Skip N Barb Team
Dickinson, Texas
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Joined: 09/11/2007
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george
Michelin XPS LT245/75/R16 require rims width range 6.5" - 8".
This is from the Michelin tire specs page.
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rick83864
48°16N 116°33W
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Joined: 09/04/2009
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Chris wrote:I also would say get rid for your current tires and install quality LT tires. If you can fit LT235/85R16 under your trailer, I will argue that at your weight you do not need full max sidewall inflation. I weight around 9500-9800 lbs on my axles and run around 70-72 lbs in my XPS RIB's. I have ran them for 5 years and around 20-25 miles. I ran with a similar size trailer with the same tires and my infrared heat gun showed them running at the same temp.
The Michelin XPS RIB is one of the best available, you can however do quite well with the BFG Commercial TA at a lower cost.
You should be able to get rid of the second spare.
You are on the right track.
Also for reference they say that different tires should not be run on the same axle. The Marathon's should have been on one axle and the other two on the other axle.
Chris
Lower cost is right Chris, I saw the BGF TA's at costco the other day for $143. Whats a XPS run now days $250?
06 Dodge 3500 QC LB Laramie 4x4 Dually 5.9 Cummins Auto Jacobs brake Dodge Nav
GVWR 12,200 GCWR 23,000 payload 4830
06 Grand Junction 34' High profile 15500 GVWR 3300 pin weight Mor/ryde pinbox 7k axles
5500 Onan genny, Dual A/C, Fireplace
Total 21500 GVW
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Bonefish
Midland, TX
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Joined: 01/08/2008
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I got tired of having blowouts on three different brands of new properly aired ST 15" tires in five years.
I raised the camper by 2" and now running Michelin XPS Rib 16" tires.
LT in my book is the only way to go. Camper tracks smooth with no sway.
Make sure that the rims are not only the correct width but PRESSURE and Capacity rating. There are a lot of cheap rims which then become the weak link in the system.
Bonefish
* This post was
edited 03/09/10 11:44am by Bonefish *
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Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
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I know this is the big boys forum. But I has similar tire problems. My TT has a 11K GVW, 7200 dry, a 9500-10K loaded. 16" E rated LT Commercial TA'S resolved my problems. I suggest you do it now. Waiting will only give you a chance to have a blowout and possibly some wheel well damage to go along with it.
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Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
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Bonefish wrote:I got tired of having blowouts on three different brands of new properly aired ST 15" tires in five years.
I raised the camper by 2" and now running Michelin XPS Rib 16" tires.
LT in my book is the only way to go. Camper tracks smooth with no sway.
Make sure that the rims are not only the correct width but PRESSURE RATING. There are a lot of cheap rims which then become the weak link in the system.
Bonefish
Bonefish I agree with you. I learned that rims could become the weak link the hard way. LT tires with the proper rims will do the trick.
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Bonefish
Midland, TX
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Me too Lantley! Weld failure on the rim spokes. No fun.
Bonefish
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FastEagle
Taylors, SC
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Lighter RV trailers such as yours have a great advantage over heavier models because with the lighter weight the door is opened to a large array of tire choices. Those with 6000# axles and above have much more difficulty with their selection than you will have. I’m in favor of upgrading original equipment tires provided on RV trailers because most often the OE tires are marginal at best as the RV trailer manufacturers will not provide enough (if any at all) reserve load carrying capacity. Even though the second poster in this thread opened up the door to ST tires I’m not going to bite.
In keeping with your wishes my choice would be the BF Goodrich Commercial T/A all season radial LT225/75R16E. It is about an inch taller than your current tires. However, it’s rated at 2680# @ 80 psi and is more than enough tire for your weight class. It is a proven design and should give you many years of failure free service.
FastEagle
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johntank
Oxford, Ms 38655 USA
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Golden_HVAC wrote:H
Good luck finding 5 or 6 lug 16" rims, they are a little more difficult to find.
Good Luck,
Fred.
A 5 lug on 5 1/2" 16" rim might be difficult to find, have never tried, but a 6 lug on 5 1/2" 16" rim is not hard to find at all, any good tire store that sales rims at all should be able fine what you need and get them for you. Even trailer supply places are another place to find rims.
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jaycocamprs
Ringgold Georgia
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Our trailer is lighter than yours. Last Sept. after being in service 2 years I through the tread of the RR tire.
I'm not sure of the date code of that tire, but the ones that I still have are coded 2206. I also was guilty of going faster than 65mph(but not that day), the tires were always inflated to 70psi with steel valve stems. I got 5 Dexstar 8 spoke wheels from Fleet Pride truck parts (where the tire dealer sent me). And 5 LT235/85R16/E BFG Commercial LT tires. The switch cost about $1100. Goodyear paid about 1/2 that in damages; I bought the parts and did the work my self. I have been very pleased with the out come of the switch. The trailer sits more level now and also rides better. I did have to bend the corners of the skirting up for clearance (you can only see this looking up from the ground). They were also very close to the side of the slide out, but don't rub. If you don't need/want the larger diameter I would look at the LT215/85R16/E. If your tires are over 2 years old you are on borrowed time! Look at this thread from another Jayco owner who made the LT switch
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SteveRankin
Sequim, WA
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I see several possible issues here. First the given situation:
A. You currently have 225/75-15 "D" (2540#) tires and are thinking of upgrading to 235/85-16 "E" tires.
B. You are planning a 1,500 mile trip this summer.
C. You're homeported in south Texas.
OK now, the things that I'd be concerned about:
1. Most TT's with 15" wheels have 33" axle spacing. You'll need 35" axle spacing to upgrade to 16" wheels. Look at the photo below of the LT235/85R16 "E" Firestone Destination M/T's on our Arctic Fox 29V with 35" axle spacing.
Here's what the OEM ST235/85R16 "E" tires and wheels look like:
Ample space between the ST tires.
The only thing that has changed is a switch to LT tires - same size. There isn't enough room to fit your hand between the tires. Granted the Firestone Destination M/T tires are beefy at 32" tall, but even ordinary All-Season LT tires are about 31.4" tall.
2. The current 15" wheels may not be rated for 80 PSI of the Load Range "E" tires, and it's possible, though not likely, that they're 5-bolt vs. the 6-bolt required for the 16" Load Range "E" wheels.
3. The taller tires will also east up a bit of tire/fender clearance. Our Arctic Fox 29V came with 'flipped' axles, so it was easy to slip a 1" thick steel flat bar between the springs and the axles to lift the coach an 1" and get our clearance back.
4. You are homeported in Texas, which means that you'll be driving in hotter conditions than most folks. FYI, the insurance industry reports indicate that something like 25% of the Ford Explorers on the road are in the southern states, but more like 40% of the claims for tire-related damage comes from those same states. In other words, you're roughly twice as likely to have a tire failure where you live as where I live (hint: I can see Canada from my living room).
FYI, our new Arctic Fox 24-5N 5th wheel came with 15" wheels and 33" axle spacing.  Not only that, it's sitting 7" too low for our newer F350 4x4 on its OEM 34" tall tires. Our first order of business is to try to raise the pin box one bolt hole, but it looks like that's going to be very tight. That will give us 2.5". I'm also guestimating that the truck will settle about 3" with once the 50-gallon auxiliary fuel tank, PullRite Super 5th hitch and the loaded trailer are installed. That leaves about 2" we'll still need to lift the trailer. Should work out perfectly with another 2" square tube welded under the frame rails for the new suspension with 35" spacing. Unless we opt for Torflex axles and we kick up the axle spacing to 36-37" for the big tires. As soon as Spring comes, we'll start the process of working our way into this project. But, it's supposed to snow tonight & our barn isn't heated so we'll wait for better weather.
Steve & C. J.
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