Considering Eddie Bauer Wheel Upgrade, but would like opinions.

[cory_can]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Cory, there are 2 tire manufacturer experts who have posted on this subject at length. And the OP is looking at a 30' bunkhouse...not 28'. Not sure, but I believe it is a 10,000 GVWR trailer.

FC bunk is 8800, Classic is 10K.

I was commenting on the use of 16" wheels and LT tires on smaller models, as it came up earlier in the thread....and your comment about the 28 being "too close for comfort".

[Ted S.]

Originally Posted by interstateflyer

What options are offered?

We opted for:

Full window awnings
2nd AC with 50 amp service
Bunk Bedroom TV
1000w Inverter
Black Ultra leather
Convection Microwave

I skipped the solar as I understand I can get a bigger system for less in the aftermarket.

[Ted S.]

Thanks for all the replies.

I agree I'd rather have the $1000 in my pocket, but something about have the factory do it is appealing to me. I know they would match everything properly. Maybe I am just over thinking it, but anyway, the tire talk is over my head. Mostly because I don't have the time to research it all.

To be honest, I see this as a "wish list" item, I am sure the standard equipment is just fine.

Thanks

[Al and Missy]

Cory_can,
The 15" GYMs that were standard on my trailer and listed on the placard, when inflated to the recommended 65psi each have 2540# capacity. My 16" Michelins, inflated to 75#, have 2560# capacity. So, if my Michelins are shaking my trailer, I suspect the GYMs would be too. I really don't know why AS seemingly over-specified the tires, but I believe I should keep the same load carrying capacity as originally specified until I know a reason not to.

I have acquired a vibration analyzer app and plan to record the internal vibration at various pressures to see how much difference it makes. But with 500 miles under tow, nothing is falling off the wall yet.

[cory_can]

Load capacity on tires decrease as heat/speed increase and since ST tires have a low speed rating (due to not being able to dissipate heat) they are over rated. Trailers these days are routinely pulled at speeds up to and exceeding ST limits.

That and it's much cheaper for AS to put the same wheel/tire package on several trailers across the lineup

[Beach Bum]

Originally Posted by Ted S.

I am in the purchase stage of a new Airstream and was wondering if anyone could help me decide of the EB Wheel Option. It is a $2500 upgrade. The trailer is loaded and my life's dream. I have 2 weeks to decide.

Any thoughts?

Thanks so much for your help.

Ted

Wow !!!!! Based on my buying experience last year $2500 looks like full retail or they have really jacked up the price. I paid $1960 last year for the factory EB 16" wheel and tire upgrade on my 2014 30' FC. You can always upgrade later or try to get a better price.

[Al and Missy]

The Marathons are rated for 65 mph. As I understand it they are rated for their load carrying capacity at that speed. The Michelins are rated to 100 mph. Maybe that makes them stronger and therefore ride rougher, but the counter to that is the claim often made on here that the ST tires have stiffer sidewalls to counter the lateral stresses of tandem axle service.

I don't know the complete story, but I'm more than satisfied with my choice. We'll see what a few thousand miles on the road will bring. I'll know that answer in November. I know I'd rather have these than the GYMs, and I'm pretty sure I'd rather have them than the P-metric passenger tires.

But as I said in my original post, just my opinion, YMMV.

Al

[HeadWest]

I also would recommend doing it yourself. I did the special order for my from Airstream and along with being more expensive, the installed a discontinued older Michelin tire. I found this out after having a flat and not being able to get the same tire as a replacement. The older version of the tire was discontinued several months prior to my trailer being built.

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by Ted S.

I am in the purchase stage of a new Airstream and was wondering if anyone could help me decide of the EB Wheel Option. It is a $2500 upgrade. The trailer is loaded and my life's dream. I have 2 weeks to decide.

Any thoughts?

Thanks so much for your help.

Ted

We were told that some 2015 models come standard with the larger wheel/tire combo ... but the old upgrade cost helps justify the EB pricing.

[Ted S.]

Thanks for all the replies. I spoke with the dealer today and he assured me the standard rims and tires are just fine.

So I think I will pass on it for now. I think down the road I will do the upgrade, but I might change it up and find a real cool rim. I also would like to learn more about tires and find a real good top of the line set.

So for now I'll save the $2500 and put that into the Hensley Arrow.

Thanks again for you helpful insight.

Ted

[dkottum]

Good move for now, you can upgrade tires later cheaper than they can.

You might look into the ProPride hitch (an improved Hensley) and it is usually less expensive.

[Moflash]

If your trailer is coming with 15's your dealer is giving you some very poor advice.Just do a seach on Airstream forum for Goodyear Marathon problems.Or GYM problems for short.You are buying a top of the line trailer with cheap tires?

[markdoane]

And keep in mind that opinions are like elbows; everyone has two.


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[Moflash]

Just read up on the matter as I mentioned above and draw your own educated conclusion.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[interstateflyer]

Discount Tire/America's Tire sell both Michelin LT/16 inch tires and Sendel T03 wheels. I always thought that this combo was standard on all Eddie Bauers......on all of the ones that I've seen.

It would be ashamed to spend all of that money on a EB and short yourself on tires. I put the 16inch combo on my 2013 International 19 and the 15s on my 2014 International 23D. No A/S should come with GYMs.

[Ted S.]

Okay, you have my attention. I will price out the Sendel T03 wheels and Michelin LT/16 inch tires.

I am assuming this is the top of the line combo? If I can price it now, perhaps I will do a swap right off the bat and save the original equipment for sale as new.

Or... perhaps there was a spike in price, if I doing a factory upgrade is within $500 of doing it myself, I'm going to call the dealer and tell them to do it.

Now here's the question, what sizes am I looking for? 16x7 or 8 rims, and what about the tires?

Thanks for your help.

[Silverbee]

Last week we negotiated a trade of our 2012 25ft Flying Cloud for a 2015 28ft. Flying Cloud(primarily because of the ducted air). It is on the dealer lot waiting for A/S to send the Eddie Bauer 16" rims and Michelin tires to replace the 15" and GYM's. The dealer will also be replacing the valve stems with chrome stems from Always Shiny Wheels and RV to use with our TSTTruck Tire Pressure Monitoring System we bought for our 2012. Very happy to have made these decisions. Finally convinced the wife that was a necessity for safety and peace of mind.

[dkottum]

We have the Michelin 16" tires but it's a bit of a stretch to say they are absolutely necessary for everyone, or they are for safety. Many have made the good decision to use what they have for their own reasons, use extra care in their use and maintenance, and are doing quite well. We changed because of our long distance travel and peace of mind, and the final cost of the upgrade was $1,000.

[Ted S.]

Originally Posted by Silverbee

Last week we negotiated a trade of our 2012 25ft Flying Cloud for a 2015 28ft. Flying Cloud(primarily because of the ducted air). It is on the dealer lot waiting for A/S to send the Eddie Bauer 16" rims and Michelin tires to replace the 15" and GYM's. The dealer will also be replacing the valve stems with chrome stems from Always Shiny Wheels and RV to use with our TSTTruck Tire Pressure Monitoring System we bought for our 2012. Very happy to have made these decisions. Finally convinced the wife that was a necessity for safety and peace of mind.

I find this helpful, I will check into TPMS as well.

Ideally I'd like to drive off the lot and not have to deal with buying, remounting, selling old tires/rims, etc and I'd like it done by someone other than me, someone qualified, even though I used to be a mechanic. I am a very busy business man and father these days. Time is precious to me.

What I am finding mind boggling is that I can go out and buy these Sendel T03 wheels and Michelin LT/16 inch tires and throw my brand new standard 15" rims and tires in the dumpster for far less than paying for the upgrade?!?!

Am I missing something here, do they modify the hubs or brakes or something, or is is a straight wheel swap?

[Silverbee]

Originally Posted by Ted S.

I find this helpful, I will check into TPMS as well.

Ideally I'd like to drive off the lot and not have to deal with buying, remounting, selling old tires/rims, etc and I'd like it done by someone other than me, someone qualified, even though I used to be a mechanic. I am a very busy business man and father these days. Time is precious to me.

What I am finding mind boggling is that I can go out and buy these Sendel T03 wheels and Michelin LT/16 inch tires and throw my brand new standard 15" rims and tires in the dumpster for far less than paying for the upgrade?!?!

Am I missing something here, do they modify the hubs or brakes or something, or is is a straight wheel swap?

Our new Flying Cloud was at the dealer with the 15" rims and GYM's. Our deal was for the dealer to obtain the EB's and Michelins from Jackson Center and swap out(we paid the difference) the installed wheels and tires, including the spare. It is my understanding that no modification is necessary-straight change-out.