One more tire question

[Nemesis56]

The tires on our pu are about 3 years old.  they are 4.80X8 4 bolt.  They look in great shape.  We keep inflated to 50 psi and use tire dressing inside and out just like with the boat tires. Keep them covered and on patio stones.  We don't camp but a few times a year.  We keep the speed limit to 55mph max.  Our setup is right at 1100 # loaded. My question is..
When it comes time to replace next year or so,  would it be be a good idea to upgrade to 5.70X8 tires?  It looks like the clearence is there on the trialer and I'm thinking the extra weight margin would be about 250#.  Or is it just a waste of money seeing they are still 8 inchers?  Never owned anything with tires this tiny.

[AustinBoston]

Keep in mind that when it comes to clearance, it's not just about whther the tire will rub, it's also about whether the tire will rub when the suspension is compressed (like when hitting the bottom of a pothole).  It could be that you have plenty of clearance, but without seeing it and knowing how much travel there is in the suspension, it's difficult to know if you would really have the clearance.

Whether 250# would make a significant difference is also not entirely clear.  Trailers aren't usually built as close to tolerance as cars, but with cars (because they make millions), upgrading a part of the suspension just means that one part will take more than the rest of the suspension.  So if you upgrade the tires, you may also need to upgrade the axle, springs, and frame to actually give you another 250# of margin.

But as long as you have the clearance, those tires would not cause a problem, they just might not gain anything.

Austin

[flyfisherman]

The tires on our pu are about 3 years old.  they are 4.80X8 4 bolt.  They look in great shape.  We keep inflated to 50 psi and use tire dressing inside and out just like with the boat tires. Keep them covered and on patio stones.  We don't camp but a few times a year.  We keep the speed limit to 55mph max.  Our setup is right at 1100 # loaded. My question is..
When it comes time to replace next year or so,  would it be be a good idea to upgrade to 5.70X8 tires?  It looks like the clearence is there on the trialer and I'm thinking the extra weight margin would be about 250#.  Or is it just a waste of money seeing they are still 8 inchers?  Never owned anything with tires this tiny.

Once upon a time, in the beginning years of popup campers, the 8" tire was about standard for the industry. Even today, with smaller, lighter trailers, you could say that the eight inchers are "adequate". Especially if your traveling 55 MPH.

Your question about going to the 5.70 X 8" tires, this will be a wider tire, not higher; and it will give you the option of carrying more weight. For example, the 4.80 X 8" tire (load range "B"), what I suspect you have (will tell you on the sidewall of the tire) has a load carrying capacity of 590 lbs @ 60 psi ~ going to a 5.70 X 8" tire (load range "B"), it would carry 715 lbs @ 50 psi. It is VERY important with these smaller bias belted tires that you carry the required psi that it says on the sidewall of the tire. Carrying less means they will flex more in the sidewall, causing excess heat build up in the tire and a likely blow-out will be next.

Check and see what the side clearance is with your present tires, see how much room there is presently in the wheel well and the proposed 5.70 X 8 tire will take maybe another inch.



Fly

[Nemesis56]

Thanks AB, Fly.  I've got plenty of clearence on the sides (several inches on the face of the tire and 4 inches at the back near the frame) and about 3 inches clearence at the top of the tire.  Yes they are LR "B" tires and I do keep them at 50 psi.  Just got me wondering after seeing all the tire failures last holiday weekend.  Looking for that extra margin of safety.  How are Walmart tires for service?  ( I know ..one more question).  I don't want to be penny wise and dollar foolish.   The have wheel and tire for $24.99 by me.

[flyfisherman]

Thanks AB, Fly.  I've got plenty of clearence on the sides (several inches on the face of the tire and 4 inches at the back near the frame) and about 3 inches clearence at the top of the tire.  Yes they are LR "B" tires and I do keep them at 50 psi.  Just got me wondering after seeing all the tire failures last holiday weekend.  Looking for that extra margin of safety.  How are Walmart tires for service?  ( I know ..one more question).  I don't want to be penny wise and dollar foolish.   The have wheel and tire for $24.99 by me.

That might be a good chance to see if that 5.70 X 8 (LR-B) will fit O.K. ~ buy the thing from Wally-Mart and if by chance the do not fit, they will refund your money or let you excnage ... so long as you've not run down the road with them.  But that's a great price!

But look here ... your present 4.80 X 8 (LR-B) tire calls for 60 psi according to Carlisle. Going to their 5.70 X 8 (LR-B) says 50 psi ~

http://www.carlisletire.com/products/trailer/usa_trail/index.html

[Nemesis56]

That might be a good chance to see if that 5.70 X 8 (LR-B) will fit O.K. ~ buy the thing from Wally-Mart and if by chance the do not fit, they will refund your money or let you excnage ... so long as you've not run down the road with them.  But that's a great price!

But look here ... your present 4.80 X 8 (LR-B) tire calls for 60 psi according to Carlisle. Going to their 5.70 X 8 (LR-B) says 50 psi ~

http://www.carlisletire.com/products/trailer/usa_trail/index.html

Just went out and looked can't tell if it is a 50 or a 60.  there's a little nub of rubber on each tire right at the number.  It looks to me like a 5 but my wife thinks it could be a 6.  Tried pulling it off and it just makes it even harder to read....hhmmm.

[flyfisherman]

Just went out and looked can't tell if it is a 50 or a 60.  there's a little nub of rubber on each tire right at the number.  It looks to me like a 5 but my wife thinks it could be a 6.  Tried pulling it off and it just makes it even harder to read....hhmmm.

What brand of tire?  If it's a Carlisle, you done got the chart.
Most tires go with the same psi. I've had three different manufacturer brands for my popup and they all required the same pressure.

One other thing about Wal-Mart and Carlisle tires. If you were to buy the wider tire and say for some reason it would'nt fit, you could take it back and Wal-Mart would do a refund or exchange. However, once you tool down the road apiece, then the tire defects fall under the Carlisle warranty (two years from date of purchase and tread cannot be past the last 1/32 of tread depth). Anyway, I has a Carlisle go bad that I had bought from Wal-Mart. About six months after the tire was on it split right in the very middle of the tire tread. Called Carlisle, they said to stand by for UPS to pick-up the tire (at Carlisle's expense) - rushed over to my old tire Guru and put on a new tire and UPS picked up the old. Shortly after, Carlisle tire called and said it was indeed a defective tire and what did I want them to do ... supply a new tire or cut a check for the replacement. Since I already had a new tire mounted, I told them the later. They said to send them the receipt, which I did, and within a few days there appeared in my mail box a check for the replacement tire and having it mounted.
I have no complaints with Carlisle.


Fly

[Nemesis56]

What brand of tire?  

Fly

They are Nanco brand. All three I looked at the trailer placard and it does indeed say ..."4.80X8" and 60 psi"...

Thanks Guy.  I owe you.  I've been running these things underinflated it looks like.