Load Range E

[becamping!]

I have searched on the forum and I cannot find this answer. Is it OK to run Load Range E 10 ply trailer tires on a 1999 3124KB? You have to fill them to 80PSI, they are rated for trailer use.

[Bill]

First question. Do you really HAVE to inflate them to 80 psi? If so, they will be hard as a rock, and will probably beat your TM to death.

I would suggest going to the manufacturer's web site and looking for a table of rated load vs inflation pressure. Since you didn't mention the manufacturer, I can't help with that. But the Goodyear website, for example, contains this information for their tires.

I am currently running Goodyear Marathon load range D tires, which are specified to have a MAX inflation pressure of 65 psi. According to the Goodyear web site, I don't HAVE to run them that high. Less inflation means a lower load rating, of course, and also a softer tire, which is easier on the TM. So I am running them at 55 psi, a good compromise between relatively soft ride, and the load-carrying capacity I am looking for.

Bill

[bill s]

we have a 3124 kb.....where do you find load range "E" tires for a 15 " wheel?????

[becamping!]

Carlisle tires makes a load range E for 15' rims - available at Discount Tire. Also, they price matched a Costco tire for us.

[becamping!]

We put the camper away for the winter, but I am still wondering if 80PSI in the load range E is going to cause any problems. Thanks for the recommendation to run at a slightly lower PSI, sounds like the Tire would be OK running at 65 or 70 PSI. Anyone else try this?

[rickst29]

And they seemed to be a BIG problem, so TM switched to the Goodyear Marathons. And IIRC, our rim is only rated for 70 PSI, you'd definitely need new rims if I'm remembering this correctly (and you want to run with 80 lbs pressure).

[Bill]

Becamping askedIs it OK to run Load Range E 10 ply trailer tires on a 1999 3124KB? You have to fill them to 80PSI, they are rated for trailer use.and asked againI am still wondering if 80PSI in the load range E is going to cause any problems. Thanks for the recommendation to run at a slightly lower PSI, sounds like the Tire would be OK running at 65 or 70 PSI.The answer is the same - only the tire manufacturer can tell you. The people on this forum don't have the right expertise.

Carlisle does make an E-rated ST225/75R15 trailer tire rated at 2830 pounds load at 80 psi. Is this the one you are talking about? The Carlisle web site does say, in several places, that it MUST be inflated to 80 psi. The site also provides the load-vs-inflation table that I mentioned above, but immediately says that it does not endorse reduced pressure. So no one here can "recommend" that you violate the manufacturer's advice.

My personal feeling, as I said above, is that the load range E tire at 80 psi will not make you happy, but I could be wrong, depending on the kind of roads you drive. I think you would do better with a "D" tire. Carlisle makes a D-rated tire, same size, 2540 lbs at 65 psi. Again, Carlisle does not endorse reduced pressure.

Whatever you decide, you might want to join what we have come to call "The Great Tire Experiment". A number of us have switched to different tires by different manufacturers, and we're going to run them for a year, see what happens, and report back to the group. I don't think that there are any Carlisle tires in the experiment yet, so we'd love to have you join us.

Bill

[wmtire]

we have a 3124 kb.....where do you find load range "E" tires for a 15 " wheel?????

Maxxis and Prometer are some other choices for a 15 inch 10 ply rated tire, besides the Carlisles.

http://www.maxxis.com/products/trailer/compare_products.asp?id=118&UnitType=royal&product_ids=

http://www.foreigntire.com/prometerstdetail.html

As Bill stated, we are trying different tires in our experiment to see if we can find better solutions. The more different tires we try, should help overall. I'm putting the Prometers on mine, because nobody else has tried them. I will tell you right now, that I have no plans to run these tires at 80 psi. I'll let everyone know how my decision works out.

[wmtire]

It was time to practice what I preach. I have procrastinated long enough, and finally took the time to put the Prometer 225/75R15 10 Ply Rated tires on my trailer this morning. It was a good learning experience, especially seeing just what it will entail if I have to change a tire on a trip.

This trailer was bought used in March of this year. One of the tires I replaced was a Marathon with a 2002 manufacture date :eek: , while the other was another brand with a 2006 manufacture date.

I plan to run these new tires at 65 psi, although they are rated for 80. The tires did balance out easily, a lot better than my experience with other trailer tires has been. I was expecting to have to put a lot of weight, but it didn't require it. The most I needed was 1.75 ounces on one side.

I have a camping/geocaching trip to south LA planned in a few weeks, and will keep the group informed of my experiences/observations.

[bill s]

i have been told that a company called Denman tires (ohio ??) makes a 225/75/15
load E and 10 ply...i think they recommend 80 or 90psi!!!!!

i still haven't purchased ....but i really need to very soon

i'm still researching!!!!

thanks bill s

[bill s]

i forgot to ask wmtire (bobby) ...is ~ $100.00 a reasonable price for load e tire????

thanks bill s

[Mr. Jan Rooks]

To throw one more tire brand in the mix. Nanco grade E Tire & 10 inch Wheels solved my Apache tire problem with Carlile range C skinny tires. Sorry, I drive 70mph all night long.

I am going to watch this thread closely. We have to have load range D or E on our 1996 TM3023. I already lost one 10 yr. old tire last year.
Jan Rooks

[wmtire]

i forgot to ask wmtire (bobby) ...is ~ $100.00 a reasonable price for load e tire????

thanks bill s

I am so sorry for missing this post from last year. I didn't even notice it till Jan Rooks just brought this thread back to the top of the list. If it's too late to help you Bill S, then maybe it will someone else. Again, I apologize for not replying sooner.

$100 sounds fair. We are selling the Prometer Load Range E 225/75R15 for $92 with free mounting.

There is a funny story to that. I originally ordered 3 of those tires just to put on my trailer. Well, while I had them, waiting for me to bring my trailer up to the shop to put them on, I had customer's who needed them. I sold 2 to a customer, then reordered them again to put on my trailer. Again I sold 2 more before I could put them on my trailer. I decided after that to stock these tires continously and have actually sold probably around 20 or better now. I can thank these forums and our tire experiment for that.

[TexasCamper]

I am resurrecting this old thread to ask if anyone has further experience to share on their Prometer 75R15 (load class E). What pressure do you keep your tires at?

Also, has anyone found an inflation/load guide from Prometer?

I had little time and options when I had to replace my tires and ended up with these. I'm not thrilled with the higher pressure and really would like ride at a lower pressure (but still high enough for my load).

[TravlinOn]

Re: Running "trailer" tires at reduced pressures. I remember that when I was researching the difference between a truck tire and a trailer specific tire, I found that trailer tire sidewalls are made to withstand the sway/fish-tail action that some trailers (TM not-so-much) have as they ride down the road.

Possibly, Carlyse tires is recommending that their tires be kept inflated at the max is for that reason - that lesser inflation will result in more role on the tire during sways with increased strain on the sidewalls?

[tentcamper]

I'm with bill. Do you need that much PSI? If your carrying the load for that PSI it will be Ok, but if your not, there will be no flex in the the tires over the small bumps.

Where we live the road vibration and rock hard 80 PSI tires on a camper loaded for much less weight then the max rating of the tries. It would beat my camper apart.

The DW's fine china would be a wreck. lol

[scrubjaysnest]

We are running some off brand load e tire that we put in 2012. Can't say we can see any difference between the way a tire at 65 psi or these at 80 psi makes to the trailer contents. With the back roads we tend to travel stuff sometimes gets stirred up. We started the Duran's at 80 psi per Wmtire but have since dropped then to 70 psi because of excessive center rib wear. As a general rule on trailer tires experience has shown don't go below the tire makers side wall psi for the load you are carrying.

[davlin]

Here's an interesting thought.

I also run Load Range E on my 2007 3124KS. With my tires at 80 psi, and using a WDH, it's my very unscientific opinion that I get lots more "internal reorganization" of my TM, as opposed to running them at 70 psi. IF that's really true, would we all be better off running (TM recommended) Load Range D tires inflated to 65 psi, versus the Load Range E tires we have to turn down the bounce on?

Can't wait to see where this one goes....

Dave

[ShrimpBurrito]

I don't think so. I got a psi/load rating chart from a Kumho engineer back when I had the 857s, and lowering the pressure simply lowered the load rating. I think manufacturers say that they always want you running the max pressure because otherwise the tire is not going to have the stated load rating. And publishing such a psi/load rating chart would probably be confusing for the industry and most consumers.

So I am of the opinion that a load rating E tire inflated to less than the max pressure (i.e. 65 psi, which is what I use) is better than a fully inflated load range D, and definitely a C tire. It's the effective load rating that matters.

Dave

[davlin]

Yeah Dave, that's the same "logic" that I use, but I wonder if there's any "science" to "a load rating E tire inflated to less than the max pressure (i.e. 65 psi, which is what I use) is better than a fully inflated load range D."

Playing the devil's advocate here: isn't a load range E tire inflated to 65 psi actually a load range D tire?

Dave

[ShrimpBurrito]

Playing the devil's advocate here: isn't a load range E tire inflated to 65 psi actually a load range D tire?


I think you are probably right. I think load capacity is only related to the amount of air in the tire, and when you don't increase the physical size of the tire, you can only get more air if you can increase the pressure. And you only want to do that if you have more plies on your tire that can withstand that pressure.

Tirerack seems to say the same thing. They say:

"All tires with equivalent physical dimensions carry equivalent loads (until they reach their maximum load pressure)."

see http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=195

But in the case of an LRE vs. LRD tire, for example, while their load capacities may be the same at, say 65 psi, I would think the LRE tire would be able to better withstand aggrevating factors like heat and bumps. Or maybe that's wishful thinking. But I can't seem to recall anyone have an LRE tire blowout here.....

Dave

[davlin]

I think you are probably right. I think load capacity is only related to the amount of air in the tire, and when you don't increase the physical size of the tire, you can only get more air if you can increase the pressure. And you only want to do that if you have more plies on your tire that can withstand that pressure.

Tirerack seems to say the same thing. They say:

"All tires with equivalent physical dimensions carry equivalent loads (until they reach their maximum load pressure)."

see http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=195

But in the case of an LRE vs. LRD tire, for example, while their load capacities may be the same at, say 65 psi, I would think the LRE tire would be able to better withstand aggrevating factors like heat and bumps. Or maybe that's wishful thinking. But I can't seem to recall anyone have an LRE tire blowout here.....

Dave

Concur. And there's certainly no valid argument on purchase price difference. D's and E's are about the same. I just noticed that you're running the same brand (Carlisle) that I have. I've been happy with those so far.

Dave

[Speckul8r]

I just completed the 15" upgrade doing the lift and changing to Maxxis 225 75R 15 Load Range E. I'll be running them at 70 psi and the first spin that I took with them, I could not notice any difference in "bounce". Here is a link to the Maxxis Tire Inflation chart. http://www.maxxis.com/trailer/trailer-tire-loadinflation-chart
According to this, the load rating at 70 psi is 2620#'s which is about what the wheel rating is, 2600#'s. Also it's over the trailers rating which gives me a warm fuzzy.

Checking out the WDH after installation, I didn't have to do anything to the adjustment there. Everything seemed right on the money.
I did have to add about a 3/4" drop to the spare tire carrier but that was no big deal.