trailer tire suggestions?

[K5IP]

After having poor success with Carslile, and limited success with Goodyear Marathon trailer tires. I am considering an alternitive. Does anyone know anything/have experience with "MAXXIS" trailer tires? I am aboout ready for some replacements, (ST 205 R 15).

If so, please respond.

Thanks

Roger

 

[MBergman]

Been there, done that with the Carlisles. I've had really good luck with the Kumho Radial 857 in a 205r14c size. Its a load range D tire. They don't list a 15" though. A friend of mine has the Maxxis tires and no problems so far.



Marc

 

[Silver600]

I have the Maxxis on our Holiday Rambler. No problems in 2 years but I also haven't gotten to use it anywhere near as much as I would like. I have about 5000 miles on them.

 

[Matt42]

Truck Tires

After having poor success with Carslile, and limited success with Goodyear Marathon trailer tires. I am considering an alternitive. Does anyone know anything/have experience with "MAXXIS" trailer tires? I am aboout ready for some replacements, (ST 205 R 15).

If so, please respond.

Thanks

Roger

I replaced the ST205s on my TT with Michelin LT215/75R15 truck tires, load range C. The difference is like that between night and day. Greatly reduced sway and improved stability. The Michelin tire is slightly larger in dimension, so some measuring is in order. Load capacity is about the same.



Yes, I know that these are not "trailer rated," but the "trailer rated" tires tend to fly apart here in the Southwest where pavement temperatures are awful. Flame away.

 

[K5IP]

Matt,

Thanks for the info on the LT tires (I like Michelin). My trailer tires are only a load range C anyhow so these may be a good choice. "Flying apart" has been a frequent part of the trailer tire experience for me over the last 20 years. Guess I'd better head for Costco.

P. S. When I called Dexter axel for tire advice, they said the main reason for using trailer rated tires was because they were made with higher load ranges. They said if I could get the load rating I need in a truck tire, "go for it".

Rog

 

[zstroken]

What about the LTX tires that came on the trucks stock?? I have a 14K gooseneck and I am wondering how well those would work. Load Range E, and put them on the chrome wheels that came on my 97. Much better looking than the 3 Black and one white rim that is on there now.

 

[Matt42]

Ltx

What about the LTX tires that came on the trucks stock?? I have a 14K gooseneck and I am wondering how well those would work. Load Range E, and put them on the chrome wheels that came on my 97. Much better looking than the 3 Black and one white rim that is on there now.

They should work fine. Make sure that all clearances are good and that the wheel offset is the same or similar to what the trailer came with. I use Michelin XPS Rib tires on an equipment trailer for my job. Until the procurement office mistakenly ordered a D-C dually (which I really like!!), the spare tires on truck and trailer interchanged.

 

[Buffalo]

I have a Nash 25-S travel trailer & 3 of my friends have Nash products that are a bit smaller than mine, also. All of these trailers came with Goodyear Marathon, 205/75/15-C tires.



I did a little research on trailer tires, after my buddies 24-A blew out 2 of them on a trip, back east.



The older Marathons were constructed of polyester & steel plies on the tread belts. This combination would expand, when hot, & cause separations & consequently blow-outs.



A few years ago, Goodyear upgraded their tires by adding a ply of nylon on the outside of the poly/steel tread plies. The nylon does not expand, when hot, & acts like a "girdle" holding everything together. Since then, none of us have had a problem & we don't seem to hear of nearly as many separation problems, as before.



There is another tire called Tow-Master by Greenball. It's actually made for them by Goodyear & goes down the same assembly line as the Marathons. Has the same tread pattern & parts make-up. The only difference is the name on the sidewall. They just use a different die when making them.



Since you are not paying for Goodyears advertising & the Blimps, these tires are much cheaper. Look for a Greenball distributor/dealer in your area.



All of us were able to go up two tire sizes to 215/75/15-D. They fit in the wheelwells very well & are not too close together.



I've had mine cross country & into Canada & live in the Phoenix area. It's 109. 4 degrees outside, right now. I've had mine for a couple of years, now, with no troubles.



Just a suggestion.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[K5IP]

Joe,

Lots of good info there, Thanks.

I am also running a Nash. Mine is a 2002 21. 5 5th whl. quite light. I think the tires on it are in the newer catagory, but my last failure invloved my spare which had only 1500 miles on it. (Good Year Marathon). I know they (Goodyear) made an upgrade, but I still have had two failures on tires with low mileage and less that four years of age. The tires are kept off the trailer during winter so aging should be below average. This on a reasonably light trailer (4800 lb dry, and 5400 lb wet as equiped.

I still think I need to try something different.

Rog

 

[macdaddy]

Joe,

Lots of good info there, Thanks.

I am also running a Nash. Mine is a 2002 21. 5 5th whl. quite light. I think the tires on it are in the newer catagory, but my last failure invloved my spare which had only 1500 miles on it. (Good Year Marathon). I know they (Goodyear) made an upgrade, but I still have had two failures on tires with low mileage and less that four years of age. The tires are kept off the trailer during winter so aging should be below average. This on a reasonably light trailer (4800 lb dry, and 5400 lb wet as equiped.

I still think I need to try something different.

Rog

I'm running Denman 225/15 E's 10 Ply they hold 80 PSI very durable last forever.



Give em a try but only air them up to 60 PSI.



Mac

 

[Buffalo]

K5IP,



I believe the time frame in which your trailer was built is when the transition period of no-nylon & nylon construction occurred.



It says on the sidewall whether nylon is included in the construction. Also, the Goodyear Marathon's had a fairly large letter "S" inside a circle stamped on the sidewall of the tires with the nylon.



I've heard of people having problems with the new Marathons. However, I think they are of better quality than previously.



Personaly, I think they should be able to build a much more bullet-proof tire.



I wish I had the 16" wheels so that I could go to a 235/85/16-E, truck tire. They are very available &, probably, would be much tougher.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[K5IP]

Joe,

I just checked mine. They say 5 plys, 2 polyester, 2 steel and 1 nylon. They do have the "S" inside a circle.

I agree, these are better than the old ones (I had a set about 6 years ago that were really bad) but after changing one right next to freeway with truck traffic blowing by at 70 MPH, I think I will spend what ever I need to get it right. Costco is looking into some Michelins for me and they have a sale right now. Hope they come up with something.

Rog

 

[JKinney]

I purchased a set of 205 15 maxxis tires this spring, but have only put 1600 miles on them. I debated which tire to buy for a long time. So far I am pleased with them.

 

[GaryCarter]

We are running Michelin LTX now. This after multiple and repeated failures of trailer tires. I'll never run trailer tires again.

The travel trailer does about 15k a year.



Gary

 

[AWallace]

What tire to buy

I to am also ready to buy a set of tires for our rv and undecided what to buy. We have a 1999 31 ft sunnybrook 5er, it came with goodyear HT wrangler LT 225-75-16's load range E. The rv weights in at about 9500 loaded. To go to a trailer service tire I would have to go to 235-80-16 or I have not been able to find one in 225-75 so far. When this trailer is not in use it is keep in my shop but the tires are over six years old with about 16000 miles on them but I have been through one blow out on my truck with 2000 lbs in the bed and 80lbs of air in the tires. 1700 dollars damage. The tires were 5 years old but had plenty of tread. had to replace the skin on one side of the bed. Lucky I had good ins. I do not want this any more. ADVICE check the dates on all tires when you buy them. Some dealers hold them in stock for a time. When I replaced them on my truck I ended up with one that was made in 2004 and one early 2005. I have a good dealer and he orded me 2 to replace them. I will probably stick with the wranglers on my rv.



1995 2500 SLT

1999 Sunnybrook 31' 5er

1995 9. 5 Shadow Cruiser slide in truck camper. good to travel in but not to camp.

 

[EricBu12]

I had cheap tires on my 36' keystone and I had 2 separations in 2 trips... . When I had the second blow, I found the others were about to...



I went with all 6 tires ... . The Tow-Master as mentioned above. . I have the 225 75 R-15"... "D" Rated at 2540# @65 psi. This means 15240#... Enough for my wet and loaded trailer. .



I drove these tires for close to 200 miles in a stretch and they were fairly cool and rode well. Looks like these tires are made in Canada by Goodyear but are not "Named" so...



The tires I had, was called "mission" ... They are made by "Nankang"... in West Taipei, Taiwan!!..... so no wonder...

 

[K5IP]

Hi all,

Ok, after carefull consideration, I ordered Michelin LTX 215 R15 LRC for my trailer. With Michelin on sale, I got them for about the same price as a comperable trailer tire. ($101. 50 each). The size increase from 205 to 215 adds a few hundred pounds in capacity even though I am well within the required range, it should be nice to have.

Now for Alaska.

Rog

 

[Matt42]

$101. 50 is a good price. I think I paid more, but would have to look it up. My truck came with Wrangler LTX tires. All were ghastly. One failed at--no kidding--59 miles.



I had a set of Greenball bias ply tires on my trailer. They were made in the Far east somewhere, and one would leak out to 20 PSI overnight when new. Discount Tire took them back, and I upgraded to Carlisle radials. It's hard to admit that the Carlisle tires were an upgrade, but they were. The Michelin truck tires are waaay better.



When are you headed to Alaska?

 

[GLASMITHS]

I have an 18X8 covered cargo trailer with the 205/15s with "Taskmaster" tires. They are US made and work fine. No problems as yet, and reasonably priced. Here's the link. . http://www.taskmasterproducts.com/acatalog/assem_15a.html

 

[K5IP]

Matt,

We are about ready to leave for Alaska. We need to be there for the Kenai Salmon run (the red's) by July 15. That is when they staart running. Takes us about two weeks to get there. We're kinda slow.

Rog