Tires ??

[heaton]

My 2553 is a 2004 model with Maxxis tires. I want to install new tires before my trip south in April. Any suggestions on what brand of replacement tire to buy and where? The Maxxis tires have been great so far but there are no dealers close by. What about Goodyear or Firestone?

Thanks,
Heaton

[Bobo]

Heaton,

Reading the previous theads on this forum, the Goodyear Marathon tires have been highly recommended for use on a TT. Myself, my 2499 is only one year old with the OEM tires still on it. When the time comes, I do plan on Goodyears for the replacement.

Bobo

[Sunline Fan]

I would also recommend the Goodyears. I'll be replacing my tires in the spring, and I'll be putting on Goodyears. I have a good used set that I'm putting on, but if I didn't have that, I'd go with the new Goodyears in a heartbeat.

Jon

[PTHutch]

Heaton,

I agree with Bobo & Sunline Fan. When it's time to replace my tires, I will go with the Goodyear Marathons.
I've used them on previous trailers and was very happy with them.

Hutch

[RPierce]

I too will be replacing tires this spring. Based on the info I have been reading on the forums I will be going with Goodyear. I had a blowout last summer with a brand new Northern Tool brand tire that I was running on the TT. I noticed a soft tire just as I was leaving for a trip. Pulled off the tire and there was a nail in it. I had a brand new spare in the garage that went on my utility trailer. Tire was same size and same load rating so I put it on TT. 20 min into a 5 hour trip home and a blow out on 390.

[Hematite]

While on the subject of tires, I've seen a number of posts where people have used Light Truck tires, seemingly, sucessfully.

If this IS a viable option, wouldn't these tires be a better alternative because of higher speed and load ratings for a given size?

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by Hematite

While on the subject of tires, I've seen a number of posts where people have used Light Truck tires, seemingly, sucessfully.

If this IS a viable option, wouldn't these tires be a better alternative because of higher speed and load ratings for a given size?

Rick, this is a good question. In the future I will be needing to replace mine and I have been keeping track of who was saying what brand etc is good.

The Goodyear Marathons come up often but I also learned some of them now come out of China. And some still come from Canada which I have no issues with.

I have Maxxis on both my TT’s and so far no riding problems but they too are made in China. But I am starting to get cracks down in the bottom area of the tire tread. So for sure I will be on the change out plan when I hit 5 years on them and maybe even sooner pending how these cracks go.

The question is going to come real quick well which ones are not made in China?? That fact is not thrilling to me on tires. The amounts of all kinds of RV parts in TT now a days out of China is getting to be staggering. Even the wheel bearings etc. etc and they are really not thrilling to me.

I know the tandem axle trailers really take one heck of a side flex in the tires when you do a 180 degree turn. Which is what the ST part of the rating is all about.

If LT’s will fill the same bill, that does become an option. I don’t know much on this yet if they will fill the bill. I know some of the smaller trailers I do not know if they make them that small. But the larger TT’s maybe.

Hopefully we can get a tire expert here to help explain if LT’s can be applied this way.

If and when I get to the point of changing, I will most likely call the tire manufacture and see if they can be used in trailer service.

John

[Hematite]

JohnB:

Yes, I too have heard that some of Good Year Marathon tires are now from China and that troubles me. In the tire research that I have done, I find that US made trailer tires are essentially trouble free and durable and the Chinese made tires are somewhat trouble prone. Not in every case, of course, there are exceptions to everything, but it is a pretty good rule of thumb.

On another RV site, I noted that the people that went to light truck tires (LT prefix) were particularly satisfied with the performance in various trailer applications. The one drawback, if it is one, is that the wheels on our Sunlines may be rated at 50lbs max pressure. I found a site that had, for example, alloy wheels very similar to the ones on my trailer and, in that size, they were rated for a max pressure of 50 lbs. Some quality LT tires can take a LOT more pressure than that and consequent increase in load capacity but it is doubtful that this advantage can be used if the wheels are limited to 50 lbs pressure. Even limited to 50 lbs pressure, I believe that LT tires will still offer a significant improvement in load carrying ability and attendant increase in safety.

You mention wheel bearings made in China. It's funny, I had an American car that wore out the wheel bearings at about 90K miles. They were made in China. I replaced them with US made Timken bearings and they were still in the car at 259,000 miles, without service, when I sold the car. Still going strong. I think that when I do the wheel bearing and brake service, in the Spring, I'm going to toss the OE wheel bearings, if Chinese, and replace them with US made ones!

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by Hematite

JohnB:

I think that when I do the wheel bearing and brake service, in the Spring, I'm going to toss the OE wheel bearings, if Chinese, and replace them with US made ones!

Rick,

Start planning now for a trip to the store then. The odds are not in your favor. Both of my 2004's, Dexter in the T2499 and Alko in the T310SR axles have foregn bearings in them.

Like I said the amount of offshore parts in a RV now a days is bigger then then we think.

I'm not saying US made stuff does not have issues... it sure does, but basic power transmisson components we figured out a long time ago how to make.

Good luck.

John

PS, the rim pressure, yup good point.

[Mooney]

In regards to the light truck vs. the trailer-specific ratings, I have heard that one should stay with trailer tires due to the consturcution, as our trailers typically have less sophisticated suspensions (i.e. no shocks) than cars and trucks.

For most of us who travel mainly locally with one or two long trips now and then, LT tires should be OK- but it's been a while since I was in the tire business. The rubber-ride trailers should be able to run them with no concern (other than weight) since those suspensions are so supple.

FWIW, I plan to go Goodyear when ours need replacement (no cracks, tears, fading or cuts- PA to MA use only, then around the lot for a couple years, and a couple local trips last year. I will keep a sharp eye on them this year though, as they are the dreaded Maxxis brand....

[40_Acre_Mule]

I've been running light truck tires on the trailer I use to haul my tractor. 1000 lb trailer with leaf springs and another 1000+ lbs of tractor. I have had no issues. It's been a couple of yars since I put them on, so I don't remember the brand.

[Mooney]

Looks like I will be revisiting these thoughts sooner than later.

We suffered a CARCASS failure under the tread while on our trip this weekend (will post pics when I get back to the coach).

The Mission tires are junk.... luckily we were going 30 mph when it went (heard the hiss and thumps) goodbye.

Flat, level road, no bumps, nothing....and the middle of the rear passenger side tread split in half like a banana when you step on it. The front tire shows no sign of impact or injury (due to freign object), none of the tires had cracked sidewalls or treads.

I am reconsidering the LT versus ST tires....but will (maybe) stick with the ST tires- but then again, LT ones are more readily available.....

I'll post a photo of the tire when I can....

[Hematite]

Wow, glad you're OK!!!

I know that a number of people seem to like the LT tires. I think that if I went that route I'd go with Michelin LT tires because they seem to have a VERY stiff sidewall and I think that could be an advantage in this situation.

[Hematite]

I went to Tire Rack to see what is available in LT tires for trailer applications and the candidates are slim.

To keep with a 50lb pressure tire there was only one Michelin and that is one size larger. None in our size. It calls for a 5.5" rim, also.

It might be pretty hard to find a LT tire that meets all the parameters without changing wheel (wider) and tire (wider/ taller) size.

[Honda03842]

We put Goodyear marathons on for our trip to Labrador, 1000 miles of gravel and grades with no problems.

My experience with Michelin LT tires is very poor - 5 blow outs over 7 years on our motorhome. Never beyond ratings and pressure checked regularly yet failure after failure. Every time the side walls blew out with an explosion that scares you to death. Fortunately always in the rear.

Norm Milliard
2004 Honda CRv
1982 Sunline 15,5 SB

[kanyonkitty]

Last year on RT40 in Hinton, OK I had a blow-out.I heard the "POP" and was able to get pulled over and stopped. No trailer damage except a little black scuff mark.

I still had the original tires that Sunny came with. I had over 18K on those tires.

I ended up at a Goodyear dealer to get new tires, and they put Power Kings' on Sunny.

I do keep my Sunny under an RV Port and tires at 50 psi, treated with Aero 303 and covered when not rolling.

Kitty

[Hematite]

I found this article about trailer tires and it seems pretty informative:

http://www.championtrailers.com/tire_art.html

[emam]

Check the other thread I posted on this topic, but I'd move up to the 225/75/R15 tires and you'll be able to move up to a Class E tire and go all the way up to a 10ply.

Double the amount of weight than the stock tires.

We have two of them. I think I might switch the other two to an LT Tire just to compare.

Right now, one side is the 225/75/R15 while the other is stock. The stock tires are getting pretty ratty, so this will be done in the next week or so.

I'll be sure to keep you all posted

Pat

[Hematite]

Pat,
Sounds like a great idea to compare the 2 types of tires. I see on various internet forums that there are a number of people that are convinced that LT tires are the way to go, just as there are those equally convinced to stay with ST tires.

When you went to the 225 tires did you have to change to a wider rim?

I think that the stock wheels are limited to a 50# cold inflation pressure so, if you have stock rims, I guess that you're still using the 50# of pressure. Even with 50# of pressure in a D or E rated tire I'm sure that the heavier tire construction would have many benefits.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by Hematite

Pat,

I think that the stock wheels are limited to a 50# cold inflation pressure so, if you have stock rims, I guess that you're still using the 50# of pressure. Even with 50# of pressure in a D or E rated tire I'm sure that the heavier tire construction would have many benefits.

Guys good conversation as soon I need 4 new TT tires. Getting cracks in the threads on my Maxxis.

One thing to caution on, all LT tires are not created equal. They can carry more load an they are stiffer side walled, however they become stiff at the higher pressures on some brands.

I had LT Michelan LTX M & S and that where soggy towing until you get to 65 psi on the front end of my 2500 Suburban. My buddy have BFG' LT on his Yukon and they where sog city until he hit 65 to 70 PSI.

I also had Steel Tex LT's and they where stiff at 50 psi

The heads up is a soggy tire on a TT can be a factor in sway control. If the stock rims are 50 psi limited this might be a problem. They are stamped on the inner rim on my T2499 on the outside so you can see it. Have to pull the tire off the TT to see or really crawl in there... Just I do not recall what they where stamped..... H'mm check the spare tire rim. it is out in the open more.

Hope this helps

John