The China-Bomb debate Put to rest
Almost every week or more a thread appears with someone with a tire question. And just as predictably the China Bomb experts come out and start decrying all Chinese made tires. Then usually they re...
Forum Discussion
In this discussion so far we have heard pretty much both sides of the argument. (With the notable absence of many of the Maxxis die-hards)
But my post was not about "Winning" the argument. For me it is about bringing light and reason and facts to a subject that has for far too long on this site languished in the realm of the fictional and anecdotal.
The new members and beginning Rv'rs Who come to this site looking for experience and facts deserve better than the same old tired "ditch those China Bombs and Buy a set of Maxxis!" refrain that for so long dominated this kind of discussion.
Tire manufacturers all over the world from Mexico to Brazil to China and the US are continuing development, improvement and advancing the technology of Tire design and manufacture in response to a changing marketplace.
Before the current crop...last fifteen years lets say...of high powered diesel and gas pickups getting ever stronger, heavier and more capable of pulling ever larger and larger trailers there was no need to have a trailer tire that had a 70MPH speed rating...nobody could get going that fast. But with heavier loads as a result of ever larger trailers, higher speeds and larger TV's Tire manufacturers are making some very important changes in ST Tire design.
To paraphrase a well known TV series...the Truth is Out There...if you have an open mind and actually go looking for it.
But there will always be the close-minded, the Jingoistic and those who have deeper problems just because something is made in China who will never consider the facts and change their minds or even modify or moderate their rhetoric.
In addition there is some degree of Fear of China, it's growth and power and possibly some racism involved with Americans' view of Chinese goods, and imports. I am not pointing the finger at anyone in particular on this site or off, but I think it is an undeniable fact of life in this age of globalization.
Whether this thread "Puts the Debate to Rest" or not is not really the issue or intent. It was the value of the discussion that is important.
Are bad tires made in China? you bet. But they are also made right here in the USA, and every other country that makes tires? Yes. Do tires from the best manufacturers, whether Chinese, US or otherwise sometimes fail? Of Course. No one would be foolish enough to claim otherwise.
But tires really are some of our most reliable products. Just consider the number of rotations the average tire makes under all kinds of road conditions, temperature extremes and neglect by the owners.
I'd say we were all getting a pretty good deal.
But my post was not about "Winning" the argument. For me it is about bringing light and reason and facts to a subject that has for far too long on this site languished in the realm of the fictional and anecdotal.
The new members and beginning Rv'rs Who come to this site looking for experience and facts deserve better than the same old tired "ditch those China Bombs and Buy a set of Maxxis!" refrain that for so long dominated this kind of discussion.
Tire manufacturers all over the world from Mexico to Brazil to China and the US are continuing development, improvement and advancing the technology of Tire design and manufacture in response to a changing marketplace.
Before the current crop...last fifteen years lets say...of high powered diesel and gas pickups getting ever stronger, heavier and more capable of pulling ever larger and larger trailers there was no need to have a trailer tire that had a 70MPH speed rating...nobody could get going that fast. But with heavier loads as a result of ever larger trailers, higher speeds and larger TV's Tire manufacturers are making some very important changes in ST Tire design.
To paraphrase a well known TV series...the Truth is Out There...if you have an open mind and actually go looking for it.
But there will always be the close-minded, the Jingoistic and those who have deeper problems just because something is made in China who will never consider the facts and change their minds or even modify or moderate their rhetoric.
In addition there is some degree of Fear of China, it's growth and power and possibly some racism involved with Americans' view of Chinese goods, and imports. I am not pointing the finger at anyone in particular on this site or off, but I think it is an undeniable fact of life in this age of globalization.
Whether this thread "Puts the Debate to Rest" or not is not really the issue or intent. It was the value of the discussion that is important.
Are bad tires made in China? you bet. But they are also made right here in the USA, and every other country that makes tires? Yes. Do tires from the best manufacturers, whether Chinese, US or otherwise sometimes fail? Of Course. No one would be foolish enough to claim otherwise.
But tires really are some of our most reliable products. Just consider the number of rotations the average tire makes under all kinds of road conditions, temperature extremes and neglect by the owners.
I'd say we were all getting a pretty good deal.
