Tire Replacement

MrVan wrote:
It is recommended to change out ST tires every three years.

There is no factual requirement to replace ST tires every 3 years. This is total bunk. Some manufacturers recommend changing them every 3-5 years which should be the clue to an informed buyer that those brands are trash. The NHTSA recommends more frequent inspection at 5 years and some brands like Maxxis warrants there tires for 5 years. If you have the option of switching to LT tires on a large 5th wheel there may be some benefit in doing so. If you must continue to use ST tires Maxxis currently offers the best ST tire IMO and experience.

fla-gypsy wrote:


There is no factual requirement to replace ST tires every 3 years. This is total bunk.

You are correct! Many do not last that long on large trailers when used near their max ratings.

Good Years economical trailer tire(Marathon) carries a 6 year warranty and their very expensive one(G614) only has a 4 year warranty????

Current Marathon's are very lucky to make it 4 years, and the current G614 is most likely good 6 years. What am I missing here?

Chris

To the OP: It would not be too soon to replace.
Although I would tend to wait until the just before the next big trip next season.

fla-gypsy wrote:

MrVan wrote:
It is recommended to change out ST tires every three years.

There is no factual requirement to replace ST tires every 3 years. This is total bunk. Some manufacturers recommend changing them every 3-5 years which should be the clue to an informed buyer that those brands are trash. The NHTSA recommends more frequent inspection at 5 years and some brands like Maxxis warrants there tires for 5 years. If you have the option of switching to LT tires on a large 5th wheel there may be some benefit in doing so. If you must continue to use ST tires Maxxis currently offers the best ST tire IMO and experience.

I find it interesting that you call the 3 year figure total bunk when you report manufacturers recommend changing them 3-5 years. What part of that statement don't you understand?

Slow leaks, flats, blowouts, tread separation, I had 'em all at one time or another, on 2 different trailers with 4 different tire manufacturers. Then I switched to Michelins and have not had a problem in 6 years. Run 'em on my truck and trailer. Second set on each vehicle now. For a 3 or 4 year life the cost per tire is $70 or $50 per year. Compare that to the cost of alternative tires and the difference is not very great, particularly when you figure the Michelins are trouble free...or at least have been for me.
FYI...on the trailer...Michelin XPS Rib T/R LT235/85R16E1 120R B.
On the truck...Michelin LTX A/T 2 LT245/75R16E1 120R B.

MrVan wrote:

fla-gypsy wrote:

MrVan wrote:
It is recommended to change out ST tires every three years.

There is no factual requirement to replace ST tires every 3 years. This is total bunk. Some manufacturers recommend changing them every 3-5 years which should be the clue to an informed buyer that those brands are trash. The NHTSA recommends more frequent inspection at 5 years and some brands like Maxxis warrants there tires for 5 years. If you have the option of switching to LT tires on a large 5th wheel there may be some benefit in doing so. If you must continue to use ST tires Maxxis currently offers the best ST tire IMO and experience.

I find it interesting that you call the 3 year figure total bunk when you report manufacturers recommend changing them 3-5 years. What part of that statement don't you understand?

Because that is not what is recommended. It is 3-5 years on one brand that I have ever heard of. You stated it was every 3 years for ST tires implying that all ST tires should be replaced every 3 years which is total bunk. A properly maintained good quality ST tire will last around 5+ years and my last set lasted 6+ years.

fla-gypsy wrote:
A properly maintained good quality ST tire will last around 5+ years and my last set lasted 6+ years.

You need to go back to OP original post and read it! This is a 14K large trailer! ST235/80R16E tires fail regularly in this application.

Someone with a small light bumper pull talking about ST tire reliability in this situation is apples and oranges. Most are lucky to make it to 3 years.

The problem becomes, what is it 3 or 5 years. How do you know when the tire is ready to go other than luck! You see a problem in the morning inspection, and you are lucky. You see no problem in the morning inspection and 10-100 miles down the road your luck runs out.

It is like playing Russian Roulette with ST tires on large trailers.
Installing a good quality poly carcass LT tire if it meets the requirement ups one's odds quite a bit. Installing a steel ply carcass tire GREATLY improves ones odds. Find a failure report anywhere of a Michelin XPS RIB or Bridgestone Duravis R250 that has failed on a 5th wheel trailer!

Both of these tires are good to 6-8 years and will most likely show hair line cracks in the sidewalls somewhere in the 6-10 year time frame, giving one the notice to replace them. Or just pick a year 6, 7, or 8, and sale them on CL like I did to someone that wants them for an utility trailer or old beater truck.

The other two big pluses are very sable towing and very low rolling resistance for improved mileage.

Chris

fla-gypsy wrote:

MrVan wrote:

fla-gypsy wrote:

MrVan wrote:
It is recommended to change out ST tires every three years.

There is no factual requirement to replace ST tires every 3 years. This is total bunk. Some manufacturers recommend changing them every 3-5 years which should be the clue to an informed buyer that those brands are trash. The NHTSA recommends more frequent inspection at 5 years and some brands like Maxxis warrants there tires for 5 years. If you have the option of switching to LT tires on a large 5th wheel there may be some benefit in doing so. If you must continue to use ST tires Maxxis currently offers the best ST tire IMO and experience.

I find it interesting that you call the 3 year figure total bunk when you report manufacturers recommend changing them 3-5 years. What part of that statement don't you understand?

Because that is not what is recommended. It is 3-5 years on one brand that I have ever heard of. You stated it was every 3 years for ST tires implying that all ST tires should be replaced every 3 years which is total bunk. A properly maintained good quality ST tire will last around 5+ years and my last set lasted 6+ years.

I didn't state it this way but I will now. All Chinese made ST tires should be replaced in 3 years or 10,000 miles whichever comes first on Load Range E tires that are loaded to near capacity. My personal experience is with two sets of Load Range E ST tires in 6 years that failed with less than 10,000 miles on each set. That is not bunk in any way shape or form.

DougE wrote:
Shouldn't he be inflating the tires to the trailer mfg recommendation rather than the max tire capability? Wouldn't require wheel upgrade then.

That's a correct statement when using identical tire designs. When we look at a load inflation chart for the LT235/85R16G tire we find that 80 psi will be 3042#. To obtain the load capacity of the OE ST tires the recommended tire pressure would be around 100 psi.

FastEagle

FastEagle wrote:

DougE wrote:
Shouldn't he be inflating the tires to the trailer mfg recommendation rather than the max tire capability? Wouldn't require wheel upgrade then.

That's a correct statement when using identical tire designs. When we look at a load inflation chart for the LT235/85R16G tire we find that 80 psi will be 3042#. To obtain the load capacity of the OE ST tires the recommended tire pressure would be around 100 psi.

FastEagle

Which you should not do on a rim rated to 80lbs inflation.