ST225/75R15: Load range "D" or "E" ?

[davlin]

Originally Posted by ShrimpBurrito

Our roads are far from perfect out here -- there are lots of bumps, dips, ridges, potholes, etc. even on the interstates. I lowered the pressure to 65 psi, and that resolved all the problems.

Dave

Our last (700 mile) trip involved some sections of I-10 that were, shall we say, "less than perfect." It's always a trade-off between too little sidewall flex (all the broken stuff you had happen to you) and too much (excess tire heating). I'd say since you're probably "near Load Range D" at 65 psi, you still have plenty of safety margin there. I'm thinking about dropping mine to 75 psi on the next trip, just to see if I notice any difference....

Dave

Very good thread. Our 3326 has the original tires, which are Marathons ST215/75R14 load range C.

I need to replace them later this year, before a planned trip. We moved the trailer about 100 miles a couple of months ago without mishap, but due to some health issues it will stay put for now.

I have not scaled this trailer, but even at 5000 lbs or so a load range C is well within its capacity range with four tires on the trailer. My current thinking is brand will be more important than load range, and comments here are leaning me toward Maxxis.

Any tire replacement comments from 3326 owners?

[davlin]

Originally Posted by MisterP

Very good thread. Our 3326 has the original tires, which are Marathons ST215/75R14 load range C.

I need to replace them later this year, before a planned trip. We moved the trailer about 100 miles a couple of months ago without mishap, but due to some health issues it will stay put for now.

I have not scaled this trailer, but even at 5000 lbs or so a load range C is well within its capacity range with four tires on the trailer. My current thinking is brand will be more important than load range, and comments here are leaning me toward Maxxis.

Any tire replacement comments from 3326 owners?

MisterP, I'm a former 3326 owner (1995 with 13" tires) who always put Marathons on mine, but given the more recent problems folks have had, I think I would go with either the Maxxis or Carlisle. When I replaced the original Marathons on my 2007 3124 KS, I went with Carlisle. My tire dealer absolutely did NOT want me to put Marathons on it (even though he sells them)! He lowered the price of the Carlisle's to match the Marathon's, because he said his customers have had so much trouble with Marathon's and he's the guy who bears the brunt of the unhappiness.

[Harry Womack]

I just replaced my 5 year old Maxxis tires today with the same Load range E tires. The tires still look like new! I will be given them away for local use.
I ran them at 70 PSI and never had any problem. I weighted my 3124KB on a trip loaded with low water and no grey water and it weighted 4900#. The factory weight does not include propane, air conditioner, 2 batteries, electric jack, awning, any water, extra cabinets, TV antenna, toilet charge, and solar panels. It is surprising how quickly the weight adds up.

[ShrimpBurrito]

Originally Posted by MisterP

My current thinking is brand will be more important than load range, and comments here are leaning me toward Maxxis.

In my experience, the opposite has been true. I too have been a victim of a Marathon blow-out, but the tire was about 5 years old and it occurred after towing through some hot areas. So I "upgraded" to Kumho 857's, which have had a much better reputation. They also have a slightly higher load rating by a few hundred pounds. After 3 years, I had 2 of them blow out just a day between each other, again during hot days.

So to me, it seems that age, load rating, and environmental conditions are more important than brand.

Now that I upgraded to 15" wheels, I can use load range E tires. So far, so good, but I'm just now coming up on the 3-year mark with those tires.

Dave

[davlin]

Originally Posted by Harry Womack

I just replaced my 5 year old Maxxis tires today with the same Load range E tires. The tires still look like new! I will be given them away for local use.
I ran them at 70 PSI and never had any problem. I weighted my 3124KB on a trip loaded with low water and no grey water and it weighted 4900#. The factory weight does not include propane, air conditioner, 2 batteries, electric jack, awning, any water, extra cabinets, TV antenna, toilet charge, and solar panels. It is surprising how quickly the weight adds up.

Harry, did you ever try running your Maxxis at 80 psi? If you did, did you have the same kind of problems that ShrimpBurrito encountered when he ran at his at 80? I'm trying to decide for myself on my E rated Carlisle's. I only have one trip (700 miles) on my Carlisle's, which I ran at 80 psi, and to tell the truth, I really didn't see any difference from my original D rated Marathon's at 65 psi.

Originally Posted by ShrimpBurrito

In my experience, the opposite has been true. I too have been a victim of a Marathon blow-out, but the tire was about 5 years old and it occurred after towing through some hot areas. So I "upgraded" to Kumho 857's, which have had a much better reputation. They also have a slightly higher load rating by a few hundred pounds. After 3 years, I had 2 of them blow out just a day between each other, again during hot days.

So to me, it seems that age, load rating, and environmental conditions are more important than brand.

Now that I upgraded to 15" wheels, I can use load range E tires. So far, so good, but I'm just now coming up on the 3-year mark with those tires.

Dave

Dave, I agree with you concerning 15 inch wheels. I have 14 inch and load range C tires on two axles. I also have some wheel well clearance concerns, and for a couple of reasons I don't want the trailer on a lift kit (if you can even do that with a 3326, I'm not sure).

So, with the 215/75R14 tires I have, I have looked at three different manufacturers, and I have not seen load range D tires mentioned for 14 inch wheels. I certainly may have missed them somewhere, but figured brand and careful tire pressures will be most important.

Nice thing about this forum, I can post this opinion and someone can disprove my theory, which I welcome.

Paul

[ShrimpBurrito]

Originally Posted by MisterP

So, with the 215/75R14 tires I have, I have looked at three different manufacturers, and I have not seen load range D tires mentioned for 14 inch wheels. I certainly may have missed them somewhere, but figured brand and careful tire pressures will be most important.

Ah yes, that is the problem with 14" wheels. You might consider the Kumho 857 then.....but as I illustrated above, they blew at 3 years with me. But you presumably wouldn't be loading them up as much as I did because you'll have 4 of them.

I think I would get the tire with the highest load capacity (in pounds, not the letter rating), and as long as they were a reputable brand, go with that. The Maxxis certainly falls in that category, but I presume you haven't had any blowouts on the Marathons, right? If you can get some made in North America, I think I would consider them as well. Last I checked, some of the Kumhos were being made in Vietnam (as opposed to Korea, which is where they were made when I got mine).

Dave

[mjlaupp]

Originally Posted by MisterP

....Our 3326 has the original tires, which are Marathons ST215/75R14 load range C.....Any tire replacement comments from 3326 owners?

Still running the Chinese imports: http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ad.php?t=11229

[Harry Womack]

The reason I went to load range E is that the load rage D tires always looked low at 65 PSI. The load range E looks normal at 70 PSI. I did not see a need to put more pressure in the tires.