Help with tire replacement size
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Topic: Help with tire replacement size
Posted By: LongRanger
Subject: Help with tire replacement size
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2021 at 9:40am
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I've got an Rpod 190 Hood River Edition - 2019. My current tires are ST235/75R15 China bombs that have been sitting idle since Covid began. I'm going to replace them but see that the Goodyear Endurance comes in 225/75R15 instead. Will this work with my 190? Woefully ignorant when it comes to interpreting tire code. Thanks,
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Replies:
Posted By: Pod_Geek
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2021 at 9:51am
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I suspect that you have the Westlakes. I've put 13k on mine and would not characterize them as "China Bombs". They've performed very well and show no signs of flaws or deterioration. I will probably buy them again when the time comes. ------------- 2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River 2018 RAM 2500 6.4L |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2021 at 9:55am
| Yes. then comes the question of D vs E load range. Some like one over the other. I have E tires, enjoy the fact that the sidewall does not squish down, and find that the torsion axles smooth out any tire induced vibration . Plus the trailer tows easier with no perceptible sway and should i ever need to go over 63 mph, my tires are good to 77. Take your pick - no clear winner here. |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2021 at 10:32am
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Tire selection for good tires that I have read and contributed to in prior discussions seem limited. I haven't heard anything bad about Westlakes that I remember off hand. Castlerock tires on the other hand seem to self destruct once out of sight of home or the dealer. The most recommended are Goodyear Endurance and I also can speak about my satisfaction with Carlisle trailer tires.
The size you have mentioned as a replacement should be a good replacement. I think it was OG who mentioned a good rule of thumb for your Special Trailer (ST) tires (in another recent tire discussion thread). It is to have about 40% (the load rating of the 2 tires added together) more tire load bearing capacity to endure the weight of the fully loaded trailer bouncing down the road. "Just enough" tire weight capacity is not recommended. If/when you get your tires changed or decide to stay with your Westlakes, for your own benefit get your tires balanced! They spin faster then your TV tires and can transmit a lot of unnecessary vibration to your trailer. Have a great day, Andy ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2021 at 11:07am
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The tire size you are proposing to buy is slightly narrower on the tread surface than the ones you are replacing: 235 vs. 225. That results in a slight reduction in surface area contact of the tire on the pavement. It would probably never make any difference, but in theory, there would be a measurable reduction in braking/traction friction on the road surface. Both Goodyear and Carlisle make excellent trailer tires. Like Pod_Geek, our trailer came with Westlake tires. They are ok, but I have had some issues of them losing air on a cross-country trip with resulting excessive tread wear. I plan on replacing the Westlakes with either Goodyear or Carlisle. [I should have been more careful checking the pressure every morning in he rest areas where we made our overnight stops, but I confess to being a bit lazy and it's such a hassle squished between the tractor/trailer rigs on each side in the parking lot.] I am in agreement that improving your load range to D rated tires is a good idea. E load range tires are probably overkill and may make the trailer ride roughly. Also, it is very important to get the replacement tires properly balanced. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: JimBinOC
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2021 at 12:14pm
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I'm currently shopping for replacement tires for our 2017 RPod 179. The Westlakes have been fine so far but definitely need replacement. The only online source I could find for the Westlakes is E-Trailer, which has the ST235/75R15 in load range D. This would be fine except they want $318.21 per tire which is a ridiculous price for a Chinese made trailer tire. They actually sell that tire mounted to an aluminum wheel for LESS than the tire alone. Thinking about going with a name brand light truck tire with a D load rating. Much cheaper.
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Posted By: LongRanger
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2021 at 1:38pm
| Thanks for the advice everyone . |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2021 at 1:56pm
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I bought tires for our now replaced Dakota at the Tire Rack. I've looked at their price for Goodyear Endurance tires to replace my Westlake tires and the price is very competitive. If you are near one of their distribution centers you can avoid the shipping costs. They also have references to mobile tire mount and balance services. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2021 at 6:25am
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I think the reason for a lot of blown tire problems on travel trailers is that the manufacturers often install tires that have little to no load safety margin above the axle rating. My 179 came with 14 inch load range C tires rated at 1750 lbs on a 3500 lb axle. Zero safety margin.
Based on reading I've done I'd recommend about a 25% safety margin above axle rating or more. I wound up with 15 inch load range D's with about a 2500 lb rating, or about 42%. The wheels I selected also have a 2500 lb rating (Wheels have load ratings too, if you can find them). So look at the actual load capacity of the tires, not just the load rating. If you go to too high load rating tire it will be stiffer than you want which could cause more shaking and vibration than is good for your trailer. So there is such a thing as having too high a tire rating. I'm personally OK with Chinese tires but everyone is free to make their own brand decisions. I wouldn't worry too much about tire contact patch size on trailer tires. They aren't drive wheels and don't provide a whole lot of braking capacity either. Trailer tires are designed for high pressure and low rolling resistance to improve fuel economy. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Pod_Geek
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2021 at 8:11am
If you're going to replace those new Westlakes and are anywhere near me (CO front range) I'll give you $100 and will come and pick them up. ------------- 2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River 2018 RAM 2500 6.4L |
Posted By: LongRanger
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2021 at 10:12am
Sorry, I'm all the way over in California.
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2021 at 3:43pm
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[QUOTE=JimBinOC]I'm currently shopping for replacement tires for our 2017 RPod 179. The Westlakes have been fine so far but definitely need replacement. The only online source I could find for the Westlakes is E-Trailer, which has the ST235/75R15 in load range D. This would be fine except they want $318.21 per tire which is a ridiculous price for a Chinese made trailer tire. They actually sell that tire mounted to an aluminum wheel for LESS than the tire alone Wow, I just replaced my 5+ year old Hartland tires with Carlisle ST Radial Trail HD trailer tires (14") from Discount Tire. This is the first time I went with "D" tires instead of the "C" which I have had for the previous 10 years. The price for all 3 tires (they took the old ones back) with speed balancing and new valve stems came to $ 347. I have noted a marked difference in handling going from a 'C' to a 'D' - much less bouncing and more responsive with the 'D' tires.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2021 at 6:46am
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I bought Loadstar 15 inch LRD's already mounted on 2500 lb rated wheels from Eastern Trailer. Very good pricing and I didn't have to pay for mounting, which was ridiculously expensive where I lived at the time. Then I sold the 14 inch tires and wheels on Craigslist (no one really wants used unmounted tires but the mounted ones sold right away) and recovered more than the cost of the wheels that way. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |