I personally, logically cannot understand why wheels originally manufactured for (Load Range D) LRD tires that have been run for years with (Load Range C) LRC tires will split.
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Beginner,
I don't believe it has been established that the original wheels were manufactured for D range tires. If so, I sure would like to know. What I read into Andy's earlier comment was those rims that split were manufactured for C range tires.
I agree with you about your other comments. It seems the load and ply rating of a tire may not be the actual number of plys but an equvalencey. If someone could confirm this I would appreciate this info.
For radial tires the ply rating is NOT the actual number of plys. Virtually all radial tires have a 2 ply sidewall. More plys would not be better. There's a fundamental difference in the way bias and radial tires are engineered. The ply rating for comparison is like rating an electic motor in number of cylinders to compare it to a gasoline engine. Go by the load rating and the speed speed rating (really ability to handle heat; the same as Temperature rating for tires rated for Temperature, Traction & Treadwear).
watch out for tire guages, those 99 cent walmart and kmart guages are not very accurate. I've seen 99 centers read up to 9lbs. off I use a milton gauge from a autoparts store.you have to ask for them or they will direct you to their 99 center.
Bob
I do understand we buy tires based on load rating rather than ply rating.Also I wrote dual axle and I meant dual tire for decreased LR.I was not aware of the need to change wheels when I went from C to D tires,I again should have done more homework.Can anyone tell me what the stamp on the back of wheel says for max LR and Max psi on a C rated wheel opposed to D rated.
I have no idea what you are looking for on the wheel or if they are even marked. I know that the new ones are.
Maybe Andy could shed a little light on the markings.
Beginner
When I sandblasted my rims I found alot of circumferential pitting where moisture had seeped in the bead area over long periods of time, just a groove etched following the top of the tire bead seal band - could almost read how many times the tires had been changed they were so well defined. If the heavier load range tires ever met up with the wheels I repainted I'm sure the rim would give up the ghost.
As for splitting the rim on load-range upgrade, seeing that made me a believer Andy knew more than he was saying & so I put marathon 'C's back on AND started to budget 4 new wheels for a mid-summer purchase (before the first full-time travel session)
It is my understanding that the wheels are stamped on the inside.Just wandering if anyone new this info.I will pull mine when it warms up and and change wheels or tires.
Hello bertro , I too would not think the wheels would split ,youd think being
in the automotive service industry ,Id see this on vehicals .Never have .Never
saw a junkyard wheel split .That said ,Andy knows , and his customer did call him and say they split .On my tires ,700-15 D, says on the sidewall 5 ply tread and 4 ply sidewall .It does not say ply rated as radials ST tires do ,or LT.
If its says ply rated it is .Id have to contend then if my tires show the
number of plys in the tire ,thats what they have .Radials are a different ball
game and if it says 2 ply sidewalls ,they are ,if they say 8 ply rated ,then the
strength of the construction and plys actually in the tire give it the 8 ply
rating ,sidewall and tread ,and the ply number is lower than the rating as
youve mentioned in your post.As for my bias tires ,I make sure of the number of plys ,not just the ply rating .
Hey Scott how are you,I read this on The Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels in there tire tech section.I am sure you do have a 9 ply as you appear to be a pretty sharp tac.Carlisle told me today that my tires are D 8 ply rated but infact actualy only have 6 plys 4 continues from side to side every layer checked @ 45 or 90 degrees and 2 around tread.Also I would never dispute Andys master mind on issues including the wheel issue.I wish it was'nt so.I dont think I will go back to a C tire and just get new wheels(Dam).
Well, I can't say anything about tires on 70s or 80s coaches, but I have gotten a smattering of info on original equipment for 60s coaches. I tried to get absolute specifications on tires for my 1960 TW directly from the factory, or get them to name a replacement. Even though I was very direct about the info I wanted they wouldn't commit to anything specific; but they did email the brochure sheet on the 1960 TW. You can find it here in another post if you like.
The brochure indicates 1960s came with 700-15, 8 ply truck type tubless tires. The 1959 and 1963 brochures are on the VAC site. In 1959 tires aren't even mentioned. The 1963 brochure states all single axles came with 700-15 tubeless truck 8 ply. All tandum axles and the Globetrotter had 700-15 tubeless truck 6 ply. The Bambi had 650-13 4 ply white sidewalls.
So, from this information I can go with 700-15 LTs and be exactly where I need to be with my wheels, right?
A little more digging and I found information on the 1974 models from a link within the forum. Check this. Its hard to read but about 1/2 way down the first column of specs it says:
15” truck type extra strength wheels with 700x15 nylon tubeless tires (8 ply on single axle models, 6 ply on tandem axle models).
It doesn't sound like Airstream went into much detail on tires or ratings for these earlier coaches.
A little more digging and I found information on the 1974 models from a link within the forum. Check this. Its hard to read but about 1/2 way down the first column of specs it says:
15” truck type extra strength wheels with 700x15 nylon tubeless tires (8 ply on single axle models, 6 ply on tandem axle models).
It doesn't sound like Airstream went into much detail on tires or ratings for these earlier coaches.
So... it would seem that the same wheel was used for both 6 and 8 ply tires . Still puzzled about the cracking statement .
Trouble is Andy has seen the wheels split and I have seen old wheels split on even automoblies, usually along the weld in the middle of the drop center or where the center disc is welded to the rim.
You might get away with it or not. Roll the dice.
At least you only have to buy three wheels and tires, not five.
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