More tire dilemma!

[Lance M]

Originally Posted by Mrjkq

Personally I believe LT tires are great for trailer application but they are not designed for that use, that's my point. If you think Michelin is going to assist you in this type defense, well I don't!

I don't believe any tire manufacturer will "go to bat" for you for any reason concerning aftermarket tire choices. No tire or vehicle manufacturer should have to. We can make informed decisions for ourselves. I am responsible for the decisions I make. No one else.

I'm not a lawyer or an engineer, but I do believe that when LT tires are designed and tested, use on a trailer is one of the modes that is considered. It is, and has been for many decades, accepted practice to use Light Truck tires on trailer axles. Before tire companies got the bright idea to strengthen the bead area of a passenger (P) tire so it could hold more air pressure, stamp it with FOR TRAILER SERVICE ONLY, restrict its speed to 65 MPH and brand it with ST225/75R15 LRD people used LT tires on trailers.

Now, we all know that Airstream is producing trailers that roll off the assembly line with LT225/75R16 LRE Michelin tires. Airstream will put those tires on your trailer for you at the service department as an upgrade. If you want to bore yourself reading the CFR concerning tires, you'll see that the vehicle manufacturer is responsible for installing tires that are the correct size and load carrying capacity etc. The tire manufacturer will always tell you to install replacement tires in accordance with what the vehicle manufacturer specifies on the tire and loading information placard.

Call or write Airstream concerning tires for your trailer.

[crispyboy]

People who use trailers everyday for a living hauling cargo, livestock, etc., have learned that ST tires do not hold up abuse. ST tires do ok as long as you keep a close eye on them. That means jacking up the trailer, rotate the tire, look for broken belts, dry rot, raised tread, etc... While you are there you can adjust the brakes shoes. Keeping your equipment in good shape will minimize your liability risk and tire problems on the highway.
The last time I went to the cattle stock yards most of the stock trailers were running 16" LT tires. If you ask the owner why it is because the factory ST did not hold up to the abuse of going off-road and then driving 70 mph down the highway.
While this is anecdotal evidence sometimes you can learn from others mistakes - there are times when common sense can trump theory or gov't regulations.

[TheCabin]

We have a multi-axle livestock trailer that came with LT tires and has a label with the appropriate info including loading and air pressure for those LT tires. No issue with that trailer. But not so on the AS. The technical process to select a replacement LT tire for the ST tire that was installed by the manufacturer is fairly straightforward. The process is not perfect or there would not be so many threads on the subject. For me the technical issues get down to making sure that the replacement tires are going to meet the loading and mobility requirements while not creating other issues such as generating harmful vibrations. The liability issue is probably nothing more than what your insurance company is willing to allow. This could be a non-issue if AS would expand their tire/loading label and list more tires such as LT tires of a specific size and label. If this would get rid of the liability uncertainty then lets ask AS to send us a replacement label.

[xrvr]

One thing to remember is same sized LT tires may not have the same load capacity as ST tires.

[Wingeezer]

From Michelin .......

"We do not recommend using LT (light truck) tires*on trailers that specify ST tires. If the trailer manufacturer calls for ST tires, it is important to replace with ST tires in order to maintain the load requirement."


Airstream do now supply LT tires as standard on some of there higher end trailers don't they?

Brian.

[vintageracer]

The differences in the load rating between a 225/75-15 Goodyear Marathon trailer tire and a 225/75-15 Goodyear Wrangler ASA LT Tire is below.

Information directly from the spec page for each tire at Tirerack.com:

Goodyear Marathon: Load class C Max loading 2150 lbs. at 50 PSI

Goodyear Wrangler SRA LT: Load class 102S SL Mx Loading 1874 lbs at 44 PSI

IF you have single axle trailer your MAXIMUM load rating for 2 Goodyear Marathon trailer tires is 4300 lbs. The MAXIMUM load rating for 2 Goodyear Wrangler SRA tires on a single axle trailer is 3748 lbs for difference of 552 lbs.

Therefore is the load rating a BIG DEAL???

Could be with a single axle Airstream trailer that is overloaded with camping crap, water and other items. Definitely NOT an issue with a dual axle Airstream trailer.

These are the REAL numbers!!!

[crispyboy]

Vintageracer - YES - the numbers are the big deal.
You have to select the appropriate LT sized tire to get back into the proper load range. Sometimes this means going up to a 16" tire, typically on the 30' and larger traielers. A wise person should also compare the actual weight of the trailer fully loaded and give margin of error. At a minimum the combination of the two tires should be equal or greater than the axle GAWR (gross axle weight rating).
For example a single axle trailer with an axle rating 5,000 lb (GAWR) should have an E rated ST tire or LT tire.

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by vintageracer

The differences in the load rating between a 225/75-15 Goodyear Marathon trailer tire and a 225/75-15 Goodyear Wrangler ASA LT Tire is below.

Information directly from the spec page for each tire at Tirerack.com:

Goodyear Marathon: Load class C Max loading 2150 lbs. at 50 PSI

Goodyear Wrangler SRA LT: Load class 102S SL Mx Loading 1874 lbs at 44 PSI

IF you have single axle trailer your MAXIMUM load rating for 2 Goodyear Marathon trailer tires is 4300 lbs. The MAXIMUM load rating for 2 Goodyear Wrangler SRA tires on a single axle trailer is 3748 lbs for difference of 552 lbs.

Therefore is the load rating a BIG DEAL???

Could be with a single axle Airstream trailer that is overloaded with camping crap, water and other items. Definitely NOT an issue with a dual axle Airstream trailer.

These are the REAL numbers!!!

Could it be that you're comparing the wrong tire? Marathon LRDs are rated 2540 at 65psi. And aren't derared for trailer use.
And Maxxis M8008 LRE are good for 2800 lbs. Each. Total 5600 lbs.
These are the real numbers.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[TheCabin]

I am happy to say that I was wrong. I went back to the barn and looked at the external tire label to see what was listed. While the factory installed tires are 15" GYM ST, the label has the tires as LT225/75R15LRD at 65PSI cold inflation. I take this to mean that I can go to any tire shop and have LT tires of comparable or better installed and they will be satisfied with the manufacturer's label. Similarly, my insurance company should also be satisfied. If this turns out to be the case, then thank you AS for this generous labeling as I now have many viable options.

[Lance M]

I have never seen an LT225/75R15LRD tire. Please post a picture of the tire information placard.

[Rgentum]

Last year, I bought a 2016 27 FB & immediately replaced its 15 inch GYMs with 15 inch Maxxis E-loads. If they don't work well, I'll replace them with 16 inch rims & Michelin XPS Ribs, which I believe Michelin recommends for trailers.

The year before, I bought a 2015 Ram 2500, which had Firestones, not Wranglers. So far, they are doing OK. When they wear out, I'll put on Michelins, which have uniformly worked well for me in the past.

[mojo]

Originally Posted by Top

I have never seen an LT225/75R15LRD tire. Please post a picture of the tire information placard.

I believe he is referring to Load Range D (LRD)

[TheCabin]

I was surprised at the labeling so I did take a picture and a pdf version is attached. Next I suspect that I will find these tires in the same aisle as the unicorns.

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by Top

I have never seen an LT225/75R15LRD tire. Please post a picture of the tire information placard.

Marathon and Maxxis M8008 are ST tires, not LT.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[Lance M]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Marathon and Maxxis M8008 are ST tires, not LT.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

Yes. I know that.

What I said was, I've never seen an LT225/75R15LRD tire.

Obviously the tire placard that is attached to TheCabin's trailer is in error.

[paiceman]

Originally Posted by Wingeezer

From Michelin .......

"We do not recommend using LT (light truck) tires*on trailers that specify ST tires. If the trailer manufacturer calls for ST tires, it is important to replace with ST tires in order to maintain the load requirement."


Airstream do now supply LT tires as standard on some of there higher end trailers don't they?

Brian.

Yes, Airstream does install at the factory Michelin LT 16" tires on Sendel wheels at the factory. When we ordered our 2015 30' FC in the fall of 2014 I specified the Michelin's. The dealer said that he could not order them as there was no such selection on his order sheet. I told him to give it a shot that I'd refuse the delivery if anything else came on the unit. I also contacted three different people at the factory and got a lot of information, verbally, noting in writing. That said, our unit came in with 16" Michelin's and Sendel wheels.

Bud

[tjdonahoe]

My airstream now has 16" michelins, the gyms had 22000 miles and were 3.5 years old and at 50 o/o tread, I replaced them as I do on my Kenworth truck steering axle, that way we have no problems.....

[vintageracer]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Could it be that you're comparing the wrong tire?

That depends upon YOUR trailer!

By far the most common trailer tire size is the 225/75-15 fitted to 3500 lb and 5200 lb axles. While this tire may not be good match for the 5200 lb axle this size is still fitted to many trailers with this axle.

Most trailers of ALL kinds sold in the US have 1 or 2 Five (5) lug 3500 lb axles. You now know the load ratings for the 225/75-15 tires ST and LT tires that are typically equipped and recommended by many trailer manufacturers for trailers with 3500 lb axles.

Go to larger size 16 inch and up tires and you get a HIGHER load rated tires. 16 inch tires are also fitted to heavier load rated axles such at the 5200 lb axle and higher load 8 lug wheel axles.

Amazing isn't it!!!

While I do not buy tires from Tirerack their website is a wealth of information when you want to research tires.

Once again ALL TRAILER TIRES available for sale today in the USA are OFF SHORE manufactured trailer tires (In most cases from the Far East ASIA) regardless of brand name on the tires. This alone should be a GREAT reason not to use trailer tires on your trailer!

Look at your trailer tires you have now and you will see where they are manufactured as it is molded into the tire!

[markdoane]

I have a 5200 lb axle and run two 225/75-15 tires rated at 5660 lbs. The weight of the trailer is 4800 lbs.

I can't run 16" tires because the wheel wells are only 30" long.

[BoldAdventure]

Dodge doesn't make trucks anymore. Ram does. Just an FYI from their marketing and branding deptartment.