Best Travel Trailer Tires

SoundGuy wrote:
Recently one of the off shore tires that came stock on my 2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS self destructed from the inside - steel belt simply blew apart. :M I replaced all four with a set of LR D Goodyear Endurance ST205/75 R14 and now have 1000 km on them. Towing is far more stable, noticeably less trailer bounce, trailer simply tracks along behind the TV, no drama at all. :B

SoundGuy, since we tow the same rig (albeit mine is a '16 and yours a '14 model), I was wondering what the date code of your originally installed stock, Chinese made tires were. I am still running the factory provided "Constancy LY188, 205/75R14, Load Range C" tires. My date code shows they were manufactured the second week of 2015 (0215). We only have a total of 7,506 miles towed on our 192RBS, but we all (should) know that it's not the miles, it's the age of the tires that generally drives replacement.

I'm only now beginning to think proactively about tire replacement - especially given the manufacturing source - but the age of your previously failed tire(s) might be informative to lots of folks who want to plan ahead to avoid a tire failure. We are also getting ready to head out on a 3,000+ mile round trip to the Mt. Rushmore area, so it's on my mind even more so . . .

The only tire that I have had fail is a Maxxis. But to be fair, it's the only tire I had long enough to put significant miles on to make a difference.

My first two trailers I only had a year/year and 1/2. They had GY Marathons which were made either in USA or Canada.

My Skyline Koala 21CS (24 ft model) had GY Marathons made in China. It was used, but only 1.5 years old. But it came from Alaska to Tidewater, VA. I had to change them because one of the tires got a puncture in the sidewall.

Replaced with ST205/75R14 LRC Maxxis. I put over 32K miles on those tires Which I had for 3.5 years. This included a 7900+ mile cross country trip.

This past spring coming back from Florida, I luckily saw the failed tire before it came apart on the highway. The local tire guy told me the steel belt had broken.

As far as the Maxxis went, I always aired them to 50 psi, and drove between 63-65 mph on the interstate, and 55 mph on regular roads.

myredracer wrote:
If a person wanted to stick with tires rated for 65 psi due to rim max. pressure rating, you'd have to go with 205 wide tires. The max. load rating drops to 2150 lbs which is significant. On a dual axle trailer that drops you from 10,120 lbs to 8600 lbs. You want more reserve load capacity, not less.

Check the weight chart and the LR-E will have the exact same rating as LR-D at 65 psi. All you need to do is fill the 225-Es to 65 psi if the wheel has a lower pressure rating.

I just installed Goodyear Endurance on my 26' travel trailer. We pulled it about 1500 miles down the Natchez Parkway and back as well as lots of side travel. These tires are outstanding. The trailer is rock solid behind the truck. They cut through water on wet roads. I highly recommend them.

I got mine at Discount Tires during their Memorial Day sale. They were $104 each, but with rebates it worked out to about $90 per tire installed. Made in America. And Goodyear has a reason to stand by these tires, since they are answering the call of so many people who are tired of poor quality third world manufactured tires.

Currently have LRD Marathons and have been great. Will be replaced at the end of next season after 5 years of service. I like the idea of the Endurance tires, but they aren't exactly a direct one-one replacement.

Marathon LRD in 15" is 225/75/R15 with max. load rating of 2540 lbs, is rated 65 psi max and requires a 6-7" rim width.

Endurance in the same 225 width forces you into a LRE tire with 80 psi max. Rim width is still 6-7" and load rating increases to 2830 lbs.

If a person wanted to stick with tires rated for 65 psi due to rim max. pressure rating, you'd have to go with 205 wide tires. The max. load rating drops to 2150 lbs which is significant. On a dual axle trailer that drops you from 10,120 lbs to 8600 lbs. You want more reserve load capacity, not less.

For those that started with rims that were for LRC tires and 50 psi, and they upgraded to LRD which requires 65 psi, they might not be able to go up to 80 psi to get the 225 wide tires if that's what they currently have depending on their rim's rating.

I don't to have to downgrade to skinnier 205 wide tires and a substantially lower reserve load capacity. Not sure why Goodyear did it this way. Maxxis on the other hand is a direct match for LRD 15" tires and has a 65 psi max rating and at this point is what I'd use. Marathons appear to be no longer manufactured as they aren't on GY's website.

Herd mentality IMO is also all those that jump on the bandwagon declaring blowouts are due to the country of manufacture. Heat is what destroys ST tires and how many actually observe the 3 main ST rules - never tow under-inflated, never tow overloaded and/or never exceed the max. speed rating. Without an accurate documented history of tire's treatment (basically impossible), it's pointless to blame the tires.

Lynnmor wrote:
I searched for tires that were not a cheap import and had the load rating I wanted.

Now no longer any need for the OP to "search" when the Made in USA Goodyear Endurance is now so readily available, which in the size he's looking for is a LR D tire and more than sufficient for use on his 21' travel trailer. ;) In this case, following the "herd" would serve the OP well. ;)

I would caution you about choosing product by following the herd mentality. Brand popularity gains like any fad. I searched for tires that were not a cheap import and had the load rating I wanted.

Moved from General RVing

mmyoyo wrote:
I have been searching for the best tires to use.

I have a 21' dual axle travel trailer and use ST205/75R14 tires.

Recently one of the off shore tires that came stock on my 2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS self destructed from the inside - steel belt simply blew apart. :M I replaced all four with a set of LR D Goodyear Endurance ST205/75 R14 and now have 1000 km on them. Towing is far more stable, noticeably less trailer bounce, trailer simply tracks along behind the TV, no drama at all. :B

The other day I had the opportunity to compare a LR C Goodyear Marathon, LR D Carlisle HD, and LR D Goodyear Endurance, all new, all unmounted, all the same size - when I bore down on each with all my weight the Marathon & Carlisle collapsed noticeably, the Endurance barely deflected at all, no doubt due to it's significantly stiffer sidewall. Obviously I won't be able to pass final judgement until I pile up many more miles on these new Endurance tires but so far, based on what I currently know about these tires, I'd have no hesitation recommending the new Goodyear Endurance. :B

Best I can tell you is don't go cheap. Had nothing but problems with cheap ST tires. Had no problems with Maxxis M8008's but I only had them for 10k or so before getting rid of the trailer. Had 2014 Carlisle Radial Trails, I liked them till I had a blow out at about 20k, they were about half worn down. Currently have the Goodyear Endurance, too new to tell, just figured I'd give them a shot.

Going by looks I liked the tread on the Maxxis the best.