Westlake Tires
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13790
Printed Date: 14 May 2024 at 1:51am
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Topic: Westlake Tires
Posted By: D-Pod
Subject: Westlake Tires
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2020 at 11:37pm
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Recently purchased my first R-Pod 180. I was wondering how many R-Pod owners are still using the original Westlake tires? If so how have they preformed and how many miles do you have on them? My Westlake tires were manufactured November 2018. I have had prior RV's, fifth wheels and have not had very good luck with tires from China. Thinking about running them for about 5000 miles or 4 years which ever comes first and getting some Goodyear tires. Thoughts ?
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Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 5:44am
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What is the load range of the tires? If they are load range C like my 2016 RP 179's tires, they are close to the top of their carrying capacity. That said, I used mine for several long trips before changing to load range D Carlisle tires. Goodyear Endurance load range D tires have a pretty good reputation also.
If you plan on using them, keep an eye on the tire pressure. I did and I was still told by someone that my tires looked like they were low. That is when I realized that the weight of the 179 which is similar to that of the 180 was too much for the LR-C tires. The side walls flex too much which means that heat is building up. If that can't be dissipated it will build to the point of tire failure, even if the pressure is correct. I think that is what has happened with many of these tire failures. While I have seen tire pressure monitors, I have not seen anything that is also a tire heat monitor.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 6:06am
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+1.
You need to look deeper into this than just the manufacturer. Load capacity and proper inflation are critical. FR has at least till recently shipped rpods with 14 inch LRC tires on them that are rated just at the minimum they can be to maintain the 3500 lb axle rating (1750 lbs per tire). That is a blowout waiting to happen, especially with improperly inflated tires. I personally have no concerns about running Chinese tires, but mine are 2500 lb rated 15 inch LRD's and I check the inflation daily.
To check for tire sidewall heating (as well as bearings and brakes) an IR thermometer is handy, can be done quickly at every fuel stop.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 7:14am
Yes, it can be done at a stop with an IR thermometer. However, there is no good way to track it while on the road that I know of. Touching the tires and hub at a stop will give you an idea of heat also. That is what I have been doing. So far, I have not burned my hand. I don't touch the brake drum though as it would be hot, especially right after braking.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 7:20am
I think comparing the two tires with an IR thermometer will probably tell you when you are beginning to have a problem with one of them. If one starts getting significantly hotter than the other its a red flag. So far I haven't seen differences of more than a few degrees and that's probably from the sun shining on one tire more than the other.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 9:40am
I use an IR thermometer on my tires and hubs, whenever I stop. I compare the tires temperature on the truck, with the camper. They usually are within a couple degrees. I also check the hubs and compare both sides. They actually run pretty cool, I was pretty surprised to see them running about 85 degrees on days when it's 95 degrees. Even though I would expect that just seconds after braking the hubs would be hot, it doesn't seem to be the case. I am putting a TPMS system on, that monitors temperature, but I don't know how that would track the temperature of the tires.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 10:09am
Originally posted by mjlrpod
I use an IR thermometer on my tires and hubs, whenever I stop. I compare the tires temperature on the truck, with the camper. They usually are within a couple degrees. I also check the hubs and compare both sides. They actually run pretty cool, I was pretty surprised to see them running about 85 degrees on days when it's 95 degrees. Even though I would expect that just seconds after braking the hubs would be hot, it doesn't seem to be the case. I am putting a TPMS system on, that monitors temperature, but I don't know how that would track the temperature of the tires. |
I do get noticeable trailer drum heating after a couple of stops. but I didn't at first. If you're not the you might want to make a few stops or do a downhill run then compare brake temps between the tow vehicle and the trailer. After I did that the first time I realized the TV brakes were doing all the work so I bumped up the level on my brake controller and did it again and things evened out a lot better.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 10:10am
My TPMS mounts on the tire valve, so the indication of temp is the air coming to that valve. It gives a trackable temp, I would think the heat it would not sense well is the hub, not the tire.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 10:12am
If they are the 15" Westlake tires as are used on the Hood River Edition models, then they have much higher rated load capacity than the 14" tires. The 15" Westlake tires on our HRE is 2430 lbs. Well above what is required for safety reasons.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Posted By: D-Pod
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 10:51am
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My ST235/75/R15 have a load range 2910# . It is a "D". Tires look good but always a concern about tires from China. Some tire "experts" suggest switching them out right away. Why take a chance.
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 11:05am
If they are load range D tires, you should be okay. Even the Carlisle LR-D 14" tires I now have on my RP179 are made in China. I would prefer made in the USA, but the Carlisles are doing okay overall. I did replace one that was wearing in a way I did not like. It looks like somewhere along the way it lost the balance weight and had some flat spots on the tread where the tire was wearing very unevenly. The replacement Carlisle tire is balanced.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 11:12am
Originally posted by D-Pod
My ST235/75/R15 have a load range 2910# . It is a "D". Tires look good but always a concern about tires from China. Some tire "experts" suggest switching them out right away. Why take a chance. |
That's certainly a personal choice you can make. For myself, I run Chinese 15 inch LRD's, keep them inflated properly, and am OK with it.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 11:30am
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Are there any data bases that compare tires built around the world? We make assumptions about quality that aren't necessarily factually based, often due to underlying biases and prejudices and with little actual personal knowledge. Some people say Chinese tires are generally sub-standard, but does the data support such a claim or is it simply anti-Chinese bias?
For myself, having been educated just enough in tire manufacturing when I defended some US tire companies, I prefer to stick to major brands, regardless of the location of manufacture for a specific tire. The big brands have a vested interest in maintaining a reputation for quality that could be easily lost if they were to put their names on inferior products. Though that is no guarantee of quality, it improves one's odds of getting tires that are safe and durable.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 1:55pm
Consumer reports and NHTSA rate vehicle tires but I haven't seem ratings anywhere for trailer tires.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2020 at 5:50pm
+1.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: frozebubba
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2020 at 12:59pm
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I have the 15", load range C, Westlake "snow" tires on my 2016 RP171 HRE. They have a single load rating of 1985 lb at 50 psi stamped on the tires. I had to get them balanced right off the bat and have pulled it at max gross weight (3200 lb; 400 lb of this on the tongue) for about 18,000 miles at frequently checked 50 psi cold with no flats or tire failures. I usually drive at 65mph if road conditions allow. However, the tires have developed an odd wear pattern. When I run my hand over the tread it is noticeably rough feeling. The outside blocks tend to be taller on the front of the block (10 32nd's vs 6 32nd's, passenger side) but taller on the rear of the blocks (driver side)! It's hard to get a reliable tread depth measurement because none of the adjacent blocks, outside, center or off-center are the same depth. Given the roughness, they are wearing evenly on outside compared to the inside but the small individual off-center blocks tend to be shorter than anything else. The wear pattern makes no sense to me. Has anyone else seen this odd wear pattern or have a suggestion as to the possible cause? Tire shops just scratch their heads when I show them. I was just figuring they were poorly designed cheap tires.
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2020 at 1:24pm
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https://blog.tirerack.com/blog/roll-on/tires-are-like-shoes - https://blog.tirerack.com/blog/roll-on/tires-are-like-shoes
The wear looks to be what the Tire Rack blog is calling "heel-to-toe wear."
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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