Do I need new wheels with higher load rating tires?

**Macaclje** · 08-06-2020, 03:00 PM

I have a 2007 TM 2720. I'm planning to get the 14" Goodyear Endurance tires with the higher load rating. I was going to have them mounted on the original wheels, but I've read through the other tire/wheel topics here and there is some mention of making sure the wheels are able to handle the higher pressure. I'm not sure how to find that out. Is it marked on the wheel somewhere?
Thank you!

Larryjb · 08-06-2020, 04:20 PM

This may have been my post/thread. On the original wheels that I had, they were rated for a certain pressure. Others don't recall seeing any information stamped on the wheel. My tire guy said it wouldn't be a problem, so I used the original rims with my new tires. He did give me metal valve stems though.

We took a trip from BC to CA a couple of years ago on these rims/tires inflated up to 60psi. We had no trouble.

**Bill** · 08-06-2020, 04:28 PM

Yes, the pressure is usually stamped on the wheel, often on the inside (the part you can't see when the tire is mounted). Larry, I'm interested in how your tire guy decided that the higher pressure was OK when he couldn't see a rating.

The Goodyear Endurance 14" tires are are load range D, which means they can run at 65 psi. The old Goodyear Marathon 14" tires were load range C, which were limited to 50 psi. So you should check the wheel psi rating. And as Larry mentioned, you also need to tell your tire jockey to install bolt-on metal valve stems when the tires are mounted and balanced. Apparently the rubber valve stems don't tolerate 65 psi well.

Just as an after-thought - this might be a good time to consider changing to 15-inch tires. New wheels are required, of course.

Bill

Larryjb · 08-06-2020, 06:16 PM

I'm trying to recall what was stamped on my rims. I think I recall a weight limit stamped on my original rims, but no weight limit stamped on my new rims when I upgraded my tires/rims. I think this was the issue my tire guy said was okay.

**Macaclje** · 08-07-2020, 05:03 AM

Great, that's exactly what I needed to know, thank you both! And I will look into the 15" option as well.
Dave

**Macaclje** · 08-07-2020, 01:48 PM

Looking at the 15" option I see at least one person a couple pages back used the Endurance 205/75/R15 tires on a TM2720.
It appears this would work well. Is there any reason to go with the 225 size instead?
I have over 3" of clearance above my current 14" tires.

From etrailer the ones I'm looking at can be purchased with wheels for $214 each:

Goodyear Endurance ST205/75R15 Radial Tire w 15" White Spoke Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - LR D

Specs:
• Rim dimensions: 15" diameter x 5" wide
• Bolt pattern: 5 on 4-1/2"
• Wheel bolt size: 1/2"-20
• Wheel capacity: 2,150 lbs
• Pilot diameter: 3.19"
• Offset: 0
• Valve stem hole diameter: 0.453"
• Tire size: ST205/75R15
o Section width: 7.99"
o Outer diameter: 27.13"
• Tire capacity:
o Load range: D
o Ply rating: 8
o Maximum load: 2,150 lbs at 65 psi
• Tread depth: 8/32"
• Maximum speed: 87 mph (speed rating N)
• Limited warranty with free tire replacement

Some in prior posts have mentioned not getting a 5" wide rim and so that is another question I would have with these. Is that only due to wanting a higher weight capacity or is there some other reason as far as fit or something that I should be aware of?

Thanks again,
Dave

**Bill** · 08-08-2020, 08:57 AM

I'm not sure there is a reason to switch to 15" wheels/tires, and pay for new wheels, if the result is still LR-D tires. In the past, the default tires were 14-inch Marathons (LR-C). The reason for the switch to 15-inch was that it was the only way to get LR-D Marathons. Now that you can get LR-D in a 14-inch Endurance tire, that should be a good choice unless you feel the need to go to LR-E.

Incidentally, 15-inchers provide only a tiny amount of increased road clearance - less that 1/2 inch, if I recall - so that doesn't justify a change.

Or have I missed something?

Bill

**Macaclje** · 08-08-2020, 12:15 PM

Thanks Bill. That makes sense.

One thing though, as you suggested earlier I did go and look at the label stamped on the back side of my current original 14" wheels and it says "MAX 1870 LBS" so I think I'll need new wheels either way.

I can get this wheel/tire package with the Endurance ST 215/75/R14 tires which I'm assuming would be a good choice?
Thanks again for all the help with this.

Specs:

Rim dimensions: 14" diameter x 5-1/2" wide
Bolt pattern: 5 on 4-1/2"
Wheel bolt size: 1/2"-20
Wheel capacity: 2,200 lbs
Pilot diameter: 3.19"
Offset: 0
Valve stem hole diameter: 0.453"
Tire size: ST215/75R14
Section width: 8.5"
Outer diameter: 26.69"
Tire capacity:
Load range: D
Ply rating: 8
Maximum load: 2,200 lbs at 65 psi
Tread depth: 8/32"
Maximum speed: 87 mph (speed rating N)
Limited warranty with free tire replacement

Larryjb · 08-08-2020, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macaclje

... the label stamped on the back side of my current original 14" wheels and it says "MAX 1870 LBS"....

Now I remember. That's what was stamped on my original wheels. The new ones had no weight rating stamped on it. It was the lack of a stamp on the new wheels that my tire guy said was okay.

**Bill** · 08-08-2020, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macaclje

I did go and look at the label stamped on the back side of my current original 14" wheels and it says "MAX 1870 LBS" so I think I'll need new wheels either way.

Yup. As I recall, 1870 lbs is the rating for any generic LR-C tire. So you will need to buy new wheels after all. Sorry to hear that. But take heart! Years ago, one of our members made the same check, and found that his wheels were rated for something like 1250 pounds!

Your package choice looks good.

Bill