Tire size question

[jls3443]

I have a 2018 North Point 377 RLBH. The camper came equipped with Goodyear Endurance ST255/85/R16, load range E.

Last week we took a trip from the the Dallas/Fort Worth area to Pigeon Forge, TN. The roads were so bad that we had a blowout near the Knoxville area. I put the spare on and plowed ahead. We got to our RV resort (Margaritaville) on Sunday. I started calling local tire shops first thing on Monday morning. I called every place in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville with no luck. No one had that tire size in stock and it would take up to 2 weeks to get if ordered.

I finally called Discount Tire in Knoxville, which is an hour away, who had to order the tire. They felt confident they would have the tire by Thursday but we were scheduled to leave on Friday. They got the tire in time and all was well.

On the way back we had ANOTHER blowout in Arkansas. I changed the tire again and kept going. We called multiple tire shops on the way back to get a replacement but had the same problem. Not one tire shop from Little Rock to D/FW had the tire I needed in stock.

Has anyone else had the same problem with finding ST255/85/R16 tires? I was thinking about changing sizes to ST235/85/R16, load range E or maybe G. Discount Tire said it would only be about an inch difference in height and width. If I remember correctly every tire shop had this size in stock.

Has anyone changed to this tire size? If so, have you had any problems? Does anyone know if there's an issue with changing tire sizes.

 

[Learjet]

at 80 psi your weight rating would go from 4080 lbs. to 3640 lbs. I wouldn't recommend that change. In a pinch I would run the smaller tires just to get me down the road....but that is it.

I would think about new rims and 17.5" tires, if your pocket book can take it?
There is a reason the 17.5" is now the standard tire on Jayco Fifth wheels.

 

[Nevr2late]

The 235 85 16s came stock on our Eagle and so far so good. They are only rated at 3640 as noted but our max load is just over 15k minus the tongue weight. If you go to load range G you get 4400 lbs but you also go to 110 psi I think. Not sure how they would do de-rated to 80 psi, maybe 4000.

 

[F350guy-JAY]

The 255/85R16 Endurance seems to be an oddball size. I looked really hard for something in that size in a higher load range with no luck. I wasn't wanting to change my wheels as the stock ones are rated at 4400 pounds which would handle the load range G tires. The 235/85R16 was the only reasonable option if I wanted to move up to G tires. Plus, buying new wheels would just add to the cost.

I've seen that Jayco is now using Uniroyal tires which I think are 215/75R17.5. From what I could find they are 30.2 inches in diameter vs the Endurance at 33.07. Evidently Jayco has no issue changing the diameter of the tires they use. The 235/85R16 tires are mostly 31.7 inches diameter so only about 1.3 inches less than the Endurance.

There are quite a few tires in the 235/85R16, 14 ply, load range G size. Prices are all over the place depending on the brand and possibly where they are made. I decided to go with a set of Sailun tires which get a lot of good play on the rv forums but couldn't find anything locally. I went with something very similar but a different brand which were recommend by a long time friend who owns 2 tire shops in our town. Our travels have greatly slowed and I think they will fine.

The 1.3 inch loss in diameter did make me sit a little more nose high. I have a Reese Goose Box on our Pinnacle and I just changed the goose ball I was using to one that sits about an inch and a half lower. Now it sits pretty level and I still have good clearance between the bed rails.

 

[Nevr2late]

Are you filling them to 110?

 

[F350guy-JAY]

No. I'm using 80 psi which according to the load inflation chart is still more than I need. The weight on my axles is 11,580.