Any Consensus on Trailer Tire Brands???

[Dougster]

I have not seen your trailers and as far as I remember you haven't said weather you have given any consideration to replacing the fenders to allow for bigger tires and wheels? Like I said I don't know this may not be an option but I would sure look into it. You may be able to just have the fenders raised up some and make bigger tires work for you? By the way those prices would bankrupt me too but thanks for letting us know what we were talking about.

The main issue is the spacing between the axles... 33 inches. The second issue is the very limited space between the tires and the trailer frame. Clearance under the fenders is the least of my worries as things stand right now.

Trust me, $249.95 a tire is excellent compared with what I was quoted earlier yesterday. Heck, that's only two grand plus wheels, valves, mounting and sales tax. Piece of cake!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Dougster - You did not offend me. I just took you at your word. Near death experience, fix at whatever the cost, etc... I understand now you don't have the wheels rated for these tires. Yes that would be added expense. Just want you to know the Goodyears have performed flawlessly for me , but I had the special valve stems , and heavy duty wheels already. They were the heaviest load rated tires I could find , and thats what I wanted. Hope you find what you need , want and can avoid life threatening situations in the future.

Thanks DP... and I didn't know at the time I replied to you that these tires were, in fact, small enough in diameter to fit okay. Thanks to MJB for setting me straight. They are apparently incredible tires, but the Load Range G thing is complicated and very expensive when all is said and done. Much more research to go. I'm not going to stop looking until I find one of these monsters and decide for myself if this is my very best solution. Lots of opinions out there about what might protect me best... but extremely few, if any, options that meet my full criteria.

Dougster

 

[john_bud]

Dougster,

I only use LT tire on trailers not ST. Why? The LT are made better. Some will say there is a special pixie dust used in ST tires for UV protection - blah blah blah. How long do truck tires last before they weather check? That hasn't been a problem on automotive and truck tires since the 60's.

Trailer tires are cheaper than LT tires- yes they are. That's why they BLOW OUT.

Do yourself a favor and get some LT's on the trailers. If you can, get ones that can double with the truck's tires in a pinch. LT215-85x16E may fit the bill. That way you can have 2 spares all the time you tow. One on the trailer and one on the truck.

Also, you don't have to buy NEW do you? Around here there a used tire dealers that sell an 85% tread tire in that range of size for about $40 each + install. I know, I can picture your face all scrunched up just thinking about used tires. But, if they fit, would you put your trucks tires onto the trailer? If you could buy ones that are in that shape for 1/4- 1/3 the price of new ... why wouldn't you?

 

[jayhaitch]

Let me ask an obvious question: why does no one make a Made In America ST tire? It seems patently ridiculous that they've all given up on trailer tires. Does every trailer owner only want the cheapest price, hang the quality? It seems obvious there is a market for good quality tires, as the comments about tires being such an issue on the RV forums, here, etc, attest to. You'd think a smaller player like Cooper or General tire might want to sew up a big niche and make better than Chinese junk ST tires. I've got a boat trailer and tandem axle utility trailer, so I'm sure I'll be facing replacement issues at some not too far off point.

Anyone in the tire business care to comment?

 

[Dougster]

Let me ask an obvious question: why does no one make a Made In America ST tire?

I know it's a hard pill to swallow, but production of virtually all radial "ST" tires has moved offshore...96% of it to China. The only remaining "Made in USA" tire I found (thanks to MJB's input) was the Goodyear Marathon in size ST235/80R16 Load Range D (Note: NOT Load Range E as desired). Carlisle apparently still has a few "Made in USA" ST tires out there, but nothing I can or would use. There are also some "Made in USA" bias ply ST tires out there, but none that come close to working for me. Even tires that are reported by some trailer-related websites to be American made are not (examples: Uniroyal LT radial tires... several sizes... and the Titan ST Radial). I'm guessing the Goodyear Unisteel G614 RST Load Range G tire is still "Made in USA" (as someone recently reported) but I have not seen one yet to confirm that fact. I've located one... yes, just one! ...and will go to see it on Monday.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, I only use LT tire on trailers not ST. Why? The LT are made better. Some will say there is a special pixie dust used in ST tires for UV protection - blah blah blah. How long do truck tires last before they weather check? That hasn't been a problem on automotive and truck tires since the 60's. Trailer tires are cheaper than LT tires- yes they are. That's why they BLOW OUT. Do yourself a favor and get some LT's on the trailers. If you can, get ones that can double with the truck's tires in a pinch. LT215-85x16E may fit the bill. That way you can have 2 spares all the time you tow. One on the trailer and one on the truck. Also, you don't have to buy NEW do you? Around here there a used tire dealers that sell an 85% tread tire in that range of size for about $40 each + install. I know, I can picture your face all scrunched up just thinking about used tires. But, if they fit, would you put your trucks tires onto the trailer? If you could buy ones that are in that shape for 1/4- 1/3 the price of new ... why wouldn't you?

This "LT" vs "ST" tire thing... I think I could write a book or three about it by now. Opinions are strong, firm and very loud on both sides of this debate. But in the end, there is no "Made in America" LT tires for me out there in 235/75R16 LRE or 235/80R16 LRE. I would have to go down in rating... or size... or both. One of the most recommended LT tires for trailers (and most expensive) is the Michelin XPS Rib... but it is not available in either size I could use in LRE. Check it out. (Note that I cannot use a true LT235/85R16 or ST235/85R16... the tires treads would practically be rubbing on each other.)

No used tires for me after my incident and the not-so-nice cop's BS citation. I'm going to ride on the highest load capability, best made steel belted radial tires I can find... preferably "Made in USA"... but foreign if necessary to hit that higher load range E capability rating of 3,520 lbs per tire for at least some level of redundancy.

Dougster

 

[john_bud]

No used tires for me


Dougster

Wow! You're going to buy new tires every time you use the trailer? Must be nice to be rich!

;-)

jb

 

[Dougster]

Wow! You're going to buy new tires every time you use the trailer? Must be nice to be rich! ;-)
jb

First off JB, you of all people know full well that I am DIRT poor. But I can't be blowing out tires in the middle of jobs and having cops handing me costly citations (with insurance surcharges) for same. Economically, this is not what you'd call a good business plan!

Yes, I see your point... but believe me when I tell you that I am going to be ULTRA careful about trailer tires from now on... probably changing them out way before their time. The wonderful Taxachusetts state cops have no sense of humor at all and LOVE to give out tickets. I do not want to be in their sights ever again merely due to a random screw and, subsequently, two flat tires.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Well, the latest is that those magnificent, expensive Goodyear Unisteel G614 RST tires are still "Made in USA". The bad news is that two more Goodyear tire dealers (now up to three) claim that this Load Range G tire is serious overkill for a couple of dual axle utility trailers that both weigh ~2,500 lbs empty. No problem at all carrying a full load (10K gross)... but apparently very bad news when moving around those trailers empty. Price is out of sight too... just a hair over three grand for eight tires, wheels, high pressure valves and mounting. Price doesn't even include balancing.

So it's either Chinese-made tires in ST235/80R16 Load Range E or Goodyear Marathons (Made in USA) in ST235/80R16 Load Range D. Those are my two real world choices... neither one perfect. Significantly higher load capacity... OR ..."Made in USA"... but not both.

Dougster

 

[AlanB]

Just reading from the side here, but dang, it sure does seem funny how bent you are about American tires, when the failure (if I understand it correctly) came from a screw on the road, which in my opinion did not particularly care where the tire was made.

From my view, if you want to prevent a recurrence of this problem, something like Slime or run flat lube would be of more benefit then where the tire was made.

 

[Dougster]

Just reading from the side here, but dang, it sure does seem funny how bent you are about American tires, when the failure (if I understand it correctly) came from a screw on the road, which in my opinion did not particularly care where the tire was made. From my view, if you want to prevent a recurrence of this problem, something like Slime or run flat lube would be of more benefit then where the tire was made.

Hi Alan - Yep... best I can tell a small screw puncture in one of my Chinese Loadstar tires started the whole mess. Since I visually check my tires before every load, I can only assume that it was a slow leaker or that I just missed it or that it happened during that trip. It appears from the marks in the road... which I just went back to inspect again just today... that the second tire on that side held for about 750 feet after the first tire blew off... and then it blew too. It was a very nasty experience I am not in a hurry to repeat. Would have taken pix for my court appearance, but another state cop radar trap was sitting in exactly the same place again and I did not wish to screw with that fine public servant.

Hindsight is 20/20, but there is an amazing amount of info on the net about Chinese tire defects/failures in general and Chinese trailer & RV tire failures in particular. And yet everything is Chinese in the size I need except for the Goodyear Marathon (Load Range D) and the Goodyear G614 RST (Load Range G) tires... nothing whatsoever American in Load Range E (2,520 lbs capability) that would give me a fighting chance of surviving one blowout on a fully loaded trailer without incurring a second "same side" blowout.

Three blunt dealer cautions aside, I may still end up with the megabuck G614 RST tires. Just read yet another RV forum thread regarding MORE Chinese tire failures. I think I'm going to be sick.

Dougster

 

[tractorsanmore]

G149 RSA LT US and Canada

 

[Dougster]

G149 RSA LT US and Canada

Same load capability as Goodyear's Marathon ST235/80R16 LRD. Also can't verify it will fit (in LT235/85R16) since no height given here or elsewhere by Goodyear.

There are better options out there if I were willing and able to go to an LT235/85R16 tire.

Dougster

 

[schmism]

I think you need to be relistic in your wants.

Shure i might WANT to run a 11 sec quarter mile in my little pickup... at the end of the day theres just no way to do it with out spending a lot of money to make it into something it isnt. (a 11 sec truck)

There is likely a reason your trailer isnt built to take HUGE 3500lb tires.... Seems like you could either spend way more money than its worth on trailer tires not really ment to go on your trailer, or change trailers that will acomidate serious heavy duty tires if thats your goal.

Perhaps you should just go with some "standard" trailer tires and instead invest in some remote tire pressure monitering equipment if having a leak in a tire is such a "life crtical" issue. Then you can pull over well before you ever risk a blow out as you watch the pressure in a tire leak down over 5-10-30 min....

IF your regularly working your tires at the upper load range, its sound advise to replace them every couple of years regardless if they show were or not. Thats the only way to avoid blow outs from tires that have internal breakdown due to age. (or a combination of age and load)

so it would seem your choices are to 1) buy gaud awafully expensive tires once every 5? years.... or 2) some more reasonable "inexpensive" tires you replace every other year, resell on craigslist and recoupe some of the cost. And avoid all the trouble and time you have spent to track down a unicorn of a product.

Seems like a no brainer to me, but ill be curous to see what you end up with.

PS if I was so hard up for some 3500lb rated tires in a "US name brand" id go to 19.5" tires...tall and skinny are a norm with that tire, which should fit on a trailer easly. might have to raise the fender a bit, change some hubs out, but that would seem to be a lot less work, and you can also run a set on your F350,3500 etc tow vehical and double up on spairs as the tow vehical and trailer use the same wheel/tire combo.

 

[Dougster]

There is likely a reason your trailer isnt built to take HUGE 3500lb tires.... Seems like you could either spend way more money than its worth on trailer tires not really ment to go on your trailer, or change trailers that will acomidate serious heavy duty tires if thats your goal.

Perhaps you should just go with some "standard" trailer tires and instead invest in some remote tire pressure monitering equipment if having a leak in a tire is such a "life crtical" issue. Then you can pull over well before you ever risk a blow out as you watch the pressure in a tire leak down over 5-10-30 min....

IF your regularly working your tires at the upper load range, its sound advise to replace them every couple of years regardless if they show were or not. Thats the only way to avoid blow outs from tires that have internal breakdown due to age. (or a combination of age and load)

so it would seem your choices are to 1) buy gaud awafully expensive tires once every 5? years.... or 2) some more reasonable "inexpensive" tires you replace every other year, resell on craigslist and recoupe some of the cost. And avoid all the trouble and time you have spent to track down a unicorn of a product.

Seems like a no brainer to me, but ill be curous to see what you end up with.

Some very good observations and suggestions Steve... you must be reading my brain waves! In fact, we have been thinking very hard about upgrading not just the tires, but the trailers too... by selling the marginal trailers we've got and getting new trailers with axles, wheels and tires that are bigger and more heavy-duty relative to the loads we are carrying.

I've also been thinking about, and investigating, tire pressure monitoring systems... from the most simple right up to the full deluxe electronic alert systems. I simply cannot allow a small random screw and old fashioned, non-steel belted, marginally-rated, Chinese-made bias ply tires to take me out again. Not going to happen!!!

But you are also right: The Load Range G tires do not belong on a 2,500 lb trailer that runs unloaded or light loaded far MORE than it runs fully loaded. The overly-stiff, bouncing megabuck tires would tear themselves and the trailer apart... leaving me where???

Going down to RI to look at some more trailer tires this afternoon... and still investigating some Load Range E tires available via the net... but I'm this close to buying the Goodyear Marathons at this point even if somewhat lower rated. At least they're American and I can afford them.

Dougster

 

[podagrower]

My two cents. Any brand other than Maypop or Dunpoped.

 

[wushaw]

If you do up-size trailers then the 17.5 G114 by Goodyear are good tires, I have the 215/75R17.5 on my fifthwheel, they are mounted on aluminum rims on 7k axles. They are overkill for the 16k they carry but overkill is good.
These are commercial tires used on commercial trailers normally.

http://www.goodyear.com/truck/pdf/sell_sheets/7502G114.pdf

 

[Dougster]

My two cents. Any brand other than Maypop or Dunpoped.

Both "private label" Chinese-made tires under investigation by the DOT I assume... yes?

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

If you do up-size trailers then the 17.5 G114 by Goodyear are good tires, I have the 215/75R17.5 on my fifthwheel, they are mounted on aluminum rims on 7k axles. They are overkill for the 16k they carry but overkill is good. These are commercial tires used on commercial trailers normally.
http://www.goodyear.com/truck/pdf/sell_sheets/7502G114.pdf

Haven't seen any tires that big on any of the possible "upgrade" trailers I've been scoping out since the tire blowout incident... and that has included some awfully big, expensive, premium-brand equipment and dump trailers.

Remember... at the end of the day, I am limited to a 10K gross load by the 2500HD w/6.0L gas engine.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

PS if I was so hard up for some 3500lb rated tires in a "US name brand" id go to 19.5" tires...tall and skinny are a norm with that tire, which should fit on a trailer easly. might have to raise the fender a bit, change some hubs out, but that would seem to be a lot less work, and you can also run a set on your F350,3500 etc tow vehical and double up on spairs as the tow vehical and trailer use the same wheel/tire combo.

Sorry... but there is just no practical, timely, cost-effective way for me to take two basic (read: cheap) 10K trailers that came with 15" wheels/tires and convert them both to accommodate 19.5 inch wheels & tires... and no need if I go to ST235/80R15 LRE tires that BOTH fit perfectly "as-is" and carry a 3,520 lb rating (and I can actually almost afford them!!!). We would be talking huge money here and mods that would keep me from my paying work for weeks or longer. As the trailer guy said about my idea of going to a compound lift mechanism on the dump: "Sell the dang trailers you've got and buy what you think you need... you'll save money."

And just to clarify another point: I am not looking for a US name brand tire. I am looking for a tire actually made in the USA. Big difference... and actually kind of a disappointment as I did my research. Far too much US name brand everything is made in China these days.

Dougster