Any Consensus on Trailer Tire Brands???

[civesnedfield]

Now that is one trailer tire brand that I did not come across in all my travels... but I am sold on the idea of steel belted radials for their alleged better ability to have a nail or screw puncture and still hold air. Do you know if those ST235/80R16LRE steel-belted radials are made in the good ol' USA???

Dougster

Here is their About us page. Based in Ohio, butlike all other companies they manufacture here and there. I think their major there is Canada. According to most Canada is American made. (Thanks NAFTA)

The Hercules Tire & Rubber Company... about

 

[Dougster]

Here is their About us page. Based in Ohio, butlike all other companies they manufacture here and there. I think their major there is Canada. According to most Canada is American made. (Thanks NAFTA)
The Hercules Tire & Rubber Company... about

Shall we place a bet here Ed? I need to make some money off you!!!

I say those 235/80R16LRE's are made in China or possibly Taiwan. Definitely not in the Americas. Take the bet???

Dougster

 

[civesnedfield]

Shall we place a bet here Ed? I need to make some money off you!!!

I say those 235/80R16LRE's are made in China or possibly Taiwan. Definitely not in the Americas. Take the bet???

Dougster

Nope not going to do it. I do not need to be contributing to the Dougster shiny new toy fund.

 

[Quickster2]

If you look at their capability chart all tires are from China.

 

[Dougster]

If you look at their capability chart all tires are from China.

Yeah, a little Internet research and it appears they are yet another "Made in China" trailer tire just like all the others.

You can't seem to escape it unless you are willing to accept Load Range D (US-made Goodyear Marathons) or go to those Goodyear G614RST Load Range G tires.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Well, I did it. I swallowed hard, held my nose tightly and ordered four new 16-inch, 80-profile Chinese "Load Range E" tires and new wheels to go with them.

Just to close this out... the new Chinese LRE tires and rims came in, are mounted on the 10K dump trailer and seem to be generally satisfactory. Fit was good... no rubbing at all. Nice and straight too. Feels good to have a 40% load safety factor now... at least on the rims and rubber and even if I am still using Chinese rubber.

The tires arrived in great shape via Fed-Ex Ground. I was impressed for once. Came in a separate delivery truck for the one used for their regular rounds. I had expected some scuffing, but they were perfect. Wheels were another matter (but likely not Fed-Ex's fault). Two came through kinda nasty and will need repainting. One came through with a nice flat spot on the outer edge of the rim kinda like a curbing hit. I think it must have fallen off a tall shelf or something. It may have to be fixed or replaced. After all... if I am replacing the original tires and rims on both trailers to increase safety, it makes no sense to put up with even a mildly damaged rim. To the full credit of the seller, he has offered to replace it. I'll get a professional opinion on it later this week. Frankly, I'm guessing he'll say it's cosmetic only and totally fine.

Today, I placed the order for the second set of identical 16" Chinese LRE tires and rims... this set for the 10K equipment trailer... and hopefully without any funky rim damage at all.

Dougster

 

[Skyco]

I guess I've been lucky, I've never had but one trailer blow out and that was one of those small real wide ones on a Coleman Tent Trailer years ago...And I have owned many, many trailers.
I've got 9 trailers in the yard, I posted 8 somewhere here the other day but I missed one. To be honest I'm scared to death of the Carlisles on my new Featherlite all aluminum enclosed trailer, a blown tire can trash the aluminum fenders and wall in a blow out. Even if was fixed you know they'd never get it right like new. The spare I bought for it was a Goodyear Marathon made in NEW ZEALAND- go figure.
I think I'm gonna put those Carlisles on my car trailer for a few thousand miles before I trust them on the high dollar Featherlite I'd much rather have a blowout there with a $75 steel fender to replace...

BTW my dump trailer has big whopping 235/85/16 Load Boss ST radial tires made in China with a capacity of 3750 lbs each at load range G/ 7 ply (?) and 110PSI
Better carry your own compressor I've found many places cannot even produce that high of air pressure if you need any. The tires have held up well, but aren't balanced well, had a flat due to a nail and asked the tire guy to balance it while off the trailer....he lined up so many weights they go 1/4 of the way around the wheel to balance...no wonder the trailer shakes

 

[Dougster]

I guess I've been lucky, I've never had but one trailer blow out and that was one of those small real wide ones on a Coleman Tent Trailer years ago...And I have owned many, many trailers.
I've got 9 trailers in the yard, I posted 8 somewhere here the other day but I missed one. To be honest I'm scared to death of the Carlisles on my new Featherlite all aluminum enclosed trailer, a blown tire can trash the aluminum fenders and wall in a blow out. Even if was fixed you know they'd never get it right like new. The spare I bought for it was a Goodyear Marathon made in NEW ZEALAND- go figure.
I think I'm gonna put those Carlisles on my car trailer for a few thousand miles before I trust them on the high dollar Featherlite I'd much rather have a blowout there with a $75 steel fender to replace...
BTW my dump trailer has big whopping 235/85/16 Load Boss ST radial tires made in China with a capacity of 3750 lbs each at load range G/ 7 ply (?) and 110PSI
Better carry your own compressor I've found many places cannot even produce that high of air pressure if you need any. The tires have held up well, but aren't balanced well, had a flat due to a nail and asked the tire guy to balance it while off the trailer....he lined up so many weights they go 1/4 of the way around the wheel to balance...no wonder the trailer shakes

My second set of four Chinese-made "Load Range E" tires & rims came in today... this set for my equipment trailer. No problems at all... not even a scratch on the rims!

I do carry a compressor with me rated for 250 PSIG. I may buy a better one soon. I also wonder about tire balance and may have them checked. Frankly, I'll do anything reasonably necessary to get a more secure, comfortable ride. That will likely include a weight distribution hitch with anti-sway and a series of trailer stiffening/strengthening mods. Too many job possibilities are too dang far away to do otherwise.

Dougster

 

[Skyco]

I've never needed a sway control on any trailer loaded properly. However the quarry that I buy rock from misloaded me one time with too much of the rock too far back, scared me good me when I got on the freeway Started swaying like crazy, I had to get off, buy a shovel and spend 30 minutes in the summer heat shoveling rock forward to get the trailer to tow halfway well enough to get safely to my destination
If you've never experienced really severe trailer sway on a crowded freeway and experienced how hard it can be to get under control....well....I recommend carrying a spare pair of shorts

 

[Dougster]

I've never needed a sway control on any trailer loaded properly. However the quarry that I buy rock from misloaded me one time with too much of the rock too far back, scared me good me when I got on the freeway Started swaying like crazy, I had to get off, buy a shovel and spend 30 minutes in the summer heat shoveling rock forward to get the trailer to tow halfway well enough to get safely to my destination
If you've never experienced really severe trailer sway on a crowded freeway and experienced how hard it can be to get under control....well....I recommend carrying a spare pair of shorts

Amen Brother Skyco... but there are no guarantees that the materials places are going to load you perfectly... front to back and side to side. In fact, I think that's kinda the exception around here.

It's why I carry BOTH a shovel and a rake in the back of the pick-up at all times!

Dougster