Specific tires for 1968 Sovereign?

[nyben]

Hello All,

My husband and I are new to the Airstream world and upon impulse purchased a 1968 Sovereign. I wanted to replace the wheels and tires and was wondering if there are specific tires I need to purchase or are regular vehicle tires ok as long as I get the right size. Thanks in advance for the info!

[TheGreatleys]

That is one of the most contentious topics on this forum. Factory tires are ST tires, specifically made for trailers. Lots of folks think the Goodyear Marathon ST tires are timebombs. Some think all ST tires are garbage. Lots of folks love Michelin LT tires on their Airstreams. I have Maxxis m8008 ST tires. You'll need to do your own research and come to your own conclusions. There are tons of tire threads on this forum to read.

[xrvr]

Wheels can be had from etrailer.

[Melody Ranch]

Your very close to Inland, over in Corona. Look at their website and call Andy over there. All the info you need to get you going.

[Jacob D]

So far all good advice. I have been towing a '67 Overlander for 25 or so years. It had bias ply light truck tires on it when I acquired it from my uncle (It is a family heirloom) and those tires did well. My uncle used whatever was least expensive that would carry the load. I switched to GoodYear Marathon ST tires about 15 years ago because I park in a tight place that requires sharp turns while backing which puts lots of stress on the sidewalls. That is what ST's are designed for. I have had no problems at all with my GYM's and that is the tire I am currently running. I watch pressures closely, spray the tires monthly with UV protectant and cover them when stored for more than a month. The ST's have a 65 mph speed limit which is fine for me as I strongly believe speed is the most serious cause of fatal RV accidents. More things can go wrong when towing that when just driving.

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by nyben

Hello All,

My husband and I are new to the Airstream world and upon impulse purchased a 1968 Sovereign. I wanted to replace the wheels and tires and was wondering if there are specific tires I need to purchase or are regular vehicle tires ok as long as I get the right size. Thanks in advance for the info!

Going to see Andy at Inland RV is good advice!

If you choose to do otherwise, make sure you get trailer wheels, not car or truck wheels. Trailer wheels should be rated for 2,500 lbs of load.

There are a few sets of tire/wheel for sale in the classifieds on this forum.
I'm not sure if these will fit:
http://www.airstreamclassifieds.com/...arathon-tires/
http://www.airstreamclassifieds.com/...15-alcoa-rims/
http://www.airstreamclassifieds.com/...nal-signature/

There are many threads with many opinions about tires. To understand the difference between ST, LT, and P tires and how they can be used on a trailer, do your homework!

[Bob Cooke]

I ran Carlisle 700x15 for 14 years (just plain bias 6 ply) on my 1970 25
Ft. Trade winds and never a problem even at 65mph across Texas and
Other states back to East coast. Only slight wear and only changed
This year due to age. Carlisle has an exact replacement for that tire
On the market and what I purchased for about $300 here in SC available in 8 or
10 ply. One trip already and no problems. You may want to consider Carisle
Bob Cooke. Dodge 2500 D