MichaelOH59 wrote:
NC Hauler wrote:
MichaelOH59 wrote:
Bamaman1 wrote:
Scarcely a day goes by that I don't see postings online in RV forums about Chinese tires disintegrating and causing serious damages--$2-3K common.
Life is not worth the risk. My brand new Grand Design Reflection 5th wheel came in last week with Chinese Will Pop tires.
I already have a set of Bridgestone R250's ribbed 16"ers. At $195 each at Costco, they're half the price of G614 Goodyears. The rubber is 1" thick, and they're some really heavy duty tires. I've heard nothing but great things about them and the Michelin XPS Rib tires for RV use.
The only ST tire I would use is the Maxxis M8008. The Chinese tires, including the Goodyear Marathon, need to go to the dump.
I am critical of Chinese trash, yet the exception to the rule may be the Sailun s637. A g rated tire that has been getting some good reviews. About the same price as the Brigestones. I don't know much about the bridgestones, I suppose I should look into them.
Sailun tire manufacturer has met stringent ISO and TS certifications in Quality and Manufacturing Processes, same as my company HAS to meet if one wants to stay in business and have a reputation of manufacturing a high quality product....To achieve TS16969 accreditation, one has to really prove out their Quality processes with training records, proof of Quality processes in place being used in the manufacturing process which is also audited. I will look at the Sailun Tire when it comes time to replace my G614 tires. I KNOW what the manufacturer had to go through and prove out to attain these certifications...and it's an ongoing process, you try to get re-certification each year and that means one has to maintain all the above mentioned...Not an easy task, I've been involved with these Manufacturing certifications since 93' and know if one merits these certifications, they manufacture a high quality product...
I am certainly not as familiar with the ISO Certification process as you are. But it is no secret that the Chinese game the system; everything from lying about the age of kids in the little league World Series to gaming the immigration system. It is a different set of priorities and once people understand that it becomes easier to understand the substandard pharmaceutical and pet food scandals of a few years ago. I do not doubt your comments about ISO but I do doubt the Chinese willingness to play by the rules- based on experience. Also based on experience it appears that the Sailun S637 may be a heck of a value.
Don't get me wrong, I know all about the other "junk" we've gotten, and are still getting from China. It sickens me to see what they get away with in the line of quality and our government doesn't even give them a slap on the wrist...truly pathetic.
BUT, the ISO certifications isn't something that one can just easily lie there way into...having been trained in the processes and been through these certifications for the last 21 years, (just number changes as the processes have been refined)....The auditors come into the plan and go through records for a year. They interview workers and management in every department, ie, HR, Finance, Manufacturing, Quality, and nit pick the heck out of training records, testing processes in place, Quality processes in the manufacturing process and records, records, records....Our plant goes through a week of this audit each year....It can be a pretty stressful event.....It can be "googled" as to what all is involved, including the training of Auditors and what is expected from a company that WANTS to attain these certifications...
All that being said, it would almost take more work to lie your way to these accreditations than to actually meet all criterium to attain them by following all the guidelines to "pass" the "audit".
I wouldn't put a Chinese manufactured tire on my 5er for any reason, and if one goes over my tire post, as a lot of us, I'm NOT a "pro" chinese tire advocate...and I've only endorsed this ONE tire brand due to their Quality credentials.....and reviews of the Sailun tire on this and several other forums....
If one wanted a "G" rated tire, about the "only game in town", IF one wanted to avoid the lousy China manufactured tires, is the GY G614's AND they ARE expensive. Now along comes, FINALLY, a tire that at this time, "seem's" to be a well manufactured "G" rated tire with an affordable price on it where one doesn't need to have a "money tree" to purchase 4 or 5 of them....For that I'm glad...and the adage, "you get what you pay for" isn't a good argument for NOT buying these tires...seems like a very good price for the product offered.
"IF" Sailun KEEPS their ISO standards and we keep getting good reports on them on this and other forums for use on 5er's that need "G" rated tires, to me, they have become a viable option for those of us who need a quality "G" rated tire for their 5er and would like to be able to purchase them at an affordable rate...
