Tire upgrade

[Not Quite Yet]

I am getting ready to upgrade tires on our 40' 5th wheel. It now has the ST235x85 16r Goodyear Marathons E rated. I am now looking at moving to the LT215x75R17.5 but I am a little confused about speed ratings. It seems that most of the H and J ratings are 62 mph. The load carrying capacity is great but, even though we normally tow at 65mph there is occasions when we approach 70+. I haven't chosen which tire as of yet, looking at Michelin and Goodyear. Do Y'all have any info to offer on this.

[Big Greg]

The GY G114 H rated tires are rated at 75mph as are Sumitomo H rated tires. I am on my second set of GY G114 tires since 7/2009 with no problems in 47K miles. You can contact Trailer Tires & Wheels to see what other H rated tires have 75 mph speed ratings, and get prices. They are in Ohio and ship anywhere. Greg http://www.trailertiresandwheels.com/

[TireHobby]

Another option is quickly becoming available and many of the trailer tire retailers already have some name brands in their inventory. It's the ST235/85R16G rated at 4080# @ 110 psi. They should fit your existing rims.

[SWharton]

We had a 38' fifth and used Goodyear G tires, maybe 614, 637. I don't remember any more. Never had a failure with them and we were about 15000 lbs.

[Not Quite Yet]

The existing rims are rated at 80 PSI, so I don't think they will work with PSI ratings above that.

Thanks for the info

[TireHobby]

The existing rims are rated at 80 PSI, so I don't think they will work with PSI ratings above that.

Thanks for the info

Sorry I misread your first post. The GY Marathons are not made in size ST235/85R16E so at a quick glance I thought you were posting about the GY LT235/85R15G which is the tire you should consider as a replacement for your OE tires.

 

However there are 16” tire options that can be used with your 80 psi rims. Numerous manufacturers build the ST235/85R16E with 3640# of load capacity @ 80 psi.

[retispcsi]

I have Goodyear G 114 215 17.5 tires at 125 psi on my Mobile Suites. I don't know about speed ratings but I also run 62 to 65 most of the time. I do go faster when it is neccessary. I run a TST tire monitor system also. I have run in all temps from 117 degrees in Nevada this summer to 50,s in the midwest. Never an issue. You would need to buy the proper rims if you go to this tire. These are standard equipment on MS and some of the other heavier fivers for good reason.

[Mark and Dale Bruss]

Another option is quickly becoming available and many of the trailer tire retailers already have some name brands in their inventory. It's the ST235/85R16G rated at 4080# @ 110 psi. They should fit your existing rims.

Just what brand of tire is offering an H Tire Load Rating with a G label? And an H tire Load Rating at only 110 psi?

[Mark and Dale Bruss]

 

However there are 16” tire options that can be used with your 80 psi rims. Numerous manufacturers build the ST235/85R16E with 3640# of load capacity @ 80 psi.

I only find that Tire Load Rating at 95 psi which is still too high for the normal E rim.

[NC Hauler]

You could stay with an E rated tire (80psi), and get the Michelin XPS RIBS, (3042# per tire), if that covers your axle weights.. The Duravis R250s Are "as good as" the RIBs and not as pricey..

 

The GY 614s and Sailun 637s are G rated tires with max sidewall air pressure of 110 psi. These tires are 16" tires and rated at 3750# per tire.

[Not Quite Yet]

We have made our choice on tires,

We will go with;

Goodyear G114

215/75R17.5 Capacity (single) 4,805 LBS @ 125 PSI Capacity (dual) 4,540 LBS @ 125 PSI Load Range H Speed Rated 75 MPH Diameter 30.5" Width 8.8 Country of Manufacture

U.S.A

These along with new wheels.

[NC Hauler]

Should be more than sufficient

[G&K]

The 17.5s are actually slightly smaller if memory serves me. 30.7" vs 31.7" or so...

 

Those Goodyears in 17.5 have caused very few problems. Lots of people on this forum run them on heavy trailers.

 

Geo

[Armyret]

I am getting ready to upgrade tires on our 40' 5th wheel. It now has the ST235x85 16r Goodyear Marathons E rated. I am now looking at moving to the LT215x75R17.5 but I am a little confused about speed ratings. It seems that most of the H and J ratings are 62 mph. The load carrying capacity is great but, even though we normally tow at 65mph there is occasions when we approach 70+. I haven't chosen which tire as of yet, looking at Michelin and Goodyear. Do Y'all have any info to offer on this.

I went with the Continentals HTL 2 Eco 215/75r 17.5 with new wheels also, they are rated at 75 mph, 4805 lbs at 125 PSI, J Rated we run about 18500, with 2500 on the pin so around 16000 spread over 6 wheels this I believe gives me plenty of cushion. I run about 65-72 when out west, But it is nice to know we could run 75 mph if we had too. I have these on a low boy 3 axel 12 wheels, and have never had a problem.

I got mine from the Tire and wheel warehouse, http://www.trailertiresandwheels.com/17.5-radial-tires

[noteven]

Not a tire expert but speed rating on commercial truck tires is when loaded at maximum load rating. The tire manufacturer may be able to supply you with approved speeds at lower loads table.

[TireHobby]

Not a tire expert but speed rating on commercial truck tires is when loaded at maximum load rating. The tire manufacturer may be able to supply you with approved speeds at lower loads table.

 

There is a catch 22 with tires rated by their manufacturers at something below 65 MPH. (The most popular is rated at 62 MPH). The TRA does not allow manipulation of inflation pressures and actual loads to gain MPH above the manufacturer's 62 MPH or anything else rated below 65 MPH.

[TireHobby]

I only find that Tire Load Rating at 95 psi which is still too high for the normal E rim.

You were probably looking at a LRF. Here is a reference with specs for the ST235/85R16E. It's an unpopular brand but at least a half dozen other brands make it including Carlisle.

 

Those are newly designed tires with an L speed rating = 75 MPH.

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Power+King&tireModel=Towmax+STR+II&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=385R6TMSTR2&tab=Sizes

[Mark and Dale Bruss]

I'll be a little wary of a Load Range E tire with a load rating of 3520 @ 80 psi when the industry standard is 3042 @80 psi for an E and 3750 @ 110 psi for a G.

 

478 extra lbs with no increase in pressure. That kind of magic would not go on my trailer.

[TireHobby]

Probably the most popular 16” light truck tires are the LT245/75R16E and LT 235/85R16E, both rated for 3042# of load capacity at 80 psi. However there is also the LT225/75R16E rated at 2680# at 80 psi.

 

The most popular 16” special trailer tire is the ST235/80R16E with three distinct load capacities, 3420#, 3500# and 3520# all at 80 psi. For more load capacity there is the ST235/85R16E rated at 3640# at 80 psi or the ST235/85R16F rated at 3960# at 95 psi. There is a new model on the market it’s the ST235/85R16G rated at 4050# at 110 psi.

 

The ST and LT tires are completely different in design characteristics and load capacities because of their internal components and how they are manipulated by their manufacturers.

[outwestbound]

We have made our choice on tires,

We will go with;

Goodyear G114

215/75R17.5 Capacity (single) 4,805 LBS @ 125 PSI Capacity (dual) 4,540 LBS @ 125 PSI Load Range H Speed Rated 75 MPH Diameter 30.5" Width 8.8 Country of Manufacture

U.S.A

These along with new wheels.

good choice. that's what I recently put on my trailer along with wheels I bought from michael at trailer tires & wheels. I got a "power tank" to fill then because I didn't have the space for a compressor big enough to put 125 PSI in them.