Bob,
I can't remember but will the Centramatics you bought fit the 15" rim?
Well, the Centramatics came in and they do not fit the 15" rims that came on my '86 Sovereign. It looks like they lack about 1/4" from fitting flush inside the wheel. Oh well, I'll send them back and next April when I buy new 16" aluminum rims, I will order the Centramatics again. I have $1900 earmarked for the Yamaha 30iseb generator this year and wheels/tires and 100 watt solar system allotted for next year. The Goodyear Marathon tires are in good shape so I might as well put some rubber on the road until next year.
__________________ Craig
AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
Hi All--I am new to to the forum, and just finished reading the 9-pages of this thread. Am I the only one running bias ply LT 7:00x15-C, 6-ply rated tires. I have a 1973 27' Overlander which consistantly weighs 6200 to 6400 lbs on the rear axles, loaded, and hitched to my 2001 Suburban 1/2-ton, on a truck scale. I currently have Kelly Springfield Safari, and previously ran Stratton Super Highway (made by BFG). Always run with 45psi, interstate at 65mph, and tires only slightly warm to the touch on 90+ days. Time to replace again due to ageing, 5-yrs. Am considering the same tire by Goodyear, available at WalMart (special order from the back of the catalog). Never had a flat, or blow out. Did plenty of 1000 mile trips, over all types of roads, and mts, towing with several Chevy 1/2-ton Suburbans, and Vans. Have I been doing something wrong the past 18-years?--Frank S
I don't know the load rating on your bias tires on the trailer but 1600 lbs per tire is a pretty good load. I prefer to have a greater reserve factor from a load range D tire plus lower rolling resistance of radials but, that is just my preference.
I have the Kelly Safari on my van load range C.(tow utility trailer only) I haven't looked at the sidewall but, the tire should be rated at approx 2028lbs(235/75r15). I would guess your tow vehicle loaded with hitch weight at approx 6000lbs. 6000/4=1500 lbs per tire with weight dist hitch is 75%of rating. You must get some sidewall flex from a load range c tires with that big of a trailer?
What you are doing obviously works. I get a little concerned because American manufacturing is under such cost pressure from import competition. The firestone fiasco is an example of what engineering to the bottom side of tolerance can do. I prefer a low load factor whenever possible.
I am also not impressed with Walmart tires. They buy on cost only from the major manufacturers and balance, force, & x-ray are secondary concerns. Don't get me wrong, Walmart will stand behind a bad tire but, I don't want them to adjust it, I want it right in the first place.
Frank based on results it's working. Could it be better? Who knows. And it could be a lot worse.
Congrats on your success and for being a part of the forums.
BTW I am running bias ply also.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - towing a - 1966 Overlander International Twin Bed
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII Diamond Anniversary 4.6L (275hp), 4R70W - 1990 Ford E 150 5.7L, AOD, 3.73 ____________________________________
Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
In my opinion, Frank's success can be attributed to using LT tires in lieu of ST tires. ST tires are based on passenger car tires and their load rating is at relatively "low" speeds. LT tires on the otherhand are required by DOT to carry 15% more than their rated capacity at maximum highway speeds for long durations.
When I first started this thread, I was trying to find an alternative to ST tires. Moving away from ST tires and adopting LT tires was considered dangerous by many. "Airstream wouldn't use ST tires if they weren't reliable!" Some people believed the LT tires would have sidewalls with too much flex, causing sway issues. IF I had seen Frank's solution back then, I might have very well gone in that direction to find a reliable tire solution.
__________________
2002 Toyota Tundra Let the Big Oil companies bail out GM, Ford and Chrysler
Airstream supplied 7.00 x15 bias ply tires on their trailers for many years. When the ST radials were introduced to the market, Airstream decided that they were a better choice and standardized on them.
I have seen nothing in this thread or anywhere else to convince me that Airstream made a bad decision.
The fact that anyone has had long-term success with the same type of tires their vintage trailer was originally equipped with simply tells me that Airstream made a good choice of all the tires that were available at that time.
__________________ Rog
May you camp where wind won’t hit you, where snakes won’t bite and bears won’t git you.
Hi--My LT 7:00x15-C 6-ply rated bias ply tires have a load rating of 1720 lbs @ 45 psi, and D 8-ply rated are also available. I have never had an issue with tire flexing, or stability, even when I did my first trailer trip around lake Michigan without an equalizer hitch (have one now). I have not moved up to D 8-ply rated, being concerned about too harsh a ride, as the C 6-ply, are smooth, with no bounce, and minimum wear.
Just an aside, "Trailer Life" April 1995 said, "when used on trailers derate passenger car tires 10%, and use LT and ST tires at full load rating". "Motor Home" April 1996 said, "trailer/motor home tires should be replaced after 7-years due to age".--Frank S
According to my '76 owners manual all dual axle trailers from 23' to 31' were fitted with 700x15 6 ply tires . The single axel 21' and 23' were fitted with 700x15 8 ply tires.
As a side note , I just replaced two tires on my '76 25' with BFG commercial LT 235/75/15, which is also what was removed . The old tires were manufactured in '88 , 18 years old . There was no sign of breakdown , no cracks , no nothing. I have not had the opportunity to travel thousands of miles so I cannot speak to there long term road usage , I am impressed with there long term general usage .
...... The old tires were manufactured in '88 , 18 years old . There was no sign of breakdown , no cracks , no nothing. I have not had the opportunity to travel thousands of miles so I cannot speak to there long term road usage ..... .
Good thing, cause we want you to be around to speak to us.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - towing a - 1966 Overlander International Twin Bed
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII Diamond Anniversary 4.6L (275hp), 4R70W - 1990 Ford E 150 5.7L, AOD, 3.73 ____________________________________
Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
Glad to see someone having sucess with original tires(size/type) My decision to change was based on the reluctance/refusal of the various "off brands" to give me a straight answer on the criteria their tires were tested to or the standards they were trying to maintain. I found that their tires were in conformity with the FAR for trailer tires which only required testing to 65 MPH. That information and conversations with demolition companies, lawn/landscaping companies and a mfg of commercial flatbed trailers that had been using the ST Marathon tires convinced me that I too would be better served with the 16 inch LT tire as that is what they had all gone to and their tire problems stopped.
Ticki2
I have my thick moments. Please explain. All I am trying to accomplish is trouble free trips? According to all the hoopla, the Marathon and others were not delivering this level of reliability, I had two failures that sent me down this path of research.
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