Help with tire selection

doc73 · 11-02-2015, 01:47 PM

Looking to get better tires for the RV.. Currently there is Westlake 205/75/14 c rated tires. I wanted to get GY Marathons in the load range D.. I am not over weight but would just rather be safe. This would mean a rim change to 15" which I knew. The catch is the GY only come in 225/75/15. These are 28.3 inches vs 26.1 inches as it is now. I recently read changing tire size (diameter ) is bad for the axels so should I just get the GY in the stock siz3 and settle for c or will I be ok with the larger diameter. I have plenty of clearance above and between tires. Prob 1.5 above and 6" between (swagging it). Thanks.

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dannyabear · 11-02-2015, 01:57 PM

Hankook RA08 or Kumho 857s are the only choice for a true D rated, 8 ply tire.

Airdale · 11-02-2015, 02:07 PM

An upgrade to the ST215/75R14C tires would not require new rims and would provide 110# increased load capacity per tire at 50 psi. Their OD is about 1/2" taller than your OE tires.

Look for new tires with a design change providing increased speed ratings.

doc73 · 11-02-2015, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airdale

An upgrade to the ST215/75R14C tires would not require new rims and would provide 110# increased load capacity per tire at 50 psi. Their OD is about 1/2" taller than your OE tires.

Look for new tires with a design change providing increased speed ratings.

Hmm ok, thought a c rating would be a c rating. You would be correct. So on a pit stop at the flying j I have 1760 rated tires now so it would be an increase.

Edit: saw the last part about speed rating.. My guess the GY are 65mph rated.

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dannyabear · 11-02-2015, 02:37 PM

Kumho or Hankook 'D' rated carry 2100# each and rated to 99 mph

Airdale · 11-02-2015, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc73

Edit: saw the last part about speed rating.. My guess the GY are 65mph rated.

Yep! I just checked. But, they will have to redesign soon if built over there or be priced right out of the market. New tariffs on imports require speed ratings be shown on all ST tire sidewalls or lose the import tax advantage. Most of them are making small redesign changes to increase speed ratings. The TRA has recommended up to 81 MPH.

Wobbles · 11-02-2015, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airdale

Yep! I just checked. But, they will have to redesign soon if built over there or be priced right out of the market. New tariffs on imports require speed ratings be shown on all ST tire sidewalls or lose the import tax advantage. Most of them are making small redesign changes to increase speed ratings. The TRA has recommended up to 81 MPH.

What resource/publication are you getting this from? I plan to change out the TT tires next season and it will probably take me that long to digest the information. Timing of purchase might be best tied to the availability of the higher speed rated tires...

Interesting info, this thread has slowed down my impulse to run out and buy the best sale price I see.

doc73 · 11-02-2015, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wobbles

What resource/publication are you getting this from? I plan to change out the TT tires next season and it will probably take me that long to digest the information. Timing of purchase might be best tied to the availability of the higher speed rated tires...

Interesting info, this thread has slowed down my impulse to run out and buy the best sale price I see.

I agree but am also of the cheap garbage put on these trailers..

So far to and from Florida (still on the road in sc) we have been passed by four trailers going... As typing passed another on the side with a blow out.. As I was saying... Have been passed by three trucks with boat trailers and one 5ver going 75 or so on 95. Shortly after passed them with blow outs on the shoulder... They have us dirty looks when the flew by while we were going 63... Now whose laughing.

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Wobbles · 11-02-2015, 06:37 PM

Doc73.
I have your exact tires. After reading the forums here, I have been a baby with them and followed the advice.
I want to change them, just heard here that a change is coming and want to validate my wait. Hoping Airdale can provide documentation.

Play safe, and I hope your travels are too.

Airdale · 11-02-2015, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wobbles

What resource/publication are you getting this from? I plan to change out the TT tires next season and it will probably take me that long to digest the information. Timing of purchase might be best tied to the availability of the higher speed rated tires...

Interesting info, this thread has slowed down my impulse to run out and buy the best sale price I see.

This is not the only reference out there. It's just the first one in my files.

http://www.tirebusiness.com/article/...hina-cv-duties

Before this decision to require speed letters on ST tires the TRA recognized all ST tires to be speed rated at 65 MPH. However there is no speed letter for 65 MPH so the ST tire manufacturers had to redesign in some more heat resistance to get above the 62 MPH rating or be left behind in the wake, so to speak.

The TRA now recommends up to 81MPH for ST tires. But I wouldn't buy any without a speed letter. So you are right to wait.

On edit: Sorry about the ref above. If it's not working for you the same info is in this ref.

http://www.tredittire.com/news/2014/...ernment-tariff

doc73 · 11-02-2015, 06:49 PM

Yeah, I am almost done for the season.. One more trip to Williamsburg. So if this wait sounds reasonable I may a it ut out as well.. Just noticed a small Brad in a wheel while stopped. Guess it will be getting a plug for now.

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Wobbles · 11-02-2015, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airdale

Yep! I just checked. But, they will have to redesign soon if built over there or be priced right out of the market. New tariffs on imports require speed ratings be shown on all ST tire sidewalls or lose the import tax advantage. Most of them are making small redesign changes to increase speed ratings. The TRA has recommended up to 81 MPH.

Airdale,
I got through on both of your links and my first impression is these are news releases from mid and late 2014. They both are about exemptions for regulation and the first one made me wince that the RV industry is efforting a "keep'em cheap" plan. (It Has to be the repair shops, I cannot think the manufacturers have a plan to cull the customers based on what quality unit you buy

, you have to be alive to buy your second rv)

Do you have something definitive about a standard change that is coming?

You had my hopes up...

doc73 · 11-02-2015, 07:38 PM

So I did look at the kumho tires, 195r14, they are sized differently than mine but according to their Web site are 2200 lbs at 65 and 106mph speed rating .. Look out Daytona!

Still like the idea of the $90 GY vs 130 kumho's.. But I do like their speed rating. Maxxis and Hankook were about the same price as the kumho's.

I guess I should be happy not to need new rims so that is $150 savings there..

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Wobbles · 11-02-2015, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc73

So I did look at the kumho tires, 195r14, they are sized differently than mine but according to their Web site are 2200 lbs at 65 and 106mph speed rating .. Look out Daytona!

Still like the idea of the $90 GY vs 130 kumho's.. But I do like their speed rating. Maxxis and Hankook were about the same price as the kumho's.

I guess I should be happy not to need new rims so that is $150 savings there..

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Sure would be nice to travel at the speed of traffic but until my 14 inch tires can go that fast, I am looking at buying 15 rims to get that. We have all winter to work that out. (this leads into a brave new world of, are my axels good with that)

I had a fairly smart fellow point me in this direction about going to a larger rim. Still have the need to read...

doc73 · 11-02-2015, 08:19 PM

Well according to kumho and maxxis... The 14" rims can get highway speeds. This was why I was going to change rims but now it does not seem needed. I still will not be doing 75... But I am also not in a rush.. I just do not want the tire to explode because I went 63.

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**Tireman9** · 11-02-2015, 08:30 PM

Speed rating is shown by a letter I have already seen a number of ST tires advertised with "L" which is 75 mph. I also note that no matter the speed rating on individual tires some tire companies advise against any speed greater than 75 in RV application.

acadianbob · 11-02-2015, 08:33 PM

The circumference of the Kumho 195/82/14 is exactly the same as a 205/75/14. The Kumho 857 is an awesome tire. Had mine for 3 years now. Like the speed rating and the extra load capacity margin.

Wobbles · 11-02-2015, 08:46 PM

I have the exact tires as Doc73, Westlake 205/75/14. My first question at this point is, are there any tires for this size rim that are rated for speeds of 70?

My options now appear to be bigger rims to get traffic speed.

Wobbles · 11-02-2015, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acadianbob

The circumference of the Kumho 195/82/14 is exactly the same as a 205/75/14. The Kumho 857 is an awesome tire. Had mine for 3 years now. Like the speed rating and the extra load capacity margin.

Sorry posted too late after your response. looking for/at those tires now...

Wobbles · 11-02-2015, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acadianbob

The circumference of the Kumho 195/82/14 is exactly the same as a 205/75/14. The Kumho 857 is an awesome tire. Had mine for 3 years now. Like the speed rating and the extra load capacity margin.

Now I am on the right path "Kumho Commercial A/S 857 Trailer Tire 185R14/8". Load rating is not too much different.

Thanks, you may have saved me many coins on the rims.

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