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GenXair · 07-16-2016, 10:23 PM

Thanks SilveradoTX, that's exactly the user experience post I was looking for.
How much did you pay for the rims and tires? Did you go to your trailer dealer to switch them out, mechanic, or did you do it? Since the tires are larger wouldn't you have to adjust the hitch setup as well?

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SilveradoTX · 07-18-2016, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GenXair

Thanks SilveradoTX, that's exactly the user experience post I was looking for.
How much did you pay for the rims and tires? Did you go to your trailer dealer to switch them out, mechanic, or did you do it? Since the tires are larger wouldn't you have to adjust the hitch setup as well?

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Hello GenXair, $174 for the tires, $145 for wheels....total for five (w/spare) including mount, balance, shipping & handling and tax $1,871.00
I took factory wheels/tires off and installed new ones myself.
Only 1" difference in overall diameter between factory 15" Marathon's and 16" Michelin LTX M/S2 225/75R16, that translates to only 1/2" higher from ground to axle. I did readjust my equalizer hitch but it was minimal and not sure it was worth the sweat. If you take your Airstream to any tire shop, be vigilant and make sure they place the jacks on underbelly where clearly marked by Airstream to avoid damage. Hope this was helpful.....Laus Deo

Barbieri · 10-07-2016, 10:11 PM

I have four trailer tires on my airstream and each can handle 2830 lbs at 80 psi. So from what I have researched you are 1000 pounds short of what my tires can handle. So what are so good about Michelin LT tires that everybody is rushing out to buy? Please don't tell me better braking or softer ride. In a travel trailer you don't ride inside and braking differences would be negligible.

rmkrum · 10-07-2016, 10:26 PM

In my experience GYM tires are unreliable. We babied ours, checked air pressure every day, etc. Never overloaded the AS, never went over the tire speed limit. Tire threw a tread, did $4500 worth of damage to the wheel well and all the stuff under the kitchen cabinet in one shot.

We're talking a tire with less than two years and under 5,000 miles on it. Will never put an ST tire under this AS ever again, especially Goodyear crap.

Have run Michelin tires under all kind of conditions, and even a set that was totally dry rotted and cracked from desert sun NEVER failed me.

I can select an appropriate Michelin tire to take the load of my AS with appropriate margins. And avoid all the pain.

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Phoenix · 10-08-2016, 03:47 AM

See Preliminary Comparison of ST to NON-ST Tire Failure Data - As of 10/07/16.

paiceman · 10-08-2016, 05:01 AM

In answer to your question, because they work, ST tires no longer do.

FCStreamer · 10-08-2016, 05:44 AM

My ST tires work fine. Michelin makes great tires, only problem is that they are not designed for use on trailers. Some tire retailers won't even install them on Airstreams for this reason. Yet many people still do and many report good results. I am happy for them.

If you intend to replace your tires, you can either go by the internet wisdom of this board and choose tires from a manufacturer that says they are not designed for trailers, OR you can buy from a manufacturer that says they make tires specifically for your trailer.

Your trailer, your choice.

**GCinSC2** · 10-08-2016, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCStreamer

If you intend to replace your tires, you can either go by the internet wisdom of this board and choose tires from a manufacturer that says they are not designed for trailers, OR you can buy from a manufacturer that says they make tires specifically for your trailer.

Your trailer, your choice.

Yes my trailer, my choice. Agreed.

Why does AS have the Michelin as an option and when we toured Jackson Center they were in the lobby for sale?

My rig is one of the heaviest AS tandem axle trailers ever made.

FCStreamer · 10-08-2016, 06:34 AM

Well, Airstream puts GYMs on most of their trailers, so I wouldnt be using Airstream's choice of tire as a reason for me to buy mine.

Airstream makes fine trailers. They don't make tires. They just buy them.

I'd rather look at what tire manufacturers say about their own tires.

**GCinSC2** · 10-08-2016, 07:55 AM

Your trailer your choices.

I see the GVWR on a '17 30' FC weighs less than the UBW on my 30' S/O. A lot less.

I bought my trailer 3 yrs old and the left frt tire was replaced already didn't ask didn't know better. A few months later found GYM belt separating on curb side tires. Replaced all with more GYM's while in camp site a few months later. Yes, I did the R&R. The new GYM's developed sidewall protruding bulges. Tire retailer replaced all 4 with maxxis.

No more GYM's for me. The maxxis did fine until the surge of ST issues focused my attn on the problems.

HowieE · 10-08-2016, 08:22 AM

Back to the original question "Why Michelin tires?"

Because they are not GYMs.
This helped me change my mind. At 5am in the dark I don't even now I had lost a tire till I head the cords ticking against the wheel well.

Some might question how I had the tread if I didn't know I had lost the tire. The tread was wrapped around the trailing arm of the axle and came along for the ride.

**GCinSC2** · 10-08-2016, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HowieE

Back to the original question "Why Michelin tires?"

Because they are not GYM's.

Agreed.

I've run Michelin on my VW two sets, two sets on my Dodge Ram 2500 and better half's Toyota. No quality or negative performance issues to report. Good confidence factor in product.

FCStreamer · 10-08-2016, 08:56 AM

You know, Marathons are not the only RV tire Goodyear makes. It's probably the cheapest, which might explain why Airstream uses it, but it's not the only one.

http://www.goodyearrvtires.com/tire-selector.aspx

At least they claim to make RV tires. There are also other brands that make RV tires.

Michelin is not one of them.

tjdonahoe · 10-08-2016, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCStreamer

You know, Marathons are not the only RV tire Goodyear makes. It's probably the cheapest, which might explain why Airstream uses it, but it's not the only one.

http://www.goodyearrvtires.com/tire-selector.aspx

At least they claim to make RV tires. There are also other brands that make RV tires.

Michelin is not one of them.

I used michelins on my big trucks and trailers, there is no such thing as St tires on big trucks, they are also on my 31' classic, 225/75/16, they aren't the cheapest to purchase, but the cost per mile will be lower than a lower cost tire,sometimes the lower cost tire ends up costing you more,especially if it blows out causing a lot of damage to your trailer, you always get what you pay for, there are no bargains out there......

**jcanavera** · 10-08-2016, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

Yes my trailer, my choice. Agreed.

Why does AS have the Michelin as an option and when we toured Jackson Center they were in the lobby for sale?

My rig is one of the heaviest AS tandem axle trailers ever made.

My slide out is a heavy Airstream and from my experience the Marathons started failing with belt issues at the end of season 3. My E rated Maxxis ST's failed at the first trip of season 4 with belt issues. My feeling with the heavy units that ST tires probably need to be replaced after 3 seasons of use. I've concluded my 4th season with my 16" Michelin LT's which surpasses the life I've gotten from two different bands of ST tires. Just from an economic standpoint it's more effective to replace the Michelin's at the end of season 5 than replace the ST tires at about the midpoint of season 3 use.

Jack

FCStreamer · 10-08-2016, 09:56 AM

Well, Michelins are just tires. And they can and do blow from time to time. No tire is blow proof.

tjdonahoe · 10-08-2016, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCStreamer

Well, Michelins are just tires. And they can and do blow from time to time. No tire is blow proof.

Well maybe you should run the marathons or you might find some other off the wall cheaper tire and feel good about it, after all a tire is a tire.....

rmkrum · 10-08-2016, 10:47 AM

Speaking only for my experience, I have never had a Michelin tire fail catastrophically. And I'm talking high mileage, heavy vehicles, with my family aboard.

The worst issue, if you can call it that, was slow leaks caused by heavy sun exposure and dry rotting. The set still got me 200 miles to the dealer for replacements after adding air.

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**Action** · 10-08-2016, 11:22 AM

The opinions being posted on this thread are being repeated are are tending in a negative direction.

If you have a new thought by all means post it.
If you want to disagree, agree to that, as no one is getting their opinion changed.

If posting continue to be in a negative vein stating the same thing or in violation or in violation of the spirit of the Terms of Service and Community Rules posted at the bottom of every page, this thread will be closed.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

**jcanavera** · 10-08-2016, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCStreamer

Well, Michelins are just tires. And they can and do blow from time to time. No tire is blow proof.

Yep, under particular circumstances, any tire can fail. There are lots of folks where an ST tire is a perfectly good match. My experience is with heavy loads carrying between 8,600-9,100 lbs. From my usage I realize that ST tires just don't have the longevity that I want in my application.

We are also seeing that longevity bear out as those of us who made the switch have now been towing with them for 4 seasons or more without the belt failures that are trademark of the ST's.

Jack