New Tires and Towing Adjustments

[strat56]

I put new tires on my TV, Same brand, size and weight rating, Goodyear Wrangler SR-A.

Before I put the new tires on I had towed my TT on a 1200 mile round trip and it towed great. After putting on the new tires, I towed it on a 200 mile round trip and it was terrible, it swayed and bounced and was a horrible towing experience. Both trips used 95S and other major roads and smaller local roads. So I don't think the roads themselves could have caused the problem. I checked and set the air pressure in all TV (60 front and 75 rear) and trailer tires (50 all around) prior to the trip and my TST TPMS said the pressures were good on the trailer and TPMS on the truck ssaid the pressures were good on the truck the whole trip.

The old tires were worn down to the tread ware indicators so they had about 2/32" of tread left on them, the new ones have 16/32" of tread depth, a difference of 14/32" or 7/16".

For the trip home I put more weight on the back of the truck by adjusting the tension on the spring bars and it didn't seem to help much. About 1/2 way home I stopped in a rest area and adjusted the tension again to put more weight on the truck and it helped some with the sway and and bounce but it seemed like I was getting blown around more by passing tractor trailers.

Anyway I have a hard time with a difference in height of 7/16" on the tires making such a big difference in the towing. Has anyone else experienced this? Any other dieas for what might have caused such a drastic change by just putting on new tires?

I didn't like the lack of tension on the spring bars on my WDH after the final adjustment so I've lowered the ball height on the hitch and when I go camping again in a couple weeks I'll see how it goes.

[anthonymu]

My owners manual actually stated that until my tires had 1000 miles on them I might experience unusual characteristics. Whatever that means. Lol

[4mula1fan]

New rubber is always a little squirrely. I hate new tires on my semi at first. I bet they will settle down for you after a few more miles.

[Oaklevel]

Sorry need more info..... Are your Goodyear Wrangler SR-A "P or LTs". They apparently come in both depending ...... Also putting more weight on the truck would make the front end lighter and make handling worse??? Is the trailer sitting level???? Do you have sway bars with your weight distribution set up.

[j free]

I think its the tires needing to be worn a little. They cant make a perfect round tire and the road needs to wear on them awhile for the best ride. this is more common the more aggressive the tread is.

[strat56]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

Sorry need more info..... Are your Goodyear Wrangler SR-A "P or LTs". They apparently come in both depending ...... Also putting more weight on the truck would make the front end lighter and make handling worse??? Is the trailer sitting level???? Do you have sway bars with your weight distribution set up.

The tires are LT265/60R20 121/118S (3267lbs load rating, 112mph speed rating). I would never put 60 & 75 lbs of air in a passenger car tire or put passenger car tires on a 3/4 ton pickup.

When I hook up I usually measure the truck before and after I hook up since the trailer can be loaded differently each time. When I hooked up for this trip the rear of the truck dropped about 1.25" and the front was the same as before the trailer was hooked up.

My friend who was following me home called me and told me the front of the trailer was high. That's when I stopped and reduced the tension on the spring bars again.

No sway bars needed with a BlueOx SwayPro WDH.

[Happy Vibe]

I know for my truck RAM 1500 it came with the SR-A tires and I think they are terrible tires. If you look on tire rack they are $100 or more cheaper than other name brand tires in the same size. I think there is a reason they are so cheap.

[biker2]

LT tires are not recommended on TTs because there is too much flex in the sidewalls. Only ST tires should be used on TTs. I replaced my original 14" tires that had excessive wear after only 4000 miles of highway driving with 16 inch Maxxis ST radial 10 ply tires and the trailer pulls like a dream.
Marshall and Tania
2013 Grey Wolf Select 28 BH
2012 F250 Lariet Super Duty 4X4

[Kenny kustom]

Originally Posted by Happy Vibe

I know for my truck RAM 1500 it came with the SR-A tires and I think they are terrible tires. If you look on tire rack they are $100 or more cheaper than other name brand tires in the same size. I think there is a reason they are so cheap.

X2


2008 F350 CCSB V10
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

[James Briar]

This is from experience and IMHO. When I tow anything with two axles you should be concerned that there is equal weight on each axle. In other words don't worry about whether or not the truck is level. Adjusting the weight dist. bars should only be done to level the trailer. If you are experiencing towing problems be certain the trailer is loaded properly and evenly. I have to agree about the new tires. Same thing happened to me. It got much better after the first 500 miles.

[rlocicero]

I put cooper H3 LT tires on my tv. Love them.

[strat56]

Originally Posted by Happy Vibe

I know for my truck RAM 1500 it came with the SR-A tires and I think they are terrible tires. If you look on tire rack they are $100 or more cheaper than other name brand tires in the same size. I think there is a reason they are so cheap.

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

X2


2008 F350 CCSB V10
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

I appreciate the advice, but I already bought the tires. The OEM Goodyear Wrangler SR-A tires lasted 50,000 miles, cost of $0.017 per mile based on replacement cost, which seems pretty good to me.

The Goodyears are $173 on TireRack.com and Michelin Defender LTX (the only Michelin tire available in the size/load range for my truck) are $215 each. I got them locally for $199 per tire and didn't pay any shipping.

[strat56]

Originally Posted by biker2

LT tires are not recommended on TTs because there is too much flex in the sidewalls. Only ST tires should be used on TTs. I replaced my original 14" tires that had excessive wear after only 4000 miles of highway driving with 16 inch Maxxis ST radial 10 ply tires and the trailer pulls like a dream.
Marshall and Tania
2013 Grey Wolf Select 28 BH
2012 F250 Lariet Super Duty 4X4

I've read some new trailers are coming from the factory with LT tires on them, I haven't personally seen any but I don't claim to have seen every new trailer that rolls off every assembly line.

I changed the tires on the TV not the trailer, the trailer pulled fine before the new tires on the TV with the OEM load range C tires.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by strat56

I've read some new trailers are coming from the factory with LT tires on them, I haven't personally seen any but I don't claim to have seen every new trailer that rolls off every assembly line.

Yep, some bigger fifth wheels have LT tires as an option.

[Kenny kustom]

Having to drive in the snow, we can't run out tires to the wear bars.
Too dangerous.

I replace at 50%.

I have had sra on a few trucks.
Replaced quickly with more
Aggressive tread.
If I didn't see snow, I might have left them.


2008 F350 CCSB V10
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

[sunnyinfla]

i too had a similar experience with another brand of tire.....i took them back to where i purchased them and they gave me another brand of tire ...michilens.....what an AMAZING diference......my truck never rode so good so from then on i always purchased michilens.....good luck to you.....happy camping....

[Riccochet]

I have to agree about the SR-A's. They came stock on my 1500. Horrible tires. I ditched them and went with Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus's. Night and day difference.

[hhabis]

Purchased a new Freedom Express 298REDS unit that was supplies with Trail Express 225/75/15D Tires (made in CHINA). These original tires had less than 1000 miles and had no previous problems. On our last Trip to Gasden, Al. to visit family we experienced a tire failure on the front passenger side of the unit. I replaced both rims with Carisile ST225/75/15D series tires. On our return trip we experienced 3 additional tire failures on the Trail Express tires of which caused extensive damage to the under carrage of the trailer and brake system. Not sure if anyone else has experienced this problem with the Trail Express tires. I will be replacing all tires with the Carisile ST225/75/R15 117N E1 rated tires. Hopefully I will not experience this type of tire failure again.

[strat56]

Originally Posted by Happy Vibe

I know for my truck RAM 1500 it came with the SR-A tires and I think they are terrible tires. If you look on tire rack they are $100 or more cheaper than other name brand tires in the same size. I think there is a reason they are so cheap.

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

X2


2008 F350 CCSB V10
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

Originally Posted by Riccochet

I have to agree about the SR-A's. They came stock on my 1500. Horrible tires. I ditched them and went with Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus's. Night and day difference.

Can any of you tell me what's wrong with them? Just telling me they are terrible isn't very helpful.

[Happy Vibe]

I should not have put your tires the same as mine. As yours are LT and mine are P. I don't like how much movement I get from the sidewalls but some of that comes down to the P tires. The main thing i don't like is the wet weather and in general lack of grip from these tires. I have to be carful in the wet as it does not take much to get them to slide under braking. Again the P and LT are really too different tires.