mountainsounds
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1957 Rainbow & 1955 Starfire
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Post by mountainsounds on Sept 24, 2015 8:16:22 GMT -8
Our Rainbow came with 700R15 10 ply LT tires. These have a narrow tread width (<8 inch) and a ~29 inch ride height. I've read here that folks replace with 225/75R15 but these are short/wide by comparison of the 700R15. Since I can't source the 700R15 locally from tire stores, I've asked the RV repair place (who is painting our trailer) to hunt them down. If they can't find them I'm planning to purchase from etrailer: www.etrailer.com/Tires-and-Wheels/Kenda/AM10414.htmlI should add that our trailer tows very nicely with the 700R15 LT tires. Also our experience with etrailer has been very positive. I appreciate their videos and their question/answer sections. Very helpful. What have others done? Replaced wheels? Other tire sizes that work?
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Post by bigbill on Sept 25, 2015 6:28:37 GMT -8
Your local tire store should be able to order the proper trailer tire replacement with the dimensions you need. The 7:00 x 15 was a very popular size on heavy duty trailers so I am certain it is still available it may just carry a different marking.
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mountainsounds
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Post by mountainsounds on Sept 25, 2015 15:16:51 GMT -8
I've called 5 local tire stores, no luck.
I see why John Palmer switches out his axle, wheels etc. We didn't go this route. Instead we replaced the brake assemblies to gain electric brakes but kept the rest original. We'll need to keep a spare with us for sure and we have spare bearings/seals, found these locally. At least we can get the tires online. Not any different than most of the new trailer specific stuff.
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Post by bigbill on Sept 25, 2015 16:38:40 GMT -8
I don't know we bought 8 700 15 10 ply last year from a local supplier of truck and trailer tires for an equipment trailer. If memory serves me right they cost around $1500.00 for eight mounted and balanced.
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mountainsounds
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Post by mountainsounds on Sept 25, 2015 16:47:45 GMT -8
I called two more places, Allied trailer in Sacramento and they recommended I call Reliable Tire, West Sac, who is going to get them for me next week. This place deals in all sorts of tires, not just for cars, they seem to know their stuff. Finally!
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Post by bigbill on Sept 27, 2015 5:15:35 GMT -8
I called two more places, Allied trailer in Sacramento and they recommended I call Reliable Tire, West Sac, who is going to get them for me next week. This place deals in all sorts of tires, not just for cars, they seem to know their stuff. Finally! Many times the high volume car tire stores don't offer the low volume tires and their people have a standard answer if it doesn't pop up on their computer screen "Not available any more" . Ask a local farmer or trucker where they buy their tires or try asking at a shop that repairs heavy equipment, or google trailer tires your city.
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nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Sept 27, 2015 5:28:23 GMT -8
I went through the same search about two weeks ago. In the end, after being told a dozen times that 195 was a size nobody sells these days, I went with the 205 in the bias ply. The bias ply seems to be thinner, as promised. The problem on the Shasta 1500 is fitting the tire in the wheel well without letting air out. Our Airflyte works with a 205 radial...barely.
Coker sold a 195 70/15, but they're really car tires that people put on a trailer. There is an argument that such light weight campers can really run on light truck tires, but I'm not sure.
I'm glad you found a supplier that sells the 700.
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Ten
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70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
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Post by Ten on Sept 27, 2015 6:05:17 GMT -8
nccamper, How are you jacking up the camper? If you jack the axle up it will hold the tire and rim under the wheel well, but if you jack from the frame and allow the springs to drop down, sometimes it can buy the extra clearance to allow the tires to fit in and out of the wheel wells more comfortably. As I am typing this, I am picturing you shaking your head, "Of course I knew that!"....
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Sept 27, 2015 6:34:27 GMT -8
Ten, it's a good point worth repeating. I always jack up the camper from behind the wheel at the frame. There's still not enough clearance. If I lean on the hub a little it helps but on the Shasta 1500 an R205 tire is simply too wide. According to a link posted in a thread about tires, the 1500 had smaller tires than the Airflyte. No way around it. Hopefully Bias Ply will work.
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Ten
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Post by Ten on Sept 27, 2015 10:42:03 GMT -8
Here are three different pages with tire sizing charts that I had found when researching the tires for the 16SC. www.vintagecarconnection.com/vintage_tire_size_conversion_chart.htmwww.dbtires.com/crossreference.htmlwww.carbibles.com/vintagetyresizes.htmlKeep in mind that these are charting passenger car tires (and light trucks of course) rather than trailer (camper) tire sizes. The sizing can cross over to something close, it takes a bit of research. I am no expert on tires and this is all OPINION ONLY: I found that the load ratings for the modern tires seemed to come in quite a percentage higher than the old tires also, and I do believe this would mean that one could get away with a much narrower tire (perhaps drop two width specs) for the load of say the 1500, than the old tires would bear. My specific example: The original BF Goodrich Silvertown Custom tires that were on the SC are G78-15 and show on the tire "Replaces 8.25-15". These are old regular bias tires, probably predating the advent of radials. They also are labeled "Max Load 1620 Lbs @ 32 PSI" My replacements are Maxxi 8008 8-ply radials, ST205/75R15. They are labeled "Load Range D" and "Max Load 2150 at Max Pressure 65 PSI Cold". The load range eack tire is nearly enough for the total unladen weight of the camper. Of course the SC does not have the clearance problems that the earlier designs do. But with load ratings as they are on these, I may have been able to use a 195 or Maybe even a 185, if the clearance were an issue.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Sept 27, 2015 20:06:33 GMT -8
Ten, your logic makes sense. The problem are the sidewalls. Trailer tires have much firmer side walls to avoid the flex that comes with being dragged around corners. I read that most blowouts of car tires on campers will happen on corners such as off ramps at high speeds.
With that said, I haven't known anybody who has had an issue with car tires or light truck tires on a tiny camper.
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Post by vikx on Sept 27, 2015 21:09:28 GMT -8
My tire guy (a guru on hotrods) says that bias have stronger walls. I've had good luck with bias ply, they are somewhat narrower than a radial and do come in trailer tires...
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mountainsounds
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Post by mountainsounds on Sept 28, 2015 9:51:33 GMT -8
Actually our trailer came with 10 ply bias tires, not radials. I'm getting the Samson express trailer tire which is now called 205/90D15. This is equivalent to the 7.00-15.
The Samson tires are $89 each. I'll be picking them up tomorrow.
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Post by bigbill on Sept 28, 2015 10:17:05 GMT -8
Yes The 90 tells you it will be tall and skinny. The letters mean C=6PLY D=8PLY E=10PLY Then you compare the max load rating to your load, I like the tire to be rated double the load it will carry, but I will not install a tire that isn't rated to carry at least 50% more than what I expect to carry.
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mountainsounds
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Post by mountainsounds on Sept 28, 2015 11:29:21 GMT -8
Yes The 90 tells you it will be tall and skinny. The letters mean C=6PLY D=8PLY E=10PLY Then you compare the max load rating to your load, I like the tire to be rated double the load it will carry, but I will not install a tire that isn't rated to carry at least 50% more than what I expect to carry. So if a trailer weights 1600, you want each tire (on a single axle) to have at least a max load of 1600?
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