Keystone tire campaign

[JCasper]

Why are RV tires so much? I thought of replacing mine maybe next year, but I didn't think they would be that much money.



I have a 2007 Keystone Springdale with Duros and I have about 3,000 miles on them now. Many of those miles at 70MPH in 90 degree heat.

 

[wgordon]

Why are RV tires so much? I thought of replacing mine maybe next year, but I didn't think they would be that much money.



I have a 2007 Keystone Springdale with Duros and I have about 3,000 miles on them now. Many of those miles at 70MPH in 90 degree heat.

JCasper

I don't think RV tires are expensive. You can get GY Marathons at Sams Club for about $112. 00. But, as you know, Michelins are premium tires and we pay a premium compared to lesser brands.

ww

 

[JCasper]

JCasper

I don't think RV tires are expensive. You can get GY Marathons at Sams Club for about $112. 00. But, as you know, Michelins are premium tires and we pay a premium compared to lesser brands.

ww

I would agree that Michelins are premium. Are they the better choice when I shop around next year? Will my trailer handle better with them?

 

[Grizzly]

JCasper

I don't think RV tires are expensive. You can get GY Marathons at Sams Club for about $112. 00. But, as you know, Michelins are premium tires and we pay a premium compared to lesser brands.

ww

I agree, RV tires are not expensive at all. I received a quote of $91. 00 for a Pathfinder ST 235 80R16, range E. I was told Pathfinder are as good as China tires get. Same size tire in a Michelin LT are $210. 00. I am not interested in ST tires, but I was given a price for comparison.

 

[SnoKing]

I agree, RV tires are not expensive at all. I received a quote of $91. 00 for a Pathfinder ST 235 80R16, range E. I was told Pathfinder are as good as China tires get. Same size tire in a Michelin LT are $210. 00. I am not interested in ST tires, but I was given a price for comparison.

So are you saying that you get what you pay for???? Fake Chinese tires should not be brought into the country, just like Chinese toys painted with lead based paint. When will we learn? US food crops switched to alcohol production to go in gas, so we start importing food from third World countries. It takes more petro to raise the crop than the gasahol saves!!!! SNOKING

 

[MMeilicke]

Trailer tires are a tough issue to get around. My tandem axle weight on my 5th wheel is 9500 lbs. The trailer came with Goodyear ST D loads. I replaced them all when one of the developed a bubble along the rim. I went to G614. On Goodyear's web site they have a chart for all of their tires showing what the tire pressure should be for the weight on the tire. You do not have to run the G614 at 110 lbs. I am now running my pressure at 85 lbs which is the correct pressure for about 3,200 lbs of weight. So I am well over tired.



You have to be careful about the wheel pressure rating. I believe all wheels have a manufacturer's number stamped on the inside of the wheel. Call the manufacture of the wheel and they will then be able to tell you what the air pressure rating is for that wheel.



I have about 20,000 miles on the G614s and so far so good. Good luck

 

[wgordon]

I would agree that Michelins are premium. Are they the better choice when I shop around next year? Will my trailer handle better with them?

J Casper

In mho, based on the numerous horror stories associated with Chinese tires, Michelins appear to be the better choice. My 5th wheel handles very well with them. It seems that when many Chinese tires fail (blow out), they do so catastrophically frequently causing a lot of trailer damage. The Michelins, when they fail (blow out), seem to just pop a hole and deflate. I'm sure there are exceptions to this.

ww

 

[Matt42]

I would agree that Michelins are premium. Are they the better choice when I shop around next year? Will my trailer handle better with them?

Well, my 27 foot travel trailer does. It handles waaaay better. It's much less susceptible to crosswinds and the "bow wave" effect of an 18 wheeler. They run cooler also.

I went from ST205/75R15 load range C to Michelin LTX LT 215/75R15 load range C truck tires. Load capacity is nearly the same, but the Michelin tire is slightly wider and about 1/2 inch greater in diameter. In a really tight wheel well, there might be problems.

I'll still replace the Michelin tires on the same schedule as the grabage brand trailer tires due to heat and environmental factors. The additional cost of the Michelins is offset buy the lowered likelihood of damage to the trailer from a tire flying apart. An unquantifiable advantage to the Michelin tires is that my wife will actually drive now, and neither of us are in terror. :-laf

 

[JCasper]

I think I am going to replace them at the start of next camping season. I will only use it a couple more times this year and not near as far as I have already gone.



The do run hot, when I stop I always go back and feel them and they are very warm.

 

[Flexiheep]

JCasper,

I would check your tires very carefully for the rest of the season. I just got my Milestars replaced and while they looked bad, they were worse than I thought they were. I found massive cupping, flatspots past the wear bars, and two 1 inch bubbles in the tread area. I was saying to myself I have to get tires before our next trip, that was what started my search for tires. I just didn't realize how bad the tires were, and that I HAD to have tires before the next trip. #@$%!



For the record I ended up going with a LT235/85/16 load range E (Spector Advanta, 3040 lb) tire that had been getting really good reviews locally. I finally decided that the big thing was to get 16s on the thing so I could run a tire with more weight capacity. When all is said and done if I don't like the tires I picked I can stop in and get something else and I will already have the 16 inch wheels. I won't be fighting the 15 st's while on the road (can be hard to find some places), that is worth a lot to me at this point (what tire shop doesn't have something in a 235/85/16?).



Since I upgraded (didn't take the Marathons) I have to submit my claim for reimbursement through the rv dealer. I figure worst case, they for some weird reason reject the claim I will take the factory wheels in and have the "proper" marathons put on the way Keystone wants me to. Then sell a brand new set of marathons on craigslist to recoup some of my $.



Tires are properly inflated and we are packing the camper for the weekend. I am just glad I made a decision, there is just too much opinion and info and everything else on the web. It really makes it hard to decide because of info overload. :-{}



In the end, right or wrong I am going camping..... Oo.

 

[Grizzly]

After I brought my new 32' Summit Ridge 5th wheel home from the dealer, the next pull I made was to Tire Kingdom for Michlin XPS Ribs to replace the Chinese Missions. Yep, the Ribs are pricey. While insurance will repair/replace trailer and truck damage caused by an exploding cheap tire, I just can't let greed endanger the wife, our four legged bady and our feathered friends who ride with me. What is peace of mind worth?

ww

How much trade-in did Tire Kingdom allow you for your China missions? Did you get the LT 235 85R16, E? I'm facing the same thing next month when we go pick up our Arctic Fox 5er. The Mfg won't do the right thing and install the LT's and the dealer doesn't seem to want to do the swap, but I'm pressuring him.

 

[Double A]

I agree about paying more for premium tires. I picked up a new 07 Cougar 289BHS in June with the Milestars. About 40 miles from the Dealership the front curbside tire exploded leaving a trail of sheetmetal down I-95. Keystone replaced all tires with American made Denmans. I don't have any experience with this brand but so far they've been great. I plan to replace them w/Michelins when I can. I think it's worth it after seeing how much damage the blowout caused to the trailer. I wish I had some pics. I could peel the layers of the Milestar apart by hand. It looked like a retread held together with contact cement.