Tires! Tires! Tires!

[realfine409]

We have recently traded up in 5'ers from 30ft to 35ft. This one came with 3" blocks on the axles and 16" and tires (finally)! The mix of tires and the date codes concerned me as we are planning a 5-8k trip this winter starting around new years. It had 2 BCT LT's, a Heritage, and Firestone LT. Talked to my local tire guy, he looked at the dates and said "Let me show you a low mileage BCT". Went out back, and showed me a BCT LT with a thread cap de-laminating. Started looking at the usual alternatives and found some larger (taller and wider) Firestone LT's made right here in NC. Tey have a decent road tread, rated better than the previous. So they are mounted and balanced and ready for the road. For the first time in a long time I have no concerns of looking in my mirror and see black shreds flying out from under the trailer! I'll update comments regarding wear etc. as the trip unfolds.

 

[seafish]

ALWAYS a good idea to replace trailer tires with high quality LT tires.

 

[photowrite]

I love getting new tires. New, better, deep tread = better.

Congratulations on the new trailer.

 

[SnoKing]

RV Trailer tires really do not need deeper tread as they normally age out before the tread wears out.

To the OP, if someone put spacer blocks between the axles and spring pack, then that is not a good way to do it. The brakes put a lot of twisting force onto the axles, so watch your U-bolts carefully. A subframe is the normal way to lift a trailer. SNOKING

 

[realfine409]

Thanx for the "Heads Up" Snoking. I'll be sure to watch for any torquing or looseness. They appear to have beefed up the spring trunnion and shackles as well, but I'll watch it all the same.

 

[photowrite]

RV Trailer tires really do not need deeper tread as they normally age out before the tread wears out.

Yes, I know.

The tread is still much deeper when new vs. worn.

 

[Alphonse]

Congrats on moving to LT tires, that is the way to fly. Gets you out of the ST tire 65 mph speed limit and way up on the quality scale compared to the ST. Just keep 'em pumped up.

http://www.rvtiresafety.com/2013/11/interply-shear-and-other-techno-babble.html

 

[BILLUA]

Yep! I towed my toy hauler exactly 1.5 miles when it was new with the Chinese crap tires and had them replaced with Michelin XPS ribs.

 

[B.G. Smith]

It had 2 BCT LT's, a Heritage, and Firestone LT. Talked to my local tire guy, he looked at the dates and said "Let me show you a low mileage BCT". Went out back, and showed me a BCT LT with a thread cap de-laminating. Excuse my ignorance but what is/are BCT's? bg

 

[ringneck]

built in china tires,i thank. junk

 

[DCrabbs]

+1 on the Michelin XPS RIB's. Went to them when I had a pretty good size 5th wheel and started having tire issues. Never had another problem.

Dean

 

[B.G. Smith]

I'm on my second set of XPS Ribs, first set still had good tread but were nine years old. bg

 

[Camperman]

A question if I may. When my RV is parked at home, not being used, I park on concrete pads for the tires & landing jacks. Would I be better off putting down 2x8 treated lumber for the tires to sit on instead of the tires being directly on the concrete? Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere. Also, no China bombs for my RV either. TIA for your thoughts.

 

[crispyboy]

I think it would keep more moisture out of the tire/steel belts if it were on a wood block.
I place my trailer on jack stands to keep the weight off the torsion axles and so the tires don't get flat spot during the winter months.

 

[SSage]

I've had a few Chinese tire failures on trailers but, on my Toy Hauler I had 6 Trail Star E rated 16" and the factory would not put on something else even after I paid for Goodyear. KZ was a jerk about it, although they did build my custom axle and chassis per my liking, the tires said Goodyear E's on my order sheet, got some China specials. Did not want the dealer to mess with them due to time so I got on the road with a monetary adjustment. It wasn't 2,000 miles later and the Chinese ST crap was coming apart, all 6 had deep cracks at the tread shoulder and between the tread blocks.

I see some guys say they have no issues, but I have never worn out a single Chinese trailer tire in any size. I have worn out LT tires though, so I guess even Chinese LT's are better than ST's. My current 225/16/D Cooper Discovery LT's are over 10 years old. No failures, the tires are now on my 7 ton utility trailer, still going. I ran Firestone Transforce LT's, no issues, they scrub fairly well. The tipple is hell on side walls. Even after heavy hard toy hauler use the side walls never cracked like those brand new Trail Stars. I've had 4 Chinese LT's from NTB last, I put them on my dually rear, but I won't buy anymore after I see the weather checking run deeper than any of my budget American tires. I rather run my Mastercraft specials, made in the USA at least. I've had 10 Chinese tires on my 2nd gen dually, they just don't last like my American Coopers or the Michelin's on the 3rd gen. You get what you pay for in tires.