Tires, this is B.S

[bake321]

I had a flat on my horse trailer so I attempted to air it up. I soon realized that I was not gaining much. I pulled the tire and discovered the tread seperated on the inside wall. I do a web search and discover that there has been issues with Goodyear Wrangler load range E. I keep hearing of trailer tire blowouts on the RV sights. Shouldn't we feel a level of confidence when we put new and properly rated tires on our trailers that they aren't going to fall apart?

Bake

 

[tallyho8]

Yes, we have enough to worry about when pulling horse trailers that we should not have to worry about tires in good condition. I was coming home Thursday pulling my horses in my trailer with my Ford F250 diesel. My tires were 2 years old but I only use this truck to pull my trailers and it has low miles on it. I had Courser A/T tires, load range E, supposedly made by Firestone, and I had checked the pressure at my last stop. They had very good tread on them. I was driving on the interstate at 70 mph for an hour and then I took the exit and got on the River Road and was doing 30 mph when the tire just blew out and sounded like a shotgun.

Friday I brought the tire back to the dealer to see about the warranty coverage. He said it was probably a manufacturing defect and he would give me a partial credit. I had paid $124 each for the tires. He checked his book and said they were now $168 and he would give me a $30 credit and charge me $138. I told him what to do with the tire and went to Sam's to get a name-brand American tire. I got Goodyear A/T D2 Load range E tires for $128 each. I hope these are not the ones they are having problems with.

 

[Bird]

I'm just curious as to why you'd buy the Wrangler instead of the Marathon; i.e., why not a tire designed specifically for trailers?

 

[Skyco]

I had Courser A/T tires, load range E, supposedly made by Firestone,

FWIW Courser tires are a Mastercraft brand and they are owned by Cooper.

 

[bake321]

Bird,
The the Wrangler name is used on Many different Goodyear models, also these are the tires that came from the trailer manufacture. If you google Marathon you will see that they also have had problems. The big issue is the over seas manufacturing, China and other parts of the world that get away with what they can untill they are caught.

Bake

 

[Matt_Jr]

Well, what do you expect? Tires are such a new invention they're still trying to work out the bugs. You think 100 years or so is enough time to get it right?

 

[Bird]

I only mentioned the Marathon because Goodyear is the brand that was being discussed. Actually I was just wondering why not use ST (trailer) tires, regardless of the brand. There are other brands that make trailer tires also. And there may be good reasons to not use them, but that's what I was wondering.

Special trailer tires have been around a long time, but I think the Goodyear Marathon was the first radial trailer tire. I replaced all the tires, wheels, axles, and springs under my 1988 fifth-wheel in the fall of 1990 and went with the Marathon tires. I never had a problem with them, but naturally, the current ones will be different from what I bought 18 years ago. I believe 1991 was when B.F. Goodrich started producing radial trailer tires, and I don't know about the other brands. I do know that some of the bigger fifth-wheel trailers use such big tires that special trailer tires were not available in suitable sizes a couple of years ago; not sure about now.

 

[2manyrocks]

I suppose trailer rated tires often aren't used because chain stores stock plain ole car tires and truck tires. I'm not sure if some of them even know the difference between a car and a truck tire.

I can't remember the difference in trailer tire construction, but doesn't it have something to do with less sidewall flex?

 

[horse7]

The latest thing is that some mfg (probably prodded by consumer groups) are recommending that tires be no older than 5yr for installation. So, if you read the tire code you can find out the mfg date, which will give you a 'sell by' date in essence.

Not much reason to buy a creepy old new tire (probably being sold at the "current price") anyway, unless there is some extraordinary reason to do so.

 

[Mike058]

This site lets you search by country of origin as well as size, type, season and brand. Kind of handy. All tires Still a good idea to check the sidewall before you buy, just in case.