Spare Wheel & Tire

[rideandfly]

My spare tire is 9 years old, so started researching what tire to replace the original 16" spare tire with one that fits in the original spare tire housing.

On our 2015 LE2 Ollie the original spare tire is a 215/60R/16 SL load range tire. The other 4 trailer tires are LT225/75R/16 E tires. Understand some other LE2 owners have P215/70R/16 tires. Around 2017 (please correct me if I have this wrong) the spare tire fiberglass cover was modified to accommodate the full size 225/75R/16 tire/wheel assembly. Recently, Oliver started installing 15" wheels on LE2 Olivers mounting Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R/15 E tires.

Went back to an old thread here posted by Steve about Oliver's move to LE2 15" ST tires.

Started thinking 🙃  (that's trouble for me sometimes) if a 215/70R/16 will fit in the original spare tire housing, will the newer 15" tire, ST225/75R/15 E fit in the original spare tire housing. Contacted Oliver service and they said the ST225/75R/15 E tire will fit inside of my original spare tire housing on my 2015 LE2.

Started doing some research and learned the following:

Original LT tire: LT225/75R/16E

Tire height: 29.28''

Section Width: 8.86''

Maximum load capacity: 2679 pounds

New tire used on LE2: Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R/15E:

Tire Height: 28.28''

Section Width: 8.86''

Maximum load capacity: 2833 pounds

Tire used that fits in 2015/2016 LE2 spare tire housings seen in two different threads:

215/70R/16

Tire Height: 27.86''

Section Width: 8.46''

Maximum load capacity: 1764 pounds

The 2015 spare tire fiberglass housing ID (inside diameter) is around 28 7/8" and around 9 1/2" deep. It looks like the ST225/75R/15E will fit if the tire/wheel is centered.

Couple days ago ordered a Sendel S20 15"X6", six lug trailer wheel with 5.5" spacing and a Goodyear ST225/75R/15E tire mounted.

http://sendelwheel.com/wheels/s20t.html

https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/tires/endurance-trailer-tire/24464.html

Load range/Load index explained:

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/load-range-load-index

I normally keep Ollie's spare tire in the TV pickup bed instead of in the spare tire cover, but still want a tire/wheel that fits in the spare tire housing, will see. Plan to experiment with learning how to put a nice finish on the original aluminum spare wheel before eventually polishing all of the original wheels, too.

 

 

 

Edited May 27 by rideandfly

[jd1923]

@rideandfly I always use this app when upgrading wheels and tires. Play with it and it will answer all your tire/wheel size questions!

Use the left frame to enter Original and New Setup specs and look to the graphic on the right to see diffs in the measurements, for diameter, width and offset (for wheel changes). Hope it helps! Wheel Offset Calculator (tiresize.com)

[rideandfly]

John,

Always wanted a higher load capacity spare tire for Ollie that would fit in the original spare tire housing. Will post results.

Thanks,

[Patriot]

17 hours ago, rideandfly said:

Recently, Oliver started installing 15" wheels on LE2 Olivers mounting Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R/15 E tires.

 

I wonder why Oliver dropped to a smaller 15” wheel? 

Edited May 27 by Patriot

[rideandfly]

15 minutes ago, Patriot said:

I wonder why Oliver dropped to a the smaller 15” wheel? 

ScubaRx gave Oliver's reasons here:

 This thread is a good read, one of the earliest LE2s had 15" tires and LE2 spare tires are discussed, too. From information in this thread and over internet Goodyear Endurance ST tires have a good reputation. There has been a couple cases mentioned on this forum that Discount Tire will currently only install ST tires on travel trailers, when in the past  they would install LT tires on trailers like they did on our LE2. I want a higher load capacity spare tire, Goodyear Endurance 225/75R/15 maximum load capacity 2833 pounds, because our original spare tire is a 215/60R/16 has a 1521 pound maximum load capacity. The full size LT 225/75R/16 is too large to fit in some of the early 2015 & 2016 LE2 spare tire housings.

[Patriot]

3 hours ago, rideandfly said:

ScubaRx gave Oliver's reasons here:

 This thread is a good read, one of the earliest LE2s had 15" tires and LE2 spare tires are discussed, too. From information in this thread and over internet Goodyear Endurance ST tires have a good reputation. There has been a couple cases mentioned on this forum that Discount Tire will currently only install ST tires on travel trailers, when in the past  they would install LT tires on trailers like they did on our LE2. I want a higher load capacity spare tire, Goodyear Endurance 225/75R/15 maximum load capacity 2833 pounds, because our original spare tire is a 215/60R/16 has a 1521 pound maximum load capacity. The full size LT 225/75R/16 is too large to fit in some of the early 2015 & 2016 LE2 spare tire housings.

Yes, now I recall reading that. Thanks Bill!

[rideandfly]

21 hours ago, Patriot said:

Yes, now I recall reading that. Thanks Bill!

You're Welcome!

The 15" Sendel S20 wheel and Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R/15 tire are coming from Discount Tire. They have the tire on hand, but the wheel will not arrive until 6/1. They will price match, so all I need to do is let them know who I can buy from at a lower price and they will match the price. 🙂

Edited May 28 by rideandfly

[jd1923]

On 5/27/2024 at 4:54 AM, Patriot said:

I wonder why Oliver dropped to a smaller 15” wheel? 

5-bolt 15" wheels are standard for the 7000 GTWR. Olivers were originally over-engineered. Costs saving perhaps. I have a dual-axle flatbed trailer, two 3500 LB axles with four 15" wheels and of course ST vs. LT tires. This is common, OTT did us better, but I guess not on new hulls.

[rideandfly]

I have been doing research lately and found generally 16"X6" 6 lug/5.5 spacing  aluminum trailer wheels are a more expensive than 15"X6" 6 lug/5.5 spacing aluminum trailer wheels of the same model & manufacturer from the same vendor.

On the other hand the ST225/75R/15 Goodyear Endurance trailer tires (MSRP $199 ea) are not much lower in cost compared to good quality LT225/75R/16 tires. Walmart had Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R/15 on sale for $187, Discount Tire matched that price. 

Discount Tire Denver NC told me some good news while there today. They said they will install LT tires on trailers as long as the maximum load capacity of the LT tire when multiplying number of tires meets or exceeds the trailer's Gross weight, but they would have to see the trailer's documented GVW.

 

One of the first 2010 Oliver LE2 had 15" wheels/tires.

For several years many folks called ST tires "may pops" because they never knew when they would pop. Goodyear Endurance ST tire made in USA is a great quality trailer tire.

Edited May 30 by rideandfly

[jd1923]

9 hours ago, rideandfly said:

Goodyear Endurance ST tire made in USA is a great quality trailer tire.

It's about the only trailer tire (ST) made in the USA! Put a set on my flatbed trailer 5 years ago. When I noticed the price today, I was like, What??? Just the cost of the today's economy. I'm going to have leave these on 10 years vs. 7! We only use it on slow roads around the county to haul dirt bikes, or an occasional trip to Lowes or Depot, low miles, keep them covered. Size on mine a little smaller. That would have been +$10 back then. Wow, by the time I need new ones they'll be $300 each!

Edited May 30 by jd1923

[rideandfly]

Yep, inflation at work!

This is the first time I have purchased Goodyear Endurance ST tires even though I own two utility and one motorcycle trailers in addition to Ollie.

Our original spare tire is a P215/60R/16 when other owners have a taller P215/70R/16 on their 2015 & 2016 LE2 and the new ST225/75R/15, about an 1.1" larger in diameter (using your handy calculator), taller 15" Goodyear Endurance on the right.

The new Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R/15 fits easily into the original housing, like Oliver said,

Two problems so far, the aluminum wheel mount needs to be moved up about 1/4" to 3/8" for the new tire to clear the bottom portion of the fiberglass housing. Planning to take the aluminum wheel mount to a local machine shop to have the existing holes milled lower to reposition the new tire higher to clear the fiberglass housing.

 

The other problem is getting an allen wrench & allen ball driver in the two top bolt heads to hold while removing outer elastic nuts securing the tire aluminum mount. Had to cut part of an allen wrench off to clear the hull, it works too. Letting Oliver know what I found, so far.

 

Edited May 30 by rideandfly

[CRM]

9 hours ago, jd1923 said:

It's about the only trailer tire (ST) made in the USA! Put a set on my flatbed trailer 5 years ago. When I noticed the price today, I was like, What??? Just the cost of the today's economy. I'm going to have leave these on 10 years vs. 7! We only use it on slow roads around the county to haul dirt bikes, or an occasional trip to Lowes or Depot, low miles, keep them covered. Size on mine a little smaller. That would have been +$10 back then. Wow, by the time I need new ones they'll be $300 each!

 

Paid 155.00 last March through Wally World and quote today is 190.00.. Almost 22% increase in just over a year...

[rideandfly]

Here's how the modified allen wrench fits in the top two allen head 1/2" bolts in the basement due to clearance issues between the inner hull & inner aluminum plate for removing elastic lock nuts that secure the aluminum wheel mount on the outer hull:

 

Edited May 30 by rideandfly

[rideandfly]

Found a Drag Race Car shop in Lincolnton, NC to weld Ollie's frame earlier this year.

Found an engine builder, machine shop, with engine  dynamometer (Dyno) this morning at Iron Station NC to do the machine shop work on Ollie's aluminum wheel mount. This area is close to Charlotte Speedway with many shops involved with NASCAR. The owner of this shop used to build race engines at Joe Gibbs Racing. 

He had a low boost/supercharged Marine engine on his Dyno this morning.

Removed the aluminum wheel mount yesterday and the machine shop now has Ollie's wheel mount for modification.

 

 

 

[rideandfly]

The machine shop slotted each mounting hole on the aluminum spare tire mount lower by 7/16" retaining original hole width. This allowed raising and centering the new Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R/15 spare tire fitting easily in the original rear fiberglass spare tire cover. 🙂 Keeping 16" LT tires on our LE2, just wanted a higher capacity spare tire that fits in the original fiberglass spare tire cover. Understand 2015 and 2016 LE2 Ollies had this 15" spare tire cover with later years having larger spare tire covers to accommodate 16" LT tires.

Another way to modify this aluminum spare tire mount would be to relocate the round tube in the center by moving it up by 7/16" leaving the mounting plate in the original location.

I normally keep Ollie's spare tire in the pickup bed, but when I started this project wanted a Load Range E spare trailer tire that would still fit in the original fiberglass spare tire cover.

Before modification:

After modification:

 

Edited June 5 by rideandfly

[Patriot]

Bill,

A very clean retro fit! Nice job! 

David

[rideandfly]

1 minute ago, Patriot said:

Bill,

A very clean retro fit! Nice job! 

David

David,

Appreciate that.

Thanks,

Bill

[rideandfly]

More information, if someone wants to do this modification to their 2015 or 2016 LE2 Ollie and currently has a 215/70R/16 spare tire.

1. My original spare tire was a 215/60R/16, that's a shorter tire than the 215/70R/16, meaning the aluminum mounting plate might not require modification for a ST225/75R/15 to fit in the original fiberglass cover, test fit with a 225/75R/15 spare tire/wheel first. All new LE2 Olivers have this spare tire and I'm sure Oliver has plenty on hand, too.

2. Since my original spare tire was a shorter tire, it might not be possible to reach the top two allen head 1/2 mounting bolts from the basement like I could with my modified allen wrench due to your tire being taller.

Bottom line test fit of 225/75R/15 first and if aluminum plate needs to be modified, be sure top two allen head 1/2" bolts can be reached before purchasing a new tire and wheel.  Also, if you can reach the top two allen head 1/2" bolts, a new mounting plate from Oliver with a relocated tube on the plate instead of slotting the mounting holes would be the best mounting plate modification in my humble opinion. I don't know if Oliver would supply modified mounting plates, just a thought.

Edit: The aluminum wheel mount tube could be ground a little on the bottom, then using a shim between the top of the wheel mount tube to raise the spare tire tire to prevent removing the aluminum wheel mount. There are several ways to approach this. 🙂

 

 

Edited June 6 by rideandfly

[ScubaRx]

Another option might be to simply drill four new holes in places that allow you to use the existing plate and move it up the amount needed and still have round holes instead of slots. That way there would be no chance of the mount being able to slip back down. 

[rideandfly]

15 minutes ago, ScubaRx said:

Another option might be to simply drill four new holes in places that allow you to use the existing plate and move it up the amount needed and still have round holes instead of slots. That way there would be no chance of the mount being able to slip back down. 

Agree, after doing the modification started seeing other/better ways to do this modification.  I took care tightening nuts so not to put too much stress on the sandwiched fiberglass and that could allow slippage with slots. The housing will hold the tire up, but I did not want the full tire's weight resting on just the fiberglass cover. 

Guessing folks with the 215/70R/16 spare may not need to move the tire mount, but if someone has a 225/75R/15,  would try it first before buying a new spare. I'm in North Carolina and would be glad to test my spare on  anyone's Ollie to see if it will fit without modifications.

[rideandfly]

Will make four UHMW plastic plugs same thickness & shape and install in unused portions of the milled slots to prevent the wheel mount from slipping down with existing flat washers holding plugs in place.

Edited June 22 by rideandfly

[rideandfly]

Update:

My original spare tire was shorter, 215/60R/16 on hull #75. Other 2015 & 2016 LE2's reported so far have 215/70R/16 (taller) spare tires. I had to move the spare tire mount up 7/16" for the new (taller) 225/75R/15E spare tire (standard on new LE2's) to fit correctly in my original spare tire fiberglass housing.

It's possible that folks with the taller original spare tire might not have move the spare tire mount up, but I recommend trying a 225/75R/15 first before buying one.  Oliver should have them at the plant, I'm in North Carolina and happy to use my spare tire to see if it will fit on your trailer without modifications if you're in the Charlotte NC area.

Made four plugs from a piece of hard plastic board (kitchen cutting board) to fill the empty 7/16" slots above the mounting bolts to keep spare tire wheel mount from moving downward in transit. Used a hacksaw to cut the plugs out and a belt sander to shape the plugs and sand to same thickness as the aluminum mount plate. Also have a piece of UHMW plastic board I could have used, but the cutting board was closer to the correct thickness and should be fine. 🙂

 

 

Edited August 1 by rideandfly