Good article on G614 Trailer Tire Upgrade Options

[wdk450]

Gang:
While doing some websurfing on the G614 tires today I came across the following article that suggest a lot of 17.5 inch tires and wheels with the correct outer diameters to upgrade from the G614's. Here is the link:
http://www.dmbruss.com/zFullTimeLifeStyle/FTLS_Tires_SizeChange.htm

 

[Rickhansen]

Thanks Bill. Interesting reading. I'll bet the author dropped a pretty penny for the upgrade. I'd like to do a similar when the time comes, but like most I am putting off as long I can.

 

[hcriddle]

Bill,

I upgraded to the 17.5" Hi Spec wheels from Trailer Tire and Wheel with the Goodyear 114s. Best move I could have made. I have a whole lot better ride on the Bighorn and a lot of comfort for me. I replaced all five of mine and traded in my old tires and wheels. The folks at Trailer Tire and Wheel were great to work with and even sent me a replacement wheel to the campground I was staying in when one of the wheels developed a crack and started to leak down. They paid to ship the new wheel and return the old one and gave me a refund for the amount I paid to have the tire mounted. I also went with the leveling beads inside the tire and I really like them too. Money well spent.

 

[SouthernNights]

Very good article Bill. Thanks for posting it.

 

[jnbhobe]

Yes it was a very good article, I think the upgrade can be done for around 2K if you shop around.

 

[kakampers]

Yes! This is a very good article, written by a friend of ours here in Retama Village, named Mark Bruss. This man does more research than anyone I ever met, and is one of the most knowledge people we know....especially about RVs and HDT's.

He's one of the reasons, finances permitting, we will be upgrading to 17.5 tires and rims before we hit the road again this spring.

 

[TireHobby]

Here is another very popular name brand tire for those that are very heavy on their 6000# axles and want some extra load capacity reserves. This is a 17.5” LRF tire rated at 3530# at 100 psi. See the reference below.

http://www.yokohamatire.com/tires/detail/ry103

TireHobby

 

[lwmcguir]

Bill,

I upgraded to the 17.5" Hi Spec wheels from Trailer Tire and Wheel with the Goodyear 114s. Best move I could have made. I have a whole lot better ride on the Bighorn and a lot of comfort for me. I replaced all five of mine and traded in my old tires and wheels. The folks at Trailer Tire and Wheel were great to work with and even sent me a replacement wheel to the campground I was staying in when one of the wheels developed a crack and started to leak down. They paid to ship the new wheel and return the old one and gave me a refund for the amount I paid to have the tire mounted. I also went with the leveling beads inside the tire and I really like them too. Money well spent.

This is what we run as well. We have the 8 spoke wheels also. As you noted it handles well and no tire worries when towing during hot dry weather. The Dyna Beads do a great job. There is no bounce at all and coupled with the CP and 5th Airborne you can litteraly leave somthing on the island and it will ride there on most roads.

 

[porthole]

Upgrading to the 17.5" tires can be pricey. But consider this.If you already have the 614's you are ahead of the game and it might be hard to justify the switch up.
If you don't have 614's and 110 psi wheels it may actually be less expensive to buy 17.5" wheels and Goodyear 114 tires then to buy wheels and Goodyear 614's.

When I did the tire change it was about $30 a set less to get the 17.5 Goodyear, wheels, tires mounted and "Equal" balancing product.

I also used trailer Tire and Wheel (http://www.trailertiresandwheels.com/) and cannot recommend anyone else after the service I received from Scott (owner).
On just a phone call, he waited till after 8pm for me to show up, had 5 tires and wheels mounted and ready to install, which he also did. And he uses a torque wrench.

And something else, maybe minor, but he told me the tires I was buying were bought under an older price plan and he was passing on the savings. Don't find that too often anymore.