Replacing trailer tires to truck tires

PatGP

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Sep 2, 2023
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Hi: We've just purchased a 2024 GD 310GK fifth wheel. It was suggested to us to replace the Goodyear trailer tires with Michelin truck tires with the same load rating. It was stated that truck tires are softer & gives the trailer a better ride.
We are also wondering if the self-levelers on the trailer might also need wood placed under the tires to level, before using the self-levelers, in some circumstances.( We are new owners who have never used the self-leveling system, that is why we have this question.)
Thoughts on these topic would be appreciated. Thanks for any advice you might give us.
 
Well, it's unlikely you'll find truck tires with the same load rating as ST tires. Not that I think much of most ST tires. You need to know the actual weight on your axles before you start changing out tires.

We never use anything under the tires before we hit AutoLevel. But ours is the hydraulic system, not the electric which I don't think supports as much weight. So if we have a tire or two off the ground, we're not concerned.
 
The sidewall design and structure of an LT tire us much different than that of an ST tire. There are many people who have gone with LT tires, but I would never have done that on our 310GK. We have Sailun tires on it.

Rob
 
The sidewall design and structure of an LT tire us much different than that of an ST tire. There are many people who have gone with LT tires, but I would never have done that on our 310GK. We have Sailun tires on it.

Rob
Not disagreeing Rob, but when I bought my first Sailun tires in 2012, I think, they were actually labeled LT tires. But they also were labeled "Trailer Use Only", so I don't know what the deal was with that. I believe they changed the labeling to ST due to the tariff on LT tires. Either way you look at it, they simply can't be beat IMO.
 
Hi: We've just purchased a 2024 GD 310GK fifth wheel. It was suggested to us to replace the Goodyear trailer tires with Michelin truck tires with the same load rating. It was stated that truck tires are softer & gives the trailer a better ride.
We are also wondering if the self-levelers on the trailer might also need wood placed under the tires to level, before using the self-levelers, in some circumstances.( We are new owners who have never used the self-leveling system, that is why we have this question.)
Thoughts on these topic would be appreciated. Thanks for any advice you might give us.

Great read on this topic: ST-type versus LT-type tires: Which are “best” for RVs? – Part 1
 
FWIW I'd leave the tires alone. There's a reason it came from the factory with ST tires.
I use 2"x8"x12" long planks of PT wood (three attached together) under my landing gear and rear leveler leg. It just gives better support and less settling on soft ground. I find it works well.
 
Hi: We've just purchased a 2024 GD 310GK fifth wheel. It was suggested to us to replace the Goodyear trailer tires with Michelin truck tires with the same load rating. It was stated that truck tires are softer & gives the trailer a better ride.
We are also wondering if the self-levelers on the trailer might also need wood placed under the tires to level, before using the self-levelers, in some circumstances.( We are new owners who have never used the self-leveling system, that is why we have this question.)
Thoughts on these topic would be appreciated. Thanks for any advice you might give us.

Regardless of LT or ST. I can't see how a tire with the same load rating and presumably the same air pressures is going to have much, if any difference in softness or ride quality.

Of the reasons to change tires, that would carry zero weight with me.
 
Thanks for all the input about tires. This forum is going to make RV travelling a lot better us.
 
FWIW I'd leave the tires alone. There's a reason it came from the factory with ST tires.
I use 2"x8"x12" long planks of PT wood (three attached together) under my landing gear and rear leveler leg. It just gives better support and less settling on soft ground. I find it works well.
It came from the factory that way because they are cheap.
 
A 2024 310GK should have come with 17.5 inch H range Cooper tires on it...
 
Hi: We've just purchased a 2024 GD 310GK fifth wheel. It was suggested to us to replace the Goodyear trailer tires with Michelin truck tires with the same load rating. It was stated that truck tires are softer & gives the trailer a better ride.
We are also wondering if the self-levelers on the trailer might also need wood placed under the tires to level, before using the self-levelers, in some circumstances.( We are new owners who have never used the self-leveling system, that is why we have this question.)
Thoughts on these topic would be appreciated. Thanks for any advice you might give us.
I do not know anything about your unit. But if you can get LT tires on it with the proper capacity. Do it and don't look back.
When I was new to towing, I bought into all the marketing hype about the "need" for ST tires.
After Many failures and upgraded sizes and load ranges, I finally threw in the towel in 2006. I went with Michelin XPS RIBS. It was not cheap. That unit needed new rims, new 6 lug drums, and a small suspension lift to make the swap.
It was worth it. None of my ST tires made it to their second birthday. Most failed in less than a year.
I have never had an LT tire fail.
Some years ago I read the NHSTA tire test requirements. That told the story. LT tires have to do every thng an ST does and much, much more.
 
I'll leave the tire issue to others. As far as the levelers - the Electric ones work just fine without putting boards under the tires to pre level side to side. In the six camping seasons I have had this rig I have NEVER leveled it side to side before hitting Autolevel. There have been times when one sides tires are off the ground, so they will absolutely support the rig. I have also used it to support one side when re-packing the wheel bearings. These are servo motors, once they stop they are essentially locked in position until activated by the switch.
 
A 2024 310GK should have come with 17.5 inch H range Cooper tires on it...
I agree with this statement and these are and can be used for OTR and regional trucks as well and are regrooveable on trucks. Not your standard Chinese trailer tire of years ago. I would not change out these all steel tires as I have seen or heard no issues with these tires. The ones on my 378MBS have been very good and are very solid tires.

Rob
 
I agree. The OP said he had Goodyears. That had me thinking he had a smaller trailer.
I have the coopers on my Momentum. They are a commercial tire and very stout.
The ST tires I as reffering to are not in the same class at all.
 
FWIW I'd leave the tires alone. There's a reason it came from the factory with ST tires.
I use 2"x8"x12" long planks of PT wood (three attached together) under my landing gear and rear leveler leg. It just gives better support and less settling on soft ground. I find it works well.
I don't think GD put these tires on the trailer because they were the best for the job. I believe it was the cheapest solution that would adequately get the job done.

What is the best tire I have no idea.
 
Hi: We've just purchased a 2024 GD 310GK fifth wheel. It was suggested to us to replace the Goodyear trailer tires with Michelin truck tires with the same load rating. It was stated that truck tires are softer & gives the trailer a better ride.
We are also wondering if the self-levelers on the trailer might also need wood placed under the tires to level, before using the self-levelers, in some circumstances.( We are new owners who have never used the self-leveling system, that is why we have this question.)
Thoughts on these topic would be appreciated. Thanks for any advice you might give us.
If you follow that logic then you should put "P" passenger tires on your RV, which you should never, ever do. That's all I'll say about LT vs ST tires.

We put wood blocks under our self leveling jacks because
IMG_4016.JPG
the further the jacks extend the more wobbly they become and the more wiggle you may get in the RV walking across the floor through the rig.. A few scrap 2x4s, a few screws, handles and rubber stick on mats from harbor freight, and for about $20 you can have some too. Also if you put the handles on right they flop open when you lay them down, then you can very easily grab the handle with a long hook and drag them out from under the rig.

or You can also buy those expensive plastic buckets for the jack legs.
As far as placing wood or those plastic stacking blocks under the tires, we do sometimes if the side to side level is off a lot.
 
IMO...and you know what they say about those.......
If you are off pavement, boondocking a lot....definitely go for the LT truck tire with an appropriate load rating. ST's will not last.
If you are mostly on pavement...a quality ST would be good. Don't go for the cheapest you can find.
As to trailer ride quality. You will never notice a difference whatever tire you buy.
 
I'll just echo a lot of what @huntindog is saying. First, on my previous 5th wheel, I also used the Michelin XPS RIB LT tires and they were fantastic, but are definitely pricey.

Second, I agree with him and @BoredWeasel in that the major consideration for OEM tires is cost. IMHO, that also applies to OEM leaf springs, which is why so many people have trouble with them. That said, I think ST tires (used to mean S*#%tty Tire) have gotten better.

As for levelers, I'm using the SnapPads. They add a little height, they don't need separate handling & storage, they're easy on RV campground pavement, they have wonderful grip and, IMHO, don't look as ghetto as paint buckets or decaying wood.

Last, I have the Cooper Roadmaster RM170's on my 2021 349M and they've worked really well for >20,000 miles. I've put plenty of pretty reasonable speed (70mph+) highway miles on them and have boondocked quite a bit for my job in places that a lot of people probably wouldn't go (nor would they want to).

It seems the new version of the Roadmaster is the RM272 - one of which I had to recently get after running over a boxcutter blade in town. After using LT tires on trailers since the 90's, I think I've finally become convinced that, at least for these Roadmasters, the ST tire quality has improved.


vlcsnap-2024-09-19-09h25m55s797.png

 
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I changed to LT tires after only getting about 20,000 miles on two sets of the Goodyear ST tires. I have almost 40,000 on my Cooper LT tires and they still look new.
 
It is said that leaving tires sitting on pavement long term without moving them is bad for the rubber. Seems the pavement will suck the moisture out of the rubber. Those big plastic cutting mats would help. Put one under each tire.
 

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