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07-04-2012, 12:14 PM
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#81
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Can not find it but there was a very old thread about P rated tires on tow vehicles that was informative. If I can find it I will let you know, maybe someone else will remember. Jim
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07-04-2012, 12:16 PM
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#82
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4 Rivet Member
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Eureka
, California
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 321
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrawfordGene
There are Jim. I think most or all are P tires. People who prefer Michelins have to go to 16" because there is no Michelin tire in the size that are LT's. P tires support less weight than LT's of the same size and if you can find a P tire in the Airstream 15" size, it may be marginal for the weight.
The distinction between P and LT has been blurred in the past several years and that causes more confusion.
I couldn't get Michelin LTX, the tire I felt was best, in anything but 16", so we bought new wheels too. We prefer the way the newer wheels look too, but that's not why we made the decision.
Gene
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In looking around, I have only found a tire from KENDA which is 15" + LT + load range E. I was unable to determine who is KENDA and where is it made. Unable to make a rational estimation of quality.
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07-04-2012, 12:32 PM
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#83
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Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
GLENDALE
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,453
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There are a couple of threads that mention 235/75x15 "XL" rated tires, which seem to be roughly equivalent to load range C (50 psi). However, one must research to make sure that load capacity and tire clearance is adequate for their particular Airstream. See link below for specific details, although TireRack.com is only referenced for convenience; and better prices may be available elsewhere:
Michelin*LTX M/S2
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07-04-2012, 01:20 PM
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#84
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 811
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phoenix
There are a couple of threads that mention 235/75x15 "XL" rated tires, which seem to be roughly equivalent to load range C (50 psi). However, one must research to make sure that load capacity and tire clearance is adequate for their particular Airstream. See link below for specific details, although TireRack.com is only referenced for convenience; and better prices may be available elsewhere:
Michelin*LTX M/S2
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Yes, On my 6300 lb gvw 25 Safari I switched to P rated Michelin 235 R 75 15 Ltx XL tires. Despite the P rating the load rating is equivalent to C rated LT tires or over 2,100 lbs a tire. Plenty of load range for a 6,000 lb trailer (300 lbs on the hitch)
My 2 cents worth is that on a smaller double axle trailer there is little reason to switch to 16 inch wheels and D or E rated LT tires unless you think the new wheels look cool or have extra $$ burning a hole in your pocket.
It would seem those tires would be adequate on a triple axle trailer but since I have never had one I won't offer an opinion.
I have 5k miles and almost a years worth of experience with my new tires. They run great and cool. I was going 75 mph on my last hot weather trip (it was 103 or above most of the afternoon) until I checked the fuel mileage and found that the difference between 65 and 75 mph is almost a 20% increase.
I ran over a road hazard and had to change a wheel and tire. The new tires are a little bigger than the stock 225 R 75 15 STs but I changed the wheel and tire without difficulty. A $10 patch and I was back on the road.
To combat blowouts, I was running E rated Maxxis at 80 lbs. The ride improvement with 50 lb P tires is vast.
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07-04-2012, 02:19 PM
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#85
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Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,711
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First, the tire poll is: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438...oll-76867.html
It is very detailed and was started by Phoenix. Since it is dependent on people who report, it is not statistically accurate, but the best that can be done under the circumstances. There is also a poll on people without tire failures, also done by Phoenix: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438...res-77069.html
Everything reported on the Forum is anecdotal and the two polls are a valiant attempt to bring some order to the question. So, look at the results carefully and it is some help, but not conclusive. Thanks to Phoenix for the work involved and trying to get better answers, and he did.
Second, Michelin has spent a lot of money for decades promoting "X" and "LTX" tires. "X" and "LTX" are brand names, not necessarily denoting LT tires. So, Michelin is now making a P rated tire with the "LTX" brand name. I think Michelin makes great tires, but I don't think they should be confusing people on how a tire is rated.
Third, a decade ago when SUV's were trucks with an enlarged station wagon body, they came with LT tires. So did light duty pickups. Our '06 4Runner did not, nor did our '07 Tundra. The 4Runner came with a Michelin tire called a Cross Terrain, whatever that means. It was a good tire, did great in snow, and still had some good tread at 65,000 miles, but we decided it was time to replace them. The Cross Terrain was no longer made in that size, so we bought Michelin LTX's. The Tundra came with Goodrich P rated tires and they were crap—bad wear, bad ride. They were a Load Range C tire. The LTX A/T2 (light truck, all terrain) Load Range E rode much better than the Goodrichs. We probably got better tires on the 4Runner because it was the Limited trim line; the Tundra is SR5. So, now vehicles that used to come with LT tires come with P tires. Saves the manufacturer money and most people don't use them as real trucks. We do, so we end up buying new tires after a while.
Fourth, we used to talk of ply—a 10 ply tire for long, heavy use over awful surfaces, 6 ply for ordinary truck use, etc. But plies became useless as they no longer actually indicated how many plies there were, so we went to Load Range E for 10 ply, D for 8 ply, C for 6 ply. There are tires in Load Range F and more too. But now there is a transition to numbers. You can get load range 112, 115, 130, and anything else you can imagine. We will have fun with that as the letters disappear. Not only that, but there are ratings for horizontal and vertical load. They are hard to find, but can be found with some research. Since there is concern about sidewall strength in trailer tires, a look at these obscure ratings could be useful, but I'll leave it to someone else.
Fifth, the XPS Rib is not a good winter tire because of it's stiffness. Phoenix has them, but he lives in Phoenix where there are 2 seasons—above and below 100˚. We sometimes have to tow in snow and I prefer the LTX because it has an aggressive tread and is a good mud and snow tire. I believe there is now an LTX that isn't M+S rated, but we didn't get that one.
Sixth, tires have been a subject of much interest and controversy for as long as I have been reading posts on the Forum. I now know more than I ever wanted to know and still am learning. I am tempted to go with stone next time—they last a very long time, no worries about nails, sidewalls are very firm, no need for wheels (just bolt to the axle), a rough surface will be good in snow, lots of weight for traction, never lose air, no tread separation. They can be polished or left natural. They come in various colors. When tread wears down, just get out a cold chisel and a hammer and make some more. Granite seems obvious, but some other igneous and metamorphosed rocks may be better. I may have to start the Stone Tire Co., our motto, "If it was good enough for the Romans, it is good enough for me". The Romans would have used the subjunctive for the first verb, but this is advertising ("Taste's good like a cigarette should"). Rock on (our tires)!
Gene
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07-04-2012, 03:46 PM
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#86
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4 Rivet Member
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Eureka
, California
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 321
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My Sears Experience
I went down to Sears. Right on the floor is the Michelin LTX-M/S tire. I ask for a quote and give him the size 225/75R16 Load range E.
"No such size in that mode of tire. What does it go on?" I explain that it is intended for my trailer, and that it might go on all sorts of other vehicles. After a long back and forth that I won't bore you with, he says, "We will not install anything but an ST tire on your trailer."
I think I read that JC would sell these already mounted on wheels, right? Kind of interesting. Being it is the 4th, our local commercial tire outfit was closed. I hope I don't run into some barrier where no one will install these.
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07-04-2012, 04:10 PM
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#87
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Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,711
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Redwood, you might. And when you do find the right tire shop, some of them will insist on filling them to maximum tire pressure no matter what you tell them.
You may have to have them shipped like Jack did. Look what you'll save on sales tax if you order from a source than doesn't charge it. Then have them mounted at a shop and put the new wheels and tires on the trailer yourself. Have we talked about Centramatics?
I wouldn't expect much sensible from Sears. Sears is a good example of how long a once great company takes to go out of business after it loses its way. Maybe they can rebrand it as "Enhanced K-Mart".
Gene
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07-04-2012, 04:37 PM
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#88
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Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
GLENDALE
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,453
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Places like Sears don't specialize in trailer or RV tires, and Airstream isn't listed in any tire application guides. Also, Sears stocks mostly fast selling, common sized automobile tires; and their sales people often just transferred over from the shoe department (I used to work for JC Penney).
Check Discount Tire, Custom Wheels, Truck & Car Rims | Discount Tire for Michelin LTX M/S:
Error - Discount Tire
I think the closest Discount Tire is in Redding. Most stores have a tech that has towing experience and is familiar with using LT tires to replace STs. Other tire stores may also be able to provide more info on what you want.
You may be able to find these cheaper online or through Costco, Sam's Club or WalMart, etc.; but Discount sells a lot of tires, and they can be a good source of info in making your decision. Oh, and don't forget Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels, who will ship to your local tire store.
Discount Tire usually price matches wheels, too. So, shop Tredit, Sendel and others online, then get a quote from Discount. They matched Sendel's price for us, and didn't charge for shipping.
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07-04-2012, 04:40 PM
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#89
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Get the wheels and tires at your best price to you. Any independent tire shop should be willing to mount and balance then for you. You would still have to install them on the trailer yourself, I would trust myself before allowing a nonAS person to put them on the camper, unless I was absolutely sure they knew where to jack the trailer. You could mount them one at a time per side. Since you are going to do the swap, good luck. Jim
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07-04-2012, 04:43 PM
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#90
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4 Rivet Member
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Eureka
, California
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 321
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Centramatics? From what I see on the web site, they look like about $200 each. That's probably not in my budget.
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07-04-2012, 04:55 PM
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#91
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4 Rivet Member
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Eureka
, California
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 321
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phoenix
Places like Sears don't specialize in trailer or RV tires, and Airstream isn't listed in any tire application guides. Also, Sears stocks mostly fast selling, common sized automobile tires; and their sales people often just transferred over from the shoe department (I used to work for JC Penney).
Check Discount Tire, Custom Wheels, Truck & Car Rims | Discount Tire for Michelin LTX M/S:
Error - Discount Tire
I think the closest Discount Tire is in Redding. Most stores have a tech that has towing experience and is familiar with using LT tires to replace STs. Other tire stores may also be able to provide more info on what you want.
You may be able to find these cheaper online or through Costco, Sam's Club or WalMart, etc.; but Discount sells a lot of tires, and they can be a good source of info in making your decision. Oh, and don't forget Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels, who will ship to your local tire store.
Discount Tire usually price matches wheels, too. So, shop Tredit, Sendel and others online, then get a quote from Discount. They matched Sendel's price for us, and didn't charge for shipping.
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Thanks. What was a bit odd what that the Michelin LTX - M/S 245/75R16 was sitting right there on the display. He definitely sold that series tire.
I'm not the guy (nor do I have the facilities and tools) to jack up a trailer and change four tires. So, I will definitely be finding a shop to have this work done. We have a couple well respected independent tire shops in the area that I will visit after the holiday. I might like to get those embedded tire pressure gauges too.
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07-04-2012, 04:59 PM
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#92
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Please be sure they use the correct jack points. You are spending too much money for some bozo to damage the trailer. Jim
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07-04-2012, 05:07 PM
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#93
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4 Rivet Member
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Eureka
, California
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 321
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi
Please be sure they use the correct jack points. You are spending too much money for some bozo to damage the trailer. Jim
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I'll have to learn them myself first. Then I think a can of orange spray paint may be required. Or some red vinyl arrows.
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07-04-2012, 05:12 PM
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#94
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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I am not positive where they are either. Some one else here needs to reply, but it seems to be important. Jim
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07-04-2012, 05:30 PM
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#95
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4 Rivet Member
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Eureka
, California
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 321
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I think I saw it when I read the manual. If not I will call Heaven and ask one of the Saints.
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07-04-2012, 05:45 PM
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#96
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Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,711
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There are 2 ways to lift the tire off the ground. One is to use the jacking points. There should be a plate on each side of the trailer several feet behind the rear tire on the frame. You can't see the frame because of the belly pan, but you tell where it is at the bumper. Sometimes the plates fall off, but you can figure it out. A floor jack works best.
The other way is to pull the trailer up on 2 or 3 pieces of 2x8 or 2x10 so one wheel is on the boards and the other is free of the ground. Do it on each side at the same time and you can change two tires at once. When traveling, it is good to have several such boards with you in case of a flat.
Centramatics—$200 for 4 maybe. I found them at $45 each. Shipping and tax would make it around $200.
And check what the torque is for the lugnuts on a new wheel when you get wheels.
Gene
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07-04-2012, 06:36 PM
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#97
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Vintage Kin
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi
Are there not other 15 inch tires avail. Rather than GYM? I think so. Jim
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I used YOKOHAMA RY-215 on mine.
As to what tire to use (and were I wishing to retain the 15") some scale tickets would need to show:
1] Loaded to highest weight axle averages
2] Wheel-by-wheel weights with weight distribution applied where it is confirmed that proper formulaic distribution is being to the various axles.
Part of that is that TW increases trailer axle/wheel weight when WD is applied . . and we want that potentially heaviest one wheel or axle determining our tire load index value as we want to add 12-15% load reserve to the number recorded to determine which tire will be best (not brand, but rating).
It is entirely possible that one wheel (under the duress of trailer load and WD applied) falls outside what an assumed "axle average" would be.
Safety in numbers, so to speak. Make sure there are no outliers.
.
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07-04-2012, 07:56 PM
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#98
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi
Please be sure they use the correct jack points. You are spending too much money for some bozo to damage the trailer. Jim
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Here....the safest place.
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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07-16-2012, 11:12 AM
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#99
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,408
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Just an update we got the tires and wheels mated over the weekend. Discount Tire Direct recommends local dealers so we got the deal done for $61 which includes me bringing back the 15" wheels where they will dismount the tires and dispose of them. So the next thing to do will be to mount the wheels to the trailer. I decided to contact Tredit and verify torque for the bolts. Here is their recommendation for the T03 wheels.
Recommended Torque Intervals & Range
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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07-16-2012, 11:28 AM
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#100
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Rivet Master
2011 25' FB Flying Cloud
Anywhere &
, Everywhere
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,090
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Airstream recommends 110 ft/lbs for the 16" wheels. Not trying to argue but just passing along info.
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