16" Sendel Wheels & 16" Michelin LTX Tires

[SeaLevel]

Originally Posted by MaineStreamer

5,000 to 12,000 miles is crazy. Why would any tire be rated for so little mileage?

Only a guess, but maybe they're designed for part time campers that wouldn't put many miles on their trailer during the other expiration measurement, which is 3-4 years according to the information linked. That would only be 3-4 thousand miles a year at the upper limit.

[stephenb]

I know! The mileage thing is just unbelievable! You'd think an ST tire would outperform a truck tire but it's just not so.

I finally got the trailer de-winterized and went through all the systems. Everything checks out! Oh yeah and five Michelin 235/75r15 LTX's!!!

[OTRA15]

I think folks may be misreading the 5,000 to 12,000 miles language. Go back to the original Discount Tire page (also linked below) and read the entire "Trailer Tire Facts" section, including the warranty information near the bottom, which is for 3 years or 3/32" tread depth. No mention of mileage . . .

Under the heading "Mileage" is this:

"The mileage expectation of a trailer tire is 5,000 to 12,000 miles." [emphasis added]

This statement is a general one made in the context of an overall discussion about trailer tires, and it specifically does NOT say anything about these mileages being limits, otherwise the warranty section would also say so, in my personal opinion. Also, where have you ever seen limits being stated with the word "or" in the middle?

Not interested in debating this, as online debates about wording are difficult, so . . .

FWIW and FYI.

PS -- The referenced page refers to Carlisle Tires at the end, so reading the page "before" this one may also be helpful, whatever that was!

http://m.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoT...19&irpid=10078

PS2 -- I am planning on getting Michelin 16" when possible.

[stephenb]

Ok. So in three year or 5-12,000 miles I'll expect to replace the. That may not be a manufactures limit but it does limit the use of these tires.

Check out the tread depth on these Carlisle's. Way more than 3/32's. What's recommended tread depth for replacement.

http://youtu.be/sO3VtbPJAII

All I know is the truck tires have proven track record with these trailers.

Safe rv'ing to all!!
Stephen

[featherbedder]

Sendall wheels. What makes them better than other other wheels? Other than yuppie thing have to have. I have hi spec wheels 15 1nch on my AS very happy. I have no int. of changing to sendall

[featherbedder]

I also have original Alcoa wheels from AS opt. equip 1976

[m.hony]

No difference really between Sendel and Hi-Spec wheels-
If a Sendel is 6" wide, a Hi-Spec that looks identical may be 6.5" wide.
I got the Sendel wheels because at the time Airstream was offering the same model Sendel wheel standard on Eddie Bauer and Classic models and optional on Flying Cloud models.
I wanted that as-new original equipment appearance.
Otherwise, I would have gotten any 16x6 wheel.
Not quite a yuppie...


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[Tn Traveler]

The Sendel wheels are priced very competitively. They were an upgrade on the load rating over my 15" factory standard. The industry is moving away for 15" wheels, so tire options for them will be less and less.

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by crispyboy

I have nothing against Michelin but there are other well known name brand of 16" tires out there that could save a few bucks ($40-$50/tire). For example my place of work has had much success with Firestone Transforce tires. This is a very common tire available across the country.

My 16" michelins at Costco was $ 187.. The redball or green ball Chinese st were $142... Now how much are Firestone ?, I will bet they are not that much cheaper than Michelin, maybe $20? On my last ford rotating all 5, they lasted 72000 miles ,not bad...

[pkm123]

My Bambi is a single axle. I am now planning on upgrading to the LTX225/75/16 MS2's and Sendel T0366655 wheels. The store agent tells me and from what has been posted that this is the smallest diameter tire from Michelin in the 16" size. I am purchasing both from my local Discount Tire at an out the door price of $647.00 I am planning on keeping the 15" GYM as a spare to avoid another $320.00 According to the DT agent it should be fine for an emergency run to get the flat fixed or tire replaced. Has anyone else decided to keep the 15" spare? This may be a dumb question, but do you use the marked jack pads on the belly to jack up the trailer to change the tire on a single axle? Andy has commented that you never use a jack on the axle itself because it can wreck the alignment.
Also, I read where forum users have cut back the skin around the wheel well to make room for the 225's and where others say it is not necessary. I would rather avoid this if it is possible.
Comments?
Thanks,
Ken

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by pkm123

My Bambi is a single axle.
. . .

Welcome to the forum, Ken!

In order to get precise answers, may I recommend that you ask in the sub-forum for your specific model, which are organized as per this page:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142/

The 20-footer thread has been very helpful, for instance, to those of us who have Flying Cloud 20's [and earlier 20' Safari SE's], given that the trailers are all nearly identical physically. A few users have made the 16" Sendel/Michelin swap without any sheet metal work IMO, and I am planning on doing the same swap later this year.

What model and length do you have? I see from earlier posts that you have a 2007 19' SE Bambi, but since "Bambi" is a fairly generic term now, what is the exact model name? [edit -- sorry if I am missing something, I am no expert in this] The 2007 Safari SE sub-forum is here, for instance, FYI:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f396/

but there may be another sub-forum for your 19' model?

Generally --

Yes, you have to use the jack points only. I have been told that keeping the 15" spare is fine for emergency use, as the 16" is a snug fit in some of the racks for carrying the spare. You may have a more accurate answer about body work in the sub-forum for your exact model, where you can start a new thread of your own [ and ask non-tire questions as well! ]

Good luck!

Peter

PS -- In case you don't know this, to find where this topical thread is, in the organizational scheme of things, look up at the top left of this page, at the blue headings with ">" between them, and click on the location you want to go "up" to.

[switz]

At the time of the build of our Classic in January 2014, Airstream was installing the 16" SenDel T03-66655T wheels with the 16" Michelin LT225/75R16/E LTX M/S2 tires on the Eddie Bauer models which were lighter than the Classic. If I installed the identical tires and wheels that the factory was also offering for sale by the entrance door to the service center, there could be no denying a suspension system warranty issue because of the wrong tire or wheel installation. That tire and wheel combination is now standard on the 2015 and later Classics. The 16"spare fit into the spare tire carrier on the Classic with no bending, but a little grunting was required by me to get the tire in place.

The installation of the 15" Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires had no fitment issue on our 2013 25FB acquired in October of 2012. In fact, there would have been room for the 16" tires and wheels had I known about them, but that extra load capacity and tire stiffness was not necessary for that trailer. I just slightly bent the two lateral support pieces of rebar outwards on the spare tire carrier and the 15" Michelin fit okay.

A fitment issue developed in the 2015 23D when converting from the stock 14" tires and wheels to the 15" SenDel T03-56545T Wheels and Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires as the diameter was 2.2" larger with the new tires. These tires and wheels fit just fine street side. But the wheel well opening curb side was not cut the same as the street side. We removed some of the front metal to within ½" of the plastic wheel well just like it was on the street side and have had no issues.

We did build a new spare tire carrier for the 23D as the stock one could not be modified for the larger diameter and cross section of the 15" Michelin tire.

Airstream will soon have to modify the axles on the 23' tandem axle models to support six lug wheels with 12" brakes and properly cut out the wheel well openings as 14" tires will no longer be available. The 16" Michelin tires captioned above would just fit as they are about 0.3" larger in diameter than the 15"Michelins I installed, but they might be too stiff for the 1,360 heaviest tire load I have on the 23D.

[crispyboy]

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

My 16" michelins at Costco was $ 187.. The redball or green ball Chinese st were $142... Now how much are Firestone ?, I will bet they are not that much cheaper than Michelin, maybe $20? On my last ford rotating all 5, they lasted 72000 miles ,not bad...

I have seen the Firestones or Generals anywhere from $40 to $50 less per tire which can be significant for some of us with champaign taste on a beer budget. This would be a good second tier option for those on a more restrictive budget. If I decide to do this upgrade I will figure out what my budget will handle at that time.

I have also been told that the Michelin 235 - 15 XL tire would work on our 30' trailer (8,300 gvw, 7,400 actual axle load) but it seems awfully close to the weight margin to be comfortable.

[Searun]

Originally Posted by Ted S.

Just finished my tire upgrade today. Went from the stock GYM to the Sendel T03 16" rims with Michelin LT 225 16 R LTX/MS2. Definitely a big difference in beef from the GYM, at least visually.

I ended up cutting the fender wells, they were real close otherwise, the fronts more than the rear. That was pretty easy with the molding removed, used a Dremel with a 426 attachment.

...

Added Centramatics and had everything spun balanced with my TPMS sensors in place. Inflated to 80psi.

I feel better now.

Why did you have to modify the fender wells? This is the first I've heard of someone having to do that to get the 16s to fit. That being said, just started seriously researching the upgrade.

Also, curious why you went with balancers?

Thanks,
Jeff

[pkm123]

Thanks Peter,
For the information on sub Forums.I am somewhat new to the AS forums. It may be just me, but I find the search bar in forums almost useless and usually end up typing key words into the google search bar and hope I come up with the correct forum choices. If I am missing something let me know, I find it very frustrating. To try and search for specific key words or topics. I usually get a couple of pages that pop up that have nothing to do with what I am searching for.
Ken

[pkm123]

Does anyone have a picture of The Sendel T03 66655 with black accent. 16" wheels mounted on their Airstream, preferably a 16 axle? If so could you post a picture.
Thanks,
Ken

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by pkm123

Thanks Peter,
. . .

I just replied to you Ken in the Site Admin forum, in an existing thread about searching, to keep this thread more on-topic [link below]. You should get an email from the site telling you that you have been quoted (assuming you have this function toggled on in your User Control Panel [under Quick Links at the top right]). You can also Subscribe to a thread to get an email each time someone posts in it.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f138...es-145169.html

[m.hony]

Look for a picture of an Eddie Bauer Airstream.
I think they have the Sendel wheels with black inlay.
The Classics have the Sendels with silver inlay.



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[OTRA15]

This one?

http://www.sendelwheel.com/wheels/t03bm

On a single axle Airstream:

http://www.sendelwheel.com/sites/sen...stream%202.jpg

Double axle:

http://www.sendelwheel.com/sites/sen...stream%201.jpg

[m.hony]

That's the one.


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