Replacing Tires and Wheels on 1966 Airstream Overlander

Question:

I am starting to restore a 1966 Airstream 26 foot Overlander. The first step is to replace the really “bad” original tires and rims. The dual axle trailer is rated at 4250 pounds empty. The original tires and rims are Goodyear 7.00-15 LT Trailer Tire, load range C, and 15” steel 6 lug on a 5.5” bolt circle rims with a 3.625” diameter center hole. I am thinking of replacing them with your #LHAW124 tire/rim combination. Will this work or is there a better product to use?

asked by: Roger D

Expert Reply:

I recommend that you replace the old 7.00-15 LT trailer tires with the Westlake ST225/75R15 Radial Trailer Tire part # LHAW124 as long as you have the clearance. I recommend this because the Westlake trailer tire is a radial tire and all of the 7.00-15 LT we sell are bias trailer tires. Bias tires are an older design and have a stiffer sidewall than a radial. A radial tire construction is designed to flex, which creates better traction and less heat build up because it does not generate as much friction as a stiffer bias tire generates.

It is a good idea to make sure you have the correct amount of clearance when replacing the wheels and tire. The general rule is you want to keep 3 inches of vertical clearance above the top of the tire to allow for normal travel of the trailer's suspension and at least 1 to 2 inches between the sidewall and the trailer frame. The Westlake radial trailer tire section width is 8.8 inches, compared to the 7.00-15 LT trailer tires we sell that have a 7.7 section width. The Westlake's diameter is 1 inch less than the 7.00-15 LT we sell so as long as you have space for the width of the Westlake Tire you can use it on the AirStream.

The pilot diameter is 4.29 inches on the new Westlake wheel which does not matter as long as your existing wheel does not attach through the center pilot hole. If your existing wheel attaches with studs that are built into the hub then the Westlake wheel with a 6 on 5/12 bolt pattern is what you need.

expert reply by: Heather A