Decent non-China trailer tires ?

[3930dave]

I'll be trying to do all the right things (cover 'em when parked, not parking on dirt at home, maybe a little sunscreen (ArmorAll etc.), maximum safe inflation pressure).

BUT, I won't say No to a little luck Chris !

Bucktaker - good info for anybody shopping this Spring. I haven't used Kumho, but see them on a lot of commercial trucks. I don't know the 'RST, perhaps Goodyear is doing better in the larger (newer trailer) sizes. I do have one friend running Marathons on a recent model 5'th wheel with good luck. Factories can shift production locations and the tire "recipe" so fast that what is good one year, may not be the next. Grrrrrrr !

(What was likely the original (20 y/o, Made in Canada yet !) Marathon spare I took off is a WAY better tire than the replacements that I'm scrapping).

When I wear this set out, I'll definitely be doing a lot of research online again. As a do-over, I'll probably go with 14" rims the next time - this time around I was trying to stay on a budget, while ensuring I got some decent rubber on the ground.

Another local guy bought a brand new 20' enclosed utility trailer recently, and not a low end one. Picked it up in Toronto, drove it directly here to our buddy's shop to balance the tires. Total distance of about 80km/50 miles. Two of the tires had broken belts.

When you first come across a problem like this, you start to think "This is a bit messed up". Not long later, you realize "No, this is severely messed up".

Thnx to TBN, and the folks that hang out here, I'm hoping to put a lot of trouble free miles on these Towmasters ! This thread has also turned up a number of other good quality suggestions, I hope this helps other people in their shopping.

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable summer of trailering !

Best Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Well, I'd now describe these Towmasters as:

Round
Black
Holds air well
Does the job just fine

At the risk of tempting Murphy, I've had absolutely no drama with these tires this season. Before I started this Quest For Tires (wasn't that an old video game ?) I would have viewed the above statement that I just made as "no big deal". I know better now.

Ran a good 30 hours at least, highway time. Mostly secondary paved highways.

Haven't measured tread depth, but tread seems fine in that respect.

Ran these tires at about 45psi initially. Later in the season went to 50psi ("Max" rated) after reading this:

"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 industry standards also stipulate, if tires with the ST designation are used at speeds between 66 and 75 mph (106 and 121 km/h), it is necessary to increase 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."

Tire Tech Information - Trailer Tires vs. Passenger Vehicle Tires

On my Winter reading list will be tracking down the "industry standards" that Tire Rack is referring to. If this "10 psi over Max" is correct, then this is probably a huge issue for Interstate travel. If you are cruising down the Interstate at 79mph, with a trailer tire at 40 psi, and it really should be at 60psi, well, that explains a few things.

To be clear, I'm not personally advocating this "OverMax" pressure setting. I just wanted to mention it here as noteable and potentially critical data for trailer tires. If you want to go to "OverMax" pressure yourself, do so at your own risk, I am NOT recommending that anyone do this.

BIG THANKS again to Chris, for the Towmaster 411. Also, thanks again to the OPs that posted, other good recommendations were made.

Rgds, D.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Glad you are having the same good luck with the Greenball Towmasters we have with them. I would guess we have 40 sets of four running right now with no drama.

Chris

 

[daugen]

My oem Kenda bias tires on my equipment trailer never failed me, but I switched to Korean Kumhos, which as said before offers a C rated radial when no one else does, and they both look and ride nicely. Awful name though...
My boat dealer uses Towmasters and has had decent luck with them, but he always wonders if problems comes from overloading, too fast trailering, or not enough air pressure. I always inflate to 2psi under the tire max, and try not to trailer over 65mph, often staying at 60-62 and watching everyone else fly by. Never had a flat or blowout, perhaps just lucky.

 

[3930dave]

Chris - the dataset you have built up definitely appealed to my Inner Geek !

I'll be taking the best care I can of my Towmasters, will a little luck, I hope to get many years of use out of them.

Daugen - I did notice that some of the mid-pack Asian brands do have some interesting Load Rating options. Often not that easy to find in Canada though.

For an older trailer like mine, that can give you some good load capacities in what is now considered here to be a smaller tire. Nice, esp. if you don't want to, or can't go to bigger wheels.

Heat. Always a key factor in most mechanical situations. There is enough anecdotal evidence around to conclude that there are plenty of poorly constructed ST tires on the market. Extra heat factors just shake out these infant mortalities all the faster.

With a good sized trailer, I tend to drive not much over 60mph by instinct. After what I've been reading the last couple of months, that will definitely by a normal upper limit for me.

I have to agree with a close friend of mine - these ST industry specs (re. highway speeds) verge on criminally negligent, esp. in the USA where 75mph limits are common.

I really need to do some deep research on this, as I want to understand the ST "OverPressure" issue much better, before going down that road. Pun intended.

Happy Trails ! D.

 

[TRR]

As I understand the "Overmax pressure" it is a misnomer. One should never inflate a tire to more than the "max pressure" stated on the sidewall. As I under the issue, you first have to know what is the weight on the tire from the scale (Lets call it 2000#) and the pressure the chart calls for at that tire size and loading (Lets call it 45psi). That determines the pressure for the 65 mph rating. To get the extra mph you'd need to increase the pressure by 10psi to 55psi. Now if the 55psi is still under the Max pressure on the sidewall, you'd be within the ratings at the higher speeds, otherwise - it's 65 mph.

I do not have my tire chart handy so I made up the numbers to illustrate my understanding. There are tire charts out there that have plenty of info on loading and pressures. Note: This is my understanding and not necessarily correct, but it's what I do until I find out otherwise.

Also, Why can't an LT tire be used on a trailer. I had a tire dealer tell me that it's because trailer tire side walls are subjected to more flexing than vehicle tires and the ST tires can take more flexing than the LT tires. ??? But RVs don't turn much going down the highway, only when setting up in a campground.

 

[3930dave]

TRR - I'm with you on LTs - if I could have fit today's size of LT on my trailer, I would have done it !

I follow the logic of what you are describing - basically increasing the pressure beyond what the "normal" pressure is spec'd by the trailer manufacturer, but staying with the Max tire Pressure.

Reading the Tire Rack info, I'm reminded of an old boss of mine. Once I got to know him well enough, he commented about how imprecise the English language can often be. I agree with him.

Just one example - if we increase the tire pressure by 10 psi, while still operating under the Max pressure limit, why would that not increase the load carrying capacity ?

Were they talking about Trailer capacity, Tire capacity, or did they just throw that in to keep their Legal Eagles happy ?

I'm not trying to argue with you TRR, your explanation was in many respects more concise than some of what Tire Rack posted. I have no plans to exceed the Max cold pressure on my ST tires, w/o doing a ton of research into this area.

If you compare the failure rates (anecdotally, but I'd love to get my hands on real data) of ST tires with P tires, ST's seem to be failing much more often. And, it's not like people don't drive around with under-inflated/overloaded P tires on their cars/trucks either.

I'm thinking that there are some fundamental problems with how the industry ST spec has been crafted, or at least interpreted.

Just me.... when I see something that doesn't grok, I get curious.... beats watching TV by a long shot, if nothing else !

Rgds, D.

 

[TRR]

Just one example - if we increase the tire pressure by 10 psi, while still operating under the Max pressure limit, why would that not increase the load carrying capacity ?

I would think so, but ---. I'm guessing now, but I suspect that it's a speed vs weight thing so one trades one for another. But then there is also the tire construction itself with the centrifugal forces and I'm sure there's a bunch of other stuff I don't know about. So I really don't know, I just try to understand what the tire companies write. And I definitely agree with the impreciseness of the English language.

A friend of mine has been running P-rated tires on his trailer and has had no problems with them. In the same time I've run ST-rated tires with an E load rating when D is supposed to be enough and still have had more blowouts and have replaced more tires than he has in the same time period. I'm going to try the Greenballs mentioned earlier. Anything has got to be better.

I'm not trying to argue with you TRR

Not taken as an argument. I see this as a discussion among friends with each explaining their thoughts so we can pick the best that applies to our situation and we can all operate as safely as possible.

 

[3930dave]

We are of like mind TRR. One of the things I value the most about hanging around TBN is coming across a post that causes me to re-assess how I view a particular situation, product, or technology.

A.K.A. Learning.

Sorry to hear it, but not surprised at your experience with ST's vs. P's. Unfortunately, what you describe mirrors what many maintenance aware and conscientious trailer owners have gone through.

The Towmasters have worked out well for me. If they work out well for you, please let us know.... far too many people are struggling with problematic (seriously dangerous, IMO) ST tires.

Rgds, D.

 

[Turbys_1700]

My current fifth wheel camper utilizes 15" D rated tires...
My best tires thus far have been Greenballs...
Just as a note...
Most ST trailer wheels have a max air pressure that is typically 10 psi over the max rating of the tire...
My rims are rated for 75 psi with the D series 15" tires rated at 65 psi...
That is why you can run 10 psi more...
That is the max rating for your wheels...