BAD Tires/Service from manufacture

[carl07230]

After reading current issue/RV articles on tires I knew I needed to post this and to ask further advice. We (wife & I)bought a new Forest River 28 ft. travel trailer in Feb. 2013. We live in East Texas. We have taken several short trips this past year and only 3 over 1500 miles. 2 weeks ago while getting ready for a trip to Bandera Tx I found a low tire. Took it off and to the local tire shop. Found out that it was splitting in different places at the seam just above the rim. Decided to swap the spare on to the nice rim. In doing so found another bad tire same problem. Contacted Forest River they said to contact manufacture. Contacted Lionshead Wheel & Tire as these are Trail Express tires, they said because of the dates it was out of warranty and that the warranty is from date of manufacture and not purchase. Some of my tires have the date as 2412. Which means it was made 24th week of 2012. Recontacted Forest River and asked them why they were putting tires on their products with 6 to 8 months of warranty gone. They said that they order from Lions Head and cannot control how for in advance Lions Head purchases their tires from China. Has any one else had this problem with tires? Currently on the trailer are Trail Express Power Towing Size ST 225/75R15. I didn't want to go through the hassel of changing rims as in the current article that I've read about so many doing, but I do need 5 new trailer tires. Open to suggestions on sizes,brands,etc. that will work on the 15 inch rim. Another problem I found was that the drain hole at the bottom of the electric tounge jack is not big enough for water (how it got in there i don't know) to drain out. Motor seized up completely, couldn't even hand jack it. Luckyly I was able to take it apart get it to working, cleaned it and regreased it and drilled the cover drain hole out to about 1/2 inch. Now I turn a 5 gallon bucket over it when not in tow. The Tire Fight ain't over with yet. I'm doing what I told Forest River what I said I would do. Letting everyone know that I can what kind of shabby operation they are running. Thanks to TDR for the article or some of us (me) would've went out and bought just any replacement tire.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

You are lucky they didn't blow out and damage the trailer. There are lots of horror stories about Chinese made tires. I Get D or E depending on the load rating you need. Don't just get E because you think they are better--they are not better, just can carry more load. You still want to keep the trailer tires at full pressure; don't run E at reduced pressure as they will get hotter.

 

[seafish]

Best advice is to ditch the trailer rated tires completely and then find some Michelin LTE tires that will fit your rig!!!!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I have had good results with Maxxis trailer tires, but follow their guideline and don't run them more than 5 years; I prefer not to run them more than 4 years.

 

[seafish]

I have had good results with Maxxis trailer tires, but follow their guideline and don't run them more than 5 years; I prefer not to run them more than 4 years.

NOT arguing with your experience with Maxxis, b ut still feel that Michelins are what I want my family riding on!!

 

[Cummins12V98]

Bottom line US made tire is what you want. Yes you can run lower pressures based on load. I am referring to US made tires since I would never own anything else. All tires have load/inflation charts,

Per GY Tech Support. "when up sizing as in "D" to "E" use the inflation chart and add 5psi" based on the actual weight on your tires".

 

[inlinesix3million]

In my research on this subject I have found the optimum solution to this is: Change out to a 16" wheel and go with Michelin XPS Ribs or Bridgestone Duravis R250's. They both have a closed

shoulder design and steel belted sidewalls. If you stay with a 15" wheel then Maxxis. When you look up the specs on the Maxxis you will notice they are much heavier than the ST's you

have now. This is due to the much heavier duty construction of their tires. I got this info from the TDR so thank you Mr Donnelly and everyone else.

 

[Camperman]

When The factory tires on our RV needed replaced, (Good-year Wranglers) I put BFG Commercial T/A's on our 5er. Tires have 11,000 miles, and are wearing great. Our 5er takes a 16" tire. As stated above, stay away from the China made tires. Tires are not cheap, and you generally get what you pay for.

 

[NC Hauler]

Most, not all, but most manufacturers rip off the consumer by purchasing high volumes of these Chinese manufactured, very low quality ST tires....One needs to look at their axle weight rating. Is it a 5,000# weight rated axle, if so, you need a tire to cover it, if 6,000#, we're now getting into "E" rated tires and their are some very good one's out there, the Michelin XPS rib, the Duravis R250 ans well as the BFG's that Camperman talked about...BUT, one needs to cover their axle weight rating with a tire that will cover handle the weight...My 5er has 7,000# weight rated axles on it, I'd loved to have kept my RIBS and put them on some years back, but 5er needs a "G" rated tire and I was fortunate that tires were American made GY G614's.

Something to remember, "IF" you do go from a "D" to an "E", and you air to sidewall max psi, you need to make sure your wheels , (Rims), can take the extra psi..If you upgrade, you may have to purchase different rim's, also if you go up in size, you may have to look at distance between the two tires (front to rear, if tandem axles)....some "taller tires, could close the distance and end up being an issue.

I'd can the Chinese made junk, so far the only tire manufactured in China that I would even think about putting on my 5er is a Sailun tire, due to their very high quality standards, but that is a "G" rated tire.

The RIBS are expensive, but worth every penny...The Duravis 250's, going by a buddy who have owned these as well as the RIBS, states the 250's are just as good and cost less. Depends on your budget, but I'd definitely stay away from the "off the wall name brands", made in china no matter what.....

 

[Tuesdak]

The trailer manufacture has to warranty the tires or you can sue them for breach of warranty. Went through the same thing with a new Haulmark that had older tires and they fought me for 6 months until I sent them a picture of the trailer sales office with failed separated Communist China Hi-Run tires stacked up all over the front porch from lots of other customers. The dealer moved the bad tire and Haulmark reimbursed me for 5 replacement tires.

Made in USA Goodyear trailer tire are also known to separate in the past.

 

[Tractorat]

Unfortunately a tire dealer will sell you what they have in stock no matter how old the tire actually is.
However,I bet if you fight that, you may find that that warranty to you is as of date of purchase as with any other product sold in the US. Call the FTC.

 

[Cummins12V98]

The trailer manufacture has to warranty the tires or you can sue them for breach of warranty. Went through the same thing with a new Haulmark that had older tires and they fought me for 6 months until I sent them a picture of the trailer sales office with failed separated Communist China Hi-Run tires stacked up all over the front porch from lots of other customers. The dealer moved the bad tire and Haulmark reimbursed me for 5 replacement tires.

Made in USA Goodyear trailer tire are also known to separate in the past.

You said it! "IN THE PAST" GY "G" tires have been very trouble free since early 07 MFG date. GY "H" tires are very troubler also!

 

[bigblock_doc]

On my car hauler, changed to 16 inch and Hankook LT tires. Have over 30,000 on them now and
no problems so far. I was going through one tire every trip, they were Carlise load range E.
The tread would come off, never heard anything. All that was left was the sidewalls.
Lucky no damage to the trailer. Discount tire sold me these and the last flat I had
I reminded them of the commercial about the old lady chucking one through the window.

 

[Simplysmn]

ST tires are just Plain Junk and all the Trailer mfg put the cheapest tire they can get away with on them because they know by the time the Warr is up you will just replace them anyway . St tires if you look Carry less weight then a LT and have less side wall also . Like said before if at all Possible go too a LT tire and know you will be a lot Safer .we use to go through st tires like water on the car trailer's now they all have LT's and seam to run fine .As for the Fight I would Fight as hard as you can it's not your Fault they sold you a Tire that was 6 month's older then trailer.

 

[NC Hauler]

ST tires are just Plain Junk and all the Trailer mfg put the cheapest tire they can get away with on them because they know by the time the Warr is up you will just replace them anyway . St tires if you look Carry less weight then a LT and have less side wall also . Like said before if at all Possible go too a LT tire and know you will be a lot Safer .we use to go through st tires like water on the car trailer's now they all have LT's and seam to run fine .As for the Fight I would Fight as hard as you can it's not your Fault they sold you a Tire that was 6 month's older then trailer.

Actually, though I agree with your post on ST tires, the ST tires are junk, but they DO have a higher weight rating than most LT tires....Didn't say they were better, just said, if you look, the ST tires state, on the sidewall, comparing like tires to like tires, they handle more weight....If you pick up an "E" rated Chinese tire, 16" and pick up a Michelin XPS RIB, same size and weight rating, the ST tire will tout higher weight carrying capabilities, BUT also have a lower speed rating, will deteriorate more rapidly AND you'll see a MUCH thicker sidewall on the RIBS (as you stated), and you'll also notice that the Michelin is much heavier than the ST tire....it's called "quality"...something that is rare in just about anything manufactured in China. We're scared of them evidently and won't say anything to them about trash imported into our country...

As I stated earlier, "most" rv manufacturers (TT's and 5er's), will bid on tires and buy them in huge numbers..and they end up having paid near to nothing for cheap, non quality Chinese ST tires and we, the consumer may pay for it with a blow out down the road, causing down time and possibly some damage to one's TT or 5er....One of the first things I look at when looking at new or even used TT's and 5er's on dealers lot's is what tires are on the unit..."IF" I were ever to buy another 5er, it WON'T have Chinese manufactured ST tires on it, or it's a deal breaker....I will say that the Sailun tire, as mentioned early is the ONLY tire i would make exception for due to it's TS and ISO certifications it's earned..but that's it...

 

[RustyJC]

ST tires are just Plain Junk and all the Trailer mfg put the cheapest tire they can get away with on them.....

Not to pick nits, but our current RV came with 215/75R-17.5 load range H Goodyear G114 tires rated 4805 lbs @ 125 PSIG with a 75 MPH speed rating. Not all RV manufacturers use the cheapest Chinese ST tires they can find.

Rusty

 

[brods]

Actually, though I agree with your post on ST tires, the ST tires are junk, but they DO have a higher weight rating than most LT tires....Didn't say they were better, just said, if you look, the ST tires state, on the sidewall, comparing like tires to like tires, they handle more weight....If you pick up an "E" rated Chinese tire, 16" and pick up a Michelin XPS RIB, same size and weight rating, the ST tire will tout higher weight carrying capabilities, BUT also have a lower speed rating, will deteriorate more rapidly AND you'll see a MUCH thicker sidewall on the RIBS (as you stated), and you'll also notice that the Michelin is much heavier than the ST tire....it's called "quality"...something that is rare in just about anything manufactured in China. We're scared of them evidently and won't say anything to them about trash imported into our country...

......

Apples and oranges. ST tires do not have to meet the much more stringent standards that LT tires do. Take an ST tire and calculate the weight rating using the same methods that are used for LT tires and you'd see the ST tire rating drop, that is assuming the ST tire could even survive the brutal low inflation test that LT tires have to pass. I'd have no concerns running a LT tire at its max load rating. Can't say that about cheap ST tires.

 

[NC Hauler]

Not to pick nits, but our current RV came with 215/75R-17.5 load range H Goodyear G114 tires rated 4805 lbs @ 125 PSIG with a 75 MPH speed rating. Not all RV manufacturers use the cheapest Chinese ST tires they can find.

Rusty

That was stated earlier, that not "all", but most manufacturers do use the cheap Chinese tires, My 5er came with GY G614's, made in Kansas..great tire.

 

[NC Hauler]

Apples and oranges. ST tires do not have to meet the much more stringent standards that LT tires do. Take an ST tire and calculate the weight rating using the same methods that are used for LT tires and you'd see the ST tire rating drop, that is assuming the ST tire could even survive the brutal low inflation test that LT tires have to pass. I'd have no concerns running a LT tire at its max load rating. Can't say that about cheap ST tires.

Actually I know that and agreed with your post...I merely stated facts that the junk tires have a higher weight carrying capacity....which will decline approx. 8% each year they are in use. I never stated I was comparing apples to apples, I stated the junky Chinese tires are "rated" to carry more weight, which doesn't impress me either...You made one statement that wasn't entirely correct, we agree on everything else. You're really not telling me anything I didn't already know.

My company not only builds ABS, brake calipers, brake by wire, park sense and EPB calipers, but also manufactures tires, so I was merely stating facts that I know. I wouldn't waste my money on a chinese tire, I know their Quality policy....they have none....Sailun does, other than that, I know of no other in China...You're preaching to the choir, I'm as anti chinese made ST tires as one can be, (visit rv.net and check on some of my post). I know testing that LT tires, tires in the US, UK, Germany and several other nations go through. We don't enforce squat with China because I guess our government is afraid they'll make the commies mad...who knows...I can't believe the junk is allowed on the RV's...I'd use a Carlisle on my riding lawn mower, but that's about it.

 

[RustyJC]

That was stated earlier, that not "all", but most manufacturers do use the cheap Chinese tires, My 5er came with GY G614's, made in Kansas..great tire.

Please read the quote in my post #16 - I was specifically responding to another poster who stated that all manufacturers use the cheapest tire they can get away with, did he not?

My previous Mobile Suites came with the Goodyear G614s as well - suffice it to say that my luck with them wasn't as good as yours has been. 2 total tread separations, $2500 in damages to the 5th wheel with the 2nd one. I replaced them with 17.5" Michelin XTAs that were absolutely trouble-free.

Rusty