Trailer Tire Failure - Not a good way tho start the weekend

[CJONE]

If it says China on the side of it, good luck, you will need it. Never had a tire failure on any trailer until I stated getting China crap. Been replacing my 10ply China stuff with US made LT tires with excellent success. I have Goodyear Marathons on my boat trailer that are 15 years old and make a 500 mile trip 4-5 times a year at 70+ to Canada. BUT they were made In Canada and not China like the new ones are. No plans to replace them as they are in excellent shape. I truly believe that most of the China tires are built to very poor specs and they continually prove it. I will not risk my life by having to change these junk tires out on the road, or another persons life from getting hit from a garbage tire failure. Either from tire parts or a out of control vehicle. CJ

 

[Beltzington]

Ended up paying for a Sam's membership and then ordering new Greenball wheels and tires but they carried the size I decided on (ST185/80R13) and will mount and balance for just shy of $200. This will leave me the remaining old radial as a spare and provide an extra 120lb load capacity per tire. I would have preferred going to a 14" wheel but they would not fit under the fenders. I have a 400+ mile road trip in a couple weeks so hopefully I will not need to worry about another blow-out. Thanks for all the feedback.

 

[mrbacklash]

What was the speed rating on the tire that failed?

 

[3930dave]

I was pulling with my Chevy 2500HD Diesel that weighs about 8000lbs and when the tire went I actually thought I had hit something in the road, kinda a hard bump and a pull to the left, also allot of noise, looking in the mirror, I could see rubber flying everywhere and the vehicles in the passing lane swerving over to the left side. I never felt I had lost control of the trailer and was able safely slow down and move to the side of the interstate.

You are dead on concerning the weight, my two skis full of fuel and gear are just shy of 2,000lbs, I looked up the specifications yesterday and my trailer weighs only 500lbs so like you I am well below the tires rating so honestly I am not sure why the tire failed. Maybe I did hit something in the road or maybe the tire just failed. I checked the date and they are 6 years old not 5.

I am going to buy two new Greenball tires but still unsure if I am staying with radial or going back to bias. Have found allot of disagreement on the web concerning pro's and cons. What is the TBN consensus? Do radials have less or more sway than bias? Due to my fender height I am going to have to stay with 13" wheels and I MAY pull the trailer 2,000 miles a year.

Is your trailer aluminum Beltz ? 500# seems a bit low if not.

With a 3500# axle, many trailers will be rated for 3000# GVWR. A friend of mine who has fixed way more trailers than I ever want to has a rule of thumb - "most trailers are happy between 1/3 and 3/4 of GVWR" - heavy enough that the suspension is loaded, but not anywhere near maxed out.

I read and analyze a lot of specs, but time has also taught me the value of listening to folks who fix a lot of broken "stuff" as well....

I needed 13" tires for the old TT I picked up a couple of seasons ago - went with the Greenball Towmasters after discussions with Chris - I have been pleased with them (radial version).

Interstate speeds are the toughest on light tires, esp. down your way. I keep forgetting to take mine with me, but it would probably be a good idea to keep a cheap IR gun in your truck for checking tire temperature - once you know what normal is, you might get some idea when one tire is heading south.... Makes me wish I knew a tire engineer.... can't say I know what Max Surface Temperature is for light trailer tires....

I came across this, when I was researching my ST choices:

Tire Tech Information - Trailer Tires vs. Passenger Vehicle Tires

"Special Trailer (ST) Tire Speed Ratings

Industry standards dictate tires with the ST designation are speed rated to 65 MPH (104 km/h) under normal inflation and load conditions.

However Goodyear Marathon and Power King Towmax STR tires featuring the ST size designation may be used at speeds between 66 and 75 mph (106 and 121 km/h) by increasing their cold inflation pressure by 10 psi (69 kPa) above the recommended pressure for the rated maximum load.

Do not exceed the wheel's maximum rated pressure. If the maximum pressure for the wheel prohibits the increase of air pressure, then maximum speed must be restricted to 65 mph (104 km/h).

The cold inflation pressure must not exceed 10 psi (69 kPa) beyond the inflation specified for the maximum load of the tire.

Increasing the inflation pressure by 10 psi (69 kPa) does not provide any additional load carrying capacity."
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When I first came across that on Tire Rack, I don't recall them specifying brands... probably their Legal Dept. made them add that.....

My take aways from that Tirerack post:

1) ST tires are by design marginal for Interstate use.

2) I now keep my ST tires VERY close to the Max Pressure stamped on the tire. If you are heading towards Max Load, then even 5 psi down is too low IMO.

3) If I had to do a lot of Interstate travel on ST tires at more than 2/3 load, then I would be doing more research to decide if I wanted to go with +10 PSI over.

4) Given today's legal climate, I was (and still am a bit) startled to find Tire Rack posting that recommendation online. To me, it underscores the extent of the problem with ST tires.....

Rgds, D.

 

[Beltzington]

"What was the speed rating on the tire that failed? "

Not high enough :laughing:

No idea, many have stated 65mph but it is not listed on their website:

Kenda Tire | Turf - Trailer - Golf Car - Specialty | Karrier

In case you have forgotten, here is what a blow-out at 65mph looks like. I was discussing this with my wife and she reminded me that last year I was complaining about my expensive radial tire tread being deformed so maybe a belt was coming loose or it just made it past Kenda quality control. I bought this brand based on reading online reviews so apparently their are many who are happy with the tire, but as the quote goes, "your milage may vary," mine certainly did.

 

[Beltzington]

Good info Dave -

I have spent 3X the time it took me to change the wheel researching trailer tires and can now say I am surprised a manufacturer has not seen all the gaps in this market and tried to fill the void. I have never had a blow-out in any car or truck tire and this includes some 13" compact car wheels and overloaded LT tires. As you said the key take-away with trailer tires is keeping the pressure correct for the load, Maxxis website has a table showing the weight carrying capacity at different tire pressures and I was surprised how much a few pounds of air significantly lowers the max weight. My trailer is not aluminum but I called the manufacturer Com-Fab and had a pleasant conversation with a service tech and he verified the trailers weight and load capacity and said they deliver these trailers with Load C tires. His recommendation was to use radials and keep them at max pressure.

 

[3930dave]

"What was the speed rating on the tire that failed? "

Not high enough :laughing:

No idea, many have stated 65mph but it is not listed on their website:

Kenda Tire | Turf - Trailer - Golf Car - Specialty | Karrier

In case you have forgotten, here is what a blow-out at 65mph looks like. I was discussing this with my wife and she reminded me that last year I was complaining about my expensive radial tire tread being deformed so maybe a belt was coming loose or it just made it past Kenda quality control. I bought this brand based on reading online reviews so apparently their are many who are happy with the tire, but as the quote goes, "your milage may vary," mine certainly did.

Modern ST tires failing prematurely is more the rule, rather than the exception.

I've seen belts break so badly on 2 year old Carlisle STs (properly inflated and loaded) that the tread on the still-holding-air tires looked like a stair-step.

IMO, the ST industry spec is inadequate for Interstate speeds. Before I found these Greenballs, I was getting so frustrated with STs that I was very close to buying a good P tire - as with your trailer, I couldn't fit a modern LT tire on.

Sadly, I think it will take either a major class-action suit and/or removal of the inertia at DOT/NHTSA on this subject before the ST spec changes.

Rgds, D.

 

[terryknight]

when you say you think they are unsafe for interstates what do you mean? the 65 mph rating is too slow? I rarely drive over that even on the interstate

that being said as long as i can fit a LT tire with the proper load rating on a trailer i will. just swapped the tires on my 10K car hauler this weekenda

 

[3930dave]

when you say you think they are unsafe for interstates what do you mean? the 65 mph rating is too slow? I rarely drive over that even on the interstate

that being said as long as i can fit a LT tire with the proper load rating on a trailer i will. just swapped the tires on my 10K car hauler this weekenda

Basically yes, the speed rating is too low on STs - not enough margin is built into that spec to reliably run at high-speed, IMO.

Like yourself Terry, I keep the speed down with my ST tires - I prefer driving the back roads when I can anyway.....

I think there are too many factors at play that can easily stress even a healthy ST tire quite a bit. I've done far more driving in Canada than the USA - here many times the traffic on a high speed highway is running 15-20% over the limit - I'd expect some Interstates run that fast, and IIRC, there are States where the limit is higher than 65. I don't like to speed (can't afford it), but I do recognize the safety issue on an expressway if you are driving 55-60, and most traffic is running 75-80.

I don't like to run that fast with a trailer, but many people will get caught up with the flow. A lot of folks don't check their trailer tire pressure...... add 10# low to 75mph running and hot summer temperatures.....

And.... that's starting with a healthy ST tire !

Congratulations on the new LTs Terry.

Rgds, D.

 

[ultrarunner]

Here we are limited to 55 when towing...

Doesn't stop those flying by at 75 or 80... where's a cop when you need one?