What advantages of all steel trailer tires???

[wingfoot]

After three out of four ply separations on my fifth-wheel tires, the tire experts(??) suggested I go to an all steel ply cassing. I am not running overloaded (per Cat Scales) and watching my air pressure with a certified guage and always keep them at the Max "cold" inflation levels (80#)...but still had ply separations [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/depressed.gif[/img]...and usually at the most inopportune times...The tires that came on my 5r OE were LT225/75R16 Goodyear Wrangler HT LR E, steel and polyester construction..load carrying capacity of 2,682#...The tire guys are suggesting the following 225/75R16 Goodyear G647 Unisteels LR E with the same load carrying capacity but with all steel construction...supposiedly cooler running with stronger sidewalls..This all comes with a sizable price tag [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]..MY question is, the G647's don't carry any more weight..am I just wasting my money..or will, as they state..cure my separation problems?

Thanks for any input [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[shark1955]

I just replaced the 5 Goodyear Wrangler AP tires LT235/85R16E on my 5th wheel with the same size Wrangler HT due to side wall cracking (under warranty). The Goodyear dealer originally wanted to put the G647 tires on my 5er but when I pointed out they run at 120psi and require new rims to handle the higher psi they changed their recommendation to the HT.

[wingfoot]

[ QUOTE ]
I just replaced the 5 Goodyear Wrangler AP tires LT235/85R16E on my 5th wheel with the same size Wrangler HT due to side wall cracking (under warranty). The Goodyear dealer originally wanted to put the G647 tires on my 5er but when I pointed out they run at 120psi and require new rims to handle the higher psi they changed their recommendation to the HT.

[/ QUOTE ]


You are right,maybe, on the 120PSI..but, at 80# PSI, which is a recommendation on the G647's, will carry 2,680#...you can vary your air pressure to match your load...and the G647's have a "Max Cold" inflation limit on the sidewall of 80#..I did check on Goodyear's web site and in the inflation section they show "Max Cold" on the G647's of 80# with 2,680# load capacity..

BTW, just curious, where did you see an inflation recommendation of 120#?

Thanks,
wing

[SmokeyWren]

I don't like Goodyear tires. I've had too much trouble with them over the years.

Michelin also makes an all-steel tire that will fit your trailer. Michelin XPS Rib. http://www.michelinman.com/overview/xps_rib/30.html

I wore out one set on my pickup. They lasted about twice as long as BFGoodrich AllTerrain. So I put on a second set. I like' 'um. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

However, before I spent the money for LT225/75R16E, I'd get out the tape measure and see if you could mount LT235/85R16E. Same wheel width requirements. Same max 80 PSI cold inflation pressure. But a coupla hundred pounds per tire more weight capacity.

[wingfoot]

Thanks Smokey...I looked at the Michelin..but with me it's a personal thing..I dislike the French as much if not more than you dislike Goodyear.

Unfortunally, I don't think I would have the clearance for the LT235's. The OD on the LT235 is 31.5' vs 29.2' for the LT225's. That would be over an inch top and bottom and I've looked, just don't think I have enough..plus the recommended rim width is 6.50'and I have 6.0'. The approved rim width is 6.0'-7.0'...but from what I have researched the 6.5' is the way to go...


Thanks again for your response

[LongRider]

<font color="green">The only tire that I can think of, that would be sorrier than a Goodyear Wrangler HT, is a Firestone RS4.

I would even rate a Carlisle higher than a Goodyear HT.

We just installed four HTs across the back of a 2004 F-350.

The guy went on a short trip, pulling his horse-trailer, and came back white-knuckled and extremely dis-satisfied.

I jacked up the rear-end and put the truck in gear, to see what possibly could be wrong.

The new tires were so egg-shaped that the truck would hardly set on the jack.

I tried to talk him out of the HTs before we special ordered them, but he thought that was what he wanted.

I ended up trading him four Toyo Open Country HT and sent the Goodyears back at a big loss.

The truck handles like it should with the Toyos. </font>

[jimmy]

The weight capacity of the tire is a DOT standard and every tire that is that size and that ply rating will have the same exact weight and pressure on its sidewall. The actual capacity of different tires will be widely different. I can kill 235/85r16 polyester, nylon, or rayon sidewall tires with steel tread plies in a couple hundred miles on a 100 degree day with my horse trailer. Michelin XPS Rib or the Goodyear unisteel in any of several designations will wear out without failure. I have found the coolest running with best wear on these all steel tires is with 90-95 psi inflation. The inflation is more than the sidewall says but a car hauler friend who killed tires for years on his triple axle haulers let me in on the steel tires and higher psi as his way to eliminate tire failures.

[wingfoot]

Thanks Jimmy...I did notice that all of the LT225/75R16 LRE tires had the same load carrying capacities. As an example, Michelin is identical to Goodyear in the same configuration. And to your point, they were all steel or a combination of steel and nylon/polyester construction..Struck me odd, but all were the same!

Thanks

[LongRider]

<font color="green">If you will read on the sidewall of many over-the-road tires, it will say "SIDEWALL=ONE PLY STEEL".

The ply rating/load-range might be 16PR/LR-H, but the actual ply will be one layer of steel. </font>

[shark1955]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I just replaced the 5 Goodyear Wrangler AP tires LT235/85R16E on my 5th wheel with the same size Wrangler HT due to side wall cracking (under warranty). The Goodyear dealer originally wanted to put the G647 tires on my 5er but when I pointed out they run at 120psi and require new rims to handle the higher psi they changed their recommendation to the HT.

[/ QUOTE ]


You are right,maybe, on the 120PSI..but, at 80# PSI, which is a recommendation on the G647's, will carry 2,680#...you can vary your air pressure to match your load...and the G647's have a "Max Cold" inflation limit on the sidewall of 80#..I did check on Goodyear's web site and in the inflation section they show "Max Cold" on the G647's of 80# with 2,680# load capacity..

BTW, just curious, where did you see an inflation recommendation of 120#?

Thanks,
wing

[/ QUOTE ]

I rechecked the Goodyear web site http://www.goodyear.com/rv/products/g614rst.html and found it was G614RST tires the dealer was pushing not G647's sorry for the mix up.

[CaptRon]

Every one of the POS Goodyear Wrangler tires on my 5th wheel came apart. The last two actually started rubbing and I had to run them about 50 mile till I could find a tire store to buy new tires. My axles are closely spaced and normally the tires only have less than an inch and a half clearance anyway. Right now I have two different brands of tire on with Hankooks on the left and I can't remember what's on the right. The Hankooks run warmer than the right side but nothing to get concerned about, they have about 10K miles on them and the right side have about 6k.

When the Goodyears started to fail they started to grow and the tread got rounded which indicated that the were seperating. Only one actually lost any tread and I had noticed that this tire was strange looking before I pulled the trailer back to SC. Coming out of Jax I heard a pop and looked in the mirrors in time to see and piece of rubber come off the tire. I slowed down and got off the next exit and changed the tire. The tire still held air. I have a couple of pictures that I took while changing the tire but Photobucket is down for maint and I can't upload them right now, will try later.

Capt Ron

[haul_n_horses2]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Smokey...I looked at the Michelin..but with me it's a personal thing..I dislike the French as much if not more than you dislike Goodyear.

[/ QUOTE ]Well the tires are manufactured in England if that makes any difference to you. In these days of multinational corporations, it is hard to know who you are supporting. I spoke with a guy who ran a fleet of E350 diesel vans as a delivery service and he could not keep the front tires on for more than 10-20 K miles. He tried the XPS Ribs and got nearly 80 K miles from them and the rest of the fleet soon switched over. I have these tires (Traction version) for my dually and they are awesome. If I had not put larger axles and 17.5" Commercial tires on my horse trailer, I would be running XPS ribs on it.

[CaptRon]

Ok, Photobucket is up again so here's a couple of pictures of my tire after it came apart.

Capt Ron

Goodyear Wrangler Tire Damage

Changing Tire

[pabrannan]

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, Photobucket is up again so here's a couple of pictures of my tire after it came apart.

Capt Ron

Goodyear Wrangler Tire Damage

Changing Tire

[/ QUOTE ]

I had a carlisle do the same thing. I now run BFG Commercial T/As on my TT.

Paul B

[lincster]

Michelin XPS Ribs for me on my 5er..... I don't care who makes them as long as they aren't Carlisle......