New trailer tire $ shock

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

I go with light truck tires rated for a minimum of 2000 pounds each.

 

[schlen]

I have three trailers and all I use is LT light truck tires. all the ST trailer tires are made in china and they suck IMHO. I pull about 10000 miles a year. I use the old tires off my trucks. Add up the weight of your trailer and your max load divide by four compare that to the weight rating on the side of the tire. Wal-mart had 235 75 r15 goodyear Wranglers for $55 reg. price 2 months ago 2000# per tire. Its not that hard to mount yourself either don't worry about balancing them.

good luck

 

[Diamondpilot]

I used to not balance my trailer tires either but boy does it ever make a difference. I went to Detroit, about 250 miles, to pick up a Lincoln Navigator from a auction house and the empty trailer about beat me to death behind my 1 ton diesel. It was fine with a load. I got them rotated and balanced the next day for $15 at Big O tires and it now pulls like a dream.

I also pull alot of tandem and tri axle boat trailers empty and have found the same thing. Empty they really bounce around from unbalanced tires.

Chris

 

[txdon]

I have read many more disturbing reports about blowouts on trailers with new Carlisle and Marathon trailer tires. Diamondpilot, The Discount Tires in Texas do not carry Green Ball Brand. I'm trying to find a trailer tire not made in China. I'm over the sticker price shock, I just want a proven safe trailer tire.

("Officials of both companies celebrated the achievement that marked a milestone for the business relationship the two have shared since December 1996. Goodyear produces for Greenball its Towmaster Radial ST line of trailer tires, manufacturing the tires in Canada and New Zealand." - http://www.goodyear.com/media/pr/22921sp.html)

 

[Skyco]

That is interesting Goodyear makes some of the Greenball tires in New Zealand and Canada. The formerly fabled Goodyear Marathons come from China now

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Don, about a half a year ago, I had some really crummy looking 15"(need paint) rims I just left up at Shell station after transfering the tires over to some better looking rims I had. I recommend looking for some 15" but its hard to say if the tire will fit under the fender. Mine barely fits.

The problem with radials is, you get the 1/2 ton shakes. 1/2 ton shakes are the radials giving side to side like when you're in the bed of a half ton and you start moving and so does the truck. 3/4 and 1 ton use stiffer side walls so they don't do it so much.

I also found out that the trailer mfgs "comb" the market for used 15" tires to put on new trailers.

 

[Skyco]

I also found out that the trailer mfgs "comb" the market for used 15" tires to put on new trailers.

It is actually illegal (federal MVSS) in most cases to sell a new trailer with used tires!

http://www.longhorntrailers.com/pdf/Installation-of-Used-Tires.pdf

An excerpt from above is-

The following 5 conditions must be met for a trailer manufacturer to install retreaded or used tires on a new trailer (or for a dealer to sell a new trailer equipped with retreaded or used tires):
1. The purchaser must request such retreaded or used tires;
2. The used or retreaded tires must be installed at the trailer’s place of manufacture;
3. The used or retreaded tires to be installed must be owned or leased by the purchaser;
4. The sum of the maximum load ratings of the used or retreaded tires on each axle must be not less than the gross axle weight rating of that axle (required by S5.1.2); and,
Guidelines Tenth Revision – August 2005 B7-1
5. Used tires installed on the vehicle must have been originally manufactured to comply with Standard No. 119 and contain the DOT certification symbol on the sidewalls.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

It is actually illegal (federal MVSS) in most cases to sell a new trailer with used tires!

http://www.longhorntrailers.com/pdf/Installation-of-Used-Tires.pdf

An excerpt from above is-

The following 5 conditions must be met for a trailer manufacturer to install retreaded or used tires on a new trailer (or for a dealer to sell a new trailer equipped with retreaded or used tires):
1. The purchaser must request such retreaded or used tires;
2. The used or retreaded tires must be installed at the trailer痴 place of manufacture;
3. The used or retreaded tires to be installed must be owned or leased by the purchaser;
4. The sum of the maximum load ratings of the used or retreaded tires on each axle must be not less than the gross axle weight rating of that axle (required by S5.1.2); and,
Guidelines Tenth Revision August 2005 B7-1
5. Used tires installed on the vehicle must have been originally manufactured to comply with Standard No. 119 and contain the DOT certification symbol on the sidewalls.

well, that explains why i had to replace all 4 tires on my trailer - and a rim.
7k tandem, the manuf. put used low profile tires on it and one blew out while I was on the way home with it. When I looked at the other tires, they were only rated for 1400 pounds each.
now I'm running "regular" LT tires rated for a minimum opf 2k pounds each.

 

[Lunk]

That may have been true at some time, maybe in the '50's? But, when is the last time you had a set of modern tires fall apart from UV exposure? I park several vehicles outside and that's the least of my concerns.

To the OP, I try to avoid trailer tires as they seem to blow out much easier than standard passenger tires.

jb

Actually I believe I read that recently in one of my 4WD magazines (I get 3) in an article about trailering. Just passing the word.

Heck - Now they're telling us that passenger tires should be replaced if over 6years old!

When was the last time you put enough miles on a trailer to actually wear out the tread? I think most (not all) trailer tires would start cracking / checking long before tread-depth becomes an issue.

Lunk

 

[txdon]

I ended up ordering the Green Ball Brand TowMaster (8ply) from Discount Tire $91 each (+$19 stems balance and mount) and it will take about a week to get them in.

One interesting thing I did find out is that if you go over 65 MPH on the Good Year Marathon trailer tires you are suppose to increase the air pressure by 10 lbs.
http://www.goodyear.com/rv/pdf/marathon_gen_info_032806.pdf