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Joseph_Fihn's avatar
Joseph_Fihn
Explorer
Jun 23, 2013

Carlisle Radial Trail RH Trailer Tire???

My trailer (Nash 25-S, 1998) needs new tires. The largest tire stores in my area are the Discount Tire Stores & they HIGHLY recommend the NEW Carlisle trailer tires. I'm looking at the 225-75-15-E's. My concern is that the Carlisle's had close to the worst reputation of all the trailer tires, in the past.
Discount tells me that the NEW Carlisle's are completely different & far more rugged than their previous models. I suppose it's possible to go from the worst to the best in one design but, I have my doubts. I want to take a trip from AZ. to Alaska for the summer in the near future & want the BEST tire available on my trailer. Don't want any failures in a remote area. No entertainment value to that.

Do any of you have any experience with the NEW Carlisle's? I'd appreciate your impressions of the tire. Thanks in advance.

Joe F.
  • You can probably find a thread about any tire brand and failures. However, Maxxis is BY FAR the best reputation for ST's against failures, but they are not perfect.

    I installed Maxxis 6 1/2 yrs ago (did not upgrade size or rating) and to date no issues whatsoever.

    Problem with going up two sizes and two ratings is your trailer will have to absorb more shock.

    You money your choice, but you do not want to accept a dealer's word. They are in business to sell tires, especially the tires they have on hand.
  • once a snake always a snake carlie has a bad rep, I,m not going to be a test pilot for them. tire dealer says there great???? who told him? the carlie salesman??
  • DOWNTHEROAD,
    It has been recommended to me that the E's have a tougher carcass & for about $10.00 per tire over the cost of D's I thought that might be a good idea, especially, travelling the roads of Alaska for the summer. I do drive on forest dirt roads in eastern AZ. quite a bit & like the idea of a tough carcass.

    My wheels do allow for a maximum of 75 LBS. tire pressure as marked on the wheel next to the fill valve.

    I was seriously thinking of the Maxxis M8008's which, I had also heard were very good tires. However, there is a thread on this site of Maxxis failures, which, scares me a bit.

    Joe F.
  • Yes! The trailer did come with 205-75-15-C's. The next size up is 215-75-15's but, I found the 225-75-15-D's or E's fit very well & actually look more appropriate for the size of the trailer. No failures with the larger sizes, either.

    All this was prompted by my friend with a Nash 24-A that had a blowout back east & replaced 4 tires & put the best, old tire on the rear bumper as the spare. By the time he got back to Phoenix, the SPARE had blown out on the sidewall & the tire wasn't even on the ground (early, Goodyear Marathon's).

    That was enough for me to start doing some research.

    What I found was that many tires had steel/polyester belts that when heated up, allowed the tire belts to expand & contract regularly. The new designs introduced an outer tread ply belt of nylon between the steel/polyester belts on the tread side. The nylon does not expand when heated & worked as a "girdle" holding the other ply's in their proper place. Seemed to help the longevity of the tires. The NEW Goodyear Marathon's had the letter "S" enclosed in a circle stamped on the sides of the tires & the addition of NYLON Belt in the area the showed what the tire was made of.

    Joe F.
  • Up grading load range is a good idea...but going from C's to E's is probably not necessary.....and make sure your wheels/rims are even rated to handle that much pressure...(going from 50 psi to 80 psi).

    I'll wait awhile before I jump on the NEW Carlisle ST tires bandwagon.
    Dealer can HIGHLY recommend them and say this and that, but the proof for me is what everyday RV'er say about their experience with them over time..

    Not closed minded to other options and even welcome them...but right now my Maxxis is a proven performer.
  • did your trailer came with 205/75R15 load range C ?
    you will gain a significant advantage by upgrading to 225 /75 R15 load range E

    load capacity rating in pounds is more important than brand .
    you will gain enough in reserve load capacity that the improvement in recent Carlisle's will be a bonus , but not critical .
    i did that upgrade for the same reason .
    i want to play when i want to play .
    no rv or boat trailer failures since upgrading .