Ranier st - Montana Owners Club

Duramax · 08-06-2017, 11:40 AM

Ranier st tires came on my highcountry. Are these junk? I will be pulling camper less than a 500 miles this year. Should I replace these in the future before any long trip? I'd so what is the best tire for my trailer?

CaptnJohn · 08-06-2017, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duramax

Ranier st tires came on my highcountry. Are these junk? I will be pulling camper less than a 500 miles this year. Should I replace these in the future before any long trip? I'd so what is the best tire for my trailer?

The same LR E came on my 2017 HC. My tire guy said they were OK. That was enough for me to drive 43 miles from the dealer to his shop and have 5 Sailun LR G tires installed. He bought the Rainier tires so I did not need to mess with Craigslist. Your dealer may be interested now but if the tires are older with some miles, possibly not.
I put the 235/85 tires on as they were $10 less than the 235/80 and only .9" taller. Makes no sense and either were 4 months old. They have a 4400# rating the 235/80 has 4080#.
My 2017 wheels are rated for 110# psi so it seemed a no brainer to me.

happy camper x2 · 08-06-2017, 02:21 PM

Our HC 353 came with the rainers also. We had about 1000 miles on them. After reading all the threads on here I did alot of research and put 14 ply Salins on my camper. I was going to put Gladiator 14 ply tires but found a shop that priced matched the Internet price on the Salins. I put the rainers on my utility trailer. You can not go wrong by putting 14 ply tires on your camper.

Kenw · 08-07-2017, 10:38 AM

My 2017 HC 370BR also came with the Ranier tires. I immediately put the Goodyear G614 on it, even tho the Salun tires receive good ratings here. The G614's are G rated tires (3750#) and you will run 1/2 inch higher. The dealer that I purchased the HC from told me " Run them for a year and then get rid of them". I upgraded immediately because I didn't want a blow out at the wrong place and time and then dealing with the aftermath.

CaptnJohn · 08-07-2017, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenw

My 2017 HC 370BR also came with the Ranier tires. I immediately put the Goodyear G614 on it, even tho the Salun tires receive good ratings here. The G614's are G rated tires (3750#) and you will run 1/2 inch higher. The dealer that I purchased the HC from told me " Run them for a year and then get rid of them". I upgraded immediately because I didn't want a blow out at the wrong place and time and then dealing with the aftermath.

The Sailuns are G rated also. Rated at 4080# on 235/80 and 4400# on 235/85.

Peter1965 · 08-14-2017, 01:06 PM

I too have a 2017 High Country which came with the Rainier tires. Here is my question, is a G rated tire a bit of overkill? My 375FL has a max weight of 15,400 (11,868 trailer and 3,532 cargo). If 2,265 of that is on the pin/truck then 13,135 is on the axles divided by 4 is 3,283 per tire. That is "if" I have 3,532 in cargo which I can't believe I do. Am I doing this right?

Eagleback · 08-14-2017, 01:34 PM

I have heard of people using LT truck tires are there any pros or cons or comparisons to the st tires?

CaptnJohn · 08-14-2017, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter1965

I too have a 2017 High Country which came with the Rainier tires. Here is my question, is a G rated tire a bit of overkill? My 375FL has a max weight of 15,400 (11,868 trailer and 3,532 cargo). If 2,265 of that is on the pin/truck then 13,135 is on the axles divided by 4 is 3,283 per tire. That is "if" I have 3,532 in cargo which I can't believe I do. Am I doing this right?

Overkill ~~ I believe the E rated tires are a bare minimum, just my opinion. Remember all tires lose about 10% capacity annually so if you keep them 4 - 5 years they can lose up to 50% capacity. I look at it as another form of insurance.

Peter1965 · 08-14-2017, 02:19 PM

I did not know that tires lose capacity that quickly. But if that is the case even a G rated tire wouldn't be up to the job after 4 or 5 years. I would agree that E rated tires at a minimum. I just put 4,000 miles on these tires without any problems and now am concerned seeing these tire issues. Trying to figure out what the best course is.

TLightning · 08-14-2017, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagleback

I have heard of people using LT truck tires are there any pros or cons or comparisons to the st tires?

LT truck tires are mostly well known brands made in the US, Japan or Germany. STs are trailer only, speed rated to 65, and most are made in China. Since my RV is not one of the newer very heavy models, I got rid of the China STs and put LTs on.

Peter1965 · 08-14-2017, 04:19 PM

I have heard of people going the lt route. I am not familiar with the advantages of that either. I don't know the load ratings of lt tires. I do know that the speed rating on the rainier is 75 which is nice I suppose but who drives 75 with a 42 foot trailer hitched up? Don't go much faster than 65 anyway.

rohrmann · 08-14-2017, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagleback

I have heard of people using LT truck tires are there any pros or cons or comparisons to the st tires?

Lt tires in this size range only have 3,042 lbs of load capacity, where the ST tires have much more, but like the standard ST tires, they are usually 3,420 lbs, which is still less than a tire with at least 3,500 lbs of capacity which would be the bare minimum to meet the 7,000 lb capacity of most of the axles on these newer rigs. The older Montana's had 6,000 lb axles, and the LT tires were perfect for the lighter trailers. So, if you have a trailer that has 6,000 lb axles, you can use the LT tires, though some people think they can't handle the scrubbing effect of tandem axle trailers when making a tight turn, but many trailers came from the factory with them years ago.

There are a number of the newer ST tires that are now rated for 75 MPH or some even higher, which is a bit crazy to think people would pull that fast. I put Goodyear G614 tires on our rig within a year of purchase due to having a number of tire failures with the Marathons that came on it. We have well over 45,000 miles on it now, and have not had any failures of the tires. I run them at 110 PSI, and the trailer handles much better than with the E range tires that came on it, and I'm sure we get a little better fuel mileage.

twindman · 08-14-2017, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

Overkill ~~ I believe the E rated tires are a bare minimum, just my opinion. Remember all tires lose about 10% capacity annually so if you keep them 4 - 5 years they can lose up to 50% capacity. I look at it as another form of insurance.

I have never seen that tires lose capacity like that. If it were true, my tires would blow out in 2-3 years. I am near the limit on my LT tires - one side has 5900 lb on it (maybe only 5800). So if I lost 10% a year, in 3 years my tires could only hold 2200 each. I am pretty sure they would blow rapidly. And I am on my third set and each went over 40000 miles.

CaptnJohn · 08-14-2017, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLightning

LT truck tires are mostly well known brands made in the US, Japan or Germany. STs are trailer only, speed rated to 65, and most are made in China. Since my RV is not one of the newer very heavy models, I got rid of the China STs and put LTs on.

65 mph speed ratings on most ST tires ended years ago. Now 75 and into the 80s is common.

Peter1965 · 08-15-2017, 08:13 AM

I am not 100% certain but I think the HC's are still using the 6000 lb axles. Have to remember we are not quite as heavy as the regular Montana. I'll have to check the axles because I'm not sure.

CaptnJohn · 08-15-2017, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter1965

I am not 100% certain but I think the HC's are still using the 6000 lb axles. Have to remember we are not quite as heavy as the regular Montana. I'll have to check the axles because I'm not sure.

Some of the shorter / lighter HCs came with 6000# axels in 2017. My 370br came with 7000# Dexter. The list is in the brochure..

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