16" Wheels and Tires

[jcanavera]

Here's mine.
Jack

[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by jcanavera

Here's mine.
Jack

I like that look....


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[dhoover1027]

I just bought a 2007 Safari 25FB and the first thing I have done is the Sendel / Michelin wheel and tire package. Will replace the GYMarathon junk spare with a Carlisle tire and use the steel wheel for the spare. Probably will not need it as many have mentioned. I got the wheels and tires from Discount Tire.
They look good, fit well and most important are safer that the stock wheels. If they don't fail, which I don't think they will - I won't have a trailer out for repair.
I just had the bearings re packed and the brakes look good as well.
So running gear is ready for the fall trip to NY, PA and Virginia.
Go safe all.

[Airstream 22]

I have just read this entire post and have a quick question. Since the main reason that everyone is upgrading to 16" rims and tires is due to the poor quality of the GYM's, why not just use the existing rims and put a 15" version of the same Michelin tire? Is that tire not available in 15" or is there a real benefit from going from 15" to 16"?

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by Airstream 22

I have just read this entire post and have a quick question. Since the main reason that everyone is upgrading to 16" rims and tires is due to the poor quality of the GYM's, why not just use the existing rims and put a 15" version of the same Michelin tire? Is that tire not available in 15" or is there a real benefit from going from 15" to 16"?

I was curious about the same thing. If the 15" Michelin LT tires can support the weight why not go with them which would negate the need for 16" wheels and the replacement cost.

[crispyboy]

The 15" Michelin LTX tire is a P rated tire that doesn't have enough weight rating for bigger trailers. A P rated tire gets derated by 10% in the weight rating catagory.
The 16" Michelin LTX tire is a LT tire and has enough weight rating. Most all LT tires are approved for trailer use and do not get de-rated.

[dhoover1027]

Yes, to Crispyboy.
Sidewalks are not tough enough. These belong a on SUV? I wanted to do the same, but many talked me out of it. I'm glad I did the 16" solution as it is safer.

BTW: sold my original wheels and tires thru Craigslist.

[jcanavera]

Originally Posted by Pat Cassity

Well, just got a call from Discount and they aren't able to get the all silver T03s from Sendel either. They do have the ones with the inside of the spokes painted black. Anyone have pictures of these on their trailer?


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I got mine from Tredit. You might check with them. They have multiple warehouses in the country. T03 I'm not always sure if each location is aware of the other warehouses inventory so you may have to call each warehouse. I remember that I called the Kansas warehouse who only had the silver spoke finish. I ended up getting the black spoke finish from the Elkhart location.

Jack

[TinTop]

Hey all, thought I'd show mine. Changed to 16's this spring and have done over 2500 miles since, man what a difference. Satisfied for sure.

[TinTop]

Wanted to also show a wider view.

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by crispyboy

The 15" Michelin LTX tire is a P rated tire that doesn't have enough weight rating for bigger trailers. A P rated tire gets derated by 10% in the weight rating catagory.
The 16" Michelin LTX tire is a LT tire and has enough weight rating. Most all LT tires are approved for trailer use and do not get de-rated.

But if your trailer is rated for a max. of 7,300# (which my 2009 25' FB Int. is) it should be ok using the Michelin LTX M/S2 which is rated at 2,183/tire. 2,183 times 4 equals 8,732 pounds. Discount that by 10% and it is 7,858 pounds. More than 500 pounds of margin if you maxed out the gross weight of the trailer (which I don't do). Why would this not work?

[Moflash]

Read the posts above for your answers.


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[switz]

CanAm in Canada installs the 15" Michelins all the time on trailers up to 27' as the GVW is 7.600 pounds. They even install them on the trip-axle units. Our Classic trailer axle weight of over 8,000 pounds camping ready exceeds the 15" Michelin rating of 1,983 pounds.

What one must remember is that the GVW includes the tongue weight. So on our 25FB with a 1,175 tongue weight camping ready, the tailer tires were supporting 6,125 pounds when static. When the weight distribution is applied, the theory is that a third would be on the trailer axles which would add 400 pounds to the load and increase the number to 6,525 pounds.

The photo shows the 15" Michelins mounted on 15" SenDel wheels and installed on the 23D International Serenity. They would be supporting around 5,200 pounds camping ready. They are inflated to 44 psi. They have the Dill TPMS installed along with the Centramatic wheel balancers and McGard lug nuts.

The additional advantage for us was this elevated the 23D to the same height as the 25FB so all the settings and CanAm bent stinger for use with the Mercedes and the 25FB worked perfectly.

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted by Hans627

...... Why would this not work?

Because you forgot to derate the P tires by a factor of 1.1. If you do, then you will realize that the tires are potentially overloaded - and the solution to that is to go bigger.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by CapriRacer

Because you forgot to derate the P tires by a factor of 1.1. If you do, then you will realize that the tires are potentially overloaded - and the solution to that is to go bigger.

He didn't divide by 1.1 but in his reply he took 10% off and noted the 500# spare capacity (with that "discount") on MAX trailer weight - which he assumed would be less than that in a 25 (in my 27fb, it's about 5800# actual on the scales loaded for camping as an example while MAX is 7600).

Was there something missed in his concept? If so, please let me know because I'm doing exactly that (the 15s derated 10% sharing 5800# which leaves more than 25% margin on the derated capacity).

1984 per derated tire *4 = 7936# capacity (call it 7900). I'm using 5800 of that leaving a buffer of 2100# which is >26% margin of the derated capacity using these P tires.

I think we're saying the same thing so if I'm mistaken please (sincerely) help me out! 😳

Thanks!

[Ampman]

I got that exact combo but in the black accent finish from Discount Tire last month. They were $105 each with a $30 rebate for the four wheels. Tires had a $70 rebate for four. Just take them the part number from Sendel's website and they can order them. Got the road hazard certificates as well. No more junk ST tires for us.

[dmnichols]

I recently upgraded my 2014 Classic to 16" wheels from Treadit and Michelin tires. This was the recommended combo from airstream. What is very confusing is the PSI recommendation from Airstream of 80 lbs. PSI vs Michelin of 55 lbs. PSI. The 80 lbs. PSI is for a individual tire load of 3780 lbs. My trailer maximum load is 10,000 lbs., which is 2500 lbs. per tires if a balanced load. I sent the recommended PSI chart from Michelin nd they stood fast on the 80 PSI recommendation. Am I missing something????

[Hiho Silver]

I use 68 psi on my 16" Michelins with a 2014 27 flying cloud. I tried various different psi's, but not ever as much as 80, because I felt even 75 was too much, rougher ride on the airstream. Not sure why airstream recommends 80 psi, maybe they don't care if it is going to damage the trailer? Like popped rivets, leaks, etc. However I'm not an expert. Curious to hear what psi others use.


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[DuncanK1]

Trying to choose which Dill TPMS to order. What size? 0.453" or 0.625"?

1504-416Trailer TPMS Kit, Four (4) wheels, 0.453″ rim hole diameter.1504-572Trailer TPMS Kit, Four (4) wheels, 0.625″ rim hole diameter.

[jcanavera]

I've been running 80 psi for 3 years with the E rated ST Maxxis tires and now 3 years with the Michelin's. No leaks no popped rivets. Airstream is not going to recommend anything less than the max load ratings that appears on the side wall. They have no idea what your trailer weighs when loaded and want no liability if you don't carry sufficient pressure based on your actual weight. Dmnichols according to this Michelin chart, max load on the 16" LTX M/S2 tire is 2680 at 80 psi. I'm not sure where you are getting your info from. http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/...ok_jan2011.pdf

Jack