Tire Rubbing Against Sidewall of 2016 Winnebago Winnie WD1780

Question:

Hi, Have an issue I dont understand and wonder if anyone else has seen it? Last summer, had my local independent RV dealer install a Lippert lift kit on my 2016 Winnebago Winnie WD1780. While there, also had the bearings inspected / repacked plus new tires mounted same exact size, different manufacturer. Upon completion, the lift was a huge improvement since 2016 was the introductory model year with 14inch tires and end drag common on uneven surfaces note newer models have 15inch tires and an integral lift kit. However, the dealer immediately noticed no clearance between the inside of the tire and trailer body 1/8 inch at most. Tire size markings between old and new were triple checked and confirmed the same, however no physical measurements were taken. Since there was a tiny bit of clearance with no contact, coupled with a significant effort to remove the lift kit and restore to original, accepted as is and took it camping several times more over the summer. Now upon removal from winter storage, notice some minor skid marks where the tire has rubbed the trailer body. My only guess is when bouncing down the road, the tire compresses and expands enough to fill the small gap causing contact. Any ideas? Thanks,

asked by: George H

Expert Reply:

You're exactly right and that's why we recommend no less than 2" clearance between the trailer sidewall/frame and the tires. Since tires are made of a rubber compound they will flex during travel and you don't want your tires making any kid of contact with the trailer or with each other on a tandem axle setup. I have attached some pictures to demonstrate this.

My guess is that your dealer did the math for the diameter of the tires but forgot to take into consideration the tire width. This can vary depending on tire size and it's something that can easily be looked over if we aren't careful.

It sounds like you kept the 15" tires so I recommend reverting back to the 14" size otherwise your tires are still going to rub against your sidewall and you're just rolling the dice as to which trip your tires decide they will blow out, which will then make your trip not so fun.

It looks like your 2016 Winnebago Winnie WD1780 came with 205/75-14 load range D tires so for replacements I recommend the Kenda Karrier ST205/75R14 Radial Tire # AM10235 and then the 14" White Spoke Wheel by Dexstar # AM20532 which has a 5 on 4-1/2" bolt pattern. These will need mounted at your local shop. The tires have a max load of 2,200 lbs at 75 psi, and an impressive speed rating of 81 mph. I have attached a review video for you to check out.

expert reply by: Jon G