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Old 03-20-2008, 11:43 AM   #1
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Truck Wheels on A/S

I am looking at the Eagle Alloy wheel 0589-7766 and the MB 72 wheels below that are Truck wheels. Both come in a 16" 6-5.5 bolt pattern with a 4.25 bore. The weight rating are in excess of 2600 lbs. Is there a problem in using truck tires on the A/S with the Goodrich commercial T/A tires.

Eagle Alloy Wheels Series 058

MB Wheels - 72

The other option is below which is a trailer wheel

http://www.trailertiresandwheels.net...product/AW1603


Thanks Don
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Old 03-21-2008, 05:53 PM   #2
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Let me rephrase this. The top two wheels listed are advertised as "truck" wheels. The bottom listed wheel is described as a "trailer" wheel. Is there a material difference that should be considered?

Thanks

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Old 03-21-2008, 07:25 PM   #3
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Wheels

adonh
According to what I have read and been told some "trailer" aluminum wheels have steel inserts in them. This was done because of severe weight and overpressured impact wrenches.
Others have gone to the Eagle alloy wheel before me and have had no problems.
Just make sure the weight rating of the wheel (3000 lbs+) and the back set and offset are the same as the original steel trailer wheel.
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Old 03-21-2008, 08:31 PM   #4
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As long as the weight rating, width, and offset are correct, you can use truck wheels on your trailer. I am not so sure about the Goodrich Commercial T/A's, aren't they 10 ply rated?
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Old 03-22-2008, 06:32 AM   #5
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Truck Wheels

Finally got some local tire dealerships to talk with me due to mutual friends. When assured I had a brain and was not a lawyer, information flowed freely, the ones I talked to were familiar with Airstreams and their special needs.
INFLATION: It seems that on the vintage units tire pressure was recommended, such as 45 PSI for the 31 foot units. 8 ply 7.00-15 tires were used. Their max pressure was 65 PSI. The sidewalls had to be doing some flexing. Also Interstates highways and 65 and 70 mph speed limits have been with us since the early 60s. We all know that if you over inflate a tire the center will wear out and if you under inflate a tire the sholders will wear out. I don"t remember the "seasoned" airstream owners complaining about tire failures as we do.
I have tried to get BG Goodrich to sent me an inflation chart for the Commercial T/A twice, but I keep receiving inflation charts for Michelins.
The inflation charts list the following information for RVs: A LT225/75R16 inflated to 65 PSI will carry a load of 2335 lbs.. A Pressure of 60 PSI will carry a load of 2190 lbs.. This goes all the way down to 35 PSI and 1500 lbs..

What is to be surmised from this information?

1. Michelin/Goodyear tires do not require max inflation to be reliable, You can run lower pressures as long as the pressures you run are on the chart AND ARE HIGH ENOUGH TO CARRY THE LOAD YOU HAVE ON THE TIRE. Michelin states by the information in their chart that you do not have to inflate their tires to max pressure to get them to survive the journey. This is reinforced by the older units recommending a less than max pressure for their 8 ply (Load Range D) LT tires that used to be standard on the vintage units. As long as you run the appropriate lower pressures on the E tire you will get the softer ride and because of the different construction methods/rubber compounds the tire should not come apart. I run 60 psi last year with no problems and with no noticable temperature rise. According to the CAT scale I have 1700 lbs max on each tire. I'm thinking of dropping to 55 psi.

2. If you have to run a tire at max (rock hard) pressure to stop failures reguardless of load on the tire, maybe its time to change tires.

All this being said both dealers, both local one Goodyear, one Michelin/Firestone-Bridgstone laughed when I brought up the ST tires.
Both try to steer trusted customers to the LT tires.

Bottom line:
***Its ok to put the E rated tire on your trailer just NEVER PUT MORE THAN 65 PSI IN THEM. Find out how much weight is on each tire and inflate them accordingly.
In my case, 55 psi represents a 17% weight safety margin.
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Old 03-22-2008, 07:03 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adonh
I am looking at the Eagle Alloy wheel 0589-7766 and the MB 72 wheels below that are Truck wheels. Both come in a 16" 6-5.5 bolt pattern with a 4.25 bore. The weight rating are in excess of 2600 lbs. Is there a problem in using truck tires on the A/S with the Goodrich commercial T/A tires.

Eagle Alloy Wheels Series 058

MB Wheels - 72

The other option is below which is a trailer wheel

Aluminum Trailer Wheel Style: SERIES #03 Size: 16 x 7 Bolt Pattern: 6 x 5.5 Bore Size: 4.25 Load Rating: 3200 lbs @ 80 PSI Offset: -8mm


Thanks Don
Don,

Myself and others are using the BFG Commercial T/As with much success. Try them...............you'll like them!
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Old 03-22-2008, 07:49 AM   #7
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Offset/weight rating

All three wheel choices in a 16" size seem to be appropriate for trailering.
It seems that all three have the requirement for the minimum weight rating for a tandem axle Airstream. ( 2600lbs)
The MB wheel has an offset of -16mm, which means it's center line runs about 5/8in closer to the inside of the hub. It is a 16x7in wheel, 1in wider than the original wheel.
The Eagle wheel is also a 16x7, with a +8mm offset, meaning the tire's center line will ride 8mm ( about 5/16in) wider than a zero offset wheel.
The ttw.net alloy wheel has a negative ( -8mm) offset.
Measure carefully, to make sure that there is enough tire clearance.
Changing wheels and tires on an Airstream with well worn axles can be a challenge, because the hub is much farther up inside the wheel well.
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Old 03-22-2008, 08:09 AM   #8
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Not to start a wheel war , just an explaination. Why is it repeatedly said that trailer wheels must be min of 2600# rated when many original tires were not near that?
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Old 03-22-2008, 08:27 AM   #9
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The steel wheels on my 1976 31 ' A/S are original equipment. I know they are 15, 6 lug on 5.5 center with a 4.25 bore size.

What is the offset on these original wheels. Are they 6" or 7" wide.

Thanks

Don
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Old 03-22-2008, 08:44 AM   #10
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My best explanation is that Airstream claims that their trailers can be driven on 3 wheels, should one of the double axle's tires go flat.
That would set more load on a single wheel.
Or, there might be a certain beneficial engeneering requirement on a 2600lb rated wheel over a passenger car wheel.
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Old 03-22-2008, 08:45 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adonh
The steel wheels on my 1976 31 ' A/S are original equipment. I know they are 15, 6 lug on 5.5 center with a 4.25 bore size.

What is the offset on these original wheels. Are they 6" or 7" wide.

Thanks

Don
They should be 6in wide, with zero offset. That is if they are original.
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Old 03-22-2008, 08:54 AM   #12
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Offset/Back-spacing explained: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f465...tml#post406899
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Old 03-22-2008, 09:18 AM   #13
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weight rating that high has lots to do with the dynamic loads versus the static loads. If your trailer weighed 4000 pounds and had 4 wheels with tires rated at 1500 pounds each, the static load would would be 1000 on each tire and wheel. In motion the load will increase and decrease from that 1000 per wheel. Because roads are not all flat and straight.

You will actually make turns and might drive over a pot hole or two. All of the running gear components need to survive an event like that or the towing experience stops. 2600 #'s may be excessive and it is a capacity that will not let you down when you have your trailer in service. Also know that this same logic does not apply to all running gear components.

>>>>>>>>Action
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Old 03-22-2008, 09:53 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Action
weight rating that high has lots to do with the dynamic loads versus the static loads. If your trailer weighed 4000 pounds and had 4 wheels with tires rated at 1500 pounds each, the static load would would be 1000 on each tire and wheel. In motion the load will increase and decrease from that 1000 per wheel. Because roads are not all flat and straight.

You will actually make turns and might drive over a pot hole or two. All of the running gear components need to survive an event like that or the towing experience stops. 2600 #'s may be excessive and it is a capacity that will not let you down when you have your trailer in service. Also know that this same logic does not apply to all running gear components.

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I understand that logic , but what good would it do if the tire was not equally rated ?
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Old 03-22-2008, 12:09 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by ticki2
... Why is it repeatedly said that trailer wheels must be min of 2600# rated when many original tires were not near that?
because MISTAKEN info has a life of its own and will not die.

the alcoa wheels a/s used for well over 10 years (until 2006) were only load rated to 2200 lbs each.

these 2200 lb rated rims were used on the classics from 25 ft up to the triple axle 34....

including the 30 ft double axle SLIDE models with a gvwr of over 10,000 lbs.

yes, that's 8800lbs of combined 'wheel rating' on a 10k+ trailer.

loads do shift and extra capacity is usually a good thing, BUT don't forget the WEIGHT of higher rated rims and heavier tires...

most of these recommendations for extra capacity rims ignore 3 issues...

1. 10-15% of the trailer weight is ON the tongue and not carried by the axle/hub/wheel/tires...

so in the '4,000 lb trailer' example, that's ~ 500 lbs tongue mass and 875 lbs at each wheel/tire statically.

2. load shifting happens, BUT it's not the same as a vehicle with the wheels at the corners,

cornering/turning causing very little weight shift and braking actually UNLOADS the trailer wheelsntires...

IMPACT from bumps/holes/rails is important but it is NOT the same as overloading stresses.

3. the EXTRA unsprung weight from heavier tire/wheel packages can negatively affect trailer ride and add VIBRATION inside the trailer.

so i'd suggest caution with moving to a higher rated tire/wheel package IF it's much heavier, or STIFFER than oem specs...

on really old units moving from steel rims to an alloy usually results in LESS weight and better ratings,

which is 2 good things, but pay attention to tire mass increases from going up in size or ply rating.

cheers
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Old 03-22-2008, 12:30 PM   #16
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2air , that explaination is close to what I have gleaned so far in all the dicussions of tires and wheels . I have not been able to determine the rating of original '76 alum wheels, anyone happen to know?
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Old 03-22-2008, 01:10 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ticki2
I understand that logic , but what good would it do if the tire was not equally rated ?
The tire is a dynamic thing. It moves and flexes and changes shape. All of that is considered in the rating. The tire will take the momentary overload in it's design. Also a tire wears out over a very short period of time. The rim will be on the vehicle for decades. It's life expectancy is far longer. And a rim does not flex any way near what a tire will flex.

You coukd ask the same q about the axle and for that matter the frame. The weak point should be the tires. Tire replacement is far easier and cheaper than most other components.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
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Old 03-22-2008, 01:18 PM   #18
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They should be 6in wide, with zero offset. That is if they are original.
They are original. I have read that going from a 6" to 7" wide rim is not a problem. Also based on the diameter of my current 15" 700 LT tire at about 29." and the Goodrich 16" T/A LT tire at 29.4" the tire size should be about the same. But the offset on these wheels may cause a problem for me and my 76 A/S. It would appear that I have more room to give toward the hub, -offset, as opposed toward the outside edge of the wheel well, + offset. I could be wrong.

I want to go wheel and tire shopping next week so thanks for all the help and input.

Don
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Old 03-22-2008, 04:14 PM   #19
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You coukd ask the same q about the axle and for that matter the frame. The weak point should be the tires. Tire replacement is far easier and cheaper than most other components.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action[/quote]

The axles are rated at exactly the GVWR minus the tongue weight , it is easily the weak link.
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Old 03-22-2008, 05:13 PM   #20
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I guess that would be a difference of opinion. I replace my tires way more often that the axles. If they had a better or same rating why do I replace tires so often.

And you are making a comparison of different ratings.

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