What pressure do you use 16" Michelin?

[dkottum]

There are now many Eddie Bauer Airstreams on the road and many of us have converted to 16" Michelin tires on our own Airstreams. We are hitting the road tomorrow, have seen reasonable suggestions from 50-80 psi in our tires. Quite a range.

Without another reference to charts and weights, what tire pressure do you use now in your 16" Michelins, why, and how does it work for you?

[dznf0g]

I've settled in at 75psi for my 30' Classic with about 7800# in the ground with WD applied.

I have tried 80, 75, and 70 psi and noted ride quality, tire temps (and pressure rise) as well as tread contact patch. I have found 75 psi to be the sweet spot for my particular setup.

[lsbrodsky]

I run 80 because Michelin recommends 80 for optimal tire life.
Larry

[Al and Missy]

I run 75 because that gives me the same carrying capacity as the original tires. With about 1000 miles on them I don't notice that they tow any differently than the GYM's at 65.

Al

[KJRitchie]

Does the trailer ride harsher with the 16" Michelins at 75lb to 80lbs vs the 235/75-15 Michelin? When I bought my preowned 2008 Classic 25fb in 2013 I switched them out with Micheline 235/74x15 which run at max pressure of 50lbs. I use a TireTraker TPMS system for pressure monitoring. You read so much about a harsh ride popping rivets.

Just wondering if I need to put the 16" wheel/tire conversion on my list of future things to do.

Kelvin

[AnnArborBob]

I have a 2014 27 foot Eddie Bauer running the stock 16" Michelin LT tires and after consulting the tire loading tables, settled on 55 psi. That amount of pressure is more than sufficient even if I exceed the maximum weight on the trailer (i.e., more than fully loaded) which I never do. I use a TPMS with temperature capability and have never seen my tires exceed the ambient air temperature by more than 10 degrees (F) which is a pretty good indication that I am not under-inflated.

The 80 PSI rating for these tires is Michelin's maximum recommended pressure for a tire that is loaded much more heavily than your Airstream will ever be. There is nothing wrong with running them at 80 PSI but it will provide a harsher ride to your trailer which may damage things and/or cause stuff to work itself loose.

I know of some pretty smart people who are more fastidious than me about weighing their trailers and they ride on 45 PSI just fine. I am not so careful and appreciate the added margin provided at 55 PSI.

[crisen]

Our 25 EB is tagged to use 80psi, but based on the tire load chart that is overkill for the load. In somewhere around 18000 Miles I have run from 65 to 80 and don't see any difference in temps but 80 seemed to ride hard but that is pretty subjective. Have settled on 70 psi.

[Wingeezer]

I haven't tried different pressures on mine - I put them on about a year ago and set them at 75psi at the outset - seemed a reasonable compromise from what I had read .

All seems fine, handling is great, no indication of any unusual wear problems or anything else, so that is where I have left them and will do so unless I read something that convinces me that there are valid reasons to change!

Brian.

[SteveH]

I run 70 PSI in mine because they are actually more lightly loaded than on a 31' (three axles), and at that pressure they remain cool and ride good. (9000 lbs / 6= 1500 lbs per tire)

[Moflash]

I run 70 PSI cold in my 28ft International.

[Ramble On]

I believe I used a inflation chart to come up with 65 psi for our 2004 28' international with a GVWR of 7300 lbs. I have about 6000 miles on them with no noticeable wear or problems. Now you've got me second guessing. Does anyone have a inflation chart handy?

[dkottum]

On 11-03-13 Andrew T. wrote:

We have the best results carrying the correct tire pressure for the load the tire is carrying. The attachment is the RV load inflation table from Goodyear's website.
Here are the pressures for a 225/75R x 16 LT:

80psi 2680 pounds,
65psi 2335 pounds,
50psi 1940 pounds,
45psi 1790 pounds,
40psi 1650 pounds,
35psi 1500 pounds.

To use this chart you really should weigh your combination connected & loaded for travel on a sectioned scale.

For example the last Eddie Bauer I weighed with a customer was 6700 pounds on the axles (motor cycle inside) or 1675 pounds per tire. Generally I will add 10% to that number for variences in side to side load and the possibility that the scale is out a little so 1850 pounds per tire. Using the chart you could call it at 47 PSI but we went with 50 psi. 50 PSI has several advantages over 80 PSI; a smoother ride for the Airstream, shorter stopping distances espessially when wet and more even tread wear.

Some trailers & fifthwheels with corners are built with 225 Marathons right at their limit just over 10,000 pounds on tandem axles. In those cases we use the 225/75R x 16" LT with 80 psi.

From 1971 - 1984 a factory option on a new Airstream was Michelin 7:00 x 15" load range "C" tires. There were thousands of Airstreams built with these and tire trouble was very rare. I know many would say those trailers were lighter but actually many were not. The brochure weights in those days did not include options and everything was an option. By the time you added awnings, ac, double pane windows 2 door fridge etc. they weighed about the same as the new ones. Generaly 70's units tow a little easier because they are narrower and little more aerodynamic.

Years ago we could buy 225/75 x 16 Michelins in load range C which was a better match for most Airstream's but they are no longer available.

I know this is confusing and it is always easier to assume that bigger and heavier and more pressure has to be better but everthing has its compromizes.

Andrew T
__________________
Andrew Thomson
Can-Am RV Centre | #1 Airstream Dealer in Customer Satisfaction Worldwide | Your Full-Service RV Dealer

London, Ontario

[jcanavera]

I think your weight and load should be the determining factor. In my case my 30' slide out can run up to 9,100 lbs with a full fresh water tank and typical load of food, clothing and other items. To provide a proper reserve to the tires, I run 80 psi cold on my Michelins.

[slowmover]

TT tires need always be at max sidewall pressure to resist lateral sway. Other considerations are FAR down the list.


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[Moflash]

Originally Posted by slowmover

TT tires need always be at max sidewall pressure to resist lateral sway. Other considerations are FAR down the list.


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This is not true.

[dkottum]

Travel trailer tires at max sidewall pressure. Is there a reference to support that?

[switz]

Pressure rise and temperature rise were less at 75psi than 80 psi using a certified digital pressure gage when checking ststic pressures and the Dill TPMS when under way. We were around 9,200 trailer losded weight before hitching to ProPrideweight distribution system

[slowmover]

Sure. Try the TT manufacturers. Ask either of the tire engineers who post here. The problem in upsizing to use 16's is that load range is hard to match




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[SteveH]

If your travel trailer sets in one spot all the time and never moves, it really doesn't matter what the tire pressures are.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by SteveH

If your travel trailer sets in one spot all the time and never moves, it really doesn't matter what the tire pressures are.

When they sit pressure can be upped 10% past max



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