Need new trailer tires, help

[AABEN]

Well GRIZ I see you can not see whit I was saying!!! I said that :ST: was made for heavy loads that was to be hauled at speeds 65 and under!! I said I run Firestone transforce HT . I all so said that goodyears marathons trailer tires are no good they are :ST: blow out 4 in 4. 000 miles and good year would not replace none of them they do not like 80mph tower up my trailer 3 times. Penske truck and trailer rental use the :HT: on there trailers and trucks ROGER said they give him good service. .

 

[DennyDay]

There is NOT a 15" trailer tire made in the US - - - Even Goodyear Marathon 15" tires are made in China - - I never got on the road with a set of these chinese made Marathons and still developed a knot on the side wall while sitting in the yard. Zero miles on 'em.



Maxxis is the only supplier that has a 15" load range E, 80 psig tire. Only problem will be finding a 15" wheel that is rated for the 80 psig air pressure.



Denny

 

[Grizzly]

There is NOT a 15" trailer tire made in the US - - - Even Goodyear Marathon 15" tires are made in China - - I never got on the road with a set of these chinese made Marathons and still developed a knot on the side wall while sitting in the yard. Zero miles on 'em.



Maxxis is the only supplier that has a 15" load range E, 80 psig tire. Only problem will be finding a 15" wheel that is rated for the 80 psig air pressure.



Denny

Read my post #29.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

There is nothing wrong with using a pick up truck tire as long as it is rated to carry the gross weight of your trailer and load. Some dealers will refuse to install pick up truck tires. They want to sell you the junk so you will soon be back. That is why I call ST Tires SCAM Tires.

 

[Grizzly]

There is nothing wrong with using a pick up truck tire as long as it is rated to carry the gross weight of your trailer and load. Some dealers will refuse to install pick up truck tires. They want to sell you the junk so you will soon be back. That is why I call ST Tires SCAM Tires.

I agree, Very well said Jim.

 

[SSell]

I had one of my new Greenball/ Towmaster come apart coming back from camping this weekend. Purchased 4 new in February this year, this was 3rd time I moved trailer since (less than 1000 miles on them), tires had 75PSI air when I left, my travel trailer was essentially empty. I stayed at 65 MPH or less the whole trip, with the exception of coming down couple of mountain passes----I MAYBE touched 75MPH BRIEFLY!. Any Suggestions? Should I just eat these and go to Michelin LT's? I'll spend the money to do stuff right but this is getting silly!!#@$%!

 

[DennyDay]

Grizzly - - Didn't catch your post, heard of Denman but not for ST's. Think probably I'll flip the axels under the springs and go to 10 pr. 16" Michleins for the next time.



Denny

 

[HBarlow]

I had one of my new Greenball/ Towmaster come apart coming back from camping this weekend. Purchased 4 new in February this year, this was 3rd time I moved trailer since (less than 1000 miles on them), tires had 75PSI air when I left, my travel trailer was essentially empty. I stayed at 65 MPH or less the whole trip, with the exception of coming down couple of mountain passes----I MAYBE touched 75MPH BRIEFLY!. Any Suggestions? Should I just eat these and go to Michelin LT's? I'll spend the money to do stuff right but this is getting silly!!#@$%!

I would try to get some compensation from Greenball/Towmaster if I were you but you probably won't be successful. Normally the only thing a manufacturer is willing to do is offer you a replacement tire at a prorated price. That would be of no value to you because you've already proved their tires are trash.



When I slung a tread on a one year old 12,000 mile Uniroyal on my HH recently I pulled it immediately to SAM's Club and had a set of Michelins installed. When I looked up Uniroyal on the web I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Uniroyal is owned by Michelin. I submitted claims and Michelin paid for the damage on my trailer and paid prorated amounts on the tire that failed and another one with a bulging tread (tread separation). I was lucky because they were satisfied to see I had bought Michelin replacements. If Uniroyal had been an independent corporation neither Uniroyal or Michelin would probably have given me a dime.



You're better off throwing your Greenballs in a dumpster and buying a set of Michelins even if Greemball gives you nothing.

 

[KKaminski]

If you can't find GY marathons at wally world - usually $95. 00 each, take the triangle's.



I've had problems with the carlisle's in the past and went with marathons. At one time, the local dealer didn't have any left, but he offered me a "triangle" brand. It's actually a Goodyear Marathon made in China. The three that I've got on mine are terrific!

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Thanks Grizzly

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Pick up tires are subject to more sideways pressure on a pick up truck than on a trailer. We make turns much slower pulling a trailer than a pick up would make. Lots of guys like to high speed corner with their pick ups. I never heard of a tire getting pulled off a rim of a pick up. A semi trailer with a 9 foot spread axle and a heavy load can make a tight enough turn on dry pavement to pull a tire off a rim but not on normal cornering. On a hot day on asphalt you can tear up some asphalt making a tight turn in a parking lot with heavily loaded trailer. I guess you have seen the signs no semi parking. They want your business but not at the expense of repaving their parking lot. A pick Up Tire will give you far better service than a ST Tire. ST Tires should be BANNED by the Government. They are a highway HAZARD when they fly apart.

 

[Matt42]

After less than stellar experience with ST tires, I switched to Michelin LTX tires on my travel trailer and Michelin LT all steel tires on my equipment trailer. No more problems and much better towing manners.

 

[LRutigliano]

I've been following this and other similar threads very carefully.



Come on guys, comparing a 16" Michelin LTX tire to a 15" ST tire is just ridiculous. Of course the 16" LTX is going to give better life, service, etc than even an "E" rated 15" ST tire.



What are those of us with only 4" of spacing between the ST 225/75-15tires supposed to do? 16" Michelin LTXs wont physically fit.



Are we stuck with the 15" ST's??



I'm looking for suggestions on getting a better tire with the physical space I have... 4 to maybe 4. 5" between the two 15" tires and I require at least 2800lbs for each tire for an adequate safety factor.



Thanks,

Louis

 

[HBarlow]

I've been following this and other similar threads very carefully.



Come on guys, comparing a 16" Michelin LTX tire to a 15" ST tire is just ridiculous. Of course the 16" LTX is going to give better life, service, etc than even an "E" rated 15" ST tire.



What are those of us with only 4" of spacing between the ST 225/75-15tires supposed to do? 16" Michelin LTXs wont physically fit.



Are we stuck with the 15" ST's??



I'm looking for suggestions on getting a better tire with the physical space I have... 4 to maybe 4. 5" between the two 15" tires and I require at least 2800lbs for each tire for an adequate safety factor.



Thanks,

Louis

Several years ago I owned a 32' Avion TT with four 15" tires. I found that a set of 16" six lug wheels offered by SouthWest Wheel and four BF Goodrich Commercial T/As in size LT225/75 R16 would fit. Before I got around to buying the wheels and tires and changing it out I got interested in fifth wheels and bought a used Travel Supreme so never did do the changeover.



The 16" wheels and BF Goodrich tires would have reduced the clearance between tires but not enough to be concerned about. I have only a very small clearance, less than one inch, between Michelin XPS Ribs on my current HH.

 

[HBarlow]

Pick up tires are subject to more sideways pressure on a pick up truck than on a trailer. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .

I'm not convinced that statement is accurate. It IS possible to put heavy side stress on the front tires of a pickup but only when traveling forward with the wheels turned to the steering lock. Even turning with the steering wheel turned against the lock it is not possible to turn the front wheels a full 90* as we do routinely with a trailer so the stresses would probably not equal that placed on trailer tires when jackknifing 90*.



When backing a trailer into a parking space we often turn them a full 90* and scuff the tires almost directly sideways. That maneuver puts enormous side forces on the tires and extends the casing out to the side until the tires are rolled straight backwards or forwards again to release the stress. Everyone who owns and pulls a trailer has observed this. When home I park my fiver in my backyard. I have to back down a side street beside my house (corner lot) and turn it a full 90* and back through a narrow gate to get it onto the parking pad.



It is not possible to put that much side force on the tires of a pickup.

 

[HBarlow]

If you can't find GY marathons at wally world - usually $95. 00 each, take the triangle's.



I've had problems with the carlisle's in the past and went with marathons. At one time, the local dealer didn't have any left, but he offered me a "triangle" brand. It's actually a Goodyear Marathon made in China. The three that I've got on mine are terrific!

Give us an update in about three years if they are still on your trailer.

 

[Matt42]

I've been following this and other similar threads very carefully.

Come on guys, comparing a 16" Michelin LTX tire to a 15" ST tire is just ridiculous. Of course the 16" LTX is going to give better life, service, etc than even an "E" rated 15" ST tire.

What are those of us with only 4" of spacing between the ST 225/75-15tires supposed to do? 16" Michelin LTXs wont physically fit.

Are we stuck with the 15" ST's??

I'm looking for suggestions on getting a better tire with the physical space I have... 4 to maybe 4. 5" between the two 15" tires and I require at least 2800lbs for each tire for an adequate safety factor.

Thanks,
Louis

I should have been more specific. On my equipment trailer, I use XPS Rib tires in LT245/75R16E. On my travel trailer, I use LTX tires in LT215/75R15C. These are a direct replacement for the ST tires in 205R15. The LTX tires are physically a little larger, so fit into the space is critical.

Depending on the size and weight rating needed, it is possible to get truck radials in 15 inch. If more space is available than I had, the LT235/75R15C tires would fit. The bad news is that if you have to use, say, an ST205R15 tire in load range D, you are mostly stuck.

You can get 16 inch wheels made up for a five lug setup. Hayes Axle does make replacement hub and drum assemblies in six lug, which will better fit the available off-the-shelf 16 inch wheels. But if you have tight wheel well space, your options are limited. :{

Spacing between the tire treads isn't that critical, as long as they don't rub. I had about 4 inch spacing tread-to-tread with my ST tires on my travel trailer. Now I have about 3 1/2 inch spacing. I have less than an inch tread to tread on my equipment trailer, and it goes longer distances in nastier places. No problems there.

 

[Grizzly]

I've been following this and other similar threads very carefully.



Come on guys, comparing a 16" Michelin LTX tire to a 15" ST tire is just ridiculous. Of course the 16" LTX is going to give better life, service, etc than even an "E" rated 15" ST tire.



What are those of us with only 4" of spacing between the ST 225/75-15tires supposed to do? 16" Michelin LTXs wont physically fit.



Are we stuck with the 15" ST's??

Louis

The 16" Michelin XPS Rib's on my 5er only have 1. 5" of clearance between them. You can have 1/2" and still be fine.

 

[LRutigliano]

I called America's Tire and will be getting 245/75R-16E Michelin XPS Ribs

(3042lbs @80psi) and 16" MB Type 72 wheels (rated for 80psi) all installed w/certificates for $1363 (after $100 rebate) tomorrow. I'll have 1 yr to pay w/o interest.



The 245/75R-16's are 30. 6" dia vs. 28. 3" for my current 15 ST's. I should have approx 1. 5" of clearance between them after the install.



Thanks to all for the replies and commments.



Louis

 

[Matt42]

An excellent choice

I called America's Tire and will be getting 245/75R-16E Michelin XPS Ribs

(3042lbs @80psi) and 16" MB Type 72 wheels (rated for 80psi) all installed w/certificates for $1363 (after $100 rebate) tomorrow. I'll have 1 yr to pay w/o interest.



The 245/75R-16's are 30. 6" dia vs. 28. 3" for my current 15 ST's. I should have approx 1. 5" of clearance between them after the install.



Thanks to all for the replies and commments.



Louis

An excellent choice, based on my experience. America's Tire Centers is based here in the Phoenix area, as Discount Tire. I have been using them since 1985. Their certificates have paid off here the very few times I've had tire trouble.



When we installed the Michelin LTX tires on our travel trailer, we headed off to Missouri a week later. My wife was driving, and towing something that big worries her. We were on I-40 in northern New Mexico. Both of us were noticing that the bow waves of overtaking trucks didn't suck us to the left anywhere as much as they had the prior year. We assumed that it was due to more aerodynamic 18 wheelers. As we drove on, my wife became much more comfortable. This part of northern New Mexico was in the west, where there isn't much vegetation bigger than a large head of cabbage. We decided to stop west of Grants for fuel. My wife drove up to the diesel island and shut off the truck. Then we opened both cab doors at the same time. Kleenexes, papers and dog fur blew out of the cab. We had been driving in a nasty, gusty quartering crosswind and hadn't even noticed it. and the lack of bow wave effect came clear as well. At that point, we were both fully sold on Michelin truck tires for the trailer.



Back in college, in LA County, I worked at an independent tire store. (This has been 30-some years. ) People on eight lane (in one direction) freeways would have a flat in the fast lane. By the time they'd get to the side to change it, the tire was shredded, regardless of brand. Only the Michelin tire sidewalls stayed seated on the rims, keeping their car in control.