Best trailer tires and source?

[S.Morris]

The Duro tire is the 3rd tire brand he has tried. The orig no name china tires were crap... ... . then carlisle... ... they all had belt separation (caught before failure). Then tried Duro(they have been in business 60+ yrs) They have been trouble free and do the job well. Tread wear life is not great but not worse than the others. Part of reason of shorter life is the fact that the units do very tight turns in parking lots to set up for truck down repairs.



Also uses BFG commercial TA on duallies with very good service... ... ... will run double the mileage of hwy tread cooper tires of same size.

 

[Grizzly]

So far, good advice here. The Michelin XPS ribs are great, but a little high for me. I wanted to switch to 16" as advised but didn't due to the cost. I've had good luck with the Maxxis tires from Discount Tire. They have a 15" E rated tire.



Whatever you buy, plan on replacing them every few years, like every 4 to 6 years. Unless you put on a lot of miles, that will be long before the tread shows much sign of wear. I'm working on a plan to buy 2 tires every 2 years and I carry 2 spares. So the 2 new ones go on the ground and the 2 oldest go on the spares. My oldest spare is 6 years old, the oldest tire on the ground is 4 years old.

If you're talking about ST tires, which I assume you are, they are only recommended for a maximum of 3 years from the date stamped on the inside box. That's without regards to how much thread they have left.



I too support Michelin XPS Ribs. They may be pricy, but they may also be the cheapest insurance you can buy. I strongly believe on putting the best tires I can afford on my truck, cars and RV.



george

 

[MARK JAQUITH]

Had all kinds of tire problems on my 32 ft Gulfstream 12320 # loaded-235/R85-16 first 100000 miles it was one blow out-tread seperation-etc--Went to Goodyear and the manager put on G rated tires and now have 120300 miles on them without one problem and still look great.



01. 5 3500 HO 4x4 uad cab 410 gears Edge EZ 275 injectors AFE 2nd stage air Jacobs e-brake SPA Digital gages SB Con OFE Mark

 

[HBarlow]

The Duro tire is the 3rd tire brand he has tried. The orig no name china tires were crap... ... . then carlisle... ... they all had belt separation (caught before failure). Then tried Duro(they have been in business 60+ yrs) They have been trouble free and do the job well. Tread wear life is not great but not worse than the others. Part of reason of shorter life is the fact that the units do very tight turns in parking lots to set up for truck down repairs.

Also uses BFG commercial TA on duallies with very good service... ... ... will run double the mileage of hwy tread cooper tires of same size.

60 years? I didn't realize China had anything other than bicycles and oxcarts 20 years ago.

I assume Duro is a ChiComm tire maker? Did/do they make tires in China under the "Duro" name?

 

[RustyJC]

Although they have manufacturing facilities throughout Asia, Duro Tire appears to be based in Taiwan according to what I was able to find on a Google search.



Rusty

 

[10-9jc]

Michelin XPS Ribs & Costco.

Any tire dealer - including Costco - that sells Michelin can order XPS Ribs.

Most don't stock them - which is good = current production date/s.

Should be one day delivery during the week. (distributors all over the USA).

BTW - Michelin also owns BFG.

~

Avoid Chinese ST tires like the plague.
Ditto GY Marathons - no matter where mfg.

Maxxis "E" should be OK *if* someone must stick with 15".
FYI - Maxxis are mfg in: Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam - - and Mainland China.

~

 

[gerry]

Goodyear Marathons

I was all set up to order three US Goodyear from a GY store only to be told all Goodyear Marathons are now Chinese and the one this store had was made sometime in 09. So much for the last US made trailer tire.

 

[MChildress]

I was all set up to order three US Goodyear from a GY store only to be told all Goodyear Marathons are now Chinese and the one this store had was made sometime in 09. So much for the last US made trailer tire.

They are made back in the USA now. My 1st set was made in Canada 2nd set 6yrs later where made in China. Just got a new set on our RV last year made in USA. Sounds like your dealer has some old stock.

 

[gerry]

NOS Marathons

The GY dealer said the only USA made Marathons he could find were NOS in Cincinnati and he couldn't say how old they were but GY for sure quit making them here and now only Chinese were available but the same price. I have checked around with the same results so either they're all wrong or no longer US made.

 

[HBarlow]

I DO NOT buy tires from tire retailers. The clowns who work behind the counter in tire stores are the same clowns who were selling vinyl siding or were Wal-Mart clerks the previous year. Their job is to sell tires, the tires their store has in stock. They are paid by commission on sales made so their incentive is to sell the tires with the greatest mark-up which is the spread between cost and selling price. Sometimes they receive "spiffs" which are small added bonuses provided by their store for selling particular products.

The above facts lead to the conclusion which is tire salesmen lie. Few of them have ever owned a light truck like our Rams and fewer still have ever owned and pulled a trailer. They don't know as much about truck and trailer tires as TDR members do. They tell you whatever you will believe in order to sell you what they want you to buy.

Never accept the words of a tire salesman as truth or fact. Do your own homework on the internet before you buy tires.

For 20 years I have bought tires from SAM's Club. The tire and battery team supervisor in my local SAM's Club is knowledgeable and tells me the truth. His crew are skilled and all of them treat me as an old friend. They work on salaries, not commissions. They have no incentive to lie to me and besides, they know I know more about tires than they do. I have probably bought 25 or 30 sets of tires from them over the years. I never set foot in any other tire store.

 

[AfterBurner]

Michelin XPS Rib is the best tire I've run. Our horse trailer came from the factory with these, and now have over 60K on them with NO problems.



We've run chinese brands and GY Marathons, none of them even came close to the performance we've gotten from the Michelins.



Have considered the G rated GYs but don't think the trailer is heavy enough to flex the sidewalls to make a smooth ride for the horses.

 

[gerry]

Sam's club

Harvey you can speak down to us people who unlike you have NO Sam's clubs available so we have to deal with what we have. I got ahold of Sam's club and there are NONE in Oregon or anywhere probably within a thousand miles. I have always appreciated your input based on your many years RVing but your anger, arrogance and put downs could be changed for a bit more consideration and understanding that not all of us have your opportunities or perhaps your money and must live in our present circumstances. Your advice to convert to 16 inch wheels and Michelin XPS tires is a good idea but after carefully examining my situation I've had to stay with my 15s for now and do the best I can for finding the best 15, but I plan on my next tire replace I will save my pennies and upscale to 16s and XPS. I don't want to start a fight as has been done before but only ask a bit more understanding and consideration, Gerry

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey you can speak down to us people who unlike you have NO Sam's clubs available so we have to deal with what we have. I got ahold of Sam's club and there are NONE in Oregon or anywhere probably within a thousand miles. I have always appreciated your input based on your many years RVing but your anger, arrogance and put downs could be changed for a bit more consideration and understanding that not all of us have your opportunities or perhaps your money and must live in our present circumstances. Your advice to convert to 16 inch wheels and Michelin XPS tires is a good idea but after carefully examining my situation I've had to stay with my 15s for now and do the best I can for finding the best 15, but I plan on my next tire replace I will save my pennies and upscale to 16s and XPS. I don't want to start a fight as has been done before but only ask a bit more understanding and consideration, Gerry

gerry,

I find it interesting that you speak of not wanting to start a fight while criticizing me personally in the same paragraph. What you consider my anger, arrogance, and put downs must be an expression of your personal shortcomings. I didn't criticize you or even mention you personally in my post.

Why would any adult think that because you live in a state that discourages the entry of the big box discount stores while I live in a free state that practices free market capitalism that I am talking down to you? I wasn't posting to you directly and could not care less where you live or where you shop.

Perhaps you should go whine somewhere else. If you don't like what I post, don't read my posts.

Let me guess . . . you are a nobama voter?

 

[JMetzger]

When I had to replace my tires I went with Denman 225x75 15 E. At that time they were made in I believe Austintown, OH. So far I have had good luck with them & run Nitrogen in them. They have been bought out by Titan Tire & I assume that Titan tires are still made there. At the price they charge a tire ($224. 37) they ought to be good.

 

[MChildress]

Sorry Gerry but I have to agree your tire salesman is mistaken. The Goodyear Marathons are made back in the good old USA. I tried to find something from Goodyear that states this but they print nothing I could find of where there tires are made. It is all over the RV forums they are made back in the USA. The tire dealer I have used for 30+ years is in a small town and if your not honest with your customers around here you are out of business. I can go get the manufacture date off the four Goodyear Marathons I just bought with made in the USA off them if you would like.

 

[gerry]

gerry,



I find it interesting that you speak of not wanting to start a fight while criticizing me personally in the same paragraph. What you consider my anger, arrogance, and put downs must be an expression of your personal shortcomings. I didn't criticize you or even mention you personally in my post.



Why would any adult think that because you live in a state that discourages the entry of the big box discount stores while I live in a free state that practices free market capitalism that I am talking down to you? I wasn't posting to you directly and could not care less where you live or where you shop.



Perhaps you should go whine somewhere else. If you don't like what I post, don't read my posts.



Let me guess . . . you are a nobama voter?

Harvey you are wrong on my politics and all I asked for was a little consideration. I have nothing against ''free market capitalism'' in fact I'm a strong believer but I also stated that I valued many of your opinions because of your experience but I won't move to southern Arizona or Texas just to be near a Sam's club. And also you've responded to questions I've posted here and I appreciate that.

 

[MLee]

To shed some light on the GYT situation, GY did move the st operation to China for a few years, but brought it back to the states because of the China made problems. I called GY and they told me they were being built to US standards, no worry. since Early 2010 they are made it the US now. I got a quote from Sams on a 2358016 E last week and it says made in the USA on the quote sheet.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey you are wrong on my politics and all I asked for was a little consideration. I have nothing against ''free market capitalism'' in fact I'm a strong believer but I also stated that I valued many of your opinions because of your experience but I won't move to southern Arizona or Texas just to be near a Sam's club. And also you've responded to questions I've posted here and I appreciate that.

Gerry,

I didn't notice any request for consideration in your post.

Perhaps you could have said "there are no SAM's Clubs available in my area so what else do you members recommend?" instead of insulting me.

Someone might have offered you suggestions on internet purchase sources or other helpful suggestions.

 

[Walkingtall]

I'm also shopping for trailer tires. I will stay with 15" and am looking at Towmaster STR and Hercules STR 225/75/15. Has anyone used either of these and whats your opinion?

 

[Mark31]

I'm also shopping for trailer tires. I will stay with 15" and am looking at Towmaster STR and Hercules STR 225/75/15. Has anyone used either of these and whats your opinion?

Wonder where they are made?