16" Sendel Wheels & 16" Michelin LTX Tires

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Thanks......

Bob, have you checked the availability in your area for the Michelin LT225 / 75R16 LTX M/S2 in Load Range E, which is what we need for our single-axle FC20's right? [5,000 lbs. gross weight]

Cheers,

Peter

Tire Rack listing: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....um=275R6LTXMS2

Peter not yet. The TV comes first and that will be this winter after the MO trip. The TOAD will probably be until the following winter.

I also still need to get a better handle on the "Defender", probably earlier in this or other threads. I'm not sure if the newer tires are the Defender or a different series

Bob

[OTRA15]

Thanks Bob, good catch, as the new Michelin Defender LTX M/S series may be where the tire dealers will have the best selection. Tire Rack lists a similar "E" tire in this new series with the same 2,680 max. load. Will touch base on the 20-footer thread when we get closer this Fall.

Peter

PS -- Here is the link, which now does list the LT225/75R16 115/112R E [see Specs tab under tire photos]. My recollection is that months ago, this new tire was not yet listed as available yet from Michelin. Good news:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...nder+LTX+M%2FS

Under Description tab: "Compared to the popular Michelin LTX M/S2 it replaces, the new Defender LTX M/S tires share the same highly functional tread pattern, and offer improvements in wear life/longevity to better meet the high-torque demands of modern trucks. Defender LTX M/S is designed to be stronger, longer."

[Rocinante]

Defender tread wear rating is quite a bit less than the LTX M/S2. Otherwise they seem similar.

[2012FB]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Those are nice too! We just thought the black would be fun for a little "drama".

Like the look better. Going to order the same. Thx for pic. Looks really nice.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[2012FB]

Getting ready to order the new 16" Sendels but keep going back to the Nokian Rotiiva AT 235/75R15 116/113 S, max load 2760.

Has anyone used the Nokian?

It is.59" taller and .39" wider which I think .2" would clear the wheel well opening lip just fine.

I am often pulling in and out of the snow, sometimes heavy, visiting family in Phoenix over Christmas and Spring Break so I like the aggressive nature of the tread and its bent toward being more of a winter tire. I am not concerned about tread life as age will win over miles.

Thoughts?

[m.hony]

No need for traction/aggressive tread on the trailer-
Only need traction/aggressive tread on the tow vehicles drive wheels-
HT tread will last longer than AT tread.

[OTRA15]

However, the mud and snow -- all-weather etc. -- variety of tire makes sense for the trailer -- to control spin-out on curves in mud and snow, but more importantly for braking and stopping in less-than-perfect road conditions.

A regular passenger tire type tread will spin out or skid much more easily than a M&S, if the road is imperfect.

Better safe than sorry IMO.

[switz]

The surprise for me this spring was the replacement Michelin Defender LT265/70/R17E tires have a significantly shorter tire warranty than the ones that came on the truck built in June of 2012.

That is not an issue as the truck is dedicated to towing the 31' Classic and does not get lots of extraneous mileage.

[Ray Eklund]

Those who believe that the WIDER the standard LT and P tire is better for traction, better purchase a set of chains for your Airstream for traction. As that would be needed.

CapriRacer may also have some feedback. I am sure that Switz will be calculating weight per square inch on the tire surface in contact with the pavement, as well.

In my foolish hot rodding days, 427 cubic inch 1967 Corvette and 1969 Corvette had wider tires than those with the 327 cubic inch engines. On black top in Missouri, at a stop light turning green, I would try to gently get either one of these front heavy Corvettes to begin to move, without spinning out with no traction on the light water/oil film.

Good luck. I could spin doughnuts trying to get moving. It was at that time in my life that a pickup truck and a all wheel drive Land Cruiser were a better choice. Especially for hauling a jukebox or two, or sheet rock...

I have seen full sized farm tractors gets stuck alongside a country road on the side of a ditch. A large diesel farm hay hauler and me on the tractor could not get the tractor to move one inch. And these large tractors have plenty of tread and horsepower. All of no value in some situations.

I see widths on this Thread going from LT225, LT235 and Switz... my goodness... LT265! Obviously have a lot in common with CapriRacer and toss some clorox onto the black top and tell us if your Airstream is smoking or not....

My VW's all had 15" tires for the 1956 and 1964. Had Airstream had a choice of tires they would be 13 inch to save money.

The 16 inch Michelins at LT225 fit with room to spare, into the wheel wells, although the trailer needs to be a little higher to angle them onto the axle lugs. Other than that, at 15 mph to 75 mph on my highway test(s)... NO sway. No wandering of trailer. No sense of higher speeds affecting control of the trailer or the F350 4x4.

[64airstream]

Switz,

I theorize that Michelin may have rebranded the LTX tires as Defenders specifically to reduce the tread wear rating from 70k to 50k miles to reduce the cost of liability (improve profit) for the light truck tires. The Defender passenger tires still carry the 70k mile rating. I think the Defender's have the same tread, same material, same design (which would be good) they just changed the name on the sidewall and discontinue white raised letters.

Just a theory,

Roy

[switz]

These Michelin Defender LT265/70/R17E tires mentioned above are the stock size than came on my 2012 Ram 2500HD Cummins. The Michelin LT225/75R16/E LTX M/S2 tires are on the Classic.

[Boxite]

There's a whole lotta "wishin' and hopin' goin' on with folks "feelin' and even some Costco employee offering their opinion on which passenger tires are best for trailers.
It might be a good idea to read what the mfr's of the tires have to say about it.
http://www.carlstargroup.com/cms_fil..._Practices.pdf

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by Boxite

There's a whole lotta "wishin' and hopin' goin' on with folks "feelin' and even some Costco employee offering their opinion on which passenger tires are best for trailers.
It might be a good idea to read what the mfr's of the tires have to say about it.
http://www.carlstargroup.com/cms_fil..._Practices.pdf

Well, according to some here, ST tires are a no no.

I'm sorry, but I am going to side with the manufacturers on this.

If they say an LT tire is not to be used on a trailer, I am not using one. No matter how much "internet wisdom" is behind that practice.

I'm going to stick to ST tires. They are made specifically for trailers. And I give more credence to the manufacturer's statement on what they design and build rather than some anecdotal experiences posted on an internet forum.

But that's me. Call me crazy. YMMV.

[m.hony]

OK.
I felt that way once upon a time.
I took that stance once upon a time.

[Hittenstiehl]

I just posted a 16 "tire question in another thread and am also keeping up with this one.

One of the reasons we are leaning toward NON trailer tires was the speed rating for most trailer tires being quite low. Is that no longer a consideration.

I did read the Carlisle brochure.

[m.hony]

...and the fact that trailer tires are not long life or long tread life tires...
I used to wonder what all the hype was about until I had 2 different sets of ST tires come apart at less than 3 years old.
LT tires on my Airstream-
P-rated tires on my utility trailer-
In fact, I have always had P-rated tires on my utility trailer. It has never had ST tires. I changed them last summer because the DOT dates on the old tires was like 1995 or so. ST tires won't last that long.

[Rocinante]

In case it helps, I'll just drop another reminder that Airstream equips at least two trailers with 16" wheels and LT tires: the Pendleton and the Eddie Bauer.

[m.hony]

...and the new Classics...
...and the 16" Sendel T03 wheels and Michelin 16" LT tires are optional on many more trailers and sold and installed at the factory service center in Jackson Center, OH and through Airstream dealers...

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by FCStreamer

. . .
And I give more credence to the manufacturer's statement . . .
. . .

Trust in a corporation's judgment, usually motivated by the desire for maximum profits, is misplaced IMO.

Why give away that power to use our own judgment and good sense?

Ditto to other posters' comments about Airstream using LT tires (increasingly by the way).

[Hittenstiehl]

I think I would trust that document/advertisement more if it was from the tire industry versus the manufacturer.

No issue with Carlisle just the promotional aspect of it.