Tire Experience

[BB_TX]

The Goodyear web site list the tire as G614 RST. I think someone posted here one time what RST meant in Goodyear speak. But the web site also list the G614 RST tire size as LT235/85R16 G which would seem to indicate it is an LT tire.

[Tom S.]

The G14 is a truck tire. You can also find some "F" rated truck tires if you look hard enough. Most people jumped on the "G"'s because they provide a wide margin of safety and they are carried nationally by a well known name in the business.

[Golferdave]

Guys: ( see previous post 22 April 2015 ) Just replaced ALL my Goodyear Marathons with Firestone LT235/85R16 / 10 transforce AT.
No more Goodyear for this cowboy. Should have listed to the forum.
Thanks all. Happy trails.

[DonandBonnie]

We had our truck and trailer weighed by individual tire at the MOC Rally last Fall. Part of the matrix that you receive after the weighing gives a recommended air pressure that you should carry in each tire based on your weight. If your tires aren't capable of the recommended pressures, it would be for your safety to buy different tires. We also swear by our TST that shows tire temperatures in addition to pressure. A tire that is running significantly hotter than the others is a candidate for a blowout.

[jlb27537]

Yes, the Goodyear sites list the G614 as a truck tire, but all the sites list it for trailer application only.

I believe the GVWR plates on our vehicles (cars/trucks) list both the size and speed ratings of the tires our vehicles came equipped with.

Back in the '90's when Toyota came out with the Supra twin turbo, it was speed limited @ 154mph. That is when the computer shut off the fuel. Why, that was the speed rating of the OEM tires.

To put a G614 on a pick-up truck with a speed rating of 101mph I believe is illegal. I know when I replaced my '11 Honda CRV tires @ Sam's they looked up the car's speed rating in their book before they would install my new Michelins I bought from them.

Your thoughts may vary, but a G614 is a trailer tire, I don't care what they call it.

Jim

[BB_TX]

Here is the Goodyear site for the G614 tire. Note that it says G614 RST Even Wear in Demanding Trailer Applications

[whutfles]

So, a Goodyear G114 can't be mounted on a truck either because of it's 75 mph speed rating even though it has a considerably higher weight rating. But a 75 mph rating and a 4805 weight capacity makes me feel a lot more comfortable than the 3400-3700 E and G rated tires.

I'm really considering changing to the 215/75R 17.5 Goodyear G114's and new rims. Still working on that deal. Then I'm going to look into finding someone around here that can install more blocking between my axle and leaf springs on the camper to make it sit as level as possible. I didn't have any tire problems other than uneven wear till I changed to the Dodge truck which made the front of the RV sit higher. Although the timming of that was when the original tires were 2 years old. And now my second set is having trouble at 2 years. So there's either something magical about 2 years or maybe I'll fix my problems with these changes.

Thanks for all your input and I'll keep you posted.

Bill Hutfles

[MikenAngie]

G614's went on our baby today..........peaceful driving now.

[whutfles]

Update: Still dealing on my new rims and tires. My Goodyear dealer has adjusted my tire with the protruding cable, if I get my new tires from him.

The first source for my new tires suggested I could use my ST235/80R-16 Load Range E spare with the new G114 Load Range H, so that I would only have to buy 4 new tires and rims.

I finally found the Dexter Axle stamp on my axles. It wasn't 18" from the passenger side wheel in the back of the axle like my Dexter Manual said. I couldn't find it in the daylight, but in the evening near dark, I found it just to the right of center at the back of the axle. It was actually on both axles. I called Dexter today and they said I have 6000 lb axles with 1/2" studs on the hubs. They suggested if I needed 9/16" studs for the new rims that I shouldn't press out the old studs and press in new but to just order new hubs with the 9/16" studs. My rim source can furnish rims with 1/2 or 9/16 hub nuts. And if I changed to 9/16 studs, I don't think I would be able to use my current rim as a spare. Not sure though if my old rims would fit over a 9/16 stud. They also said I would not have any bearing problems if I switched to the G114 rims.

Dexter also said there was no blocking available to raise my camper to make it level. They said the only blocking kits available was for under slung springs, and mine are already on top with the mounting block already welded to the axle by Dexter.

So I decided today to visit my RV Dealer and do my du-deligence and check out what new RV's they were offering to see if anyone was making a comperable RV to ours - similar options, GVW, with heavier axles and heavier weight rated tires. My pinbox rating is 15,600 I think. My GVW is 14,185. We'd walk up to a camper and I'd see the pinbox rating - 19,000. I looked at the weight tag - 18,000 GVW, equipped with 18 cu ft fridge or residential fridge option, load leveling system, kng size bed, huge closet in front, 2 big slides in back and a bedroom slide, 2 air conditioners. I crawled underneath to look at the tires - ST235/80R-16 Load Range E, made in China. I went back to the weight tag to see the GAWR Axle Rating - 6000 lbs. (Same tires and axle rating as mine). So if I traded for this newer camper, I'd be adding 4,000 lbs to the same axles and tires that I'm having trouble with and trying to upgrade. Looked at 4-6 new campers, 2 different RV Manufacturers, all in the same weight range and with the same size tires. Salesman did offer to price me a new one with rims and tires exchanged with a local tire dealer. Going to continue to upgrade my old RV.

Will keep you posted.

Bill Hutfles

[mhs4771]

Wonder how they get away with 6K axles on an 18K GVWR unit. That means the pin with have to be well over 6K that would be over many of the 1 Ton Duallies.

[whutfles]

I only saw the hitch weight on one which was 2770. But there was a lot of kitchen storage with the pantrys.. The garages are huge pass thru, no smaller than mine, which is great. But the huge closet with a place on each side for washer and dryer-(which if you don't have is shelved for great storage) just has the potential for a lot of weight over the pin.

I read in my Dexter manual that the GAWR axle rating is based on the max weight rating of the axle, rim and tire (the lesser of any of those components). When I spoke with Dexter I asked them a couple of times if they were sure my axles were 6000 lb and not 7000, and he wouldn't budge.

I did bring the brochure of one of these new RV's home and it says the GVWR is 16000 lbs, dry weight 12,650, hitch weight 2600 and axle rating 7000 lbs (ea). It only had ST235/80R-16 E rated tires on it.

My axle source responded that the same 17.5" rim fits over the 1/2" and 9/16" hub studs.

Bil Hutfles

[DQDick]

We took the Moryde special at a national rally and went to IS. With IS I no longer have axles to worry about and they adjusted the IS to make the rig ride level with the truck and even changed the hitch and the pin box to work better since they could adjust the rear height also.

[whutfles]

As far as the pin weight being over 6K. I have read that pin weight can be 15-20% of the GVW. So on an 18,000 lb camper, with 20% pin weight, you'd have 14400 on the axles and 3600 on the pin. 14400 divided by 4 camper tires is 3600 per tire. My Goodyear Marathons are only rated at 3420 X 4 = 13,680 lbs. And that means 720 lbs additional on the pin or 4320 (24%) on the pin. And yes, that's too much for my 3500 dulley. But to the manufacturer's credit, they did raise the pin box to 19,000.

When I looked at these new campers yesterday, all wheels had slides over them. I did see ST235/80R-16 E on all of the campers and I could only read the 80 psi on 2 tires. But I could not see the LBS at 80 psi which was in fine print which was too much for these bifocals and I didn't have a flashlight.

Bill Hutfles

[Arcamper]

My new 3100 had Goodyear 614's put on as a factory option. My sticker on the trailer shows LT's not ST's and no where on the tire does it say for trailer service only.

[mhs4771]

What I was refering to was with only 6K axles (12K for the two) to be within the axle ratings you would have to put the balance on the Pin, thus 12K on the axles and 6K on the pin would give you a total of 18K.

[whutfles]

Yea, that doesn't add up. It was the first RV we looked at and I brought their brochure home. I saw GAWR 6000 lbs because I pointed out to the Salesman that it was the same as mine. Maybe that GVWR was 16,000 not 18,000, All of the RV's in the brouchure I brought home have a 7,000 GAWR and GVWR 16,000. I'll get back there in a couple of weeks and I'll take good notes.

Bill Hutfles

[mhs4771]

Even at 16K GVWR on 6K axles would be on the risky side in my opinion.

[jlb27537]

quote:Originally posted by Arcamper

My new 3100 had Goodyear 614's put on as a factory option. My sticker on the trailer shows LT's not ST's and no where on the tire does it say for trailer service only.

Your G614 tires are "designed" for TRAILER SERVICE ONLY. If you think they are truck tires, put them on your truck and head for west Texas where the speed limit is 85mph. Get back to me.

Jim

[jlb27537]

Most, if not all, rigs with Marathons, are on 7K axles that are de-rated to 6,750lbs and that satisfies the federal requirements.

That will allow a GVWR of 16K+ and still be legal. But would you want to pull a 16K rig on Marathons? While legal, and with-in the tire limits, Nope for me.

Jim

[rohrmann]

http://www.goodyearrvtires.com/tire-selector.aspx

They are trailer tires ONLY, but are rated LT, which gives them their 75 MPH speed rating. They do not have a traction tread that you would see on a car or truck tire, so would be very dangerous on anything other than trailers.