Trailer Tire Blowout on a 2009 Keystone Laredo Bunkhouse 5th Wheel Trailer with ST225/75R15 Tires

Question:

We have a 30 fifth wheel with tire size ST225 75 R15 Tires on it. The stated load for each tire is 2450. The question is how do we determine if this is a good load range for the load we are hauling? The trailer is a Keystone Laredo year 2009 I think Bunk house version. We haul it with a 2006 F350. Not overly loaded most of the time. We blew out a tire Monday and are looking to replace all the tires. Is any one brand really better than another?

asked by: Julie

Expert Reply:

The combined capacity of the tires should be greater than or at least equal to the gross trailer weight capacity which is the most the trailer can weigh according to the manufacturer. The gross trailer weight should be on its informational placard or in its literature. Based on what I could find I believe the gross weight is somewhere around 10,600 pounds to 11,000 pounds.

So if you have 2 axles on the trailer each tire would need to be rated for at least 2,750 pounds. A lot of times what trailer manufacturers do is say that part of the trailer weight is carried by the truck so the axles/tires do not have to be rated as high. What can happen though is exactly what you are experiencing. Based on that I do recommend going to a higher capacity tire.

While there are some differences in brands, trailer tires still have to meet DOT specifications for use. I don't want to say that they are all the same but they do all meet the DOT specifications. Provided you are using a tire rated correctly for the weight you shouldn't have any problems.

I recommend trailer tire # AM10303. This is an ST225/75R15 radial tire, load range E. It is rated for 2,830 pounds at 80 psi. Using 4 of these would have a total capacity of 11,320 pounds.

expert reply by: Michael H