Change wheels along with tires?

[naturegal]

I want to change my 14" tires to 15". Do I have to change the wheels also or can I just put 15" on the original wheels?

[Padgett]

No, the wheels need to match the tires so you will need new ones. Also if planning on tires with load ratings above 1850 lbs then you need 15x6 wheels with the proper ratings and not 15x5.

There are a lot of threads under tires, tires, tires but my rule of thumb is to figure the maximum weight (GVWR - mine had a sticker on the inside of the sink drawer), subtract the tongue weight, divide by 2, and add 15% for shock loads.

Mine came out 2154 lbs so I looked for a tire that had at least a 2150 lb rating and had a diameter close to the originals. This turned out to be a ST205/75R15 Load Range D (max inflation 65 psi).

Final note. Always have trailer tires balanced. The axle has no shocks so an out of balance tire will add stresses you really do not want.

[mecicon]

I want to change my 14" tires to 15". Do I have to change the wheels also or can I just put 15" on the original wheels?

You do realize that only 15" tires will fit on 15" wheels and you can not mount 15" tires on 14" wheels.

More than likely, you will need to lift the axle to accommodate the larger tire/wheel combination.

Enter your "year" and "model" in your signature, please. :new_newbi

[naturegal]

Thanks for the info Padgett.

[naturegal]

I'll have to figure out how to do the signature. But until I get it done I have a 08' 2720 SL.

[naturegal]

Just a test run to see if I did the signature right.

[naturegal]

Hey Mecicon. I wasn't sure if the 14"wheels could take the 15" tires but now I know. Thanks. This is the best $12 I've ever spent.

[Padgett]

If you have an '08 it may alreay have the lift kit installed. What size are your original tires (215/75/R14 ?) and how much room (inches) is there between the top of the tire and the top surface of the wheel well ?

This forum and all of the online information is part of the reason I bought a TM. It is not just a camper but a hobby as well.

[naturegal]

Yes, they are ST215/75R14 and I don't know how many inches in the space above the tires.
The mosquitoes are so bad right now that I don't have the nerve to go out and measure.
Do you think the lift is already installed if there is a 3" clearance?

[mecicon]

Do you think the lift is already installed if there is a 3" clearance?

In between the axle and the frame is a spacer (sorry no picture). IIRC 2" x 2" square tubing.

[Padgett]

Without the lift kit you will only have 1.5-2" clearance. If more like 4" then you have the kit (or can look behind the wheel at the axle mount.

Picture shows my 2720 without a lift kit. White line is about where the skirt goes. I really need about an inch more clearance.

BTW my local Tire Kingdom was very helpful and the total cost with balancing was slightly less than the same size tire and wrong wheel from Northern. I always prefer to deal locally if possible.

[naturegal]

Thanks and another question. Is there a special wheel for a travel trailer or just any standard wheel that matches the tire?

I looked on Discount Tire site and did not see wheels specifically for travel trailers.

[Padgett]

My wheels are 15x6JJ" with a 5x4.5 bolt pattern style: eight spoke in bright white from DexStar (http://www.dexstarwheel.com/products.pdf). They were supplied with the 205x75R15 LRD tires by my local Tire Kingdom

ps if you get the same size tire make sure they are Load Range D (and not C). This is a common size and the "D" shoud have a nylon overlay (extra belt) they are 27.1" tall. (215x75x14 is 26.7) so about 1/4" less clearance. 225/75R15 LRD would be even better but 28.3" tall.

picture shows tire and wheel with skirt. Again it needs about an inch more clearance.

[Bill]

A few years ago, our resident tire expert, wmtire, reminded me that the inch size of the tire (14 inch, 15 inch, etc) refers to the size of the hole in the middle of the tire. If you go from a 14" tire to a 15" tire, the new tire has a bigger hole, and therefore requires a bigger wheel to fill it.

Mecicon, some '08 models are lifted, but not with a lift kit. TM moved to an axle with a higher rest angle in order to avoid the expense of a lift kit. So model year doesn't guarantee to answer the question - and looking under the trailer to see if there is a lift tube doesn't, either. The "three inch measurement" is really the way to tell.

And Naturegal, most of your questions have been answered in one of the long threads about changing from 14" tires to 15" tires. I think you will get more info, and quicker, if you read through those threads. Here is one, but there are several with similarly descriptive titles.
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6245

One more thing. When you get new tires and wheels, the wheels may come with rubber valve stems installed. These are not adequate! You should require that your dealer replace them with metal stems. Expect to pay a couple bucks more per wheel, but that is no big deal. Again, there is lots of info on this topic in the Tires forum. The Search tool is your friend!

Finally, when you buy new wheels, make sure that they are rated for 2200 pounds or so for each wheel. The rating should be stamped on the inside of the wheel - the part that is covered up when you mount the tire on the wheel. There are some cheap 15" wheels out there that are rated for only 1500 pounds, which is a step down from the 1870 pounds on the 14" wheels you now have, and totally inadequate.

Incidentally, the wheels you need are very common trailer wheels, used on many utility trailers as well as on RVs. Your tire dealer probably has them in stock. These are white painted steel that look just like the original TM wheels. You can pay more for a fancier wheel, of course ...

Bill

[mecicon]

Mecicon, some '08 models are lifted, but not with a lift kit. TM moved to an axle with a higher rest angle in order to avoid the expense of a lift kit. So model year doesn't guarantee to answer the question - and looking under the trailer to see if there is a lift tube doesn't, either. The "three inch measurement" is really the way to tell.

Bill

Uhh, I don't recall referring to any year. :errrr:

[Padgett]

" looking under the trailer to see if there is a lift tube doesn't, either"

Why I included pictures of a non-lifted 2720.

[Bill]

Mecicon -

My apologies, I was referring to post #8 from Padgett.

Bill

[Padgett]

Well sorta.
1) you want high pressure valve stems (http://www.amazon.com/TR-600-Pressure-Wheel-Valve-TR600HP/dp/B00L3SYPOK) for LR D (65 psi) or E (80 psi). They may be rubber but will generally have an elongated stem.

Could go into a long discussion of the differences in construction for different load ranges for a specific volume but won't.

2) My wheels have the description stamped in the side of the wheel, it is visible when the tire is mounted. The JJ refers to the rim bead configuration.