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Topic: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H (Read 1100 times) previous topic - next topic

Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

The sticker on my u320 states the inflation on the steer tires should be 115 psi, but the max pressure on my new tires are 110psi. 

They have a G load rating, did I get the correct tires?

I know I should really get the coach weighed and base the inflation off that, but for now I'm just trying to get in the ball park.

Thanks
Steve & Shaye
2003 U320 38' tag
2003 Green Jeep Wrangler

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #1
What brand and size tire?
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #2
We have Goodyear Endurance LHS - 297/75R22.5 load range G on the steer and tag axles.  Traction tires are installed on the drive axle (Goodyear Endurance LHD - 297/75R22.5 load range G)
2003 U320 38' tag
2003 Green Jeep Wrangler

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #3
Inflate to the tire not the sticker. 5 psi is not going to make any difference.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #4
The sticker on my u320 states the inflation on the steer tires should be 115 psi, but the max pressure on my new tires are 110psi. 

They have a G load rating, did I get the correct tires?

I know I should really get the coach weighed and base the inflation off that, but for now I'm just trying to get in the ball park.

Thanks
Steve & Shaye

As you go on to state, the PSI on the GVWR sticker is correct pressure ASSUMING each axle is loaded to its GAWR. 

As far as correct tires, go to the tire manufacturer's website and verify that the tires meet the GAWR's of your coach/actual weight, which ever is higher.  And, I would sure want at least a 10% safety cushion/not have tires loaded to 100% of their rated capacity.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #5
Looks like you LHS LR G  tires are 6175lbs at 110 psi. So the only way to know is to have the coach weighed. With a 38' tag you at likely fine.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #6
As you go on to state, the PSI on the GVWR sticker is correct pressure ASSUMING each axle is loaded to its GAWR. 

As far as correct tires, go to the tire manufacturer's website and verify that the tires meet the GAWR's of your coach/actual weight, which ever is higher.  And, I would sure want at least a 10% safety cushion/not have tires loaded to 100% of their rated capacity.



Thanks, will do!
2003 U320 38' tag
2003 Green Jeep Wrangler

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #7
  So the only way to know is to have the coach weighed.
X2...........I'm a big believer in four corner weighing, especially if a newer tire size is installed. When our Michelins were installed, someone just took the specs for the OEM size and pumped them to 110 psi. The coach rode like hell. I had it 'four cornered' and found that 85 psi was where I wanted to be. Sweet ride now! ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #8
Looks like you LHS LR G  tires are 6175lbs at 110 psi. So the only way to know is to have the coach weighed. With a 38' tag you at likely fine.

I bought the tag so I have the option of installing a hyra-lift and ~750lbs of motorcycles off the back.  No point weighing the coach until I do that, but I'm holding off until I'm sure it's worth it (could be a year).

I should have put more thought into the tires, but it was a hasty decision made on our way to Nac.  I didn't feel comfortable the tires that were sold with the coach would make it.  They were 8 years old and the sidewall cracks were getting worse during the trip.




2003 U320 38' tag
2003 Green Jeep Wrangler

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #9
I bought the tag so I have the option of installing a hyra-lift and ~750lbs of motorcycles off the back.  No point weighing the coach until I do that, but I'm holding off until I'm sure it's worth it (could be a year).

I should have put more thought into the tires, but it was a hasty decision made on our way to Nac.  I didn't feel comfortable the tires that were sold with the coach would make it.  They were 8 years old and the sidewall cracks were getting worse during the trip.
Your front axle weight will go down when you mount that, an even more when you load it.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #10
I'm sure you'll be fine weight wise. When you head out for trip just run the coach I've the scale at most any truck stop. You will have piece of mind.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #11
Your front axle weight will go down when you mount that, an even more when you load it.

Yup, I was more concerned about exceeding the ratings on the drive/tag axles. 
2003 U320 38' tag
2003 Green Jeep Wrangler

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #12
I'm sure you'll be fine weight wise. When you head out for trip just run the coach I've the scale at most any truck stop. You will have piece of mind.

Will do, thanks!
2003 U320 38' tag
2003 Green Jeep Wrangler

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #13
Since I have no first hand information setting up tag axle Foretravels, a question:

Is tag axle ride height/load adjustable? If so, how?

Ideally, each axle will be loaded to the same PERCENT of its GAWR.

At several of the Diesel RV Club Rallies when I was President, all wheel position weighing was the "rally gift".  With some tag coaches (thinking of Monaco in particular) adjusting load on the tag was super easy.  Not a single tag axle  coach we weighed was close to the same percent of GAWR on each axle.  We would adjust and run them around to weight again until we got it right (lot of swag involved, as changing load on tag changes both drive and steer axle weights).  Got several phone calls the afternoon everyone left the rally-- " my coach has never driven this well".  We found most tags WAY underloaded, which left the front axle underloaded and drive axle overloaded.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #14
We had Load range G tires on our 2001 U320 when we bought it.  110 psi max.  They were far from enough to meet the GAWR for the front axle and when we had it weighed we were close to the max for those tires.  The front axle weight rating is 13,880 pounds as I recall. We were well under that but switched to Load Range H which for the tires we bought at 120 psi were good for 14,320 lbs. plenty of wiggle room now. And I think the LRH tires handle better.

The only way to know for sure is to get it weighed, preferably all four corners.  And then after a couple years of actual use do it again.  Most of us start hauling around more stuff because there is room for it.

Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #15
On the 40 footer anyway, no adjustment possible. Axles are 13880 front, 21000 drive, and 9000 tag.
I run 12640 steer, 17000 drive and 7700 tag. I have a lot of tile and granite so the OP's 38 footer is probably a lot lighter.
Also went to 295 H on the front.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #16
Jim,

So, what determines PSI to the tag air bags-- reducer off drive axle? Separate ride height valve?  Other?
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #17
Jim,

So, what determines PSI to the tag air bags-- reducer off drive axle? Separate ride height valve?  Other?
From the air schematic, appears same air pressure from the drive axle HCV's, is sent to tag bags as well. Tag bags may be a different profile, so less weight is transferred to tag.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #18
Load Range G may be ok, but we only buy Load Range H.

Our coaches are all over 30,000 and our tires can use all the extra safety capacity afforded, especially when a tire is temporarily not at its optimum PSI due to cold weather, higher altitude, turning side-to-side loading, etc.

Weighing coach gives us a static reading that changes in real world driving down the road.

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #19
Barry is quite correct in that load range G does not handle as much weight as H. The construction may be slightly stiffer so could give a little more firm ride. Also, ply rating does not mean it has more plies as this was figured when the tire cords were made out of cotton. Now the ratings are just heavier construction that will handle more weight and speed. While we could send the same car to the U.S. with T or H ratings, the speed potential of most of our cars required that they have V rated tires when mounted in Germany. The difference in weight was at least a kilo or two, enough to instantly notice when picking one up.

Static weights are only that and why I never have weighted the coach. In the real world, changes in the diesel in the tank, propane, waste water, fresh water, amount of provisions all can have quite a bit of difference in weight day to day. Since the propane tank and fuel tank are off center on many coaches, the left to right balance will also change along with the tire on the diagonal as fuel and propane are used.

Pierce

Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #20
When they do a four corner weigh at Escapees or by RV Safety they want a normal load of stuff, driver and pass, full fuel, full water, empty waste.  Pretty typical upper end load for you.  If you have less water, less fuel, less propane later on ... OK.  Not knowing what your coach weighs just means you are guessing at several important safety concerns.

Wheel Position Weighing

SmartWeigh ยท Escapees RV Club
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #21
G  Michelin's are 6710 h are 7160.

I used that ratings to put h on our coach and drop the air to 97 front and 87 rear for better ride on so cal freeways.

Worked well with Koni FSD'S

Really well.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #22
Speaking only for myself, I run only H rated tires on large Class A motorhomes.

And I especially want H rated on the steer axle of a tag axle coach (it bears the most weight per tire on the steer axle)
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #23
From the air schematic, appears same air pressure from the drive axle HCV's, is sent to tag bags as well. Tag bags may be a different profile, so less weight is transferred to tag.

The air pressure may be the same for drive and tag but, the drive axle has 4 air bags the tag has 1 bag on each trailing arm. 

On the Entregra forum there was a discussion on weight balance between the front, drive & tag and how it changes based on PSI to the tag bags.  There was someone that put a pressure regulator for the tag so he could change the tag pressures and he did a number of test as to what the pressure change did and how it changed the load on each tire.  I
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Tire load ratings and inflation - G vs H

Reply #24
We have Goodyear Endurance LHS - 297/75R22.5 load range G on the steer and tag axles.  Traction tires are installed on the drive axle (Goodyear Endurance LHD - 297/75R22.5 load range G)

You might want to do a google search on your Goodyear tires.  I know their have been a lot of discussions on other forums about Goodyear tires blowing out on Coaches that come with them new.  Not sure you have the same or different one.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago