New Tires! (and wheels) Opinions wanted.

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New Tires! (and wheels) Opinions wanted.

Postby Thomcat316 » Mon Mar 24, 2014 4:28 pm

So the Lite House has burned through her first set of tires finally, and I'm needing to buy.

Max trailer gross weight is ca. 900 lbs., normal gross weight is about 450 lbs.

Current tires are bias, but I'd like to try radials for the next round, as they are reputed to be to be a bit more cushy and compliant.

The current setup is 5.30x12 (diameter 21.9), and I'm thinking I'd like to retain the narrow width to avoid dragging tire width through the air and avoid having to run the tires without air pressure.

If I use the Micky Thompson Sportsman SR 24x5.00R15 on the JEGS Rally 15x4 wheels it gives me a one-inch floor height rise, a spare for both the Lite House and the tow vehicle in one (big plus), and pretty silver powdercoated wheels that can be dressed with trim rings and caps.

The only stumbling block is the cost - three wheels, three tires, two sets of dressybits for only $776 delivered.

BREAKING NEWS: FOUND TIRES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE, DETAILS BELOW!

Something in my brain rattled loose "Coker Tire", and I found the Firestone F560 Radial Tire in 145R15 - the right width, the right diameter, and most of all, a better price! Now shipping from two vendors for a total of $509.


So, all of the above noted, is there any reason anyone can think of that I shouldn't plunge forward and get the Lite House these particular new tires?




If anyone else is searching for narrow 15" tires in the future, the "all sizes" link is: http://www.cokertire.com/15-inch-tire-sizes.html

Other oddball sizes/types by diameter:
http://www.cokertire.com/12-inch-tire-sizes.html
http://www.cokertire.com/13-inch-tire-sizes.html
http://www.cokertire.com/14-inch-tire-sizes.html
http://www.cokertire.com/15-inch-tire-sizes.html
http://www.cokertire.com/16-inch-tire-sizes.html
http://www.cokertire.com/17-inch-tire-sizes.html

Lots of wide whitewalls in those lists!
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Re: New Tires! (and wheels) Opinions wanted.

Postby Thomcat316 » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:11 am

Wow!

First time I've ever asked a question here and not had a flood of answers!

From my own research, there seems to be a body of "common knowledge" that tells me to never use passenger car tires on a trailer.

This same "knowledge" has advised me to never run the trailer tires below max pressure or disasters will occur. I tried running the 5.30x12 tires at rated pressure, but the trailer kept wanting to go airborne, so I experimented. The trailer, in "campsite trim", seems to be happy with about 18PSI. This was arrived at originally by checking the pattern a wet tire would leave on dry pavement and checking the tread and carcass temperature immediately upon stopping from highway speeds. Now that the tires are needing replacement it's evident from the fairly even treadwear that I wasn't far off - maybe could have even gone to 15PSI.

Apparently, the other bit of "knowledge" can be walked around, too - I was just searching one more time for solid evidence that passenger car tire are (or are not) suitable for trailer use, and I ran across this note on weight capacities of passenger car tires in the "Dexter Operation Maintenance Service Manual - 600-8,000 Lb. Axles & Related Components":

Note: The capacity rating molded into the sidewall of the tire is not always the proper rating for the tire if used in a trailer application. Use the following guidelines:
1. LT and ST tires. Use the capacity rating molded into the tire.
2. Passenger Car Tires. Use the capacity rating molded into the tire sidewall divided by 1.10 for trailer use.


So I derate the tires from 935 lb. max load ea. to 850 lb. max load ea., and cheerfully drive off with my 450 lb. trailer...

Hope this helps someone in the future!
Whitney
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Re: New Tires! (and wheels) Opinions wanted.

Postby Shadow Catcher » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:55 am

Tomcat
I wanted to avoid ST/trailer tires because they are all (from what I could find) made in China, and they do not call them China bombs for nothing. So I went with Micheline Harmony tires before we headed out west a couple of years ago. They each had a weight rating of 1650 lbs and the trailer wet fully loaded is about that so there is a large safety factor built in. They also have a speed rating much grater than the ST which I would have exceeded by a substantial margin. They ride softer than the ST and I don't worry about them.
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Re: New Tires! (and wheels) Opinions wanted.

Postby Thomcat316 » Mon Apr 06, 2015 10:40 am

Did it a while back, and wanted to give a quick report on how things looks ca. 20,000 miles later.

Summary: Just fine! The only tangible wear is due to a slight toe misalignment that will probably not get fixed.

Wheels - http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+ ... 0/10002/-1
Trim Rings - http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+ ... 0/10002/-1
Center Caps - http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+ ... 7/10002/-1
Tires - https://www.cokertire.com/145r15-firest ... -tire.html

How she looks:
130345
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Re: New Tires! (and wheels) Opinions wanted.

Postby tony.latham » Mon Apr 06, 2015 12:02 pm

Thomcat316 wrote:Did it a while back, and wanted to give a quick report on how things looks ca. 20,000 miles later.

Summary: Just fine! The only tangible wear is due to a slight toe misalignment that will probably not get fixed.

Wheels - http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+ ... 0/10002/-1
Trim Rings - http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+ ... 0/10002/-1
Center Caps - http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+ ... 7/10002/-1
Tires - https://www.cokertire.com/145r15-firest ... -tire.html

How she looks:
130345


Did you notice a ride (bounce) difference with the radials vs. the trailer tires?

T
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Re: New Tires! (and wheels) Opinions wanted.

Postby Thomcat316 » Fri Sep 09, 2016 3:30 pm

Did you notice a ride (bounce) difference with the radials vs. the trailer tires?


Sorry for taking over a year to answer your question, Tony!!

Huge difference. Reduced the bouncing around very substantially. Also feels a bit smoother over uneven pavement, and doesn't tend to wander on grooved pavement like it used to when lightly loaded.
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Re: New Tires! (and wheels) Opinions wanted.

Postby tony.latham » Fri Sep 09, 2016 3:48 pm

Thomcat316 wrote:
Did you notice a ride (bounce) difference with the radials vs. the trailer tires?


Sorry for taking over a year to answer your question, Tony!!

Huge difference. Reduced the bouncing around very substantially. Also feels a bit smoother over uneven pavement, and doesn't tend to wander on grooved pavement like it used to when lightly loaded.


:thumbsup:
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Re: New Tires! (and wheels) Four year update!

Postby Thomcat316 » Mon Jul 29, 2019 8:19 am

The Coker Firestone tires developed deep sidewall cracks around year three.

I decided to replace them with Nankang CX668 Touring Radial Tire in 145R15, purchased through Amazon. Very nice tire, easy mounting, good inherent balance. Will update in the future.
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Re: New Tires! (and wheels) Opinions wanted.

Postby Shadow Catcher » Wed Jul 31, 2019 8:50 pm

Our Michelin passenger car tires lasted ten years, and I have replaced them with Goodyear Endurance, made in the US.
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Re: New Tires! (and wheels) Opinions wanted.

Postby Socal Tom » Thu Aug 01, 2019 10:19 am

Shadow Catcher wrote:Our Michelin passenger car tires lasted ten years, and I have replaced them with Goodyear Endurance, made in the US.

The rule of thumb with tires is to replace them at least every 7 years. The rubber ages in the sun and starts causing problems about then.


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