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Topic ClosedWhat tires will fit in rPod wheel wells?

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offgrid View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: What tires will fit in rPod wheel wells?
    Posted: 30 Sep 2018 at 8:12am
I'm planning to upgrade my tires/wheels. I currently have a non Hood River non lifted 179 and I don't want to install risers for a variety of reasons. I still have the original factory C rated 205/75R14 tires and factory 14 inch wheels. That setup is load rated for 1750 lbs max or 3500 lbs for the axle.

Having found out that my axle is actually built for 4400 lbs I want to get over 2200 lbs per wheel and tire or as close to that as possible to have as much loading capacity headroom as possible.

The highest rated 205/75r14 tire I've found is D rated at 2040 lbs so I'd be leaving a significant amount of axle capacity on the table unless I change wheels.  I can get 15x6 5 on 4.5 lug wheels rated up to 2540 lbs. I can get 205/75R15 D rated tires at 2150 lbs so pretty close but still not quite there. Or I can get 225/75R15 D rated tires at 2540 to match the wheels. Looks like I don't need to go to E rated tires to get the capacity I'm looking for which is good because I'm concerned that the ride with the E's would be too stiff.

So, after all that, my question is, does anyone know if the larger tire sizes will fit without rubbing and without a lift kit?

Dimensions:

205/75R14 26.1 dia, 8.1 wide (existing setup)
205/75R15 27.1 dia, 8.1 wide (I'd guess this was OK, I'm only picking up 1/2 inch in dia)
225/75R15 28.3 dia, 8.9 wide (Not so sure about this one)?
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mjlrpod View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Sep 2018 at 8:40am
I replaced my tires with Carlisle radial trail ST205/75R14 . My tires are rated for 2040 pounds per tire. So i'm rated at 4000 pounds. I'll never try to tow 4000, so I would say these tires are perfect for the pod. The pod max cargo weight is less than 3500 pounds on every model, not sure why I would want so much more tire. They also have a speed rating of 81 m.p.h. which is more than I should need. I think you need to look at the pod max cargo weight, and not so much at axle max. But it's your decision.
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Sep 2018 at 9:30am
My axle is actually designed for a gross axle weight rating of 4400 lbs per Lippert, derated to 3500 by FR for reasons known only to them. 

And yes I know the GVWR and cargo weight limitations and how they were derived. The trailer GVWR calculation is required by NHTSA to be no more than the gross axle weight rating plus the manufacturer's minimum recommended tongue weight, which for my trailer is 285 lbs. Ergo, 3500+285 = 3785 GVWR. Its a made up number driven by a combination of federal regulators and FR's marketing staff trying to show a low tongue weight.  It may or may not represent the actual capacity of the trailer. 

Everyone's actual loaded tongue weight is higher than that, or should be.  In my case it is about 550 lbs so based on my axle capacity I could be at at nearly 5000 lbs trailer GVW without exceeding axle limitations. Other factors like frame member yield strength could govern instead, and I have no intention of loading the trailer that high, but I do like conservative safety factors. 

So, my objective here is to just have the capacities of the wheels and tires match the axle, can't get there with 14 inch AFAIK.  What I'm looking for is any forum knowledge regarding actual tire fitment for the sizes above. 

BTW, I may be making an incorrect statement when I say my trailer doesn't have the axle riser kit. I bought it used this spring so that was just an assumption on my part based on it not being a west coast trailer.  I just pulled a wheel to repack bearings and there is a 3-1/2 inch spacer bolted between the axle and the frame. Is that the riser kit?




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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Sep 2018 at 11:38am
Originally posted by offgrid

BTW, I may be making an incorrect statement when I say my trailer doesn't have the axle riser kit. I bought it used this spring so that was just an assumption on my part based on it not being a west coast trailer.  I just pulled a wheel to repack bearings and there is a 3-1/2 inch spacer bolted between the axle and the frame. Is that the riser kit?
Sounds like it could be. You might measure the distance between the frame and the ground to check the height. Our HRE does not use risers, but instead they "clocked" the torsion axle to increase the height.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Sep 2018 at 11:45am
Offgrid, yes, that's the riser kit.  

As for tires, we run Carlyle ST205/75SR 15, load range D and they are noticeably better than the load range C that they replaced.  Also, we noted a slight improvement in mileage, but this may be more wishful thinking than an objective fact, as I've never done a scientifically valid experiment with all other variables equal except the tires.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Sep 2018 at 12:31pm
Thanks all.

So, since I do after all have the riser kit, is it safe to assume I have the clearance to run the Carlisle 4611's which are 225/75R15 load range D? These would exceed the axle rating which was my objective. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Sep 2018 at 1:46pm
Simple thing is to measure the distance between your tires and the fender. Switching to 15" tires will decrease that by ~~ 1/2". The up/down travel of the torsion suspension is maybe about 2".
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Sep 2018 at 3:32pm
offgrid,

Numerous posts of members using that very same tire. One on forum right now.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Sep 2018 at 4:20pm
Yes mcarter, I saw that posting, but when I asked my question originally I didn't think I had the riser kit (my bad) so I wasn't sure of the fit. Now that its confirmed that I do have it I think I'm good to go. 


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Sep 2018 at 7:17pm
Yeth Sir:)
Mike Carter
2015 178
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