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06-28-2014, 06:09 PM
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#1
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Road Geezer
2011 27' FB Flying Cloud
San Jose
, California
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 291
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D or E Rated Tires?
I getting ready to replace my Marathons with Maxxis tires. The size I'm getting, 225x75 R15, comes in both D & E load ratings. My current Marathons are D rated. My 27' Flying Cloud weighs around 5800 dry and maxes out in the high 6's when loaded for a long trip.
The price difference is negligible, so I'm wondering if there are any considerations I should be aware of like really rougher ride due to stiffer sidewalls, etc, in choosing one rating over the other. I'm inclined to get the E's simply because they will end up being loaded lower in their range than the D's.
Thanks for your help.
Paul
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06-28-2014, 06:44 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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I went with 15" E's on our Classic 30 for the same reason as you - i.e that they would be loaded to a lower % of their capacity. Never seemed to have any problem with them and would do it again.
More recently we followed the crowd and moved to 16" Michelins,and I believe they are also E rated.
Brian
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Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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06-28-2014, 06:44 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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I went with E. Three years and 10,000+/- miles and still going. No problems, but I think I made a mistake.
Make sure of the rating of your wheels. The different load range tires depend on different inflation pressure, higher for the E. The wheels on my Safari are limited to 65 psi, but the tires need 85 psi to get the maximum load rating. So I'm running 60psi, not taking full advantage of the tires capacity.
If you can not increase the pressure sufficently, there is no real advantage to go to the E rated tires.
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Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
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06-28-2014, 07:56 PM
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#4
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2 Rivet Member
2004 25' Classic
CLARKSVILLE
, Tennessee
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 44
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Paul I replaced my old 6 year old Maxxis ST225/75R-15D tires with new Maxxis E rated ones last November on my 2004 25' Classic (6200 lbs dry weight). I completed a 2500 mile trip to Florida last winter keeping tire pressures at 75 lbs and really noticed no difference in the trailer ride on mostly interstate roads. I decided on E rated tires since couldn't get D rated ones from Discount Tires that were not dated over 6 months old mfg. produced.
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David & Jane Enjoying the good life!
2006 Ford F250 V-10
2004 Airstream 25 Classic
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06-29-2014, 02:41 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2014 31' Classic
2015 23' International
2013 25' FB International
Apache Junction
, Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,223
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Part of the homework is to determine the pressure and weight rating of the existing trailer wheels and or the replacement wheels.
Airstream will install the Michelin LT225/75R16/E LTX M/S2 tires rated at 2,680 pounds at 80 psi on the SenDel T03-6655T wheels that are rated 3,850 pounds at 80 psi on any recent Airstream trailer with 15" wheels. They have made them an option on both the 25FB and 27FB Eddie Bauer models for several years and they are now standard on the 2015 31' Classic.
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WBCCI Life Member 5123, AIR 70341, 4CU, WD9EMC
TV - 2012 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins HO, automatic, Centramatics, Kelderman level ride airbag suspension, bed shell
2014 31' Classic w/ twin beds, 50 amp service, 1000 watt solar system, Centramatics, Tuson TPMS, 12" disc brakes, 16" tires & wheels
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06-29-2014, 08:50 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 811
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After serial blowouts with GYMs and no name D ST tires, I replaced my tires with Maxxis E's. I got 3 years out of them before I noticed one had a tread separation and decided to go with LT tires. I believe they are the best ST tires and E's are more durable than D's.
I replaced them with Michelin LT tires 3 years ago and have had zero tire problems and a much smoother ride than with the D or E ST tires.
At 75 pounds inflation on the E Maxxis', the ride was like an oxcart. Lighter bars on my Equalizer hitch would have helped. I have 1000 lb bars and my tongue weight is 600.
I take one long summer freeway trip on I-10 and South and that is why I have had lots of ST tire problems. With ST tires, I would start having blowouts on the second day of the trip. One no name D tire lasted only 300 miles when the air temp was 98. It is no fun to change a tire at that temp on the shoulder of the Interstate when cars and trucks are wizzing by at 75 mph +. Ever wonder why there are tire stores on nearly every exit throughout the South? With the ST tires I blew up, I could have had 2 sets of LT tires.
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06-29-2014, 09:18 AM
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#7
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,410
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I replaced the Marathons with E rated Maxxis tires. Two of Maxxis tires failed with belt slippage in their 4th year of use. I'm running with 16" wheels and Michelin's now.
Jack
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Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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06-29-2014, 09:29 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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Hopefully the st tire engineers are not around anymore to cause us anymore grief.
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The higher your expectations the fewer your options.
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06-29-2014, 09:59 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Three years max on st tires, maybe four. Jim
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06-29-2014, 10:40 AM
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#10
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Road Geezer
2011 27' FB Flying Cloud
San Jose
, California
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 291
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A W Warn
I went with E. Three years and 10,000+/- miles and still going. No problems, but I think I made a mistake.
Make sure of the rating of your wheels. The different load range tires depend on different inflation pressure, higher for the E. The wheels on my Safari are limited to 65 psi, but the tires need 85 psi to get the maximum load rating. So I'm running 60psi, not taking full advantage of the tires capacity.
If you can not increase the pressure sufficently, there is no real advantage to go to the E rated tires.
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Your comment raised a question in my mind. I don't need the extra load carrying capacity; the D's are adequate. So if I install E's and inflate them to, say 65 psi, am I going to do the tire any harm? Is inflating to 65 psi, the pressure I use in my GYMs, going to cause problems because the E tire is "under inflated" even though it won't be carrying a load that would actually require an E tire?
This is getting complex ....
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06-29-2014, 10:41 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
K.C.
, Missouri
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 585
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In a case like this, if I were concerned with:
1. whether the wheels could take 80 psi
2. whether the harder ride of an E might be a problem,
....then I would go with load range D LT tires, and run them at 65 psi
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06-29-2014, 01:08 PM
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#12
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Road Geezer
2011 27' FB Flying Cloud
San Jose
, California
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 291
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Thanks, all, for your advice. Still haven't made up my mind. I'll check my wheels tomorrow.
FYI, I'm getting the tires at O'Reilly's Wheelworks. They can get my size Maxxis in either D or E rating. Price for E is $126, D is $116 plus installation that includes balancing. The best price I could find on the Internet for E's was $147 plus installation, etc.
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Road Geezer Respect Nature
Respect Science
Respect Each Other
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06-29-2014, 02:02 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Road Geezer
Your comment raised a question in my mind. I don't need the extra load carrying capacity; the D's are adequate. So if I install E's and inflate them to, say 65 psi, am I going to do the tire any harm? Is inflating to 65 psi, the pressure I use in my GYMs, going to cause problems because the E tire is "under inflated" even though it won't be carrying a load that would actually require an E tire?
This is getting complex ....
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I'm not educated or clairvoyant enough to specifically say there would or would not be harm or problem. I can only give my opinion, that I do not think there will be a problem. The tire dealer I purchased from (I trust and have known for a long time) advised me to go with the E rated tire.
The type of wheels on my trailer are shown in the classifieds at this link.
Wheels from 2001 Safari
On the back side of my original equipment wheels there is a stamp molded into the metal, which says "max 65psi". Also, it says made in China.
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Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
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07-02-2014, 05:13 PM
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#14
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Moderator dude
1966 26' Overlander
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,510
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My 2 cents.
You will need about 2000 #'s of load capacity per tire. (Assuming 7000 #s loaded X 115% = 8050#s divided by 4 = 2012) Anything more than that in load capacity is money spent with very little benefit.
>>>>>>>>>>>Action
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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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07-02-2014, 05:27 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,118
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Other choices would be 15 inch LT tires or the XL tires at 1985 lbs capacity.
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07-03-2014, 09:16 PM
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#16
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Road Geezer
2011 27' FB Flying Cloud
San Jose
, California
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 291
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So, yesterday I went to WheelWorks to have the Maxxis E's installed that I had ordered. When she saw my trailer, the manager got cold feet and wouldn't install the tires. So I cancelled the order and left. Yesterday afternoon I called American Tire and the guy on the phone reassured me that they knew how to install tires on my trailer. So this AM a had a new set on Maxxis D's installed in a little less than an hour. They were balanced, inflated properly, and nuts torqued to Airstream's specs. The out-the-door price was $544.
I'm now a happy camper ...
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07-04-2014, 05:11 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W
, New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
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What was the manager afraid of??
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07-04-2014, 05:38 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2014 31' Classic
2015 23' International
2013 25' FB International
Apache Junction
, Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,223
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Here is Arizona, before the new owner took possession of our prior trailer, the law required the local Airstream dealer to take off my relatively new Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires (under 4,000 miles and 8 months) and replace them with OEM GYM ST explodathon tires because the Michelins were not rated trailer tires.
Now that really was stupid!
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WBCCI Life Member 5123, AIR 70341, 4CU, WD9EMC
TV - 2012 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins HO, automatic, Centramatics, Kelderman level ride airbag suspension, bed shell
2014 31' Classic w/ twin beds, 50 amp service, 1000 watt solar system, Centramatics, Tuson TPMS, 12" disc brakes, 16" tires & wheels
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07-04-2014, 05:47 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Road Geezer
So, yesterday I went to WheelWorks to have the Maxxis E's installed that I had ordered. When she saw my trailer, the manager got cold feet and wouldn't install the tires. So I cancelled the order and left. Yesterday afternoon I called American Tire and the guy on the phone reassured me that they knew how to install tires on my trailer. So this AM a had a new set on Maxxis D's installed in a little less than an hour. They were balanced, inflated properly, and nuts torqued to Airstream's specs. The out-the-door price was $544.
I'm now a happy camper ...
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Not sure I understand why the manager got cold feet? Was it that he wasn't happy about jacking up the Airstream? Or didn't want to put E tires on for some reason?
Brian.
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Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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07-04-2014, 05:21 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari
St. Augustine
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,670
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Like others have said, the wheels have to also be able to handle the higher pressure that E uses. The standard tires as least on my AS OEM wheels also had a stamp 65psi max. D rated.
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WBCCI 8653/AIR 60240
2022 Ford F150 PowerBoost Platinum w/7.2KW
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