Recommended 235/80-16 Load Range E Tires for 5th Wheel

Question:

I have a 2018 Forest River - Salem Hemisphere GLX 337BAR Factory weight 10069# ... factory tires are ST235/80R16, 10 ply, Load Range E ... 1 what do you recommend? 2 would you suggest increasing the number of plys? 3 would you suggest increasing the load range?

asked by: David J

Expert Reply:

A ST265/80-16 Load Range E tire like the Lionshead Castle Rock # LHCK401 would have a 3520 lb per tire capacity, for 4 tires that would be 14080 lbs which is plenty to more than cover the 12190 GVWR of your
Forest River Salem Hemisphere. This tire includes 2 years of roadside assistance. If your RV or trailer has a flat tire, call the help line and a technician will come change the flat for you. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year from anywhere in the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico.

If you were to go with the Kenda # AM10501 ST235/85-16 tires you'd looked at, you'd increase your ride height by about 1/2 an inch, with about 480 more pounds of capacity for 4 tires.

Both tires carry a 10 ply rating (which does NOT indicate the amount of layers the tire is constructed of, it simply indicates that the tire is constructed to meet specifications equivalent to a 10-ply tire).

Which would I choose? If budget is a concern, you could go with the Lionshead # LHCK401 mentioned above and still get a great tire with plenty of capacity for your needs. If you want the best tire we offer that's
US made, the Goodyear Endurance would be my choice.