New Michelin 15" Tires

[Hans627]

After much research and deliberation I finally replaced the GYM tires on my '09 International. I decided not to go with the 16" replacement wheels and stayed with the original 15" wheels. I purchased the Michelin LTX M/S2 (P)235/75R15 108T tires. Based on the experience of others on the forum and the weight of my 25FB I am confident that I made a good choice, for me. I had them inflated to 44 psi as was recommended.

My GYM tires were over four years old and, while the tread looked good, I just didn't want to risk a tread separation or blowout and all the issues these may cause.

I guess time will tell if my confidence in these tires was well founded.

[Mrjkq]

I replaced the almost new 2016 GYM's on my 25ft AS with Maxxis E rated 10 ply tires. I just couldent get comfortable with a C rated tire but honestly I've never heard any negetives about the Michelin 15 inch tires.

[John&Vicki]

I've fooled around with Porsches for many years and I can't think of a brand I have more trust in than Michelin. Near the top of my todo list is replacing my no-name tires with Michelin LT's. I've read many of the countless tire threads (threads?) here and I'm stumped as to why some see the need to switch to 16" wheels. Am I missing something?

What do you think of these?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

Cheers,
John

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by John&Vicki

I've fooled around with Porsches for many years and I can't think of a brand I have more trust in than Michelin. Near the top of my todo list is replacing my no-name tires with Michelin LT's. I've read many of the countless tire threads (threads?) here and I'm stumped as to why some see the need to switch to 16" wheels. Am I missing something?

What do you think of these?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

Cheers,
John

That's the tire I use on my 2012 27FB Flying Cloud. As a "P" rated tire, you have to divide its capacity (2184#) by 1.1 when using on a trailer which means each tire carries 1985#.

I assume your trailer is in the 5000# range and a double axle, yes? If so, you'd have 7940# capacity and nearly a ton and a half head room. My trailer axles see (on the scales) 6000# fully loaded for camping so I have almost 25% headroom using these 15" tires even at their de-rated load capacity. I'm very happy with them. (Side note, I went with the white lettering facing out because it looks awesome &#128512. I just replaced my truck's 20" LT tires with Michelins - very happy with the entire setup.

Some go to the 16" LT Michelins because their trailers are heavier (perhaps slide models or hickory cabinets, etc.). That tire carries near 3000# if I'm not mistaken leaving much more "head room" than would be available on the 15" version.

[SpletKay06]

While I love Michelin tires I dont understand why everyone puts them under there AS. Personally I use Carlisle tires under my trailers my st225/75R15 radial hd tires have a load rating of 2830lbs per tire and are made specifically to be used on a trailer. Please dont take this the wrong way im just trying to understand the reason for putting a non trailer tire under your trailer.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by SpletKay06

While I love Michelin tires I dont understand why everyone puts them under there AS. Personally I use Carlisle tires under my trailers my st225/75R15 radial hd tires have a load rating of 2830lbs per tire and are made specifically to be used on a trailer. Please dont take this the wrong way im just trying to understand the reason for putting a non trailer tire under your trailer.

I can only speak for myself. I have to admit - I read so many horror stories about GYMs here, I swapped mine out for Michelins after just a few trips. The fact that Airstream is using the 16" LT version on even more trailers now suggests there's something to be gained in the swap. I fully realize the 15s are not LT tires (like AS puts on the Pendleton) or ST (like the GYMs), but for my trailer, they have more than enough load capacity and with my internal TPMS I can see they never rise more than 30* above ambient or 10% above cold pressure so they're doing quite well on the job.

At about 1.5x the cost of the GYMs, for me, it's been worth the peace of mind.

Everyone's mileage can and should vary. Happy camping! 😀

[GettinAway]

At least you have a choice. I've got a 23FB that still has the original GYM tires. They are 14"! I can't find an alternative.

[Tincampers]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

At least you have a choice. I've got a 23FB that still has the original GYM tires. They are 14"! I can't find an alternative.

Find someone who is upgrading to 16" and buy their 15". You can usually get them for a good price.

[SteveSueMac]

GettinAway - I'm not sure how much clearance you have in your wheel wells but if you wanted to make a change, you might want to investigate upgrading to 15" wheels and perhaps think about the Goodyear G26 Cargo tire - it's a bit shorter than the Michelin and carries about 2500# if I remember correctly. I was going to get a set of those to more closely match the original capacity of the GYMs but I didn't want to do hitch adjustments 😕

[John&Vicki]

Originally Posted by SpletKay06

While I love Michelin tires I dont understand why everyone puts them under there AS. Personally I use Carlisle tires under my trailers my st225/75R15 radial hd tires have a load rating of 2830lbs per tire and are made specifically to be used on a trailer. Please dont take this the wrong way im just trying to understand the reason for putting a non trailer tire under your trailer.

My understanding from having spent way too much time here reading about tires is that LT tires are built for vehicles that carry passengers and ST tires are built for vehicles that don't carry passengers and so LT tires are more heavily regulated and therefore of higher quality. And quality pertains to safety as tires don't really suffer "blow outs", they simply separate and disintegrate.

Maybe it's another thing in the belt and suspenders category that we encounter here so often. But for me Michelins will have at least a placebo effect - they will remove any anxiety I have over tire failure.

John

[SpletKay06]

The irony is gym tires are junk just like most goodyear products. That does not meen that all St tires are junk. The duratrac is a good tire but thats about it. Yes Lt tires can work great but there deisgned to put foraward traction down and a trailer tire does not need to do that. With my Carlisle Hd radials I get very little pressure increase and there barely warm to the touch after doing 70 mph on the freeway.

[Rjpuckett]

I am with Spletkay. I put the same tires (Carlisle ST225/75R15) on my 2012 FC. They are E Rated tires and made by the company that makes trailer tires.

I also changed my F150 Crew Cab Michelins to LT275/65R18 which is also an E rated tire (just a little wider than what it came with).


All 8 tires are MAX 80 PSI and I have them inflated to 76 PSI.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Mrjkq

I replaced the almost new 2016 GYM's on my 25ft AS with Maxxis E rated 10 ply tires. I just couldent get comfortable with a C rated tire but honestly I've never heard any negetives about the Michelin 15 inch tires.

The Michelin 108 T described above are Extra Load tires. At 50 PSI they are rated as a D 8 ply and at 80 PSI as E 10 PLY.
I have the same tires on my 30' International.

[airdreamers]

Originally Posted by SpletKay06

While I love Michelin tires I dont understand why everyone puts them under there AS. Personally I use Carlisle tires under my trailers my st225/75R15 radial hd tires have a load rating of 2830lbs per tire and are made specifically to be used on a trailer. Please dont take this the wrong way im just trying to understand the reason for putting a non trailer tire under your trailer.

My Carlisle tires had thread separation 9 months old (tires were on the AS when purchased from a dealer). Blowout, damage to underbelly belly wrap. I must admit that Carlisle stood behind their tire. They requested me to return one of the other tires. I was sent a UPS printed label, within a short time based on the receipt for which I bought the replacements, they sent me a check in full. I commend them for their service and attention in this matter. I did have to do the repair to the AS myself. Bummer. I have heard good things about the Michelin, so they are now my choice for now. So far 10,000 miles, AOK!

[Starlight Mike]

Originally Posted by Hans627

After much research and deliberation I finally replaced the GYM tires on my '09 International. I decided not to go with the 16" replacement wheels and stayed with the original 15" wheels. I purchased the Michelin LTX M/S2 (P)235/75R15 108T tires. Based on the experience of others on the forum and the weight of my 25FB I am confident that I made a good choice, for me. I had them inflated to 44 psi as was recommended.

My GYM tires were over four years old and, while the tread looked good, I just didn't want to risk a tread separation or blowout and all the issues these may cause.

I guess time will tell if my confidence in these tires was well founded.

I have read many of the tire threads and I am convinced 16" LT Michelins are the way to go. I've had two tread separations in the last year with trailer tires both times causing damage to AS. If I didn't live in the heat of FL or if I never drive over 65, maybe the ST's would be OK but my 25 weighs over 7000 lbs and I'm ready for LT's and load range E. From the number of tire posts, it's clear this issue is a large concern!

[John&Vicki]

M...

Why 16"? It appears that the 15" Michelins have more than adequate specs.

Thanks,
John

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by John&Vicki

M...

Why 16"? It appears that the 15" Michelins have more than adequate specs.

Thanks,
John

Just one guy's opinion...

A) they're officially LT (light truck) classification, not P (passenger) classification

B) they have more capacity than original GYMs and AS is using them on some trailers (feels like an endorsement)

C) some like to have an extra cushion of capacity since each wheel doesn't actually see the average of the 4. The 15" Michelins max out at 7940 for a set of 4, so if you want say 20% headroom and you're over 6350#, you'd want the 16s for margin.

Just some guesses in my part. At 6000# in the scales, I'm comfortable with the 15" version.

[mikesSE]

I'm looking for a set of Alcoa 15" 6 lug that they have replaced for 16".Anyone have a set near Atlanta?

[Bill M.]

"The Michelin 108 T described above are Extra Load tires. At 50 PSI they are rated as a D 8 ply and at 80 PSI as E 10 PLY."

Frankly, this is confusing to me.

The p235x15XL tires are just that, a P rated tire that can carry up to 50 psi. It is a very similar tire to the LT235x15 load range C that Michelin used to sell and was a C rated tire. (50 psi maximum) I ran the LT load range C until I could not get them any more and then switched to the P...XL tire.

You are correct that D (65 psi) and E(80 pis) rated tires can carry higher pressures and loads, but Michelin does not make them in a 15" size. I think you can get a 15" D rated Goodyear Wrangler still. I saw a set of those on the trailer of a retired Goodyear tire designer who did not like the ST tires at all.

Some of the reasons given for ST tires is that the rubber is compounded to last longer in infrequent service, they carry higher loads for a small size, they are better for overloads, and P tires will not stay on the wheels and will make the trailer sway. So far as I know, at least for my trailer, none of those things are really true.

Disclaimer, I actually have Goodyear Marathons(LR D) on one of my trailers and 15" Michelins on the other. I pull the one with the Michelins about 10,000 miles a year. I change tires every 4th year sitting in my driveway. I would rather do it there than have it done on the road.

[popgun33]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

At least you have a choice. I've got a 23FB that still has the original GYM tires. They are 14"! I can't find an alternative.

Maxxis makes a superior 14 inch trailer tire.