Tire brands - which are best?

[Redtail Cruiser]

Doug, You'll be very satisfied with your Maxxis tires. I've put mine thru three camping seasons now, including 100 miles of off-road travel on old logging roads and lake access trails, and they're still performing perfectly. I keep them at 60psi when traveling on interstates and lower them down to 40psi in dirt or sand. I have an inch and a half of wheel well clearance, when fully loaded.

Safe travels,

[dab1950]

Originally Posted by Padgett

No lift kit and 205x75R15s ? How is your street side clearance at the top ? One finger or two ?

ps some brands only have the overlay on 15s and 16s.

Got the phone call from Discount tire on Monday. The new Maxxis tires are installed.
We feel safer already.
Just before the old "Duro's" were removed, I tried to stack fingers(both hands) on top
of the left side tire. I could only stack fingers between the knuckles, not
knuckles. However, on the right side, had no problem stacking
fingers. So, clearly, we have more clearance on the curb side than on the
street side. This is with the TM open and sitting on a slight grade with the
street side downhill from the curb side(this is where Discount tire wanted
me to park it).
Maybe there has been some tire rub on the street side? I would never
notice it from the driving position in the Dodge. How would I know
otherwise? The wheel well is lined with fleixible plastic with no noticeable
wear. I'm not worried. I have no intention of 'going off road'. If I do, it
will be so rare and for such a brief period it wouldn't hurt anyway.

Thanks for all the helpful advice.

[Padgett]

Sounds like mine. After 2k miles I did notice some signs of rubbing on street side only (right turns ?) but nothing serious. Put some spackling over the low ribs in that area and we will see.

I'd like another inch but have not figured out an easy way.

[BrucePerens]

Maxxis has an 8-ply version, ST20575R15, model TL15703000. This is rated to run at 65 PSI and carry 2150 lbs.

Is there any reason this would not be better than the 6-ply version?

[davlin]

Let me jump in on Maxxis love-fest. They indeed are very good tires, as reported by numerous TM owners and others on different RV forums. My Discount Tire dealer, who I have done business with for years, also says good things about them, but he said that he has NEVER had a Carlisle fail (where it wasn't obviously owner neglect) and he sells a lot of them every month. I put Carlisle ST225/75R15 (LRE) on my 3124KS in 2012 and have been very happy with them. One of the things I like about Discount is that they're everywhere. If I did get a blowout, I could get it replaced quickly wherever I was IF my tire was a Carlisle. Every place I've been, the Maxxis is a "special order" item at Discount, meaning that they are not routinely stocked in their regional warehouses, meaning I would probably have to have my Maxxis replaced with a Carlisle if I wanted to get home anytime soon (or travel home without a spare.) Again, they're both good tires. I'll probably go with Carlisle again, however, just because they're more readily available at Discount.

Dave

[OregonTrail]

For similar reasons, we had Discount Tire put Carlisle tires on our TM before towing it home after we purchased it last summer. Time and use will tell, but we've been very happy with them so far.

[rickst29]

Originally Posted by BrucePerens

Maxxis has an 8-ply version, ST20575R15, model TL15703000. This is rated to run at 65 PSI and carry 2150 lbs.
Is there any reason this would not be better than the 6-ply version?

IIUC, those are "rating" numbers, and do not correspond to actual construction. "6-ply" = Load Range C, "8-Ply" = Load range D, and my Load Range "E" tires are often described as "10-Ply", even though the construction does not involve that many layers. Doug and Sue are almost certainly getting the model which you just listed.

[dab1950]

Had another chance to measure clearance today. While parked at the last RV Dealer in
Georgia to claim 'Trailmanor' as a supported brand and on level ground, we opened the
TM and now with the new Maxxis, I have the same clearance on both sides. I was able
to stack fingers at the first knuckle from both hands. Yes, I'd like a lift kit too and even
asked at the dealership but alas they have no TM parts, none. So, it is what it is for tire
clearance.

Doug B.

[Redtail Cruiser]

A lift kit is not Trailmanor specific. All you need is one and a half to two and a half inch steel square tubing and case hardened bolts, washers and nuts long enough to place the tubing between the axle and the frame. You had mentioned earlier that you don't plan on going off road, so you really don't need a lift kit. I don't have a lift kit on mine and have never had a problem with rubbing and I go off road all the time.

[Padgett]

Just to expand a little (remember 2 ply - 4 ply rating ? Today that would be LRB (if we had a "B"))
6 ply rating = LRC = 50 psi max
8 ply rating = LRD = 65 psi max
10 ply rating -LRE = 80 psi max

Now the "Load" is a function of the tire volume (205x75) and the pressure. For a given size the higher the pressure the greater the load rating so a LRE tire at 65 psi can carry the same load as a LRD, just the construction should be more robust to carry the higher pressure and is generally more resistant to heat. OTOH a LRD with a nylon overlay is as heat resistant as a LRE without. (frankly for a trailer without shocks IMNSHO anything over 65 psi is going to create a very harsh ride for the innards).

Now I like at least a 25% overdesign for a street tire to account for shocks and "oops" so fo a 3500 lb axle load, that is 1750 lbs per tire x 125%= 2187 so 205x75x15 LRD at 2150 lbs @ 65 psi is good enough for me.

Am I rambling again ?