Wheels and Tires

[ScubaRx]

We are spending the night at Oliver National Park tonight. We took Anita out to lunch and had dinner tonight with Phil and two of the lovely ladies in his life. Phoenix is adorable as expected. 
 

I found out several weeks ago that Oliver had made (what I consider) a major change that will be included in the 2023 models. Today I sat down with some management folks to get the lowdown. 
 

As many of you probably know, Goodyear has bought Cooper Tire. Oliver has equipped their new trailers with Coopers for the past few years. Due to the immediate unavailability of the tires they have been using, their only choice was to switch tire companies.  During their research they reassessed their needs and goals for running gear. 
 

The decision has been made that going forward and starting immediately, both Oliver models will be equipped with 15 inch wheels and tires with a matching spare. The tires will be Goodyear Endurance ST225/75-15’s. 

• Tire SizeST225/75R15
  Product Code724857519
  Speed RatingN
  Load Index117
  Load RangeE
  SidewallBlack
  Uniform Tire Quality Grade (UTQG)-
  Max Load (lbs)2830
• Max Inflation Pressure (PSI)80
  Approved Rim Width (in.)6.0-7.0
  Measured Rim Width (in.)6.0
  Section Width (in.)8.8
  Tread Depth (in 32nds)8
  Outside Diameter (in.)28.3

 

[Katjo]

Thank you for the update. 

[Trainman]

I don't know why they just didn't stick with Michelin tires, they worked well for most from what I have read on this forum. I guess the company saved $10.00 a tire, so papa bean counter went for the tire change, even if customers weren't too keen on the idea. 

trainman

[ChrisMI]

I noticed they changed the wheels a few months back as well.  I’m curious what the new 15 inch wheels will look like.  Not sure I agree with Oliver’s choice to go smaller…

[topgun2]

23 minutes ago, Trainman said:

I don't know why they just didn't stick with Michelin tires, they worked well for most from what I have read on this forum. I guess the company saved $10.00 a tire, so papa bean counter went for the tire change, even if customers weren't too keen on the idea. 

Michelin stopped making the tire.

Papa Bean counter had nothing to do with it.

Bill

[Hokieman]

Airstream uses same tires on current models. 

[CRM]

13 minutes ago, ChrisMI said:

I noticed they changed the wheels a few months back as well.  I’m curious what the new 15 inch wheels will look like.  Not sure I agree with Oliver’s choice to go smaller…

Same size wheel and tire that came on my 2010 Elite II and I've had no issues with them. 

[bhncb]

9 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

The decision has been made that going forward and starting immediately, both Oliver models will be equipped with 15 inch wheels and tires with a matching spare. The tires will be Goodyear Endurance ST225/75-15’s.

Watch for a disc brake option in 2024, maybe sooner.

[ScubaRx]

50 minutes ago, Trainman said:

I don't know why they just didn't stick with Michelin tires, they worked well for most from what I have read on this forum. I guess the company saved $10.00 a tire, so papa bean counter went for the tire change, even if customers weren't too keen on the idea. 

trainman

Actually, Michelin quit making the tire they were using. 
 

Is your trailer still on the market? This is a non issue for current owners. 

[ScubaRx]

23 minutes ago, ChrisMI said:

I noticed they changed the wheels a few months back as well.  I’m curious what the new 15 inch wheels will look like.  Not sure I agree with Oliver’s choice to go smaller…

Fifteen years ago, 16” wheels were used extensively by the automotive industry. Now it’s an oddball size. All the heavy duty trucks are using 18” or 20”. Also at that time you could not buy a heavy duty tire in a 15” size and the ST tire’s being made were all Chinese maypops. 

[ScubaRx]

8 minutes ago, bhncb said:

Watch for a disc brake option in 2024, maybe sooner.

The axles are not changing. The are no parts available to convert the 3500 pound axles used on the Elite II from drum to disc. It would be possible on the Elite I since it is supplied with a 5200 pound axle. 

[bhncb]

2 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

The are no parts available to convert the 3500 pound axles used on the Elite II from drum to disc.

By adopting 15” wheels, dropping down from 6 lug to the standard 5 lug hub pattern will enable the Dexter/Kodiak 3500# 10” discs. The 16” wheels and required 6 lug hubs have been the hangup for a practical all-Dexter solution thus far.

[John E Davies]

https://www.rvforum.net/threads/goodyear-endurance-tire-reviews-anyone.130815/

I am NOT a Goodyear fan, but I think these will be fine, I don’t especially like the tread design for the kinds of roads I travel sometimes. The Michelins on my Hull 218 were 29.3 inches overall diameter, these are 1 inch smaller, so the frame will ride about 0.5” lower to the ground. I do think it will affect how the trailer looks. Not so “tough”. I have to buy new tires next year, I may just downsize to these tires with five new wheels. Does anyone know what wheel Oliver will use? I would buy this (old price shown) or something similar.

There was a thread about this a while back. Smaller usually means cheaper when applied to tires, wheels, and brakes….

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5542-has-anyone-considered-down-sizing-the-le2-wheels-and-tires-to-15”-with-5-on-45”-lug-bolt-pattern/?tab=comments#comment-58171

By downsizing I would make my trailer super easy to mod with disk brakes, 😬😬😬 and a future owner might like having “current” Oliver tire and wheel size. Choose a slip on rotor version and then add Nev-R Lube idler hubs. No more bearing repacks, and you can carry a complete hub as an emergency spare….

https://www.kodiaktrailerbrakes.com/Kodiak-3500lb-Slip-On-5-Lug-Disc-Brake-Kits-10-inch_c_641.html

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Steve Morris]

If only there was a 5 X 150mm bolt pattern option! I've got a lead on a set of five Heritage wheels to match those on my Land Cruiser. That bronze would be gorgeous on the white trailer! 

(Toyota press photo)

[bhncb]

21 minutes ago, Steve and Deb said:

If only there was a 5 X 150mm bolt pattern option! I've got a lead on a set of five Heritage wheels to match those on my Land Cruiser. That bronze would be gorgeous on the white trailer! 

(Toyota press photo)

If you’re into bling, look st these

http://sendelwheel.com/wheels/t17mg.html

[John E Davies]

28 minutes ago, Steve and Deb said:

If only there was a 5 X 150mm bolt pattern option! I've got a lead on a set of five Heritage wheels to match those on my Land Cruiser. That bronze would be gorgeous on the white trailer! 

Well, don’t hold your breath about that. The offset is all wrong for a trailer axle….. You could buy wheels like these:.

And repaint them with Duplicolor Bronze :   https://www.duplicolor.com/product/wheel-coating/ … You would probably have to repaint them every few years, depending on how much gravel you tow on…. I had a similar set as those shown on another trailer, I sanded and painted every two years, they still looked great after thirteen years.

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

[Steve Morris]

19 minutes ago, bhncb said:

If you’re into bling, look st these

http://sendelwheel.com/wheels/t17mg.html

Ug! Those are bright and not at all attractive!! The bronze heritage wheels (pictured) are what's already on my Land Cruiser originally, so I have a desire to have matching wheels on the trailer. 

[Steve Morris]

16 minutes ago, John E Davies said:

Well, don’t hold your breath about that. The offset is all wrong for a trailer axle….. You could buy wheels like these:.

And repaint them with Duplicolor Bronze :   https://www.duplicolor.com/product/wheel-coating/ … You would probably have to repaint them every few years, depending on how much gravel you tow on…. I had a similar set as those shown on another trailer, I sanded and painted every two years, they still looked great after thirteen years.

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

Yea, I knew they would only fit in my mind. But I have no interest in cobbling together a different alternative. 

[ScubaRx]

5 hours ago, ChrisMI said:

I noticed they changed the wheels a few months back as well.  I’m curious what the new 15 inch wheels will look like.  Not sure I agree with Oliver’s choice to go smaller…

I took this photo this morning of one of the Elite II’s on the showroom floor. Rodney says this is the tires and wheel’s they will be using on the 2023 models. 
 

He did say that their existing stock of 16” wheels and tires will be used first. So, it may be as late as March of ‘23 before the new models will start to be delivered with the new sets. 
 

[ScubaRx]

1 hour ago, John E Davies said:

https://www.rvforum.net/threads/goodyear-endurance-tire-reviews-anyone.130815/

I am NOT a Goodyear fan, but I think these will be fine, I don’t especially like the tread design for the kinds of roads I travel sometimes. The Michelins on my Hull 218 were 29.3 inches overall diameter, these are 1 inch smaller, so the frame will ride about 0.5” lower to the ground. I do think it will affect how the trailer looks. Not so “tough”. I have to buy new tires next year, I may just downsize to these tires with five new wheels. Does anyone know what wheel Oliver will use? I would buy this (old price shown) or something similar.

There was a thread about this a while back. Smaller usually means cheaper when applied to tires, wheels, and brakes….

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5542-has-anyone-considered-down-sizing-the-le2-wheels-and-tires-to-15”-with-5-on-45”-lug-bolt-pattern/?tab=comments#comment-58171

By downsizing I would make my trailer super easy to mod with disk brakes, 😬😬😬 and a future owner might like having “current” Oliver tire and wheel size. Choose a slip on rotor version and then add Nev-R Lube idler hubs. No more bearing repacks, and you can carry a complete hub as an emergency spare….

https://www.kodiaktrailerbrakes.com/Kodiak-3500lb-Slip-On-5-Lug-Disc-Brake-Kits-10-inch_c_641.html

John Davies

Spokane WA

John, the new wheels will still be 6 bolt on 5.5”.

[BBL]

14 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

The decision has been made that going forward and starting immediately, both Oliver models will be equipped with 15 inch wheels and tires with a matching spare. The tires will be Goodyear Endurance ST225/75-15’s. 

I had this conversation with Rodney at OE-East but didn't think I had enough background/information to put it out on the forums. We are scheduled to take delivery on 3/8 and he indicated we "may" get the 16" wheels with the Goodyear Endurance tires. As someone mentioned, this was the tire that came with our Airstream and I have to say, I was very impressed. No complaints whatsoever and a far cry over the previous "May-Pops" Airstream used to use. May-Pops is a generic term for any of the cheaper, imported, oddball trailer tires that were prevalent in the travel trailer market about 10 years ago. I think all the manufacturers wised up to the liability they were creating and decided to bake the better tires into the price.

I am on the fence on how I feel about getting the 16's versus the "NEW" 15's - it would be nice to start out with the more common wheel and not run into trouble down the road should I need to replace one.

Overall, I think this is a good business decision and I am comfortable with it.

Brian

[BBL]

1 minute ago, Brian and Brandelyne said:

I had this conversation with Rodney at OE-East but didn't think I had enough background/information to put it out on the forums. We are scheduled to take delivery on 3/8 and he indicated we "may" get the 16" wheels with the Goodyear Endurance tires. As someone mentioned, this was the tire that came with our Airstream and I have to say, I was very impressed. No complaints whatsoever and a far cry over the previous "May-Pops" Airstream used to use. May-Pops is a generic term for any of the cheaper, imported, oddball trailer tires that were prevalent in the travel trailer market about 10 years ago. I think all the manufacturers wised up to the liability they were creating and decided to bake the better tires into the price.

I am on the fence on how I feel about getting the 16's versus the "NEW" 15's - it would be nice to start out with the more common wheel and not run into trouble down the road should I need to replace one.

Overall, I think this is a good business decision and I am comfortable with it.

Brian

By the way, if I remember the conversation correctly, if you get the 16's the tires will be LT, if you get the 15's, the tires will be ST. 

I had Endurance ST's on our Airstream.

Brian

[ScubaRx]

27 minutes ago, Brian and Brandelyne said:

By the way, if I remember the conversation correctly, if you get the 16's the tires will be LT, if you get the 15's, the tires will be ST. 

I had Endurance ST's on our Airstream.

Brian

This is correct. 

[John E Davies]

5 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

John, the new wheels will still be 6 bolt on 5.5”.

Grrrrrrrr. 😤😤😤😤😤😤😤 Idiots. I have opened a ticket asking why they continue to use this b*****d bolt pattern, and what is the brand and load rating of that spoked wheel. Maybe I can find a 5 on 4.5 version.

Unless they changed to 5000 pound axles on the LE2, is that a possibility? That would be really weird, downsizing the wheels and tires and upsizing the axles.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[ScubaRx]

The axles are not changing.