Want to save money on tires??

[Glenn and Lorraine]

I would be willing to bet you all said "Yes"
Well here's how. At least for those of us using the LT245/75R16 E on our tow vehicle.

Did you know that the LT245/75R16 E on our TV is almost identical to the LT235/85R16 E on our Monty. At 80 psi they are both rated at 3042 pounds each. The only difference is in the height. The 75 or 85 within the size marking is called the aspect ratio. The aspect ratio deals with the width of the tire verses the height. This number tells you the height of the tire, from the bead to the top of the tread. This is described as a percentage of the tire width. In the case of our LT245/75R16 on the TV the aspect ratio is 75, so the tire's height is 75 percent of its width. The smaller the aspect ratio, the wider the tire in relation to its height. That's it and in the tires mentioned above the difference is negligible. The tow vehicle tires are interchangeable with the trailer. The only other thing in the way is the wheel width and after some research found that not to be a problem.

The odds of anyone wearing out their trailer tires before age sets in on them is slim. But the odds of wearing out a few sets of tires on the tow vehicle is great. In fact I wore out 2 sets on my previous truck and will probably wear out the tires on my new GMC at about 40,000 to 50,000 miles AND I still have the original tires on the trailer. The trailers tires will soon be showing the signs of age and will be in need of replacing.

My money saving plan is simple...
When the tires currently on the GMC are approximately 1/2 worn I will purchase a full set of 5 new replacement tires and have them installed on the truck. I will than have the 5 approximately 1/2 worn tires from the truck installed on the trailer and I will be good to go for at least another 2 years.

I'll be paying for 5 new tires plus the mounting/balancing of the trailer tires. That will be a lot cheaper than replacing all the tires on the tow as well as the Monty.

[richfaa]

Glenn..do not reveal that to the tire manufactures as they will raise the price of the tires and call them "dual purpose"

[DHenry]

You really are full of it, I mean good advise, thanks, that is some really good advise to think about when the truck tires need replacing. Would it matter if we have 265's on our truck and change them to the Montana?

[Glenn and Lorraine]

It should work fine just as long as the 265s are E range rated. The 265s have a greater load capacity at a lesser psi than the original trailer tires. You could run the trailer tires at 65 psi. I also am not sure what the 265's require for wheel width. The trailer tires are supposed to be 6 1/2 inches wide which may be too narrow for the 265s.

[Montana Sky]

I ran the factory tires on my truck 40,000 miles in less than two years, and my coach has less than 15,000 miles on it. For those who are full timing or travel more sounds like a good plan.

[sreigle]

That makes a lot of sense, Glenn, but unfortunately won't work for me. My truck has LT 265/70R17 tires LR E. The Montana's tires are the 235's you mention but ours are load range D. I'd like to go to E's but am not sure if the rims can handle load range E pressures. They're probably the same rims used with the E's.

Anybody know how to tell the rim psi capacity? I think there's a stamp in the metal but where is it? Front, back, inside, outside?

Thanks.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

quote:Originally posted by sreigle

That makes a lot of sense, Glenn, but unfortunately won't work for me. My truck has LT 265/70R17 tires LR E. The Montana's tires are the 235's you mention but ours are load range D. I'd like to go to E's but am not sure if the rims can handle load range E pressures. They're probably the same rims used with the E's.

Anybody know how to tell the rim psi capacity? I think there's a stamp in the metal but where is it? Front, back, inside, outside?

Thanks.

Steve, Won't work in your case. Oh I believe the Monty's wheels would handle the pressure it's just that the Monty's has 16 inch where your TV has 17 inch. Unless the LT 265/70R"17" was a typo.

[palebluedot]

Hey Glenn,
That's a neat idea. The problem now is most/all of the newer trucks are going to 17 inch wheels for bigger brake rotors. I know Dodge changed in 03 and sriegle says Ford now has 17's also. Guess someone needs to recommend Keystone to follow suit on the Montys. Oh, buy the way good luck on the new job. Here is a handy site to compare tire sizes.
http://www.dakota-truck.net/TIRECALC/tirecalc.html

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Hey back at ya!

Well at least my GMC still has the 16".

And thanks for that Tire Calculator link. I used it and it just reinforced my findings.

As far as the new job, hopefully I won't need any luck afterall I will be selling Montanas and Mountaineers.

[palebluedot]

Yea, you will have a leg up already selling Montanas. You could throw in a FREE one year membership to MOC just to sweeten the deal. LOL

[sreigle]

quote:Originally posted by Glenn and Lorraine



Steve, Won't work in your case. Oh I believe the Monty's wheels would handle the pressure it's just that the Monty's has 16 inch where your TV has 17 inch. Unless the LT 265/70R"17" was a typo.

Glenn, I should have been more clear. I was referring to replacing the Montana's LR D tires with LR E in the same size. Any idea where the stamp is that tells me the rating of the existing rims? Thanks.

The truck's tires are 17 as stated. 18" is an option on these trucks. They went to 17 inch to handle the bigger brakes on the 2005 models.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

If I'm not mistaken you have the ST tires on your Monty. I'm not 100% sure but I don't believe they make a ST235/80R16 in a load range E. All I can find in any tire publication is load range D in the ST235/80R16 size.

As far as the markings on a rim they are propbably on the inside. You will have to remove the tire to find it.

[Montana_1988]

My Monty wheels are rated at 85 psi and I believe 3300 lbs. The rating on the aluminum rims is cast into the rim on the inside of the spoke. Just crawl under the RV and look for it.