There Oughta Be A Law...

[TFucili]

Against Chi-Com will-pop ST Tires. I know this has been discussed many times, so I apologize for bringing it up again. I have had my new truck for a week, and thought I'd hook onto my box trailer and drag it on a 50+ mile loop to do a little loaded break in on the 6.4. I hooked up and dragged the trailer out to do a light check, and check tire pressure before setting out. I didn't get far, as I found two of the Chi-Com tires are separating badly. I'm sure glad I did a walk around. I think these are three years old. Probably 2,000 miles +/-

Unfortunately, they are 225/75-15 Load Range D, so XPS Ribs are out. Has anybody found a 15" tire worth owning?

 

[TLane]

I have had decent results with the Maxxis ST tires in 15". Available in both load range D and E. Load range D is sufficient for my trailer, but I went to load range E for more margin. I buy them at discount tire, but I have to insist that they are what I want (NOT Carlilse, no matter what they say). They have to order them, so it takes a few days. Last one I looked at was made in Taiwan. I buy 2 new tires every 2 years; the oldest tires are retired, the next to oldest go as spares (I carry two spares, the result of many problems prior to getting Maxxis tires).

Having said that, I'm looking into adding blocks under the springs (above the axle seats) to get enough clearance between the tire and trailer body to convert to 16" LT tires. I need another 1/2"...

 

[SnoKing]

So you want to know trailer tires should look like?

#ad


And this is what my RV BS Duravis R250 trailer tires look like.

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First picture is an OTR trailer I was parked next to.

Chris

 

[Mingoglia]

I've been fighting 15" trailer tires for years, and have had my fair share of Carlisle blowouts. I've had Carlisle buy me a set of tires, fix a trailer, and blown out countless tires. I then switched brands, and they all suck. So I went back to the newest 15" Carlisle Load Range E and I'm actually pretty impressed with them, and they run very cool. We'll see though how long they last. Like many people, I'm past being pessimist with them, but these really do seem a lot better than their past tires. They have a more commercial type tread on them now.

 

[TFucili]

So you want to know trailer tires should look like?

#ad


And this is what my RV BS Duravis R250 trailer tires look like.

#ad


First picture is an OTR trailer I was parked next to.

Chris

Well aware, Sno, but no 15" that I can find

 

[TFucili]

I've been fighting 15" trailer tires for years, and have had my fair share of Carlisle blowouts. I've had Carlisle buy me a set of tires, fix a trailer, and blown out countless tires. I then switched brands, and they all suck. So I went back to the newest 15" Carlisle Load Range E and I'm actually pretty impressed with them, and they run very cool. We'll see though how long they last. Like many people, I'm past being pessimist with them, but these really do seem a lot better than their past tires. They have a more commercial type tread on them now.

Thanks for the info.

 

[SnoKing]

16" rims and LT215/85R16E at 2680 lbs each or the shorter LT225/75R16E.

 

[KATOOM]

I completely agree there should be a law against selling crappy ST tires. Heck, there should be a law about selling ANY crappy tire. But maybe there should also be some laws which say.....
You cant install tires that are already over a year old.
You cant let your trailer set for a year without moving it.
You cant run anything lower than max tire pressures in trailer tires while parked or towing.
You cant overload your trailer or install tires which aren't rated for trailers weight capacity.
You must make sure your trailer tires are balanced and the wheels aren't bent.
You must make sure your trailer axles are aligned and running straight.
And.....any of the other things people do to their trailers and then complain when the tires dont hold up.

 

[Mingoglia]

I completely agree there should be a law against selling crappy ST tires. Heck, there should be a law about selling ANY crappy tire. But maybe there should also be some laws which say.....
You cant install tires that are already over a year old.
You cant let your trailer set for a year without moving it.
You cant run anything lower than max tire pressures in trailer tires while parked or towing.
You cant overload your trailer or install tires which aren't rated for trailers weight capacity.
You must make sure your trailer tires are balanced and the wheels aren't bent.
You must make sure your trailer axles are aligned and running straight.
And.....any of the other things people do to their trailers and then complain when the tires dont hold up.

Or for those of us in Phoenix.... you can't run your trailer tire within 100lbs of it's maximum weight at 85mph on a 118 degree August day and complain when your tires come apart.

 

[Hoefler]

I have run Maxxis LT Tires on my loaded cargo trailer for years. I actually wear them out.

 

[TFucili]

My wheels are 5 on 4.5, and I am having zero luck finding a 16 to fit. Dang!

 

[mwilson]

My wheels are 5 on 4.5, and I am having zero luck finding a 16 to fit. Dang!

You are probably out of luck trying to deviate within that bolt pattern.

I have had very good luck with the 15" Goodyear Marathons on my trailers, USA made for quite some time now. Budget uses them on the galvanized car trailers that they rent, the tires stand that very abusive chore quite well.

We have them on the company trailer (fondly named the "Lead Sled") and nobody checks anything on that when they hook on and go. Every time I take it at least two tires are low on air and have to blow them up. The Marathons take that treatment without complaint.

 

[Mingoglia]

My wheels are 5 on 4.5, and I am having zero luck finding a 16 to fit. Dang!

That's a more rare pattern for a trailer axle, it's more automotive. For example, I know Jeep used to use that for most of their vehicles up through when the JK was released. So any TJ, YJ, Cherokee, older Grand Cherokee, etc would fit. Also many light duty Ford's from the 80's and 90's will fit, such as the Ford Exploder. I wonder if you could find a wheel from one of these vehicles that might fit your needs? Unfortunately most likely came with 15's.

 

[TLane]

I'm in the process of changing out the hubs on my utility trailer to match what is on my travel trailer, along with adding brakes. The axles on the utility trailer have the 4 bolt flange for the brake backing plate, so all I have to do is remove the old hub and bearings, install the backing plate, then install the new hub. The new hub is 6 lug, the old one is one of the 5 lug patterns. $130 per axle for new hubs, bearings, backing plates, hardware, etc. from Southwest Wheel. Oh - and since it now has brakes - I have to add wiring for the brakes...

Since the utility trailer never seems to go more than 50 miles from home, it will probably get hand-me-downs from the travel trailer. Which is better than what I used to do, which never buy new tires for it...

 

[Mingoglia]

That is a good point. It's really quite reasonable to just replace the hubs as suggested with a more common (for trailers) bolt pattern.. In fact when I replaced my brakes on one of my trailers I just bought all new hubs/brakes...it was actually cheaper than trying to just replace pads. At that same time I added another braking axle as all the axles have that 4 bolt flange the previous poster mentioned, so it's a simple upgrade which just requires splicing into the electrical.

 

[RikDavis]

Over the last 8 years I have been running Duro ST 225/75 R 15 tires with no failures. I moved the first set to utility trailer duty after 6 years and put a new set on the Airstream. I got the first set by accident when I had a failure traveling and had to buy what was available. I bought the second set on purpose. That being said, I am not sure there really are any good ST tires out there

 

[TFucili]

You are probably out of luck trying to deviate within that bolt pattern.

I have had very good luck with the 15" Goodyear Marathons on my trailers, USA made for quite some time now. Budget uses them on the galvanized car trailers that they rent, the tires stand that very abusive chore quite well.

We have them on the company trailer (fondly named the "Lead Sled") and nobody checks anything on that when they hook on and go. Every time I take it at least two tires are low on air and have to blow them up. The Marathons take that treatment without complaint.

Interesting, I was on a site looking at the Marathons, and under Country of Origin it said CN(China).

 

[TFucili]

I spoke with a Carlisle rep today and was told the new Carlisles come with a two year warranty against separation, and that is not pro-rated.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I spoke with a Carlisle rep today and was told the new Carlisles come with a two year warranty against separation, and that is not pro-rated.

Will they pay for damages?

 

[KATOOM]

Last time I checked (a couple years ago) all ST tires were made in China except for Maxxis which are made in Thailand. Tread designs are all very similar too and most differences, if any, are in the casing.