Another blowout

[ToddK]

Well, I have had my TT for three summers now. The first two went well without any problems. This summer I have had two blowouts. The first one was in late April. It was the forward axle on pass side. Just had another one yesterday. Same location. The first time I did not know I had blown the tire until I looked into the side mirror and saw two vehicles flashing their lights. Buy that time the tire was thrashed. no way to tell what the cause was. The second blowout I was doing about 65mph and heard it blow. I was able to stop before the tire was demolished. Took it to a tire shop for them to look at and they said that it was just a failure. No apparent wear patterns that would be from misaligned axles or anything. Btw, TT weighs in at 11. 5k full, 1340 tongue weight, tandem axle. Tires are Carlisle's rated at 2540 lbs ea. Carlisle does have an E rated tire, but they are only 2800 lbs each. What can I do to keep this from happening? Yes, I always check air pressure and periodically the valve stems for leaks. There is not enough room between the tires to go to 16's. Thanks.

 

[Champane Flight]

New tires....

Well, I have had my TT for three summers now. The first two went well without any problems. This summer I have had two blowouts. The first one was in late April. It was the forward axle on pass side. Just had another one yesterday. Same location. The first time I did not know I had blown the tire until I looked into the side mirror and saw two vehicles flashing their lights. Buy that time the tire was thrashed. no way to tell what the cause was. The second blowout I was doing about 65mph and heard it blow. I was able to stop before the tire was demolished. Took it to a tire shop for them to look at and they said that it was just a failure. No apparent wear patterns that would be from misaligned axles or anything. Btw, TT weighs in at 11. 5k full, 1340 tongue weight, tandem axle. Tires are Carlisle's rated at 2540 lbs ea. Carlisle does have an E rated tire, but they are only 2800 lbs each. What can I do to keep this from happening? Yes, I always check air pressure and periodically the valve stems for leaks. There is not enough room between the tires to go to 16's. Thanks.

I have a friend who bought a new TT and had the same problem. He finally got ticked and replaced them all with a top of the line trailer tire. The guy at the tire shop said he had been swamped with the same brand TT and tire failures. He explained that many TT manufacters buy Blemished tires wholesale which have different degrees of faults with the tires. He said he tracked one tire down by serial number, and it was ten years old at the time of his TT manufacter!

 

[B.G. Smith]

If your figures are right the tires are loaded to the max. They are not going to run long when they are three to four years old and fully loaded and running in the summertime. I have scattered some tire treads on some of the best highways in the USA. I had a 31' Carri-Lite that came with 15" tires, threw the tread off all them and the trailer rmanufacturer gave me a good deal on upgrading to 16" tires, that worked for a while but as soon as the tires got a few miles on and some age, they did the same thing. Best bet is to replace all the tires with the best and highest rated tire you can find and keep them inflated to whatever is maximim recommended by the manafacturer . You are still going to be on the edge if the figures you state are correct. Wish I could be more optimistic but I have been there and done that. bg

 

[georgej]

Todd

If you have special trailer (ST 225/xx-15) tires the maximum speed on them is 65 mph!. Also they're not balanced at the factory. I learned the hard way with goofy wearing tires and then at 4 years a blowout and bubbles appearing on the sidewalls. I've upgraded to michelin xps radials , E rated ,3042lbs. @80psi and a 75mph speed rating. Make sure your wheels are rated for about 3450lbs and use steel valves stems. If you're limited to 15inch wheel I've heard there is a G rated tire for them the may work for you.

 

[rweis]

I have an ALFA and in 2000 - 2003 they were delivered with Carlise tires. Many many tire failures. ALFA eventually changed them to Goodyear G614's and the tire blowouts stopped.



My ALFA came with Goodyear 614's and I have had 2 blowouts in 6 months.



I have SmarTire and just had a blowout at 55 mph. Tire psi and temp were very normal for the 105* day. Just tread failure and seperation, not underinflated or over inflated and tread was good. NO visual signs of anything not correct.



My local tire shop recommended replacing all 4 tires every 4 years regardless of tread or visual inspection.



Bob Weis

 

[Grizzly]

Todd

If you have special trailer (ST 225/xx-15) tires the maximum speed on them is 65 mph!. Also they're not balanced at the factory. I learned the hard way with goofy wearing tires and then at 4 years a blowout and bubbles appearing on the sidewalls. I've upgraded to michelin xps radials , E rated ,3042lbs. @80psi and a 75mph speed rating. Make sure your wheels are rated for about 3450lbs and use steel valves stems. If you're limited to 15inch wheel I've heard there is a G rated tire for them the may work for you.

I ordered a new 5th wheel and I'm thinking of taking it directly from the trailer dealer to a nearby Discount Tire store and swapping out the Super Trail, ST235 80R16, E rated for Michelin XPS Rib LT235 80R16, E rated. I will only get about $90 trade in for the ST tires, but in the long run, I think it will be worth it. Will the Michelin XPS Rib hold out to cracking as well as an ST tire?

 

[oneshotkyle]

i have had the same problem with my new hauler. 4 of 6 carlisle tires took a crap at 3000 miles. replace them all with good tires. i have had the new tires for about 3000 miles to date and no signs of wear or fatigue.

 

[Jerky]

I have blown more than my share of 15" trailer tires. The last one was on the New York Turnpike. Temp 60 and speed was 60mph. This one was a Titian 10 ply OR SO IT SAID ON THE TIRE. I carry two spares and when the temp gets to about 90 degrees I slow down to 50 mph. This is totally ridiculous. I will probably be switching to a 16" setup and try that for awhile. Why is it the vehicle tires have very little trouble. My trailer is a 30' Jayco and not overloaded. I currently have 4 10 ply carlisle's on it and will see what happens.

 

[WestTN]

It is usual to find the tires and suspension on a trailer are running at or very near their maximum weight rating. Per ISO standards, you can run overpressure and not speed to get better performance. I have been running my tires 5 to 10 psi over the maximum rated pressure and have not had a blowout in 3 years. I also don't cruise over 70 mph.



Above all, do not overload the trailer. Weigh it when ready to travel to see what it actually weighs.

 

[ScottLewis]

My experience with Carlysle tires echos yours except that 4 out of 5 either blew out completely or had obvious bulges when I pulled them off. One blew on each side of my 5th wheel and took out the fender skirt.



I won't buy them again.



Dan

 

[georgej]

Grizzly



The St tire has extra uv resistant rubber but my last goodyears were cracking at three years! and this is in Oregon. The michelins will lead a more sheltered life by being covered when at the house or not on the road. Hope to get 4 to 5 years out of them or about 45-60 thousand miles.

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

Have you checked your wheel bearings?

I had 2 tires go in the same location, turns out I spun a bearing.

This should be a yearly maint. item anyway. .



Good luck.

 

[AMink]

I blew a Carlisle earlier this year, right front on the tandem. The right rear developed a big blister on the tread, probably from the sudden weight shift. I searched around and Carlisles don't have the best reputation. What really ticked me off was the trailer is an 05, but the tires were manufactured in 02! I replaced them with the Les Schwab tires and so far all's well. I have become obsessive with tire and wheel temp, and tire pressure. I can't believe that tires rated at a max of 65 are allowed when some speed limits are 70. I keep it under 65, but to each their own...

 

[Jerky]

I have had terrible luck with the Nan Kang or whatever from Les Schwab I had three 8 ply bubble on me and got them off in time. The 10 ply Charlisle is the only 15" 10 ply I could find. So that is where I am at the moment. Perhaps the next step is to sell the 5th wheel who knows. Just Jesting!

 

[CROW]

I have had good luck with the Michelin XPS Rib tires and very poor luck with the Goodyears. I have heard so many stories about Carlisle tires failing that wonder how they are still in business. Have spoken to people who have had to upgrade axles and tires to solve their tire problems. RV manufacturers-in some cases-just do not put enough axle and tire on trailers. Think Grizzly has the right idea.

 

[Grizzly]

I have had good luck with the Michelin XPS Rib tires and very poor luck with the Goodyears. I have heard so many stories about Carlisle tires failing that wonder how they are still in business. Have spoken to people who have had to upgrade axles and tires to solve their tire problems. RV manufacturers-in some cases-just do not put enough axle and tire on trailers. Think Grizzly has the right idea.

It's going to cost me some big bucks, but as the old saying goes, pay me now or pay me latter.

 

[EricBu12]

I have a 36' 5th and on 6 wheels of 15", I have the "tow-master" tires made by goodyear in canada. . these seem to be doing well and I also overinflate 5 psi. At 70 cold, the hot pressure going down the road at 70 mph is only 74 psi. and tire is fairly warm but not hot... .



this trailer came with the Nan Kang tires made in N. Vietnam. . All 6 had problems in 1 year... 2 blowouts and 3 more about to... . switched all 6 right away.



Might do the upgrade to a 16" LT next year when the tires will be 3 yrs old. My 6 tires weigh in at 13,100# when fully loaded so I need a good tire. . also aluminum wheels to keep unsprung weight down.

 

[JRBurn]

I did not have much luck with Carlise tires on my old trailer.

#ad

 

[B.G. Smith]

I have had terrible luck with the Nan Kang or whatever from Les Schwab I had three 8 ply bubble on me and got them off in time. The 10 ply Charlisle is the only 15" 10 ply I could find. So that is where I am at the moment. Perhaps the next step is to sell the 5th wheel who knows. Just Jesting!

I had three Nan Kangs on my boat trailer and the tread started coming off, they spent most of their life in an enclosed boat stall. I called the 800# on the tire and they sent me three new tires. bg

 

[Grizzly]

It' time to say NO to ST tires.