trailer tires and tow speeds

[jollyrogr]

So I think the tires on my trailer are rated for 65 mph.  This is not a problem for me now since my pickup can't really pull the trailer faster than this unless we're going downhill.

My question for you all is this, with an HDT going 65 mph or more would not be a problem.  Do you limit your speed to prevent trailer tire blow outs or do you upgrade your trailer tires so you can safely go faster?  What do you guys use for tires on your trailers? 

[Dennis M]

First of all we rarely exceed 65 MPH when towing. The Volvo's sweet spot is about 1,450 RPM which equates to about 63 MPH. That said I have been know to push it up to 70-75 to get past a line trucks on a grade without impeding traffic.

Speaking for myself, I run LT tires on the trailer. Our Newmar Mountain Aire has two axles with duals - eight tires. I replaced the original Bridgestones with Michelin XPS Ribs LT235/85 R 16 six years ago and they have performed flawlessly. 

[SuiteSuccess]

I used Goodyear G114s 17.5 inch.  I only drive 60-62 mph not because of tire limits but because I've got no where to go and all day to get there.  Seriously I just see no reason to drive much faster since I'm retired and usually don't travel over 300 - 350 miles in a day.  I believe the G114s are rated at 75mph.

[Star Dreamer]

We try to limit our speed to under 65 mph but even that does not prevent blowouts but it does help some. If it is really hot outside, I try slowing my speed down to 60 to keep TMPS temperature down to around 100. 

I cannot increase my size tire unless I change all 6 wheels and even then I can only go to 16" and I think the best ones are the 17-1/2".

Dave

[jollyrogr]

what makes you say the best ones are 17.5"?

[Jemstone]

The 17.5" Goodyear tire being discussed is a commercial tire with a G rating.  Recommended pressure is 110 lbs.  Expensive but reliable for heavier trailers.  Biggest problem with them is that, in my experience, they are only sold at Goodyear's commercial shops, of which there are very few.

[Star Dreamer]

7 hours ago, jollyrogr said:

what makes you say the best ones are 17.5"?

The 17.5" are available in commercial tires which will have better ratings than the 15" ones we currently are using. Others are reporting good usage with them. There are other brands than the Goodyear's too. Like our HDTs it is better to have more capacity than what you need!

[rickeieio]

8 hours ago, jollyrogr said:

what makes you say the best ones are 17.5"?

16" tires are available in up to load range F, rated for 110 psi and a capacity of about 3600#.

17.5 tires are available in load range G, rated for 125 psi and a capaxity of about 4800#.

Depending on your axle configuration and loaded weight, going to the 17.5 may gain you level of margin where you need not fret about your tires.  Our old trailer was borderline w/ 16" so we switched to the 17.5 size.  Our current trailer has about a 30% safety margin with 16" so I'm comfortable with that.

[Mark and Dale Bruss]

23 minutes ago, rickeieio said:

16" tires are available in up to load range F, rated for 110 psi and a capacity of about 3600#.

Actually there are G rated 16" rims needing 110 psi.  But since the 110 psi rating usually requires a replacement of regular 16" rims (85 psi), you might as well go to 17.5" rim.  Same cost for rims. The cost for 17.5" tires are usually lower than G rated 16" tires.  Same dimensions.  More manufacturer options.

[WeBeFulltimers]

1 minute ago, Mark and Dale Bruss said:

Actually there are G rated 16" rims needing 110 psi.  But since the 110 psi rating usually requires a replacement of regular 16" rims (85 psi), you might as well go to 17.5" rim.  Same cost for rims. The cost for 17.5" tires are usually lower than G rated 16" tires.  Same dimensions.  More manufacturer options.

Many manufacturers have put 110 psi 16" wheels on fivers for many years now. One of them is Montana as my 2012 came from factory with them. My previous 2008 Montana had 80 psi 16" wheels. Some are now also installing G rated 16" Sailun S637 tires as standard from factory.

[Refuzn-To-Grow-Up]

I tow at 60mph. 

One of the reasons that I switched from a motorhome to 5'er was that 5'ers only have three moving parts that wear out.  They are tires, wheel bearings and brakes.

I just installed a set of tires by Goodyear (see link below).  I had two blowouts on cheap china chit tires.  I actively looked for tires that were made in America.  I also replaced the china chit wheel bearings with Timken wheel bearings and good quality American made grease seals.

These are new production tires, so we will see how they perform.

  https://corporate.goodyear.com/en-US/media/news/goodyear_launches_american_manufactured_trailer_tire.html

[jollyrogr]

My trailer has ST225/75 15's on there now. Load range D. I'm thinking an LT tire load range E would be an upgrade since I probably can't fit 17.5's. Would have to measure.

My tires are China crap too. Would replace with something preferably made here. 

[Shifted]

I, also, run LT tires.  Any tire marked as a trailer tire is, by qualifying as a "trailer" tire, only officially rated for 65mph.  Maybe it would be ok at more, but it's not "rated" for it.  Supposedly, trailer tires have stiffer sidewalls to handle lateral forces better.  The kind of forces you put on the tire when making a sharp turn with a double or triple axle trailer.

I try to pick LT tires that have a much higher speed rating than my truck can go, a much higher load rating than my trailer needs, and that the manufacturer claims has a high sidewall strength.

I've had regular trailer tires blow on me a couple of times, and even had them lose their tread after sitting for the winter and then just pulling out of their parking spot, leaving the tread behind on the ground.  They were stored inside, and the tires were not aged out or abused.

I've put about 10k miles on the LT tires since I've started using them with no problems so far.  Very happy with them.  My trailer has two axles, is a tag-along (bumper pull) and about 10k lbs.  So take my configuration in context.  It may not be a one-to-one for your configuration.  I wouldn't push anyone else to make the same trailer tire choice as me, but I can report why I switched and that I am very happy with the decision.

 

[Broncohauler]

 

Keep in mind 65mph is the MAX!  Your truck has a maximum engine RPM do you won't to drive at that RPM all the time?? No your engine wouldn't last long. 

After multiple blowouts, I was running max weight for my trailer at 62-65mph. 

I upgraded my axles to 7200lb and tires to 17.5 with no regrets. 

Commercial shops carry the 17.5 tires and if your on the fence? I would suggest to just go down and look at the differences, it will blow your mind. 

I did order mine on line as a package deal.  

[Star Dreamer]

1 hour ago, Refuzn-To-Grow-Up said:

I tow at 60mph. 

One of the reasons that I switched from a motorhome to 5'er was that 5'ers only have three moving parts that wear out.  They are tires, wheel bearings and brakes.

I just installed a set of tires by Goodyear (see link below).  I had two blowouts on cheap china chit tires.  I actively looked for tires that were made in America.  I also replaced the china chit wheel bearings with Timken wheel bearings and good quality American made grease seals.

These are new production tires, so we will see how they perform.

  https://corporate.goodyear.com/en-US/media/news/goodyear_launches_american_manufactured_trailer_tire.html

Wow, they have at least come up with one that seems to meet the requirements people are looking for I: US made, Faster speed rating N is 87 mph. In the smaller trailer tire sizes.

Now hopefully they will hold up better than their Marathon model

Dave

[chirakawa]

2 hours ago, Shifted said:

Any tire marked as a trailer tire is, by qualifying as a "trailer" tire, only officially rated for 62mph. 

 

 

Not true.

[Shifted]

Yes, true.  US standard for ST tire.  Not that a tire's quality can't exceed that rating and be advertised by the manufacturer as a higher speed capable tire, but 65mph speed rating is part of the definition of the ST rating.

 

 

https://tires.tirerack.com/tires/St Speed Rating

 

[chirakawa]

18 minutes ago, Shifted said:

Yes, true.  US standard for ST tire.  Not that a tire's quality can't exceed that rating and be advertised by the manufacturer as a higher speed capable tire, but 65mph speed rating is part of the definition of the ST rating.

 

 

https://tires.tirerack.com/tires/St Speed Rating

 

First, you didn't specify ST, you simply said  "marked as a trailer tire".

Second, you stated that they were rated at 62 mph, not 65 mph like most ST tires.  That, in itself makes your previous statement not true.

Third, here is a link posted twice earlier in this thread which shows the Goodyear Endurance ST Tire which has an N Speed rating.  I suppose Goodyear could be misrepresenting the rating.  https://corporate.goodyear.com/en-US/media/news/goodyear_launches_american_manufactured_trailer_tire.html

Fourth, not all trailer tires are ST tires.  Here is a good example of one which is labeled, marketed, and sold by many trailer manufacturers and Goodyear as a trailer tire and is an LT type.  There are others.  http://www.goodyearrvtires.com/tire-selector.aspx

[jollyrogr]

I have not had good experiences with Goodyear tires and will not be buying any more. If I'm looking for a 10 ply LT in 15" there are many options that don't say Goodyear on the side. 

[noteven]

Running Bridgestone R250's 16" rim rated for 99mph.  

[rickeieio]

The discussions about oil, er, tires can go on and on......  Manufacturers tend to float the rules a bit, and standards are, well, not terribly standard.  Just look at the differences in tread width and depth of the same "size" tire by different companies.  Heck, look at Bridgestone, Firestone, and their bargain brand (Cooper?) and see the differences.

BTW, a concern was mentioned above about tire height being more with the 17.5".  They're essentially the same as the 16".

As Mark stated above 16" wheels come in both 80 psi and a higher rating.  Unfortunately, our wheels are the 80 PSI.  But, that still gives me a comfortable margin with roughly 16k spread across three axles.

While the Sailun tires are China made, they seem to be much better than we've come to expect from there.  I have a set on my drive axles on my Mack, and so far am happy with them.  Granted, they don't see the abuse a trailer would dish out.

[Shifted]

5 hours ago, chirakawa said:

First....

Fourth.....

Having a bad day?  lol

Relax.  It's not a competition.  Enjoy your Sunday

[chirakawa]

5 minutes ago, Shifted said:

Having a bad day?  lol

Relax.  It's not a competition.  Enjoy your Sunday

Me?  I'm having a great day.  Didn't think it was a competition, just trying to contribute to the discussion.

[TireHobby]

Special Trailer tires (ST) without any speed markings on their sidewalls have a maximum speed rating of  65 MPH. 

Manufacturers of ST tires are in the process of identifying their tires with an official speed letter or actually molding the speed restriction into the tire’s sidewall. There is no speed letter for 65 MPH. Speed letter K is for 68 MPH but seldom used. The speed letters follow a tire service description displayed on the tire‘s sidewall. A typical service description may look like this, 117/112N, the N is the speed rating and it is 87 MPH. 

Replacement tires for RV trailers are a complicated proposition. The only official recommendations an owner can get is from the trailer manufacturer. Hardly anyone likes that idea so the internet forums are loaded with misinformation. The best thing an owner can do is find a tire manufacturer like Bridgestone/Firestone that publishes their tire industry standards for replacement tires in a PDF on the internet. I used that name because (IMO) their’s is the easiest to figure out for trailer tires (any design).

[lockmup68]

I'm running Hercules, double capacity of the axle with the tires and 75mph speed rating. Very happy with them, 4,500 miles so far on this trip and temps have been 106+ through South Dakota. Much more reasonable than the Goodyears and the Continentals as well price wise.

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HERCULES HERCULES H-902 235/75R-17.5

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Size	UTQG	Max. Load	Inflation Pressure	Tread Depth	Tire Weight	Rim Width Range	Sect. Width	Tread Width	Overall Diam
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