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04-28-2017, 05:43 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2009 25' FB Classic
Scottsdale
, Arizona
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 850
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15 to 16 inch wheel
What is the advantages of going from a 15" wheel to a 16" wheel on my AS??? The heel wells or close with a stock 15" wheel so it would be less with a 16" wheel
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Bob & Julie # 5587, 4CU in AZ
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04-28-2017, 06:00 PM
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#2
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Moderator dude
1966 26' Overlander
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,510
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There are several advantages -
The greatest one being higher load capacity in a 16" tire. (Versus a 15")
With that said load capacity is a Goldilocks thing. Both too much and too little are an issue. What is desired is enough load capacity in the tires that the greatest load ever anticipated is covered plus some reserve load capacity. 10 to 20% should do that job.
Trailer manufacturers typically install the lowest possible load capacity (because of cost) to make the trailer work. This is not always enough for some owners in the way they use the trailer.
Other advantages is ride quality, handling, availablility of replacements and may be some other advantages I can not recall at the moment. Others may chime in.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - Streamless.
1966 Lincoln 4 door Convertible 462 4V 1971 Ford LTD Convertible 429 4V Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
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04-28-2017, 06:20 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2019 27' International
2014 25' International
2006 23' Safari SE
Boulder City
, Nevada
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,703
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Action summed it up very well.
There are several Threads running on 16"... 'upgrades'. I am 100% content with the 16" conversion from 15" options. My trailer has had no structural or rivet popping since the conversion. Some interior rivets failed with the 15" D Rated tires that were factory installed, and none with the 'stiffer' E Rated 16 Michelin tires. Some correlate stiffer tires with more interior pop rivet failures. I have seen nothing... to date.
I attribute the interior pop rivets as a structural flexing in those curved areas and not the 15" or 16" tires being at fault. A manufacturing 'adjustment' being made while in use by the owner... Obvious high stress curved areas seem to be common with other owners, as well. Tires... at the present and in my opinion, are not related. If that changes, I will the first to report any additional interior or exterior rivet failures!
Other than the additional cost, there have been only positive improvements. E Rated for weight. Higher speed rated. Deeper tread may toss up gravel into the wheel well is a possible negative if traveling gravel at higher speeds. Double Axle with 16" tires with room to spare in wheel well, so fit is not an issue with our International.
The only negative, if anything at all. The trailer needs to be higher in order to install or remove a 16" tire. Maybe two inches... but that is the only change noticed while installing. My initial break in period of the 16" change over, I am optimistic that I have found MY SOLUTION to any potential tire failures to our 25 foot International. Loaded... or empty.
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Human Bean
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04-28-2017, 06:25 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2009 25' FB Classic
Scottsdale
, Arizona
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 850
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Thanks. I will check these out My tires are starting there third year so I need to start thinking about replacing them in two years.
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Bob & Julie # 5587, 4CU in AZ
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04-29-2017, 11:47 AM
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#5
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3 Rivet Member
2015 27' FB International
Wheatley
, Ontario
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 111
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and it looks better to boot
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04-29-2017, 01:44 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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For many people here I believe the decision to go from 15 to 16" is not so much that there are advantages with the larger wheel diameter per se - although there may be = but rater that many folks have not been happy with reliability / performance of "Trailer Tires" (designated ST) and prefer to use "Light truck tires" (designated LT).
The feeling is that the are less likely to result in blow outs that can be extremely costly if the tire damages the side of your trailer due to flying rubber.
With heavier trailers such as my Classic 30, you are obliged to switch to a 16" wheel size i order to get an LT tire of the right cqpacity for the GVW of the trailer - hence the switch.
It may not be necessary for some of the shorter trailers.
As for the larger wheel size causing clearance problems, remember it is just 1/2" on the radius. It caused no problem in my trailer but is fairly close to the lower edge of the wheel
well.
If I were contemplating going this route on a shorter trailer, I would check the forum so see what others have found with the same model trailer.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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04-29-2017, 02:36 PM
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#8
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Moderator dude
1966 26' Overlander
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,510
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With an asterisk to the above post, the loading on any single axle trailer is much higher than the loading on larger or "heavier" multi-axle trailers.
>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - Streamless.
1966 Lincoln 4 door Convertible 462 4V 1971 Ford LTD Convertible 429 4V Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
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05-01-2017, 04:10 PM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
2013 19' International
Colorado Springs
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 32
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Goodyear Endurance Tires
I thought long and hard about making the 15 to 16 inch conversion. Then Goodyear announced the Endurance tire. It looks like the Marathon with a few improvements.
1. Available in load range D or E (max. 2830 lbs. at 80 psi.). There is a chart with the load range for each psi under 80 so you can dial in your optimal pressure for your load.
2. An ST radial tire
3. Made in USA
As a motorcyclist and bicyclist, I consider tires my connection to earth and the place "where the rubber meets the road".
IMHO, tires are cheap insurance. I keep them covered when I am parked for more than one night. I check air pressure early on each day that I tow my AS. I put my hand on tires (to feel for excessive heat) whenever I stop after driving on bumpy or hot roads. I don't expect more than 40,000 miles out of a trailer tire. I know they can go further I don't like wearing shoes that are more than 2/3 to holes in the soles, why would I do that with tires?
For off roading, additional ground clearance is good. But for on road, it is adventageous to be lower. Why mess with the engineers decision?
The Goodyear Endurance tires have been on my trailer for a month and I've had no issues.
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05-02-2017, 08:22 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2009 25' FB Classic
Scottsdale
, Arizona
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 850
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Thanks. I have started to read about this new tire from Goodyear. If they are that good why pay the cost of 16 and keep the 15.
__________________
Bob & Julie # 5587, 4CU in AZ
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05-02-2017, 08:26 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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FYI Bob, from another thread -- click on arrow in Quote to go there:
Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15
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