Trailer Tires

[94BULLITT]

1. Why does everyone recommend radial trailer tires?

2. What are some good brands to go with?

3. What brands should I stay away from?

4. Anyone heard of Trailer King tires?

 

[Sysop]

1. They handle various loads and higher pressures better due to differences in the internal construction (more and heavier belts, steel versus nylon, etc.) and the tread patterns are optimized for the use (they're not made to cut a corner unless forced to by the tow vehicle, tread patterns are not like a car tire at all). They're also generally a low rolling resistance compound and pattern.

2. No clue, I've went with whatever brand the reputable local tire guy recommends.

3. No clue, I've never had an issue with a trailer tire besides the random nail making a slow leak.

4. Sorry, no help there either.

I will look at my trailers and see what's on them and report back.

Subscribed! Good questions.

 

[Dr Dave]

I have had good luck with Good Year trailer specials.

Dave

 

[Diamondpilot]

First response was perfect. I maintain about 75 trailers and hands down the best are Greenball Tow Master Radials followed by Gladiator a radials. Trailer Kings are not bad either.

Hands down the worst are Carlisle Tires followed closely by Goodyear Marathons.

Chris

 

[94BULLITT]

Thanks, for the replies. I'll see what I can come up with.

 

[Travelover]

The Costco near me sells the Greenballs via special order. Good prices and good service, in my experience.

 

[94BULLITT]

The Costco near me sells the Greenballs via special order. Good prices and good service, in my experience.

I saw that when I Googled the name. I may call them later today.

 

[thatguy]

<deleted text>

Hands down the worst are Carlisle Tires followed closely by Goodyear Marathons.

Chris

FYI - I bought a popup camper that had Carlisle tires on it. within 2 yrs all 3 tires (including spare) blew out - 2 blew out on one trip causing about $800 worth of damage.. When I filed a warranty claim against Carlisle they forwarded it to Goodyear for payment - since Goodyears actually made the tires for Carlisle..

brian

 

[Diamondpilot]

FYI - I bought a popup camper that had Carlisle tires on it. within 2 yrs all 3 tires (including spare) blew out - 2 blew out on one trip causing about $800 worth of damage.. When I filed a warranty claim against Carlisle they forwarded it to Goodyear for payment - since Goodyears actually made the tires for Carlisle..

brian

Yep, been there done that. Got no where.

I bought a new tri axle trailer in November and by August the next year I had lost 4. A year later the spare blew up on its carrier.

I replaced with Greenballs and 5 years later not a single issue.

Chris

 

[newbury]

The Costco near me sells the Greenballs via special order. Good prices and good service, in my experience.

Yup - 2 weeks ago the new Costco (Rt 1. Ffx Co) near me sold me 4 Greenball's. I did buy
metal high pressure stems elsewhere.

 

[kevin37b]

Why is life so tough on trailer tires?

 

[daugen]

Why is life so tough on trailer tires?

it is hard for me to believe there are so many bad trailer tires out there, and how two primo US manufacturers have the worst reputation is really pretty sad. I have to buy a new tire and rim tomorrow locally, to fit my new utility trailer, and
this question is sure on my mind too. In my experience, I have had good performance and no problems at all with Kenda, Kumho and TowMaster. The Kumho is made in a D rating in several sizes that no one else makes, and is great on a signle axle trailer to give you a little more safety margin.

why do they fail? Do all of us run our tires at half inflation? It would seem so based on the standard reaction to Goodyear Marathon radials online, when their happy owners immediately say owner operating error is the cause. Too heavy a load, not enough air, too hot a day, who knows. No way in my opinion. Too many Goodyears have failed for this to be an isolated situation, and what a black eye to Goodyear. I'm sure if you put a thousand pounds max on your three thousand pound trailer and keep the air at five pounds under max tire pressure, the tire would likely be reliable. I personally think heat is a big problem, and i would sure slow down on a 90 degree day.

I'll take a ten ply radial please with Kevlar in the sidewalls. Nobody seems to make a really premium tow tire, though it sure sounds like Greenball is doing a very good job with their Towmasters. My bias ply towmasters on my small boat were excellent tires. Isn't Maxxis another good Korean trailer tire? It's really weird that South Korea seems to dominate the market in quality trailer tires. Why?

 

[94BULLITT]

Are most trailer tires rated for 65MPH?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Kenda and Maxxis have been great also but are tough to find locally. Around here its Greenballs, Goodyears, Carlisles, Gladiators, and Trailer Kings.

Chris

 

[Bird]

Do all of us run our tires at half inflation? It would seem so based on the standard reaction to Goodyear Marathon radials online, when their happy owners immediately say owner operating error is the cause.

Maybe timing has something to do with it. In August, 1990, I bought a set of 5 load range D, 15", Goodyear Marathon tires in Elkhart, IN, for our fifth-wheel travel trailer. I'm not sure about the miles, but we went on to West Virginia, Dallas, the Texas coast, back to Dallas, to Anchorage, then down to Las Vegas where a year later, I traded the truck and trailer for a motorhome. So those tires were on the trailer in Texas and in Alaska sub-freezing temperaures, and the spare was never used. I couldn't have asked for any better tires.

But that was more than 20 years ago. Haven't all products changed in 20 years? That doesn't tell you a thing about what a Goodyear Marathon is like now. Maybe at least some of the happy owners are thinking of years ago, just as my experience was.

 

[newbury]

why do they fail?

They fail just because they get old.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Maybe timing has something to do with it. In August, 1990, I bought a set of 5 load range D, 15", Goodyear Marathon tires in Elkhart, IN, for our fifth-wheel travel trailer. I'm not sure about the miles, but we went on to West Virginia, Dallas, the Texas coast, back to Dallas, to Anchorage, then down to Las Vegas where a year later, I traded the truck and trailer for a motorhome. So those tires were on the trailer in Texas and in Alaska sub-freezing temperaures, and the spare was never used. I couldn't have asked for any better tires.

But that was more than 20 years ago. Haven't all products changed in 20 years? That doesn't tell you a thing about what a Goodyear Marathon is like now. Maybe at least some of the happy owners are thinking of years ago, just as my experience was.

They really cheapened them up to compete with the Korean tires that were as good or better for 25% less money.

I know of a set of 4 Marathons still going strong since 1998. That was the good old days. Now they are junk just like Carlisle.


Chris

 

[Sysop]

They fail just because they get old.

Mine fail cause they seem to find nails easier than tires on my pickup.

 

[oldballs]

The last set that I bought were Greenball "Towmaster" 8 ply...load range D ST225/75R15 at $116 each. My equipment hauler bought in 1999 came with GoodYear 'Marathon" tires. They got a lot of bad press back then but served me okay, even with 6,500 lb loads. But my towing isn't all that far or fast or often. Cheers, Mike

 

[94BULLITT]

Anybody heard of Master trac tires?

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