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Rich Jenkins · 12-03-2015, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew T

As a new owner of a 2016 27' FC FB, I read the story here, as well as elsewhere, on the GYM.

As we don't quite have spare $ to replace brand new wheels and tires, we decided to air up to 65 psi, restrict speed to 65 mph, cover the tires in storage, treat the sidewalls with 303, and obtain a TST tpms. Oh, and practice changing a tire on the rig.

I sure hope I don't come back to this thread and post a blow out story. Knock on wood.
__________________
Rich

Hi Rich

For your 27' going to 15" Michelins P235/75R x 15" XL tires is a less expensive and better choice than going to 16's. The 15's are equivalent of a load range "C" tire so they ride much smoother than the Load Range "D" 16" tires. On the 27 you can tow with these at 45 PSI instead of the 65 you are running now. This is much friendlier to the Airstream. We have put on a couple of thousand of these now, absolutely no issue with them.

Andrew T

Thanks Andy. Much appreciated.

We have family in St Marys. You never know, maybe we'll drop in on your shop sometime in 2016.

Rich Jenkins · 12-03-2015, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tireman9

IMO one thing that will definitely improve your chances to avoid Run Low Flex Failure i.e. "Blowout" and that is monitoring your inflation all the time. So get a TPMS and mount on metal bolt in valve stems.

Yes sir.

In fact, I contacted Mike Benson last week, and my TST 507 TPMS w/4 sensors arrived today. I installed it on the trailer immediately.

Nice piece of kit. Looks like it will do what I need it to.

Rich

**Action** · 12-03-2015, 07:23 PM

I am with the "Kissed the curb" camp for the tire in the pic.

That 2003 spare on the Excursion. It is decoration at a ripe old age of 12 to 13 years of age. You might be able to get it to perform as a spare at speeds below 40 for a few miles. Just don't expect regular service out of it. Rotating all tires fixes that issues and prolongs tire life.

So the answer is yes to your question.

>>>>>>Action

Tireman9 · 12-04-2015, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapriRacer

I hope Tireman9 will back me up on this, as we both worked for a tire manufacturer (albeit different ones!), but NO tire manufacturer is going to admit to a "manufacturing defect". Not only does that open them to many forms of legal liability, but they don't actually phrase such things in that way.

Further, in the area of travel trailers, it is sooooo common for these to be under tired (tires too small) that I can not image any legal savvy tire engineer writing a letter and not pointing this out.

I doubt very much this happened.

Agree. Maybe something was lost in translation.

Still haven't see any pictures of tire interior.

Tireman9 · 12-04-2015, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r carl

I blame the engineers of the cheap tires.

Do you mean the engineers that tell people to never exceed 65 mph (like the guy with TT that passed me while I was doing 75 today)?

or could it be the engineers that suggest you allow a minimum of 10% load margin on static loading of individual tires to allow for side loading?

or maybe the engineers that suggest you always run the tire sidewall max in tires in tandem or triple axle application?

perhaps the engineers that tell you to run a TPMS.

Ya probably it's those engineers fault.

Rich W · 12-05-2015, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tireman9

Do you mean the engineers that tell people to never exceed 65 mph (like the guy with TT that passed me while I was doing 75 today)?

or could it be the engineers that suggest you allow a minimum of 10% load margin on static loading of individual tires to allow for side loading?

or maybe the engineers that suggest you always run the tire sidewall max in tires in tandem or triple axle application?

perhaps the engineers that tell you to run a TPMS.

Ya probably it's those engineers fault.

I think it's the astronomers, it's their fault. We should burn down the observatories to prevent this from ever happening again.

PKI · 12-06-2015, 12:43 PM

Hope that by blaming the astronomers for this, you don't think the phase of the moon is involved.

The folks to blame are whoever it is that specifies nice big white on black lettering for the tire name and the little itty bitty black on black lettering/code for the load rating, tire pressure, mfg location, and date of mfg info.

Thanks or all the tech supplied. It does help make a bit of sense out of all the noise.

Just remember that if I pass you at 75, I'm only using about 20% of the 30% safety margin the engineer should have built into the design. And if I'm blocking your lane at 55, then maybe there is another safety factor in play. Thanks for your consideration. Pat

J. Morgan · 12-06-2015, 05:22 PM

I wont buy ST tires on the account of their 12,000 mile life expectancy.

That is ridiculous! Somebody isn't trying. This is not 1965.

Brevi tempore!

switz · 12-06-2015, 05:59 PM

Once the trailer rolls off the production line and gets weighed, the dealer's bank account is charged for the trailer. The factory is only concerned with tires on the line and basically across the scales. Thus the cheapest possible tire good for less than a mile?

Stale tires are also often installed by Airstream when I saw 6 month old tires on my Classic that was 10 days off the production line.

Just saying, the customer gets left holding the tire carcus.

Ampman · 12-06-2015, 09:54 PM

The current offering of ST tires should be designated Short Term tires only considering how cheaply and poorly constructed they are. The hype and labeling from the manufacturers are just lipstick on a pig. I too was fooled in my earlier ignorant state of mind. I now consider them manufacturer moving tires only. Meaning they are the cheapest tires put on the trailers to get them from the factory to the dealer and no more. Kind of like the tires they use on manufactured housing and then removed once the house is set up. Maybe they are ok for a little utility trailer to haul around stuff and no more. Manufactures should step their game up and build a better tire. No science to back it up, just personal experience and lots of shared grief on this and other forums. Buyers beware.

Andrew T · 12-07-2015, 07:50 AM

I am just on trip home from California. Due to a last minute trailer change I am running on Marathons for the first time in many years. I am only towing a 28' this trip and so I am running the Marathons relatively soft at 45 PSI. Still it is amazing how much more things move around in the trailer with them.

So far no flats though, oh darn I wish I had not said that.

Andrew T

Alphonse · 12-07-2015, 04:39 PM

If you are running 45 psi, it won't be long!

**Rocinante** · 12-07-2015, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew T

For your 27' going to 15" Michelins P235/75R x 15" XL tires is a less expensive and better choice than going to 16's. The 15's are equivalent of a load range "C" tire so they ride much smoother than the Load Range "D" 16" tires. On the 27 you can tow with these at 45 PSI instead of the 65 you are running now. This is much friendlier to the Airstream. We have put on a couple of thousand of these now, absolutely no issue with them.

Andrew T

Thanks for this, Andrew, much appreciated. We have an International Signature 27FB, and this sounds like an interesting option when we replace our GYMs.

Rich W · 12-08-2015, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew T

I am just on trip home from California. Due to a last minute trailer change I am running on Marathons for the first time in many years. I am only towing a 28' this trip and so I am running the Marathons relatively soft at 45 PSI. Still it is amazing how much more things move around in the trailer with them.

So far no flats though, oh darn I wish I had not said that.

Andrew T

Why are you running them at 45 psi? You know that's going to build up a lot of heat, right? I'll bet that the AS manual says to have them at least at 50, maybe more. Mine has a warning to have them at 50 posted right above the wheel well.

kscherzi · 12-08-2015, 08:47 AM

My AS manual says 65 lbs per tire, which is same as max pressure per sidewall. I'm guessing Andy is taking his direction from a manufacturer inflation vs load table and found the 45 lbs is sufficient for that specific trailer per it's scaled weight. What I'm unsure about is how that hurts sidewall stress during sharp turns as the tires scrub.

Rich W · 12-08-2015, 09:07 AM

From everything I've read online about ST tires, the lower the pressure the more heat is created. At the Goodyear site they tell you that the max speed for ST tires is 65 but if you add another 10 lbs. of air you can go up to 70. The additional air will put less tire on the road and therefore create less heat.

I would always go with what the tire manufacturer says. My AS manual says 50 lbs. pressure for its load. I travel at 60, sometimes 65, in the AS. My boat trailer has ST tires and I overinflate those to 60 lbs. so I can travel at 70. I can't imagine running a big trailer at 45 lbs. psi. I think that's looking for a tire problem.

Bob662 · 12-08-2015, 09:50 AM

The CanAm boys have a zillion years' experience with all sorts of trailers and tires and tow vehicles. I'll take their experience and suggestions any day...

**Rocinante** · 12-08-2015, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richw46

Why are you running them at 45 psi? You know that's going to build up a lot of heat, right? I'll bet that the AS manual says to have them at least at 50, maybe more. Mine has a warning to have them at 50 posted right above the wheel well.

Stop, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Please back up and read the thread again.
Andrew is talking about different tires, not the GYM ST tires that have a big "65" on the sidewall.

switz · 12-08-2015, 10:13 PM

The CanAm recommendation for the Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires when mounted on our 2013 25FB International Serenity stock wheels was 44 psi. I am using the same pressure with the identical tires mounted on our 2015 23D International Serenity using the SenDel T03-56545T wheels on the stock 14" brake drums, The 23D has a 1,300 pound lower GVW than the 25FB.

Rich W · 12-09-2015, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Stop, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Please back up and read the thread again.
Andrew is talking about different tires, not the GYM ST tires that have a big "65" on the sidewall.

Sorry, the thread was about GYMs and Andrew is referencing Michelins, I was just reading into it and shouldn't have.

My GYMs don't have a 65 on the side but the trailer warning (AS and boat trailer) still says to inflate to 50 lbs. as does the owner's manual. 45 seems really low but they're Michelins so I'm sure they'll be OK.