WW.
They were perfect 1 trip ago. Looked like new.No weather checking, rot, or tread wear. They are 5 years old thought.
Noticed last trip while at roadrunner, the tread separating from both center axle tires, the passenger side real bad. Large areas with missing tread and metal/fiber belts showing... not good.
Looked like the tread just peeled off ???
Max TH rated max weight says 13,000 lbs, but in reality the scale says the TH probably weights almost that just filled with water and fuel and some food/bedding /cloths/tools and no toys.
The 3 axles are rated at 6815# each, and the front tongue is rated at 24,600#. I did the recommended WW frame reinforcement and upgrade. Although never had a problem with TH or frame before the upgrade.
The extra steel cross members and outriggers added might have put an additional few hundred pounds weight at the most. The trailer feels rock solid now.
I'm confused with the choice of either a light truck tire, like a LT Michelin rib, LT Goodyears or even a cheap LT Hankook, or more Trailer tires like Chinese Carlisle or Maxis.
Seems trailer tires are rated at 62mph max, but have a about 500lbs more load capacity. LT 16" load e are rated at 3042# and 106mph.
Trailer tires load e are 3400-3600# depending on what tire. 6, 3000# load tires would be above what my TH would see for weight. Is having 500#more tire load capacity a benefit or unnecessary ? Seems the higher mph rating of the LT tires would be more beneficial than the slightly higher load capacity, yes ?
Have read numerous times, even the best trailer tires(with their slightly higher load capacity), seem to blow out a lot compared to LT tires. Don't know if this is true. Also seems like all Trailer tires are now made in China...
Trailer tires are 235/80 16 E, and the LT tires come in 235/85 16 E. Many have said the slightly higher LT tire fits fine and size is not a problem. ? It seems to be about a .7"-1" larger tire diameter, depending on specific tire. Is the higher tire a problem?
I only go from GDS to either the washes(less than 1 mile) or 7-12 miles to somewhere on gecko road. So TH sits most of the year at GDS.
Was planning on maybe doing a couple trips maybe 6000 or so miles total, to St Anthony, and maybe Dunefest this summer so want some good rubber that will not give any problems.
So, need to put on 6 new tires. And a spare or 2.
I need your recommendations and experience with TH tires ?
There is a really long post over on another of the RV forums outlining the major differences. If I can find it again I will PM it to you.
If you go with a ST tire limited to 65MPH your only choice is Maxxis. If you go with LT tires rated at 3042 each and have a 99MPH speed rating your choices are nearly unlimited. Monday I installed BFG Commercial TA's under my fiver. It was them or the Hankook Dynapro AS. While the Hankook would do the job just fine, comparison of the two showed me the BFG had a stiffer side wall, and was built a bit heavier.
Donn,Lorri,Max (The Rescued Lab)
Resident Know It All
I think if you have 16" tires your only real choice is which LT tire. A 1" bigger tire is only 1/2" higher into your wheel well. Just make sure you still have the minimum 1" between the tires. If you have alot of money (and you must with a triple axle..ha ha..) the Michelin Ribs have a great reputation.
If you read most of the posts, you will know LT tires are the only tire to go with.
For your trailer, you can fit a 245/75/16 tire and still get enough load capacity with a triple axle trailer.
Don't worry too much about capacity with your trailer. When you are all loaded up, I am guessing you don't have more than 10000-11000 lbs on the axles. The rest is tongue weight. 11000/6=1833lbs for each tire.
The smaller tire will fit just fine.
I run this size on my triple axle Warrior 5th wheel.
Now your only choice should be what brand tire.
The Ribs are the best E rated tire, but are pricey.
The BFG Commercials are also a very good tire.
Ok lincster, you're killing me now.
Tire rack and direct tire have pages and pages of 245/75 E 16...
245/75 seem to be .6" wider section width. and .2" shorter than the 235/80 16e trailer tires on it now. Seems close enough.
Nice size choice lincster, thank you.
Now just have to decide what tire, or just spring for the Michelin Ribs. Are the ribs worth it, or are there others just as dependable ?
The Ribs are top of the line, but you pay for it.
I am sold on them not from just from the extra steel cords in the tire, but I had pretty bad ozone cracking on all 6 of my tires, they were close to 6 years old, Michelin covered 90% of the replacement cost. I thought that was outstanding.
I do have to make a correction, I run the 225/75 size tires on my Warrior, sorry about that.
If I had to do it again, I would run the 245/75 size.
I also know of people running the BFG Commercials and have had very good luck with them. I think they are $100 less than the Ribs.
lincster wrote: The Ribs are top of the line, but you pay for it.
I am sold on them not from just from the extra steel cords in the tire, but I had pretty bad ozone cracking on all 6 of my tires, they were close to 6 years old, Michelin covered 90% of the replacement cost. I thought that was outstanding.
I do have to make a correction, I run the 225/75 size tires on my Warrior, sorry about that.
If I had to do it again, I would run the 245/75 size.
I also know of people running the BFG Commercials and have had very good luck with them. I think they are $100 less than the Ribs.
YUP
Thats why I went with the BFG's,
I know the "Ribs" are a better tire, but after buying new rims/lugs/hub caps, funds were a little short
To the O P, definatly go with L T tires, You won't regret it.
2008 GMC 2500HD 4X4 DMax CC LB
2004 Thor Wanderer Wagon 247WTB
2006 TE450 Husky
2007 Rhino Sport Edition
Some "light reading" for you. Only 80 pages. Bottom line is ST and LT tires qualify for their max ratings in a different way so even LT tires rated at a lower pressure than ST's are really capable of more. You'll wish you didn't click this...
LT tires are a better choice especially for the heavier rigs. Quality on most ST tires is inconsistent with Maxxis ST tires being the best bet currently available. Our rig is roughly 10K lbs. when fully loaded so our Maxxis ST tires are doing fine but anything much heavier would be best suited with LT tires. We have a set of BF Goodrich Commercial LT tires on our TV and they are some very sturdy, long wearing tires that I would recommend wholeheartedly. Thought about the Michelin XPS Ribs but since our TV is dedicated to towing our rig and mostly sits in the garage, I didn't feel the need to drop the extra $$$.
Sandia Man wrote: LT tires are a better choice especially for the heavier rigs. Quality on most ST tires is inconsistent with Maxxis ST tires being the best bet currently available. Our rig is roughly 10K lbs. when fully loaded so our Maxxis ST tires are doing fine but anything much heavier would be best suited with LT tires. We have a set of BF Goodrich Commercial LT tires on our TV and they are some very sturdy, long wearing tires that I would recommend wholeheartedly. Thought about the Michelin XPS Ribs but since our TV is dedicated to towing our rig and mostly sits in the garage, I didn't feel the need to drop the extra $$$.
I agree that the Maxxis 8008 ST tires are the best out there right now.
Thats what I ran before the switch to L T's, still had separations, but they did NOT blow out or lose the tread. Our rig is right about 10K loaded and probably heavy on the rear axle due to the Rhino's weight and no room to move it forward.
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