P & J Express' Forum

PHIL · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject: TRAILER TIRES

If you buy a new trailer, plan on replacing the tires very quickly. MOST of the trailer mfr. companies use Chinese tires that will come apart while they still look brand new! I would put around 20,000 miles on them, then replace them. 20K sounds like alot of miles, but when you run as hard as we do, its only a few weeks.

The best tire that I have found is the Michelin XPS rib. @ $200.00 at Discount Tire Company with a free replacement warranty. The tire is an LT tire, but it has a metal reinforced with metal bands. They handle weight VERY well.

Goodyear also makes a VERY good tire also. You have to special order them in most places. They have a G load rating, 16 ply, and cost @ $300.00 each. I have talked to a couple of guys running them, and have never heard a negative thing about them.

_________________
2003 Dodge 3500 dually
AFE stage 2 intake, with pro-guard filter
5" cat back flow thru exhaust.
2008 Sun Country 53' wedge

Trans 48 · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Loami, IL

I have been searching around to get tires as well that are right from the get-go. From the guys I have been speaking with they all are recommending going with a 17.5" rim and tire that is H-rated or 16 ply.

While one would think this would be too tall, the tire size is a 215/75/17.5 with an O.D. of 30.5 or 31.5. So you can still get a low profile trailer with these tires on them. However you need to note these when you are building the trailer as the hubs need to be upgraded.

THe thing to remember is that changing flats never happens at a good time or good place.

PHIL · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:24 pm Post subject:

What is the reason for the hub upgrade? Is it just a pattern deal? Also, can you upgrade to the proper hubs on a Dexter 7k?
_________________
2003 Dodge 3500 dually
AFE stage 2 intake, with pro-guard filter
5" cat back flow thru exhaust.
2008 Sun Country 53' wedge

Trans 48 · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Loami, IL

Yeah you have to upgrade the hub to a little heavier assembly as well as to fit the larger bolt pattern.

When I was talking to the Imperial guys they swear that the 17.5" rim and tire set up is the cure for tire issues on single wheel ( two or three axles) for either 7k or 8k Dexters. They told me if I didn't believe them that I could speak to someone pulling four of their 45' decks who made the switch on all of them!

I know another guy who just had them custom build a 40' deck over w/11' hydraulic dove tail running this set up with single wheeled 12k axles and the tires are rated for 6k a piece.

Funny how just a little more money cures things like this. Rolling Eyes

PHIL · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject:

Yep, its a shame that you have to make these expensive mistakes to learn huh brother? Cool

_________________
2003 Dodge 3500 dually
AFE stage 2 intake, with pro-guard filter
5" cat back flow thru exhaust.
2008 Sun Country 53' wedge

Trans 48 · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Loami, IL

Exactly & check this out.... Go down to section E-3. I would post it here, but it is too difficult to read since it is based in a pdf format. But note the weight carrying differences in the Load Range E tires. They are not all the same even from the same manufacturer.

Also check the 17.5's H rating... Cool

http://www.redneck-trailer.com/2006/E.pdf

TACO 1 · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

The Goodyear tires are G rated, but are 14 ply. You were right on about the Chinese tires. I had 5 go bad at around 20 k miles. I am really impressed with the goodyears. Discount tire and Goodyear sell the 235/85/16 G614RST tire for about $280.00. I bought mine at Reid's Tire in Apache Junction for $250.00. My last Chinese flat tore up a fender (appx 200.00 replacement) and $400.00 for an E-range tire and road service. I shouldda bought the good ones sooner and only felt the pain once. Also the money spent on balancing is" money well spent." Save those replaced tires for an adjustment. My last piece if advice is that plugging a flat will void any warranty regardless of the condition or obvious defects in the tire.

TACO 1 · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject:

Another problem lying in wait is valve stems... the rubber ones are good for about 50 pounds and I am running 100p.s.i. in my trailer tires. I am going to the metal ones.

PHIL · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:24 pm Post subject:

I found a really good trailer tire finally. They are available at Les Schuab tires. They are called a freestar, and they are 235/85/r16. These tires are made in China, but they are not your typical cheapo chinese tires. They are 14 ply with a highway tread and a solid shoulder. I have been running them for about 3 weeks now and you can still see the litte "tits" on the shoulder. On my first set the tits were gone in 2 days.

So the tires are $199.00 each, and they will install a very nice metal valve stem for $4.50. I am running mine at 100 psi, wich seems to be perfect. with 20k plus on the 6 of them, there is NO sign of a load on the tires.

_________________
2003 Dodge 3500 dually
AFE stage 2 intake, with pro-guard filter
5" cat back flow thru exhaust.
2008 Sun Country 53' wedge