Excalibur3000
Montana
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Joined: 04/18/2006
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OK, so here is the backstory.....Last Wednesday I picked up my trailer from storage. All 4 tires looked OK - did not check them for pressure. Trailer is unloaded and dry - probably in the 5000 lb or less range. I tow it 10 miles to the house - nothing over 60 mph. At the house, I check the tires and the right rear is low - about 23 psi vs the 49.5 I run in all the others. So, I switch it out with my spare (same wheel and tire manufacturer/size/type. Spare is inflated to match other tires (just a pound or two low). I have the tire that was low repaired (screw through the face) and place it in my spare position. Over the weekend I tow the trialer pretty much fully loaded up to the campground and back (Only about 120 miles round trip, never over 65 mph even on interstate.) It is hot both ways - 96 on the way out, 92 on the way back. About 20 miles from home a couple of guys in a car flag me down and tell me I might want to check my right front trailer tire. I pull over and check it and sure enough a chunk of the tread face the size of a softball is missing. It is low on air, but still holding some pressure. I swap it out for the spare (previously repaired tire) and head for home. Tires are 205/75/15 ST Maxxis, rated at 1,820 lbs. Trailer axles are 3,500 Thompsons. Trailer was probably close to max weight - it was pretty loaded, but nothing eceptionally heavy aside from a full tank of water.
OK on to part two - what happened? A couple of things I can think of - 1) I have cheap Maxxis tires, need I say more. 2) I clipped a sharp rock on the way home (About 12 miles on a somewhat rough gravel road) that started the tread death, or 3) The recent low tire put a strain on this one that then eventually caused it to blow. And one more question - since I killed this one, even though I caught it with air still in it, did I probably kill its partner tire on the same side (Or all 4 for that matter)?
So on to action items - I have been doing some looking at the following are available locally: 1) Cooper trailer tires in Load range C - same weight rating as the one that just popped. 2) Carlisle tires are available in Load range C and D in my size. Not even considering the C's due to the numerous problems I have read about on here - still keeping an open mind on the D's to see what folks think, 3) Akuret trailer tires in Load Range C and D, 4) Goodyear Marathons in Load Range C - same as existing. Also how many tires would you replace? I am eseriously leaning toward all four, but they don't have many miles on them. May not end up mattering in the end though....
Casey
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SKnight
Georgia
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Joined: 07/11/2008
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Watching intently, as mine will need replacement this winter!
I don't get lost, I investigate alternative destinations.
See a guy in the campground with a telescope, that may be me.
2001 Dodge 2500 Cummins HO six speed.
2002 Springdale 286 RLDS TT
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canoe on top
Denver, CO, US
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Joined: 07/21/2003
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You need to weigh your TT. "Probably" 5000 empty means, "probably" 6000 or more loaded but a scale weight would tell you if you are over your tire ratings and/or the GVW of your TT. If, in fact, you are around 5000 empty, you are probably not over your axle or tire ratings but a scale is the only way to find out. That will give you a lot of information for determining which tire you need. I thought Maxxis were supposed to be super tires? They get a lot of postive recommendations here.
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sunline1
Northeastern Pa
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Joined: 07/14/2006
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I'm watching also. Suspect i will learn nothing as usual. This tire subject is so subjective and confusing. I have almost concluded that all "ST" tires are junk so why not buy the cheapest "junk" you can get. Some have good luck with these and not those etc. so what to do is the question.
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Fiverwheel
Southern CA
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Joined: 03/25/2003
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Casey,
You don't tell us how old these tires are. This may be one of the important factors in giving advice.
2002 26.5 MB Lazy Daze
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Excalibur3000
Montana
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Joined: 04/18/2006
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Trailer is an 05. No idea how old they were when they went on. Since I owned it (April 2006 - was a carryover model) it has been stored outside, but with covers over the tires. No sign of checking or other UV damage. Also, all of the damage was on the face, nothing to do with sidewall.
canoe on top - I hear what you are saying, but I have a hard time believing it is 6,000 empty. I know how that works, but its sticker is 4,300. I know it isn't 4,300, but it was pretty seriously empty at the time of the tow to the house - thus the 5,000 number to take into account propane, accessories, etc. I agree a scale is the only real way to settle the weight issue.
I have also been giving thought to the LT tire idea, which I think has some credence, but in my case any 205/75/15 tires you find are not rated anywhere near stout enought to even compare to the original LR C tires.
Casey
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gotta go
Clovis,CA
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Joined: 09/25/2007
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After reading a LOT of posts on this subject in this forum I went with the Maxxis Radials and was able to go from L/R "C" to "D". Make sure your rims can handle the extra tire pressure, if you are looking at this option. I replaced ALL 5 tires since I have learned that looks is not everything. If the tires are 4 - 5 years old, it's time to start looking for replacements. There have been a couple of brands recommended - the big thing is staying away from the Chinese Tires and DO check the manufacture date on the tires you want to purchase. My tires ran about $620 for the five, mounted and balanced - yes, do get them balanced. If you have 16" rims, some people have gone to Michelin LT's. Good Luck -
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JJBIRISH
Butler, PA, USA
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Joined: 10/06/2002
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you are facing the biggest problem there is with TT...
we are in the light trailer category, like utility trailers, but we a very much different... axles and tires are sized by weight and that is a fact that can't be avoided... but with TT's compared to other trailers the weight is applied differently and is never taken into account... we have a higher center of gravity, we have the tires loaded all the time (all be it sometimes more than others) they sit on one spot for long periods usually with the load on them, and balance is more important on TT's than it is on most other trailers... often there are run for longer distances at highway speeds than most other trailers...
all combined we abuse them and stress them by sitting or traveling with them... add to that we just don't take care of them like we could and should...
taking the load off of them and lowering air pressure when sitting for long periods... keeping the air up when sitting for long periods without unloading the tires... bringing them up to operating pressure at regular intervals to release the ever important compound saving chemicals built into them... just a lot of varying factors to have a single answer to the problem...
LT tires today are just not built to fit the light trailer category, and switching to them may not even be possible... even if it were they are not the total answer as they seem to have about the same failure rate, although others will argue that... as more and more of them are made in china, its anybody's guess if this is a answer at all
ST tires are not inherently bad as many use them for very many thousands of miles with no failures...
Maxxis tires get very high marks here... I believe they have to small of a market share to know yet...
Carlisle tires are hated by most people here, but after extensive research and many miles of personal use I found absolutely no credible evidence they are any worse than any other ST tire...
I would at least go with a LR D tire in your size and air it to the maximum rim pressure rating with high pressure stems and balance them... the rim pressure rating can be found in the inside of the rim with the tire removed (if no one already removed them)... if you have steel wheels I am guessing 65 PSI...
good luck in your search, if you come up with better answers, let us know... there are plenty of us searching for the same answers...
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
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Beltone Magoo
Conroe, Tx
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Joined: 05/30/2005
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Mehinks that the right front was carrying a lot of weight with the right rear so low. Probably was damaged on the tow home. If one tire goes on a tandem, it's pretty safe to change the other as soon as possible as it is doing more than it's share of work and is likely to fail on the future. Just a thought.
Good luck, safe travels and happy camping!
02 F250 7.3 Auto CC LB Brakesmart Reese Straightline
98 Sunnybrook 29DBS
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prichardson
Lafayette, La
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Joined: 10/31/2006
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How old are the tires? If over 4-5 years; replace period. ST tires just do not last agewise reguardless of brand. I would also go with the highest rating tires that the rims will take.
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