tire checking

[SRehberg]

I have a 5er I put tires on two years ago and due to health reasons, the trailer sat, except for a couple of miles of movement in the middle of last summer for storage. Inflation has been kept up and it has been on a hard surface. The tires look good, with the exception of the sidewalls, which have a crazing or checking (minute cracking around the sidewalls) from sun I would imagine. Is this a bad thing, or is the tires still in serviceable shape, and the checking is just cosmetic? Thanks for any help.

 

[y-knot]

I sure think it is. I learned a long time ago (the hard way), to use tire covers while the trailer is parked. This would be good advise for any trailer that does alot of setting. The sun will destroy tires in very little time, check them over well and replace if you feel they warrant it.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by SRehberg

I have a 5er I put tires on two years ago and due to health reasons, the trailer sat, except for a couple of miles of movement in the middle of last summer for storage. Inflation has been kept up and it has been on a hard surface. The tires look good, with the exception of the sidewalls, which have a crazing or checking (minute cracking around the sidewalls) from sun I would imagine. Is this a bad thing, or is the tires still in serviceable shape, and the checking is just cosmetic? Thanks for any help.

Should always cover over the tires to keep the sun from getting to them. I'd suggest taking them to a tire dealer and asking what condition they're in. No need to risk 5er damage over bad tires.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Unplanned replacement of a set of tires is always a bit painful. Do I have to say it? Unplanned repairs to your trailer or worse is far more painful. I agree, get them checked out by someone you trust (could be yourself) and do the right thing.



Hope to run into you (figuratively speaking) on the road some day.

 

[Buffalo]

I just picked up a "MRT Ozone Scale" this past weekend, at an RV show. MRT stands for Michelin Retread Technologies. Basically, this thing is a photograph with five different pictures of checked tires. Number one is slightly checked and it gets worse until number five, which, is considered a reject. Number four is considered "suspect (greater than 2mm deep). Number three is considered "acceptable". I was surprised at what Michelin considers to be acceptable. You might call up your local Michelin dealer and see if you can get one of these scales.

 

[HBarlow]

Originally posted by SRehberg

Is this a bad thing, or is the tires still in serviceable shape, and the checking is just cosmetic? Thanks for any help.

You won't like my answer. Unfortunately, yes, it is probably a bad thing. A tire with sidewall checking is more likely to fail when it gets hot at road speed. If one of the tires suffers a sidewall failure you won't know it until the tire tears out the inner fender, exterior wall, cabinet above the wheel wells, possibly water and/or LPG lines, or appliances. Tires are expensive but not compared to the damage a failed tire can do to your trailer.



Harvey

 

[SRehberg]

I appreciate the help here, I guess I was just having trouble calling it quits for a set of tires that has no miles on them. I will bite the bullet and buy a new set, as I don't need to have the trailer tore up or worse.



Hi Harvey, I'm anxious to try the brake controller on a long trip! So far very happy with its performance, but I only have a very short time with it. Sure beats the Tekonsha Voyager I had!

 

[Jeremiah]

Wheel covers

Be sure and buy a set of wheel covers at the RV store while you're at it. And see about jacks in case the trailer is going to "sit" a few months. It will pay dividends in the long run.

 

[SRehberg]

Today for giggles, I stopped at a tire store to see what was available. I know a lot of discussion has went on regarding the use of LT tires vs. ST tires, but it appears the LT's only come in "C" load range. While the ST's can be up to a range "D". I have seen posts of members using LT tires, so how do they do it with a tire that seems underrated?



The tire dealer wanted to sell me some Carlisle tires, and from the posts I've seen, they seem to be notorious for failure. The others were Goodyear Marathons. Any input on the Goodyears as to the durability of the tire? This is an unplanned expense, so I don't want this to become a habit (i. e. changing tires more than I have to. ) Thanks

 

[clem]

I have run a lot of Goodyear Marathons over the years. If I were you put the load Range "D" tires on and keep them inflated to sidewall pressure. Thats the way I ran mine never did have a problem with blowouts. Did that on 4 pull behind trailers wore out a couple sets even,but the Wife fell in LOVE with this 5th wheel now I run Goodyear G614's size 235/85 16 load range "G". As a side note Goodyear has always stood behind there tires,but You have to go to a GOODYEAR STORE not a dealer who sales Goodyear tires. For tire adjustments and call this #1-800-787-0672 they have sent replacement tires to my dealer for adjustments and they will repair you trailer if it gets tore up,but you have to take care of your tires I have seen this work more than once. This was last year not many stores keep my tire in stock 235/85 16 load range "G" I are a happy camper running Goodyear tires Also Marathons are made for trailers to set in the sun and not rot and crack GOOD LUCK and Happy Camping Hope to see you some whare out there

 

[Jeremiah]

Tires

I am amazed at people who put $50,000 in a truck and that much or more in a trailer/5th wheel. Then they go cheap when it comes to tires or whatever. My philosophy is to buy the best tire money can buy because it's cheap insurance.



Unlike some owners, I've not had good luck out of Goodyear. One tire out of every purchase has ended up with a knot. The dealer always says "road hazard," which means it's not adjustable.



That really upsets me because I put every mile on those tires and I KNOW they didn't run over anything.



The BFG OEMs on my '03 have not lost a pound of pressure and wore consistently until I replaced them last week at 35,000 miles. I especially like the 10-ply 3195# per tire rating they have.



What tire did I replace them with? BFG, same as the OEMs.

 

[HBarlow]

Steve,



I have never blown a trailer tire in lots of mile of pulling but I have experienced sidewall cracking or checking with an original set of GY Marathons on a near-new Airstream. The replacements also checked. I am skeptical about the UV resistance claimed by GY and have read and heard lots of stories of blowouts experienced by other owners. I agree that GY is a good company, will stand behind their product, and will repair damage their tires cause but I think better tires are available.



When I bought a used Avion TT from its original owner in Peoria, IL two summers ago it had GY Marathons of various ages installed. (The seller replaced tires one at a time. ) Before leaving town I pulled the trailer to the nearest SAM's Club and bought a set of LT235/75R-15 Load Range C Michelin LTX. XPS Ribs are not available in 15" sizes. The tires I installed are an SUV tire. They are LR C as you said but rated at approximately 1985 pounds per tire which is adequate for my Avion when tongue weight is subtracted from GVW. I have kept them inflated to 55 psi which is maximum inflation pressure plus 5 psi. I have pulled the trailer just over 48,000 miles with them and have 5,000 - 10,000 miles of tread remaining.



When I replace these tires this summer I will install Michelin XPS Ribs in size LT225/75R-16 and LRD. I recently purchased a set of six lug 16" wheels with the same lug bolt pattern and backset as the original 15" wheels. I bought them from Southwest Wheel http://www.southwestwheel.com for about $27/wheel. The LT225 tire is almost identical in size to the old-fashioned 700-15 bias ply tires used before radials and are only 1/2" larger diameter or 1/4" taller mounted than the LT235s currently in-use. They will fit in the fender wells of most, if not all, TTs equipped with 15" tires.



BTW, the old Kelsey-Hayes hydraulic-electric brake controller is still working great even though any RV dealer in America will tell you they can't be used with ABS brakes.



Happy RVing.



Harvey

 

[MLee]

Steve;

I am not an expert on the tire thing, but have had experience with GY, inspections and adjustments Dept's, in north salt lake, Utah. how old are your tires?, side wall checking should not happen very quickly, especially marathons. they have a special compound of rubber that is not greatly effected by UV rays. checking is determined to be manufacturing defect. i have had mine replaced for this defect. Go to a bon-afied GY dealer and have them inspect them. install the heaviest rated (D) marathon they have. you may have to pay the difference between the ply rating, and the latest tire should has a ST in a circle on it by the Marathon name. how ever if they are old then that will be another story, for safety and piece of mind do all 4.

just my penny's worth

Marv.

 

[SRehberg]

One thing I did do to these tires when they were first new, was to Armorall them, but since have been told that isn't a good thing to do. Seems like the more you try to help something, the opposite happens.



The tires that I have on the trailer are not GY at the moment, they are "TowMasters" and approx. 2. 5yrs old. One tire still has the "nubs" on the tread face, so you know they haven't seen any miles. Jeremiah, I am not trying to skimp on tires, but it is discouraging to put out the bucks for the tires, then have them basically fail on their own. When I buy another set, it will be the best ones I can find; I originally asked if the checking was a "bad" thing, as I am no tire expert, nor do I want any problems, the potential for damage is to great. It is kind of like the wheel bearings on the trailer, they were of Chinese manufacture, so I replaced them, even though I didn't need to, as in my opinion, Chinese steel and mfg techniques leave a lot to be desired. I figure enough goes wrong on its own without adding any help.



Harvey, thanks for the great information on the 16" wheels, I am going to contact them to see if a set is available. I have an Alpenlite, so I would imagine it has as much clearance as most. I often wondered how everyone fit the 16" under the wheel wells, but by the sounds of it, they fit nicely. The added benefit is being to use load range E tires. Thanks for the tip. By the way, the hydrdaulic controller hasn't affected the ABS on my truck any, so I think it is just a liability issue for the manufacturer.