Tired of tire problems

[WestTN]

I have replaced all trailer 205-75R-15 tires with Michelin X Radial LT's235-75R-15's. Better load rating, even though the old tires had sufficient ratings. The killer for the old tires was the low Chinese quality.



I bought the trailer new in 1988 and the first and second sets of tires lasted over 7 years each. All were made in USA. The next 14 tires blew like popcorn even though they weren't as old or loaded as heavy and were properly maintained. The last straw was the 3 blowouts coming home from Florida. The 14 were all made in China.

 

[HBarlow]

You are a wise man. I did the same thing several years ago with a 32' Avion travel trailer that used 15" wheels and tires. I put a set of four new Michelin SUV tires in the size you mentioned on it and pulled it 60,000 miles including a roundtrip to Alaska. Never had a tire problem with those SUV radial tires that "everyone" knew I couldn't use on a travel trailer. The tires were still in excellent shape when I sold the trailer.

I read frequent comments from fellow TDR members and users on other websites reporting their great success with cheap Chinese tires. Personally, I wouldn't use a Chinese tire on anything that is driven faster or carries more weight than my lawn tractor.

 

[Matt42]

You are a wise man. I did the same thing several years ago with a 32' Avion travel trailer that used 15" wheels and tires. I put a set of four new Michelin SUV tires in the size you mentioned on it and pulled it 60,000 miles including a roundtrip to Alaska. Never had a tire problem with those SUV radial tires that "everyone" knew I couldn't use on a travel trailer. The tires were still in excellent shape when I sold the trailer.



I read frequent comments from fellow TDR members and users on other websites reporting their great success with cheap Chinese tires. Personally, I wouldn't use a Chinese tire on anything that is driven faster or carries more weight than my lawn tractor.

I agree with all of this, except about the lawn tractor, and only because I don't have one. I am using Michelin LTX LT215/75R15 radials on my TT. No more problems, and much less wind sway. The sad news is that Michelin has discontinued that size, and I don't have wheel well room for the 235 section tires. The problem here is heat. Our road surface can be 160F when it's only 118F ambient.

 

[cknecht]

I have Maxxis ST 225/75 R15 LR "D" tires on my 2005 Nash 29v and have had no problems after towing for many thousands of miles at highway speeds of 75 MPH. Most of the forums on tires have said the tires will look like new after many years of use but they deteriorate from the inside and should be replaced every 5 years. Today I am having 5 (spare included) tires installed on the trailer. I elected to continue with Maxxis but have gone to the Load Range "E" tire. I looked at upgrading to 16" wheels and the Michelin XPS Rib tires but couldn't justify the extra $1,000 to make that change. There is voluminous information on tires out on the Northwoods RV Owners (Arctic Fox, Desert Fox and Nash) website that provides all the info one needs to make an educated decision, not just based on someones bad experience, brank loyalty (Dodge/Ford/Chevy/ etc. ) without all the pertinent data. Age of tires, trailer loading, tire pressures and towing speed are the holly grail of success or failure. Happy trailering to all.

 

[Matt42]

What is the Northwoods RV Owners website URL?

 

[cknecht]

Matt,



The website is: Northwood RV Owners Association



or ? Northwood RV Owners Association



Craig

 

[cknecht]

Matt,

I put the URL address and it got converted to the name shown in the link in previous post. Hopefully all you have to do is click on the link and you should be directed.

Sorry for any confusion. The second link shown is the same as the first even though I put a second link with " /forum/" at the end.

Good luck.

Craig

 

[Matt42]

Craig: That's a very interesting forum with lots of good information. Thanks. Can you point me to the location where the voluminous information on tires is located? Is there a special area or a set of "sticky" posts? I found this thread that had a great deal of opinion and experience, along with a factory person's visit to China to look at factories: Time For New TT Tires - Maintenance, Batteries, Tires & Equipment - Message Board - Northwood RV Owners Association

From what I saw, I didn't read anything that changes my mind. I'll freely admit that my "mind" is based on my own experience towing, driving, and working in a tire shop some years ago. I am using a 1996 Play-Mor 2350 Aero which is actually about 27 feet long and fairly lightweight. It came originally with Goodyear Marathon load range B tires, which were fully satisfactory and US made. They just got old.

In watching trailer tire discussions in the TDR Roundtable and in trailer discussion boards, I've generally observed something interesting to me, here in the land of the eternal furnace. When I somehow manage to filter out underinflation, overloading and using the wrong size, I find that people who live in moderate climates have much less tire trouble than people who live (not just travel to) very hot climates.

 

[HBarlow]

I have no experience or knowledge of the effect of very hot, very dry climates on tires but I would put my money on your position. I believe that there is some natural compound contained in the rubber tire carcass that can be thought of as being like tree sap. If the tire is a high quality well built tire and is protected from direct sunlight and used frequently to move the "sap" around the tire lasts longer. In your climate the "sap" probably dries up or evaporates much more quickly than in cooler damper climates.

 

[cknecht]

Matt,

The voluminous info I referred to is the many threads submitted by forum members. In some of those comments you will see links that let you go to manufacturer sites or other informational posts. Most if not all of this info for tires is located in the "Maintenance, Batteries, Tires and Equipment" section of the site your found. I think you will find this site as informative and diverse as I have. I can't comment on your thought about the trailer sitting in the heat of Glendale, AZ or up where I live in much cooler Wyoming.

I just had the new Maxxis "E" rated tires installed on Thursday and although I can't tell how they will perform over time, I am mentally more at ease with new tires vs. 5 year old tires.

Craig

 

[Buffalo]

MATT SHUMAKER,



I live in the Glendale/Phoenix area, also, & agree with your assessment of the high/ very dry heat's effect on thir life. I never wear out tires. They dry out long before they are worn out (no tread left). The sidewalls crack prematurely.



Regarding the Northwoods Ind. (afnash.com) site, has anyone been able to get on that site? For the last couple of weeks, I just get a blank, white page. Maybe they threw me off that site. I really liked it, also. Lots of good information. I have a Nash 25-S trailer & learned a lot on that site.



Joe F.

 

[chazj]

Here is the website for Northwood Manufacturing: Northwood Manufacturing



The Nash/Arctic Fox Owners Forum is: Northwood RV Owners Association

 

[EricBu12]

I have a heavy trailer, I put 6 BF Goodrich T/A Commercial 225/75-16"



Last year did very well and all tires were cooler to the touch when towing. The weight rating is higher and to prevent sidewall drying out, I bought tire covers for the winter when the trailer does not get used.



I had cheap chinese tires at first and all had either blown or had tread separation. I think these tires with being 10 ply and 16" helps them to roll better and hence get better mileage... The rims I got at the same place as the tires... . Discount tire co. ... . Rims have a center cap that can come off for access to the grease fitting



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[LRutigliano]

I have a heavy trailer, I put 6 BF Goodrich T/A Commercial 225/75-16"



Last year did very well and all tires were cooler to the touch when towing. The weight rating is higher and to prevent sidewall drying out, I bought tire covers for the winter when the trailer does not get used.



I had cheap chinese tires at first and all had either blown or had tread separation. I think these tires with being 10 ply and 16" helps them to roll better and hence get better mileage... The rims I got at the same place as the tires... . Discount tire co. ... . Rims have a center cap that can come off for access to the grease fitting



/webdata/photopost/data/573/medium/DSC07961.JPG#ad




/webdata/photopost/data/573/medium/DSC07962.JPG#ad

I have the same rims (MB, Type 72) on my trailer, except they are 15". When searching for nice looking rims in 16", I couldn't find any with 0" offset.



Do you know what offset those are? I expect them to be -6mm.



BTW, they look awesome with that tire/wheel combo... Now you have the best looking truck AND trailer on the TDR...