the dreaded tire topic...

I've been towing with a 1965 Chevy Van since 1988, using 14" car tires. Way back (1990) I always used Goodyear Arrivas, which was a heck of a tire. I still have one I use for a spare, it shows no sign whatsoever of cracking at all, still looks new. The closest thing to it I found at Les Schwab, a 50,000 mile Classic Steel Belted Radial with plenty of capacity to handle our 3600 lb van and 4300 lb Wilderness TT. Never had a blowout in all my years of towing. I have to agree with JJBirish, tires are being made very cheaply these days so they blow out if people are towing too fast or not keeping them inflated properly, or running over curbs, or leaving them out in the sun, etc. I've been towing for 25 years, and I can't remember ever worrying so much about what tires are best, what date they were built or how many years they will last before falling apart. Shoot, when I started we still used bias ply for trailers and the big debate was whether or not radials would be better. Kinda wish China hadn't discovered that capitalism works better and makes 'em lots more money than communism.