Visit our Popular Forums

Satchien · 10-23-2018, 02:47 PM

Hey all,

I just bought a 1977 31ft airstream international that has been sitting for about 7 years. I have already been advised to have new tires installed on it before I tow it 1000 miles home and I am having trouble finding the tires I need. So here are my questions-

What size tires do I need?

What ply should the tires be?
I was already advised to use 10ply but they are harder to find than 8 ply.
Can I use 8 ply?

I’m a newbie and I want to get the right tires before our journey home, any detailed information would be very appreciated.

Thanks!

ROBERT CROSS · 10-23-2018, 02:57 PM

Ply's are no longer Ply's...they are ratings. An 8 or 10 ply rated tire doesn't have 8 or 10 ply's. Tires are now rated by the 'load' they can carry.

I'm now using Good Year Endurance 'E' load rating. This was the first Season with them...👍

Bob
🇺🇸

Bill M. · 10-23-2018, 03:23 PM

Just buy a set of the Goodyear Endurance trailer tires. You have 15" wheels unless they have been changed. Check what is there now to see that they are still 15".

Satchien · 10-23-2018, 03:51 PM

I guess the main thing I wonder is:

Can we buy 8 ply (as in Class D load capacity)
Or do we absolutely need class E (10 ply)?

Class E’s seem harder to find and way pricier. Old tires we are removing are class D.

We will tow this sucker 1000 mikes then park it.

A W Warn · 10-23-2018, 04:08 PM

On the driver's side front corner of the trailer there should be a placard that says which tire type and the size that was original on the trailer and axle capacity. Each tire should have a load rating that exceeds half the axle load capacity by 15% in case of unequal loading. (axel load/2x~1.15= tire rating) (If you use a passenger tire, not ST, then increase capacity again x ~1.1)

I owned a 1973 and a 1978 31' Excella. I used D rated tires on both, never had any issue.

This is a link to an Owners Manual for your trailer>
https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...0003.0110i.pdf
On page 32 there is a chart showing the original tire sizes.

prairieschooner · 10-23-2018, 04:16 PM

Don't be cheap....Good Year Durance

ROBERT CROSS · 10-23-2018, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satchien

I guess the main thing I wonder is:

Can we buy 8 ply (as in Class D load capacity)
Or do we absolutely need class E (10 ply)?

Class E’s seem harder to find and way pricier. Old tires we are removing are class D.

We will tow this sucker 1000 mikes then park it.

YES...you can buy D or E in the GY Endurance ST.👍
USA made BTW.

Bob
🇺🇸

Ridgerunner3 · 10-23-2018, 04:43 PM

The tires are probably 225 75 15. This is a very common size for 15" trailer tires. Buy decent tires like the Goodyear Endurance tires. Cheap Chinese tires are not what you want for a 1000 mile trip.

I do not want to be the "nattering nabob of negativism" but you need to do some inspections and preventive maintenance before your trip. Before you tow it more than few miles you need to repack the wheel bearings and inspect the brake system. 1977 axles will be shot unless the axles have been replaced in the last 15 - 20 years. Do you have the tools and the skill to repack the wheel bearings, inspect brakes and make repairs? Your trip home with this trailer could be a dangerous trip, for more than you, if you do not inspect and repair the components on the trailer necessary for rolling down the road and stopping safely as needed.

Good luck. Do your research, as you are doing before you take off on your journey.

Beaubill · 10-24-2018, 09:33 AM

I use Michelin 235x75r 15 on my 23ft, 25 ft and 28ft Airstreams. They are the Defenders, a light truck tire.

Howard L. · 10-24-2018, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satchien

Hey all,

I just bought a 1977 31ft airstream international that has been sitting for about 7 years. I have already been advised to have new tires installed on it before I tow it 1000 miles home and I am having trouble finding the tires I need. So here are my questions-

What size tires do I need?

What ply should the tires be?
I was already advised to use 10ply but they are harder to find than 8 ply.
Can I use 8 ply?

I’m a newbie and I want to get the right tires before our journey home, any detailed information would be very appreciated.

Thanks!

Make this your first refurbish job. Check bearings, check wheels, buy new 8 or 10 ply st tires. The Endurance tires spoken of here are top notch. Any number of owners are, or have, switched to 16 inch wheels and LT E rated tires. If you have the time to shop here in classifieds, you may find a set of 15 inch wheels and ST tires for sale.

Bill M. · 10-24-2018, 02:41 PM

I think the Goodyear Endurance come in a 225x15 load range D (I think your 8 ply rating) and a 235 load range E (I think your 10 ply rating). Either should work on that trailer. I suspect the 225 load range D is the closest to the original tire size and rating. One of the above would be the easy way out and not be too bad a tire. Or you can study up on it and buy something more expensive right up front. Might depend upon whether you re are going to pull 5000 or 30000 miles a year.

Everybody knows the old Goodyear Marathons had some problems. Nobody really knows how the Endurance will be but so far the news about them is all good,

gypsydad · 10-24-2018, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beaubill

I use Michelin 235x75r 15 on my 23ft, 25 ft and 28ft Airstreams. They are the Defenders, a light truck tire.

Micheline does not make a LT in 15" anymore...several posts on this. They have a 15" Defender LTX M/S2, but it is now only offered in a Passenger rated tire.; it is not a true Light Truck tire..that why your seeing all the posts on the new GoodeYear Endurance recommendations.

I wish they still offered a true LT in that size...I ran them on my older AS's and loved them. The P rated Michelins in 15" seemed to me, to cause my last AS to "drift", as if the sidewalls were not as sturdy... I switched to the Endurance with my new trailer recently and am very happy.

CruizinDux · 10-24-2018, 06:15 PM

Our gye 225/75 15 E rated are essentially the same size as the gym's they replaced which is one reason i passed on the lt235/75 Nokians, a great tire but at the last min didn't want to deal with the larger tire fit in the spare rack.
I think the d's are a 205/75 15.

We have about 14k miles since this last feb. We run at 75psi as 80 for our 20fc is a bit firm. They ride great and essentially leak no air. the last 2 wk trip i never added air. LOve'm but may look at the nokians again when it's tire time again. Really wanted a LT but very happy with the gye's.
B
ps, the nokians are now made in TN and are becoming more available. I see them around here a lot on ranch trucks and trailers...a good sign

Ridgerunner3 · 10-25-2018, 02:53 PM

I hope we hear how the OP's journey back to Austin went with his "new" Airstream.

IAMGLG · 10-31-2018, 09:38 AM

Buy Maxxis trailer tires, 7 year warranty. Had two sets for over 8 years each and never had a failure. Much better than Goodyear and better warranty

Silver Zep · 10-31-2018, 10:09 AM

Out on the west coast, after having a Goodyear fail prematurely, and replacing the wheel well and aluminum lower panel on my AS-28 -SO went to Les Schwab trailer tires. They are fully guaranteed and there’s a LS almost in every town if needed. Just my opinion.

Mollysdad · 10-31-2018, 12:08 PM

My trailer came with GY Endurance tires. I installed a TPMS and last week was the first time I got to watch the effects of driving and heat with the tires.
I set my pressure at 65 psi. When the ambient temperature is about 70 f., I see driving pressures about 7 deg higher. I was surprised they didn't get hotter, but pleased.
I noticed the Sun shining on one side of the trailer while driving added about 4 deg and 3 psi.
I drove about 1400 miles and didn't lose significant air, and I've been pleased with the Endurance.

brainwash · 10-31-2018, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAMGLG

Buy Maxxis trailer tires, 7 year warranty. Had two sets for over 8 years each and never had a failure. Much better than Goodyear and better warranty

Good to hear as I just ordered a set yesterday.

guncase · 11-01-2018, 06:49 AM

I imagine your '77 came with 7.00-15 bias ply tires like my '75 overlander. If your trailer still has original wheels, they are 7" x 5" and are a little narrow for modern radial tires. The good news is, bias ply 7.00-15's are readily available in 6, 8, & 10 ply. Bad news is, they are all made in China. I have experienced a blowout with a 6 ply, so I just replaced the set with 8 ply. More good news is that when a bias tire has a blowout, it does much less damage than a radial, as there is not a bunch of steel belting flying around tearing up your wheel well. A few rivets to reattach the wheel well molding and mine was good to go. The 7.00-15 tires are narrow and tall and will give the proper ride height and look in the 70's wheel wells. I suggest 10 ply for a 31' trailer, and they are the most common. Your local tire store probably stocks a set.

gypsydad · 11-01-2018, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

My trailer came with GY Endurance tires. I installed a TPMS and last week was the first time I got to watch the effects of driving and heat with the tires.
I set my pressure at 65 psi. When the ambient temperature is about 70 f., I see driving pressures about 7 deg higher. I was surprised they didn't get hotter, but pleased.
I noticed the Sun shining on one side of the trailer while driving added about 4 deg and 3 psi.
I drove about 1400 miles and didn't lose significant air, and I've been pleased with the Endurance.

Why are you running with such a high pressure? Initially, I had rivets and screws come loose when the dealer installed my new Endurance tires and filled to 70psi...after reading several posts here on the Forum with the Goodyear inflation chart included, I found I should have been around 40-50PSI; I lowered to that PSI and have not had anymore issues. TPMS system shows temps consistent also...psi raises about 5-10psi when warmed up. No issues with rivets or screws since I did this, 5k miles ago...MT to TX last month.