There Oughta Be A Law...

[Mingoglia]

Will they pay for damages?

I don't know if they still do, but I've had them pay for damages once, and replace all tires for free another time. That was back in the height of their tire fiasco in the early 2000's where they were so crappy Discount Tire even stopped carrying them for a period of time.

 

[mwilson]

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

Maybe they have switched back??

The 4 that I put on my fifth wheel are all US made, BUT that was about 4 years ago. Gonna' go ask the tire department here in a minute...

 

[GCroyle]

I ran a set of Maxxis on my 9,000 Lb + tandem axle Airstream for a couple of years before I went to 16's. I have no first hand negatives with the Maxxis to report, investigate them, make your own decision. But this is a great time to consider a trailer TPMS. I'm on my 2nd Dill setup. Reads PSI and internal temp. Sold the 1st setup with the Maxxis.

 

[Camperman]

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.

Just a FYI. I was reading my new issue of TDR, issue #87. On page 67, there is discussion about trailer tires. The article above the picture of a tire states, Even the 'Goodyear Marathons' are now made in China.

 

[mwilson]

Yes, I just verified that.

Goodyear had switched the manufacturing of Marathon trailer tires from China to US made right around the time that I bought my last four. They did that because of issues with the Chinese manufacturing.

Now they switch back, having learned nothing apparently....

Wonder what I will buy next time, maybe she'll get the 8 bolt hub and wheel deal.....

 

[TFucili]

Yes, I just verified that.

Goodyear had switched the manufacturing of Marathon trailer tires from China to US made right around the time that I bought my last four. They did that because of issues with the Chinese manufacturing.

Now they switch back, having learned nothing apparently....

This is the perplexing thing to me, and maybe I am 100% wrong, but I would wager that if a legitimate manufacturer designed and built a high quality trailer tire here in the USA people would step up and pay a substantially higher price to get something that works and lasts. I know I would. I search to the ends of the Earth to purchase USA made boots, etc. Maybe I am a dinosaur after all.

 

[Cummins12V98]

This is the perplexing thing to me, and maybe I am 100% wrong, but I would wager that if a legitimate manufacturer designed and built a high quality trailer tire here in the USA people would step up and pay a substantially higher price to get something that works and lasts. I know I would. I search to the ends of the Earth to purchase USA made boots, etc. Maybe I am a dinosaur after all.

There are plenty of US Made trailer tires made here. It's just people don't want to pay for them and then complain about the junk they have.

GY G&H tires are top quality and made in USA.

I believe Bridgestone 250's and Michelin ribs are also. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[TFucili]

There are plenty of US Made trailer tires made here. It's just people don't want to pay for them and then complain about the junk they have.

GY G&H tires are top quality and made in USA.

I believe Bridgestone 250's and Michelin ribs are also. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

They are not made in the sizes needed by many people. I would gladly pay for them.

 

[GCroyle]

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

Also folks, gotta keep in mind the OP's question, while we don't know the trailer specs (that I remember seeing) I don't think its a construction flatbed trailer hauling a tractor.

 

[KATOOM]

I second a TPMS. If you care about the preventing damage to your trailer from blowouts then a TPMS is a great tool.

 

[JR]

I ran a set of Maxxis on my 9,000 Lb + tandem axle Airstream for a couple of years before I went to 16's. I have no first hand negatives with the Maxxis to report, investigate them, make your own decision. But this is a great time to consider a trailer TPMS. I'm on my 2nd Dill setup. Reads PSI and internal temp. Sold the 1st setup with the Maxxis.

If you don't mind me asking, what are you running for 16" tires?

 

[TFucili]

Also folks, gotta keep in mind the OP's question, while we don't know the trailer specs (that I remember seeing) I don't think its a construction flatbed trailer hauling a tractor.

Thanks, Gary, I had said "box trailer", but I should have been clearer. It's a 7x14 two axle cargo trailer. My primary use is motorcycle/atv hauling, but it has been used to haul a wide variety of stuff in the twelve years I've owned it. It is not particularly heavy, but it is "extra tall", and it pulls like a parachute. It does sit quite a bit, and I do move with traffic when towing, however I am meticulous with tire pressure, and have not done any "curb hopping" or abusive use with it.

To re-iterate, I would gladly pay the price for a properly designed and engineered, high quality tire, especially if it was USA made.

 

[TFucili]

I ran a set of Maxxis on my 9,000 Lb + tandem axle Airstream for a couple of years before I went to 16's. I have no first hand negatives with the Maxxis to report, investigate them, make your own decision. But this is a great time to consider a trailer TPMS. I'm on my 2nd Dill setup. Reads PSI and internal temp. Sold the 1st setup with the Maxxis.

I actually sell Maxxis ATV tires, and they tend to be trouble free, but, in the end, they are made by Cheng Shin Rubber. I had a friend who ran them on a car hauler and had one come aprt and tear off a fender. I do take that one with a grain of salt, as he was not exactly "maintenance intensive", to be polite.

TPMS is definitely a good idea, for sure. Oddly, though, we had our shop trailer completely shuck its tread not far from the shop, and the carcass still had pressure when the tech made it back to the shop. Not a typical failure, I admit.

 

[crispyboy]

Tfucili,
With the lighter weight of your trailer there is a way you can "skin this cat". I went through this exercise with my brother who has a similar trailer that is used for their duck/goose decoys and hunting equipment. This trailer gets towed down the highway at 80 mph from KY to Canada every fall - at least 32 hours non-stop driving.
You can use a P rated tire in the XL version - a 235 size designation. We went with the General Grabber HTS 235/75/15 with an Index of 109T and LOAD RANGE XL. These tire had a load rating of 2271 lbs. Since it a P rated tire the weight range must be decreased by 10%. The actual load range can then be figured at 2044 lbs per tire. These replaced a 205/75/15 tire ST load range C china pop tire. There was plenty of room in the wheel well for the bigger tire.
Many folks on the Airstream forum are successfully using this size tire on their travel trailers in the Michelin LTX ms/2 and BF Goodrich Longtrail T/A Tour. People with the heaviest of trailers upgrade to the 16" LT tires.
We did a test run on the tires at 70 mph before he left on his trip and according to the infrared thermometer the temps were the same on the truck and trailer tires.
I have read on a tire manufacturers website that after 3 years ST tires loose up to 1/3 of their strength......

 

[GCroyle]

JR,

The numbers are at home but a vast number of Airstream owners with tandem axles are shedding the 15's for 16's. I put on Michelin LTX (IIRC). The factory in OH is now offering them as a service part or even OE if ordered or again IIRC std eq on the Eddie Bauer lineup.

ST vs almost anything else, a major topic on Airforums.com

 

[SnoKing]

#ad

 

[Mingoglia]

I swear by Michelin LTX so if that's available in your size, I'd go that route. That's the tire that originally came on my second gen dually, and I still run to this day. I've obviously gone through a few sets and it's been redesigned along the way. Have always worn like steel and to this day, 14 years later, I have yet to even get a nail in one of these tires let alone experience any failure whatsoever. Many of my duner friends here out west run these on their overweight toy haulers and they last just fine even in the 118 summer days going down the highway at 80+

Mike

 

[TFucili]

Tfucili,
With the lighter weight of your trailer there is a way you can "skin this cat". I went through this exercise with my brother who has a similar trailer that is used for their duck/goose decoys and hunting equipment. This trailer gets towed down the highway at 80 mph from KY to Canada every fall - at least 32 hours non-stop driving.
You can use a P rated tire in the XL version - a 235 size designation. We went with the General Grabber HTS 235/75/15 with an Index of 109T and LOAD RANGE XL. These tire had a load rating of 2271 lbs. Since it a P rated tire the weight range must be decreased by 10%. The actual load range can then be figured at 2044 lbs per tire. These replaced a 205/75/15 tire ST load range C china pop tire. There was plenty of room in the wheel well for the bigger tire.
Many folks on the Airstream forum are successfully using this size tire on their travel trailers in the Michelin LTX ms/2 and BF Goodrich Longtrail T/A Tour. People with the heaviest of trailers upgrade to the 16" LT tires.
We did a test run on the tires at 70 mph before he left on his trip and according to the infrared thermometer the temps were the same on the truck and trailer tires.
I have read on a tire manufacturers website that after 3 years ST tires loose up to 1/3 of their strength......

I have been looking at 235s in P or LT. I just may go that way.

 

[TFucili]

Well, I finally made a move and installed Toyo HT LT235/75-15 on my trailer. No clearance issues and the tread pattern looks fine for trailer use. They are Load Range C, versus the D China-Pops, but the GVW of the trailer is only 7,000 lbs. I have never gone down in weight rating before, but I don't see a problem. I took it for a test tow after work to help break in my 6.4 and check out the tires. Very pleased to not have that lingering doubt of ST tires coming apart.

 

[S.Morris]

We use Hercules tires on our ERS trailers 7x16 box trailer always loaded at Max GVWR or close to it. Have 7 trailers on the road. We have tried so many different brands I have lost track including Uhaul's own bias tires (they were the absolute worst of all btw). Carlisles not much better.
The tires we settled on were Hercules and despite people repeatedly telling me they are China made, they are US made(stamped on tire) (maybe local to our area, not sure). However they wear out at approx 25K miles consistently because of much tight turning. They are a hugh improvement over anything we have tried previously.