Tyres for Jayco Freedom poptop single axle
Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 06:06
ThreadID:
56875
Views:
7053
Replies:
7
FollowUps:
2
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Member - Peter R (QLD)
Well today while getting my half yearly check up on van, found that
the original
Dunlop tyres had a huge bulge in the wall and obviously
need replacing.
Tyre size is shown as 185R14.
The maintenance man told me he had a lot of trouble with the Dunlops
and to stay clear of them.
What is the best brand and type with a suitable load index (say 104), to suit my van
which weighs about 1.7t loaded.
The load index on dunlops was 102 which according to Michelin gives a carrying capacity of 1.7t for the 2 tyres.
Site Link
Need to have them fitted urgently as we are off on Friday for a short
trip.
Thanks
Pedro
Reply By: Member - Barney Rubble - Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 07:53
Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 07:53
Gday pedro on our 17 foot coromal pop top we have found the bridgestone 633 to stand up on the sidewall with the least amount of tyre bulge and just feels stronger than most lt tyres
whilst i havent checked the load rating though
Cheers barn
AnswerID:
299775
Reply By: Thermoguard Instruments - Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 08:07
Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 08:07
Hi Pedro,
I've also heard that the
Dunlop LT tyres are troublesome but we've just about worn-out the ones that came on our 18' Jayco tandem pop-top with no problems. That's included several hundred kms of gravel and some towing in 45C+ ambient temps.
Any
well-known brand should be fine but I'd suggest you consider going up to a 195R14LT tyre. Just check that this size will fit your rims but I'd be very surprised if they wouldn't. The 195 will have a higher Load Index (not sure exactly, maybe 105?) and higher maximum weight capacity. And you will be able run them at a slightly lower pressure for any given load than the 185s, giving a slightly better 'ride' to your 'van.
The 195 will be only about 10mm taller and wider so there should be no clearance problems but check this first too. We'll be fitting a set of 195s before our next long trip.
Ian
AnswerID:
299776
Follow Up By: Thermoguard Instruments - Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 08:21
Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 08:21
Hi again Pedro,
A couple of extra thoughts:
1.7T is pretty heavy for a single axle van on 14" tyres. Is that a guesstimate or a weightbridge figure? Is that the total of axle weight and ball weight?
If it's running 10" Alko brake drums/hubs on Ford 'slimline' bearings, the axle assembly is only rated to carry 1450 kg. So, even in the best case, if you had 1450kg on the axle and 250kg (a lot) on the ball, everything is being stressed pretty
well to the limits.
If you van does weight 1.7T and that's the combined maximum capacity of your 102 LI tyres, then you should have been running them at near the maximum cold inflation pressure - 65psi. If they've been run at only , say 45 - 50 psi, that may
well have contributed to the failure of the tyres due to over-heating.
As
well as new (higher capacity?) tyres, you may need to look closl at the weight your carrying for trouble-free travels. Or like us, go to a bigger tandem van (2 x 1450kg axles = 2900kg).
Ian
FollowupID:
565918
Reply By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 11:04
Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 11:04
Thanks for the replies.
Barney the Bridgstones 633 look like the ones I will be getting.
Their load rating index is 103 which gives 1750kg,
The 195.14 has an index of 106 which would give a much higher load rating but I would need to replace the spare as
well and unless I can get a good trade on existing one will stick with the 185.14.
Barney, the weight is from a weighbridge and I had the axle etc upgraded from original to allow for weight i am carrying. Engineers certificate held which covers the 1,7t.
Thanks for the tip re pressure , i had been running at 45.
Pedro
AnswerID:
299821
Reply By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 11:04
Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 11:04
Thanks for the replies.
Barney the Bridgstones 633 look like the ones I will be getting.
Their load rating index is 103 which gives 1750kg,
The 195.14 has an index of 106 which would give a much higher load rating but I would need to replace the spare as
well and unless I can get a good trade on existing one will stick with the 185.14.
Barney, the weight is from a weighbridge and I had the axle etc upgraded from original to allow for weight i am carrying. Engineers certificate held which covers the 1,7t.
Thanks for the tip re pressure , i had been running at 45.
Pedro
AnswerID:
299822
Follow Up By: Thermoguard Instruments - Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 15:47
Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 15:47
Hi Pedro,
OK mate, we heard you the first time... (only kidding)
Those Bridgestone 633s, with a 103 Load Index sound like pretty good stuff. As per my posts on thread 56872, Bridgestone and/or their dealer should be able to tell you the recommended cold inflation pressure for 850kg weight on each tyre (or any other weight you nominate, within the maximum capacity of the tyre).
Good on you for getting the axle properly upgraded. Unfortunately too many people load their camper trailers and 'vans with lots of heavy post-factory accessories and gear with no idea of their all-up weight and the rated capacities of the rig and it's running gear.
Happy travels,
Ian
FollowupID:
566008
Reply By: DesF - Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 15:57
Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 15:57
Hi, Over here most of us are running Olympic 8 ply 185x14 tyres on our vans and campers, most run at 45lbs , mate started a trip with 55lbs once but it tended to shake everything too much , he went down to 45lb and didn't notice anymore drag either and have not heard of any problems, my mate is on his second set , his van has independant susp and it scrubs the left tyre a bit & he only gets about 25.000ks out of ithem and swaps them over and replaces both at once.
some not happy with original their Banglops, swapped to Olympic.
My Jayco ( S/H) had 13" C64 Olypics on when bought, and I got the rims and tyres from them , reasonably priced too,
Cheers Des.
AnswerID:
299860
Reply By: Dunco (NSW) - Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 16:52
Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 16:52
My Dunlops had the same problem and I got a refund....ended up getting TOYO tyres...excellent.
I also have a Freedom.
AnswerID:
299870
Reply By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 22:34
Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 at 22:34
Thanks for all the replies.
Eventually settled on the 195.14 Bridgstone 623 with a load rating index of 106 which equates to 1.9t so i feel a bit more comfortable with these.
Pedro
AnswerID:
299971