Trailer tires

[Grizzly]

It's not always a cost issue...



Some travel trailers equipped from the factory with 15" wheels and tires (like mine) cannot accommodate anything larger. To do so would require extensive modifications to the travel trailer and possibly even moving the axles. This effectively prevents converting to LT tires and still maintain an adequate tire load carrying capacity. So ST tires are really the only option in this case. With that in mind, it then becomes a matter of trying to choose the best quality / highest load capacity ST tire and wheel combination. Currently Maxxis has a good overall reputation for their ST tires. Of course time will tell.



I've never yet had a tire blow on any of the travel trailers I've owned. This may partly be due to luck, but I never tow faster than 60 mph, am careful to regularly inspect the tires and monitor pressures real-time (with a TPMS), and all the travel trailers I've owned have weighed far less than the tire and axle load carrying capacities. In the case of my current travel trailer (an Arctic Fox 25R), the axle scale weight (not including hitch) is less than 7000 pounds when fully loaded and I'm using 4 each 225/75R15 load range E tires and appropriately rated wheels. This gives a total tire capacity of 11,320 pounds which is a large margin of safety.



Best regards,



John L.

John, Read my post #20.



george

 

[pullya]

The discussion about trailer tires has been going on and on for years. Everyone has their own opinion based either on personal knowledge or on experiences of friends that have varying levels of experience. ST--LT-- what load range, what manufacture, where are they made, buy American, what do members think, these are all things that you should take into consideration when you decide what to buy. Everyone will never agree. I can not speak for experienced RVer's as one member has however, I believe two things that are important--

1. Be a informed consumer, do your research, ask questions, as you are doing

2. Buy a good jack and other related emergency equiptment cause if you pull a trailer for any great distance or amount of time your going to have some sort of issue(there are of course exceptions as I'm sure some future replies we show). The point is--be prepared.

Jay

 

[GCroyle]

Pullya,



Good message, Be Prepared. That was the BSA Motto, correct? It has been a few years for me.



And I noticed you have a Commander security system, nice touch.



I have been watching this thread, I just got a TT with 5 tires on it, need to Be Prepared.

 

[TLane]

I had good luck with Goodyear Marathons that originally came on my 1992 TT. But not since then, but I'm glad to hear they are making them in the US again. Hopefully, they are back to being good tires.

I've had good luck with the Maxxis tires, I ordered them thru Discount Tire. I now carry two spares because I've bought too many tires while on vacation and all the shops typically carry are junk (for trailer tires). That's one advantage of going to 16" LT tires, you can get a good, name brand tire in almost any tire store in America. I didn't go to the 16" LT tires because the cost was just too high. My current plan is to buy 2 new tires every 2 years, and rotate out the oldest ones, next to oldest go on the spares, newest tires go on the ground.

I had bad experience with Carlisle tires, they came apart in a few hundred miles. My tires were loaded about 70% of rated capacity and fully inflated. I had a neighbor who had a Carlisle blow out, it was mounted as a spare and had never been on the ground!

 

[pullya]

I also carried 2 spares, just in case. No matter how new my tires were I never wanted to be caught out in the middle of nowhere without a spare. Problems never occur during daylight, in town. I also carried a complete replacement hub w/ bearings, nut, cotter pin, emery cloth, etc etc. Also a couple of jacks and other emergency equipt. Changing a flat trailer tire, at the side of the road, with cars and trucks going by at 70+mph ain't my idea of fun. I've had blow outs with Carlisle's and Goodyear's both--I decided it's a crap shoot--pay your money, take your chances!!!!!

Jay

 

[JLandry]

I also carried a complete replacement hub w/ bearings, nut, cotter pin, emery cloth, etc etc. Also a couple of jacks and other emergency equipt.

Jay,



I'm like you...



I try to carry lots of spare parts for my trailer and truck for the same reasons, i. e. : I don't like being stranded in some small town on a weekend and be at the mercy of the local (non)supply. I also carry all the appropriate tools to replace those parts.



Ya know, I wonder if it's better for the longevity of a spare tire to keep less air pressure in it (than what would be run when in actual use)?



Tow safely,



John L.

 

[pullya]

I've never kept them intentional low on pressure but I have tire covers that I use to keep the spares protected from the sunlight. I think I remember some sort of "rule of thumb" that says that trailer tires should be replaced about every 3 years no matter what the mileage. I just know that I am reallllllly anal about caring for and checking mine. (tires) Sometimes I think I'm carrying a parts room with me but I've never had to rely on anyone else for parts to fix a problem----yet..... besides all my friends like to tow with me cause they all know I have spare parts if they need them.

Jay

 

[Grizzly]

The discussion about trailer tires has been going on and on for years. Everyone has their own opinion based either on personal knowledge or on experiences of friends that have varying levels of experience. ST--LT-- what load range, what manufacture, where are they made, buy American, what do members think, these are all things that you should take into consideration when you decide what to buy. Everyone will never agree. I can not speak for experienced RVer's as one member has however, I believe two things that are important--

1. Be a informed consumer, do your research, ask questions, as you are doing

2. Buy a good jack and other related emergency equiptment cause if you pull a trailer for any great distance or amount of time your going to have some sort of issue(there are of course exceptions as I'm sure some future replies we show). The point is--be prepared.

Jay

The Original Poster, SBashaw asked, "Anyone know of a good place to buy good tires at a descent price?



He asked for opinions and that's what we're giving him from our own personal experience.

 

[Grizzly]

I also carried 2 spares, just in case. No matter how new my tires were I never wanted to be caught out in the middle of nowhere without a spare. Problems never occur during daylight, in town. I also carried a complete replacement hub w/ bearings, nut, cotter pin, emery cloth, etc etc. Also a couple of jacks and other emergency equipt. Changing a flat trailer tire, at the side of the road, with cars and trucks going by at 70+mph ain't my idea of fun. I've had blow outs with Carlisle's and Goodyear's both--I decided it's a crap shoot--pay your money, take your chances!!!!!

Jay

I don't carry two spares, I carry one good Michelin XPS Rib for a spare to match the other four on the ground.



I carry some tools, but I don't carry all those extra parts. I carry my AAA card in my wallet and I don't tow at night.

 

[HBarlow]

My HH has an OEM Uniroyal in the spare tire rack. I have no plans to replace it. .

In close to 600k miles of driving with Michelin tires on Dodge Rams and lots of miles towing them on trailers I've never even had a flat tire much less a tire failure.

A couple months ago I finally got my first nail in a Michelin tire on my truck. I had the truck at my local SAM's Club for tire rotation and balance and when the tire tech pulled one of the rear tires off and rolled it we saw a nail head.

Michelin tires aren't perfect or "bullet proof" but in my experience they are pretty close.

 

[kschitoskey]

BFG Commercial TA

I upgraded to 16" rims for around $ 100 on ebay; then I purchased Commercial TAs (load range E) from Costco in 225 75 size. Only about 1" taller diameter, plenty of room in my case. I think I paid around $ 150. 00 each with mounting / balancing included. One less thing to worry about.



Gotta love the ST / LT debate.

 

[pullya]

Grizzly,

I wished I could afford AAA. Till then I guess I'm sorta on my own. Not pulling at night is a good idea.

Harvey,

I just wished I had the extensive knowledge base and same type of excellent experiences that you have had, not only of this subject but on the many subjects that you comment on.

For the OP

Try Discount tire or the Tire Rack. Both have reasonable prices and a large selection of tires. Sorry I got off track------

Jay

 

[Blu-meanie]

Pullya:

I don't know what AAA charges for towing, but Good Sam does it for around $100/yr.

 

[pullya]

Boating US or something like that has a good tow,service and on road repair package you can also purchase if your a member, but you have to be a boat owner.

Jay

 

[Grizzly]

Pullya:

I don't know what AAA charges for towing, but Good Sam does it for around $100/yr.

AAA runs about the same or cheaper, which is not a bad price for peace of mind.



Wouldn't leave home without it.



Pullya, paying $100 or less for AAA is not expensive.

 

[HBarlow]

I upgraded to 16" rims for around $ 100 on ebay; then I purchased Commercial TAs (load range E) from Costco in 225 75 size. Only about 1" taller diameter, plenty of room in my case. I think I paid around $ 150. 00 each with mounting / balancing included. One less thing to worry about.

Gotta love the ST / LT debate.

You made an excellent decision. You'll probably never have another tire problem on your trailer. The BFG commerical tire you named is almost as good as a Michelin for a lot less money.

Michelin owns BFG and Uniroyal. When two of the OEM Uniroyals on my HH fiver failed after only one year and 16k miles I contacted Michelin. Michelin sent me a partial refund on the two failed tires and paid to repair the damage to the side of the trailer.

To Jay Pullya,

I'm just old and have been an RVer for many years. If a person remains awake for as many years as I have you can't avoid learning a few things.

 

[TLane]

Oh yes - I carry the AAA card as well. Unfortunately, I go a lot of places that don't have cell phone service, and that's without leaving the paved roads! I've been to some small towns that don't have cell service in Co and Wy, not to mention long roads in between.

 

[Buffalo]

PULLYA,



I've heard the same thing about changing ST tires every three years. I live in Phoenix where it's hot, dry & sunny & very hard on rubber products &, change my trailer tires every three years. Usually by that time, they are starting to develop sidewall cracking near where the wheel comes in contact with the tire. I've owned travel trailers since the mid '80's & have never had a tire failure. My trailers have been in all the Western states, back to IN, OH, MI & as far east as Toronto, ONT. Spent two summers on the road with the trailer ('02 & '04).



My latest trailer is a Nash 25' that had 205-75-15-C's & I upgraded two sizes to 225-75-15-D's. I've had the trailer since '98. Lately, I've been using Towmasters (Greenball).



Back in the early 2000's, I did some research on trailer tires & found that the Towmasters were made by Goodyear, in Canada, & went down the same assembly line as the Goodyear Marathon's. They looked identical except for the name stamped on the sides. That has since changed.



Back in the early 2000's, the Marathons had a big problem with blowing out. The problem was that they were using polyester & steel plys. When the tires got hot, the belts would expand causing failures. Around that time, Goodyear started installing a nylon outer belt. Nylon does not expand when it gets hot so, it acted like a "girdle" holding the other plys in their proper place. The addition of nylon did not completely stop the blow out problems but, it did help!!!



The Goodyear failure engineer told me that the tires were only rated for 65 mph. That's all they were tested for.



I hate the expense of changing what look like pretty good tires, every three years but, that is better than tire problems on the highway. I stay at 65 mph. or less & try to justify it by telling myself that I'm also getting better fuel mileage. Being cheap, it seems to work!!!!



I would like to think that if ONE tire manufacturer would take the time & effort to build a bullet-proof trailer tire, they would corner the market in a very short time. It seems that the tire companies are just looking at their bottom line. Too bad for them & us!!!



Joe F.

 

[HBarlow]

From the Greenball website:

"Supply Sources
From 1976 to 1993, Greenball Corporation sourced their tires through a single vendor. Cheng Shin Rubber Co. in Taiwan exported and exclusively manufactured Greenball tire designs. In 1993, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Inc. became a reliable domestic source. After 1994, Greenball has developed a stable of ten (10) supply sources to meet the evolving and growing needs of the company. "

From Buffalo's post above:
"I would like to think that if ONE tire manufacturer would take the time & effort to build a bullet-proof trailer tire, they would corner the market in a very short time. It seems that the tire companies are just looking at their bottom line. Too bad for them & us!!!"

Sounds like Greenball, an Asian-owned company, sources their tires from the lowest bidder. That wouldn't give me a feeling of confidence and I wouldn't use them on a travel trailer.

Michelin does manufacture a bulletproof tire for use on large travel trailers, fifth wheel or conventional. Unfortunately, Michelin chooses only to manufacture them in 16" sizes and not for weight ratings greater than load range E.

 

[Blu-meanie]

I run the Greenballs (tires) too. I did a lot of research, read many forums, then decided they were the best in the sizes that would fit. Guess I missed the Goodyear maypop connection. I've had one blow out on another trailer, didn't even know about it until I noticed a lot of smoke. Not much damage, just not fun changing tires on the side of the road with way too much traffic racing by.