Another Tire Replacement Thread

[jacandjan]

I'm replacing my original 5 year old Transmaster tires this weekend with a set of Dean Tires (Wildcats) from my local Les Schwab Tire. I plan on replacing my original ST 235/80 R16 tires with the LT 235/85 R16 E rated tires that are MADE IN THE USA. I have read alot about swithcing from ST to LT tires and know that it is okay but would like to hear from my fellow Wildcat owners as to how happy they have been with the LT tires.

PS: I'm assuming the 16" steel factory wheels are rated for 80 PSI, anyone know for sure ?

Thanks for any feedback...........Jim

[Mopar_Earl]

LT tires are fine for trailers, but P tires aren't. High end units come with LT tires. As long as it's rated for the weight the LT will be fine. Seeing as you're going to use E-load range that's plenty good.
The LT tires in that size are a common tire and you'll find them easier when you're in the middle of no where compaired to the same size in a ST tire.
Also the speed rating is higher on the the LT tires than the ST tires which are only 65 MPH @ rated load.


Earl

[Glen Schumann]

The safe assumption is that your wheels have the same pressure rating as the tires that came on them. Better would be to find the rating on one of the wheels.

[kwf904]

Hey Jim,
I would be interested to know what spacing you have between tires after you get the LT's mounted. I know right now the spacing is pretty slim on mine (approx 2"). I would also like to go to the LT's.
Thanks
Jim

[Portagie1968]

I have LT's and they work fine. What is the speed rating on an LT. 80 psi. That is a lot of tire pressure. Most I run is 62.

[moo2613]

The white steel wheels will do 80#'s. Our Wildcat came with "E" range on it when we bought it.

[Portagie1968]

I run close to what FR recommends.

[jacandjan]

What is the speed rating on an LT

According to the Dean Tire website they are rated for 87 MPH. I will never get over 80 and that's rare and mostly only when passing.

I too only have about 2" in between tires.
Portagie, do you have 16" on your rig now ??

Thanks for the feedback

[Portagie1968]

Yes. I got the upgraded tires and wheels for my Wicked Kitty when I bought it. If U have not got them get some wet bolts on that Kitty as soon as possible. Me 2 on the passing.

[jacandjan]

http://www.goodyear.com/rv/tirecare/loadinflationtables.html

[/quote]I would be interested to know what spacing you have between tires after you get the LT's mounted. I know right now the spacing is pretty slim on mine (approx 2"). I would also like to go to the LT's[quote]

Just got done having the new tires put on and I ended up with 1" between tires. From what i can find, this is the minimum recommended spacing per the Dexter Axel site and other places i have checked. I'm still unsure of the correct tire pressure though. My rig weighs 10,000 with out water and about 2000 of that is on the pin. I currently have them set at 75 psi but may go up to 80 per the chart above, I don't want to over inflate but would rather do that than under inflate.

[Portagie1968]

Forest River recommends about 65 I think. Have to check the sticker again

[Mopar_Earl]

Forest River recommends about 65 I think. Have to check the sticker again

65 on load range D tires


Earl

[Portagie1968]

I got E so I wonder? Still researching speed limit. I sometimes do 70 but it seems I may have to slow down.

[Mopar_Earl]

I got E so I wonder? Still researching speed limit. I sometimes do 70 but it seems I may have to slow down.

Your tires will have a speed rating on the sidewall. It'll be a letter that will tell you max speed @ the rated pressure and weight on a tire chart. If your tire is a E range, if it's a ST tire, it'll only be 65 MPH. If it's a E range LT tire, your speed will most likely be higher but you can tell for sure by the speed rating code on the sidewall.

•All "ST" tires have a maximum speed rating of 65 mph.
•As heat builds up, the tire's structure starts to disintegrate and weaken.
•The load carrying capacity gradually decreases as the heat and stresses generated by higher speed increases.

Earl

[Portagie1968]

Higher speeds verse's sidewall strength. Good question.

I may have to post a picture of my tire have looked at every entry on that thing and no speed limit on it at all. No letter, no picture and I mean nothing I can find.

[Portagie1968]

Earl - If 65 psi on LR D what do you think would work on E's?

[Mopar_Earl]

Earl - If 65 psi on LR D what do you think would work on E's?

I run 70 to 75 on my E range tires. Max is 80


Earl

[jacandjan]

I will try the 75 psi and see how much they heat up. Thanks for your input Earl, i assume your running the LT tires ? How much space is there between your tires ?

Portagie, what brand and size of tire are you running ?

[Portagie1968]

Earl - Are your tires LT? If they are ST's are U still limited to 65? 75 lbs -doesnt that tear your trailer up since FR recommends 65?

[Portagie1968]

jacandjan Hi-Run ST235/85R16 Load E on 16 inch rims.

[jacandjan]

portagie

If you click on the Goodyear link above and then open the PDF file on that page you will see that your tires have a max psi of 65, look further down for my LT 235/85 R 16 E tires and they have a max of 80 psi for more or less the same load rating. Don't ask me why, it's over my head. I'm told that our steel wheels are rated for a load of 3500 lbs and the 80psi is not a problem.

Ooops, I just looked your tires up here; http://www.sutongctr.com/productDetail.asp?id=415 and your tires are also rated for 80psi, i assume these tires are not original ? I would guess that you should be running more than 62 psi but again, that's just a guess.

[Mopar_Earl]

I will try the 75 psi and see how much they heat up. Thanks for your input Earl, i assume your running the LT tires ? How much space is there between your tires ?

Portagie, what brand and size of tire are you running ?

I have the optional ST235/80R16/E tires on mine. They are overkill for my trailer so I can and do run them faster than 65 MPH. I just did a 1100 mile trip doing 70 MPH. I ran 75 PSI for the trip. Remember, the speed rating of 65 MPH is @ rated load, so if you're under rated load you can sqeeze more speed.
There isn't much space between my tires due to having 33" axle spacing. Trailers are normally built with 16" wheels will have 35" axle spacing. I attached a pic of how close my factory optional tires are.

Once these tires need replaced, I'll replace them with LT tires. Probably LT235/85R16/E





Earl

[Mopar_Earl]

Earl - Are your tires LT? If they are ST's are U still limited to 65? 75 lbs -doesnt that tear your trailer up since FR recommends 65?

No, my tires are ST235/80R16/E.
65 PSI is for the OEM standard tires which were 15" D range tires. I would not run only 65 PSI in a E range tire unless you go by the pressure to weight chart and scale each wheel to know what pressure you can run.




Earl

[jacandjan]

My original tires were 235/80R 16 load range D and only rated for 65 psi. My new tires are rated for 87 MPH.

[Portagie1968]

portagie

If you click on the Goodyear link above and then open the PDF file on that page you will see that your tires have a max psi of 65, look further down for my LT 235/85 R 16 E tires and they have a max of 80 psi for more or less the same load rating. Don't ask me why, it's over my head. I'm told that our steel wheels are rated for a load of 3500 lbs and the 80psi is not a problem.

Ooops, I just looked your tires up here; http://www.sutongctr.com/productDetail.asp?id=415 and your tires are also rated for 80psi, i assume these tires are not original ? I would guess that you should be running more than 62 psi but again, that's just a guess.

The consternation I have is FR says 65. What do U do to your trailer that high?

[Portagie1968]

[Portagie1968]

I will try the 75 psi and see how much they heat up. Thanks for your input Earl, i assume your running the LT tires ? How much space is there between your tires ?

Portagie, what brand and size of tire are you running ?

I have the optional ST235/80R16/E tires on mine. They are overkill for my trailer so I can and do run them faster than 65 MPH. I just did a 1100 mile trip doing 70 MPH. I ran 75 PSI for the trip. Remember, the speed rating of 65 MPH is @ rated load, so if you're under rated load you can sqeeze more speed.
There isn't much space between my tires due to having 33" axle spacing. Trailers are normally built with 16" wheels will have 35" axle spacing. I attached a pic of how close my factory optional tires are.

Once these tires need replaced, I'll replace them with LT tires. Probably LT235/85R16/E





Earl

Got about same space. I wonder, trailer weighing time, if I under max load. It seems these tires are also an overkill for my trailer. The only time I hit 70 is downhill coasts or passing. The rest of the time it is no more than 65. I have had them around 62 psi. Since FR recommends 65 I may try 70 or 75 and see what it does to my trailer. Well I almost got 2 years on the tires. Maybe need to see if I can find a farmer who needs tires and go to LT. Loss of sidewall toughness is all U lose. The LTs are the babies of what my son has on the big rigs and I want no blow outs if I accidentally hit 80.

[Portagie1968]

Earl - Are your tires LT? If they are ST's are U still limited to 65? 75 lbs -doesnt that tear your trailer up since FR recommends 65?

No, my tires are ST235/80R16/E.
65 PSI is for the OEM standard tires which were 15" D range tires. I would not run only 65 PSI in a E range tire unless you go by the pressure to weight chart and scale each wheel to know what pressure you can run.




Earl

Is that picture off the side of your trailer Earl.

[Portagie1968]

portagie

If you click on the Goodyear link above and then open the PDF file on that page you will see that your tires have a max psi of 65, look further down for my LT 235/85 R 16 E tires and they have a max of 80 psi for more or less the same load rating. Don't ask me why, it's over my head. I'm told that our steel wheels are rated for a load of 3500 lbs and the 80psi is not a problem.

Ooops, I just looked your tires up here; http://www.sutongctr.com/productDetail.asp?id=415 and your tires are also rated for 80psi, i assume these tires are not original ? I would guess that you should be running more than 62 psi but again, that's just a guess.

Thank you for finding the site. I like the tires so far. They are taller but so what.

[slowtruck]

Has anyone ever used Turnpike radial trailer tires. I've heard of this brand but don't know anyyhing about them. A friend of mine is looking at a set of them