Tomax Tires

elmogoss wrote:
Shame on Keystone for selling 5th wheels with these tires. I have a 2014 Montana and had a tire blow with 4,000 miles in it. Forgive me for being a novice, but had I known these were cheap chinese 5 ply tires when I purchased this rig, I would have demanded dealer replace with something better before I drove out of lot.
I know there have been other complaints about Tomax tires. Replace them if you have them!
The challenge these days is to find any trailer tire not made in china.

For lots of tire discussion go to the fifth wheel forum.
The mods close them pretty quickly, so there *ARE* LOTS of 'em - *Search* in the current 12 months and in the archives.
Might add - other forums let 'em run.

As others have posed - ST tires are "SOP" for most trlr mfgrs.
Some mfgrs equip new trailers with LTs.

The ST tires meet the required ST tire specs.

The mfgr uses tires which meet the specs req'd for his product.
Unfortunately, most of the time the STs furnished are not up to the job.

When they fail - blame the owner, blame under-inflation, blame road hazards - as GY did regarding USA mfg ST Marathons:
"In every instance it was the customer's fault".
Some owners claim they (STs) are wonderful - many don't.
Plus side: GY will usually pay for damage done to trailers by their tires. (You should wonder why!)
Of course, no compensation for "down time"..:(

It's also very noteworthy (good or bad, take your pick) that GY is the
only tire mfgr that still puts their name on an ST tire.
Bad Karma for the brand when they fail - so (new) creative brands/brand names are the norm - even if mfg'd by a major tire company.

The Chinese:
The Chinese are very capable of manufacturing quality tires - and other quality "things" to the desired specs - like your TV, computer, etc.
Even (gasp!) Michelin has a tire manufacturing facility in China - producing Michelin tires. (Of course, no Michelin STs)

The trailer mfgrs:
Had an interesting chat with a Jayco factory rep several years ago.
My question was really about clearance for the XPS Ribs I planned to use as replacements for the factory supplied GY Marathons.

After getting that one answered, (BTW - he agreed the Ribs were an excellent choice), I asked him why the mfgrs didn't equip (or offer) their product with upgraded ("better") tires.
His answer was simple, the mfg buys tires spec'd to meet the load requirement of/for the trailer.

Why not offer a *factory* upgrade?
Buyers don't want (his opinion) an upgraded tire, such as an LT - as ST tires are for trailers, etc., and - don't want to pay extra for something they (believe) they don't need.
Buyers and *dealers* can work that one out.

Also (real reason/s) - major can of worms for the mfgr - use one size/brand/LR that meets specs for *ALL* of that model trlr.
An upgrade might give a negative impression.....what's wrong with
the tires the mfgr normally uses?..:?

Low bid and bean counters enter into the equation...:W
(Yeah, he said -admitted- that one!)



~

just to add to the LT vs ST tire debate.. a LOT of airstream owners on the airforums.com boards have switched from a 15" to 16" rim and most are going with the Michelin LT tire.. 225/70-16 most of the time i believe. there are other LT tires like the BF Goodrich, which is supposed to be made in the same michelin plant in SC just a different mold but same carcass.

Of the ones that have switched there has been virtually NO more tire issues..

do the LT tires cost more than the chinese ST or any ST tires.. YES.. Are they a better tire no matter what the ST tire lobbyist try to tell you, YES,, but what is your family's safety worth.. PRICELESS..

John&Joey wrote:
I would also take a look at the weight of the trailer and the load rating of the tires. I'm betting you're going to find out you're at the max of those tires.

Now if you jump up a load range on the tires, I think all the talk about origin and ST will go away. When you get into bigger heavy trailers with only two axles, you're asking a lot from those four tires.

This is dead on! I have used towmax tires and have had good luck. I have a two axle 10,000 lbs. trailer with E rated towmax tires. I will guess that the Montana also came with E rated tires the only problem is the Montana fully loaded is probable pushing 15,000 lbs. and you only have tires rated for 14,000 lbs. (3500Lbs. X 4).

My experience with Keystone is they build a nice unit but only put enough tire for the delivery weight of the trailer not the loaded weight. Something they could, and should, easily improve on.

My keystone came with Towmax tires. Lasted almost 20K miles before they were worn out. then replaced them with Maxxis. My guess is the Maxxis will last about 20K miles as well. I installed a TPMS as soon as we got the trailer. May have saved my bacon at least once, when I picked up a nail and a slow leak. Fast enough that it would likely have gone flat between rest stop checks, but slow enough that I got warning.

Towmax tires wore pretty evenly, never had any bubbles, seperation etc.

I would also take a look at the weight of the trailer and the load rating of the tires. I'm betting you're going to find out you're at the max of those tires.

Now if you jump up a load range on the tires, I think all the talk about origin and ST will go away. When you get into bigger heavy trailers with only two axles, you're asking a lot from those four tires.

elmogoss wrote:
Shame on Keystone for selling 5th wheels with these tires. I have a 2014 Montana and had a tire blow with 4,000 miles in it. Forgive me for being a novice, but had I known these were cheap chinese 5 ply tires when I purchased this rig, I would have demanded dealer replace with something better before I drove out of lot.
I know there have been other complaints about Tomax tires. Replace them if you have them!
The challenge these days is to find any trailer tire not made in china.

Sorry for your aggravation and your pain. Truthfully you learned of the cheap RV issues like most of us....The hard way!
It's really not a Keystone issue the issues is industry wide.
While many tires from China are cheap it's not truly just a China thing either.
I have very high quality tires on my rig that were made in China.
Many including myself have giving up on ST tires and prefer LT tires.
While there is a lot of discussion on RV trailer tires, there is not 100% agreement on what to do about the issue.
I imagine it will take government regulation to force change. The RV industry is not going to reform itself without outside influence when it come to providing quality tires vs. the cheapest things they can find.
Don't let some of the resident guru's get the best of you. For the most part members are helpful and will steer you in the right direction.
Even those members that think it is your fault that you rig came with marginal inferior ST tires mean well....LOL

My Towmax tires on my Cyclone a couple of years ago.



As for darsben. Lighten up friend.

elmogoss wrote:
Shame on Keystone for selling 5th wheels with these tires. I have a 2014 Montana and had a tire blow with 4,000 miles in it. Forgive me for being a novice, but had I known these were cheap chinese 5 ply tires when I purchased this rig, I would have demanded dealer replace with something better before I drove out of lot.
I know there have been other complaints about Tomax tires. Replace them if you have them!
The challenge these days is to find any trailer tire not made in china.

Welcome to the forum. A google search on ST tires will show your not by yourself by a long shot with ST tire issues.
We have dozens of very experienced RV folks on the forum who have the experience to help a new guy, to the trailering world, with tire selections. Others ...well not so experienced comes to mind.

You mention 5 plies. Just about every ST or LT tire has 5 plies.
.... 2 carcass plies.
.... plus two steel belts in the tread.
.... plus one ply over lay under the tread belts to stiffen the tread area..... all = 5 plies.

All I'll say about a ST tire is they have always had this type issue even when they all were made in the USA by the major tire makers.

There are some very good china made P and LT tires on the road today so not all made in chine tires have ST tire issues. Also some good euro size all position tires in smaller 14" and 15" sizes

I assume your looking at tires.
We generally use LT E at 3042 lbs capacity on 5.2k and 6k axles. At the top is the Bridgestone R-250 and Michelin XPS Rib all steel ply carcass commercial grade tire. And several poly carcass tire as the Firestone Transforce HT that was mentioned. Our major LT tire makers usually have one of their LT lines they recommend for trailer service.

If your trailer has 7k axles then the Sailun S637 in a ST/LT235/85-16 G load range at 3750 lb capacity.
And the G614 Goodyear LT235/85-16 G at 3750 lb capacity.
Both tires are a all steel ply carcass commercial grade tire.

You want a opinion from a tire engineer/expert about tire selections ??
See Tireman9 .

I agree 99% of china tire are junk with one exception Sailun.I bought 2 after I read about the reviews and I can't complain .Check them before you buy something else.

Sailun S637's if your wheels will handle 110PSI.