Quick info needed... 26x trailer tire size

[mike]

Because the track of Ivan keeps shifting more and more towards my area (New Orleans), I may have to pull our boat out of the water in the next day or so. I wanted to stop at Champion Trailer on the way home and get some new rims/tires (both are in terrible shape and I've been meaning to replace them)... can someone give me the standard 26x tire size? Or, is there a size that I should get that is better than the standard?

Thanks!

--Mike

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

The original tires on my trailer were bias ply ST205/75D14 rated for 1760 lbs each. I felt that this was the weakest link in the trailering system. While in theory the boat and trailer is only 3500 lbs, I think the reality with full gear is more like 3800-4000 lbs. I purchased new ST215/75R14 radial tires rated at 1870 lbs and new wheels. These fit without any modification to the trailer or fenders. I feel the radials can handle any heat buildup better. Be sure and keep them at 50lbs. Check every time you tow.

The wheels are 14" standard 5 bolt pattern wheels. I bought chromed wheels which look nice, but if I had it to do again I would just go with galvanized ones. Either is better than the painted ones.

[mike]

Many thanks, Duane. I'm going to go with galvanized rims with the larger tires you suggested.

--Mike

[mark,97x]

97x has f78-14 tire,was told by man at tire store that if need be could use ford ranger tire and wheels(14 inch) as emergency backup, as the wheels and tires would fit,haven't tried it but always kept in mind for an emergency

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

The original tires on my trailer were bias ply ST205/75D14 rated for 1760 lbs each.

Thats interesting, on my 2000 model, the stock tires were Titan ST215/75 D14 rated at 1870lbs. I wonder what they used on the '98 model.

I recently replaced both my stock rim/tires with Goodyear Marathon radials of the same size and weight limits. The radials are still beefier tires though and weigh a few pounds more than the bias-plys. The Goodyear shop found me the galvanized trailer rims and I kept one of my original wheels as a spare.

Good luck with Ivan, I guess the three most populated areas on the Gulf are New Orleans, Tampa, and Houston. This hurricane has the potential to cause some of the biggest devastation we have ever seen if it keeps its strength and hits a highly populated area. The Tampa area is so shallow, if it passes within even a hundred miles, it could cause major flooding IMO. These forecasts still seem to have a pretty large area of uncertainty which keeps the stress level higher for longer. My boat/trailer is still tied to the trees since when Hurricane Charley went through a month ago.

[Chip Hindes]

My '01 X had ST215-75/14 standard; obviously that happened sometime in the interim.

Assuming you could even find one, an F78-14 is a passenger car tire with a maximum inflation pressure of 35 psi and a maximum load rating of just over 1500 lbs. It would be dangerously undersized for an X trailer.

I found out the hard way last summer the ST215 tires are very rare, almost impossible to get except by special order. Because of this, when I added the second axle I chose to drop back to the ST205, which are available everywhere.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Make sure you only use a tire with the ST designation. These have a much stiffer sidewall than a normal car or truck tire.

[Frank C]

My 2000 26X came from the factory with the ST215 tires, rated @ 1870. Since mine was one of the earliest model 2000 (hull # 3067), they obviously started using the ST215s on the '99 boats, possibly earlier.

If the rig weighs 4000# and has 10% tongue weight, then the factory-installed tires provide "adequate" capacity, if barely. However, in my own experience, these bias-ply tires run too hot, probably because they are so close to their maximum rating. I'd recommend the radial tires, since several owners have reported they run cooler. Just one opinion.

[Chip Hindes]

I'd recommend the radial tires, since several owners have reported they run cooler. Just one opinion.

I'm in a unique position to comment, since I have the new 205 radials on the front axle, and the original 215 bias on the rear. On long trips, I check the tire and hub temps by feel every hour. The difference in the temps of the different tires is remarkable; From my "calibrated hand" I'd guess as much as 15-20 degrees.

Before I added the axle, I was alarmed at how hot the original bias tires ran. I'd definitely go with the radials, though I believe they're said to be more susceptible to road hazard damage. The price difference is quite small.

[Frank C]

... I'm in a unique position to comment, since I have the new 205 radials on the front axle, and the original 215 bias on the rear. On long trips, I check the tire and hub temps by feel every hour. The difference in the temps of the different tires is remarkable; From my "calibrated hand" I'd guess as much as 15-20 degrees (cooler for the radials).

Guessing from context that the radials run cooler, that's actually a quite an interesting bit of evidence that couldn't be otherwise determined. It's all the more interesting since the radials are the "smaller" tires, and I'd expect a larger tire would run (naturally) cooler, since it has more surplus capacity. The anecdotal evidence points to the orientation of plys as a major factor. Pretty remarkable feedback ...

[Chip Hindes]

Keep in mind despite the "overcapacity" of all the tires, none is running close to its max.

One of these days I'll get the actual weights, though it doesn't matter so much with my current setup.

So it's only a guess from adding everything up, but maybe 4200 lbs total (which BTW includes the weight of a whole 'nother axle with wheels and brakes) just about 420 tongue weight, so 945 lbs per tire. That's 51% of capacity for the 215s, but only a slightly higher 54% for the 205s. None of them is working particularly hard.

BTW, Im running them all at 45 psi so they don't ride quite so stiffly. Reduces the capacity a little, but again, I've capacity to burn, so why not? Next trip I'm considering dropping it to 40, as long as it doesn't compromise the stability I've paid so much to attain.

I should also point out the bias tires, though substantially warmer than the radials, are still running way cooler than last year when they were pretty much maxed out on the single axle.

[mark,97x]

checked again,f78-14 st,(what does the st stand for)

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I belive ST=Special Trailer or Special Trailering

[Frank C]

checked again, f78-14 st (what does the st stand for)

Mark,
Everything you wanted to know about trailer tires is shown at
Champion Trailer's "Tires Article" webpage.
Enjoy!

[Chip Hindes]

checked again,f78-14 st,(what does the st stand for)

As Dimitri says, the ST now stands for Special Trailer, but it's unusual to see it in combination with the F78 designation, which I believe has been obsolete for at least 15 years.

You should look for more information on the sidewall including load range (C or D) and capacity, (#### pounds at maximum inflation pressure of ## psi). If the load range is C or D, and the capacity meets or exceeds the 1760 pounds of the original ST205 tires on early Xs, 1870 for the ST215s on later Xs, you should be OK. However, you should know that some tire manufacturers rate their max capacity using the static load method, which gives a misleading and substantially higher capacity than other identical tires.

Also, you might not want to mix this tire with anything other than an identical tire on the same axle.