the dreaded tire topic...

JJBIRISH wrote:
While 100% of everyone on RV.net claims to religiously maintain their tires, there has to be a reason why some have many and multiple tire failures and others have a very different experience and no tire failures…

Making the leap to LT tires and not having more trouble can not explain everything away…
Upping the wheel size, tire size, and air pressure should eliminate problems even many of the human ones… the only real difference I have been able to verify is the different speed ratings and the number of trailers I see driving in excess of the rated speed of the ST tire…

Since most tire damage is cumulative and failure can occur hours, days, or even weeks after the damage weakens the tire, it leads me to believe speed even for short distances done repetitively can be a logical explanation for if not the cause of many of those failures…

That said and knowing almost all ST tires are made in China and no one will ever convince me that quality in Chinese manufacturing can be guaranteed or even well controlled (maybe someday but not yet), knowing that and watching 3 of my OE Duros self-district in under a year… leaves just low quality in some ST tires a real a real possibility that can’t be ignored either…

Making the change to LT’s isn’t a bad move, it’s just one not available to some and very expensive for all…
When are trailer buyers going to start making good tires a deal breaker… no one will listen until that starts happening…

SOme people are slow learners. You haven't blown enough ST tires. When you get to couple thousand dollars in fender skirts and tires you might consider a better built, higher specification tire.
MM49

While 100% of everyone on RV.net claims to religiously maintain their tires, there has to be a reason why some have many and multiple tire failures and others have a very different experience and no tire failures…

Making the leap to LT tires and not having more trouble can not explain everything away…
Upping the wheel size, tire size, and air pressure should eliminate problems even many of the human ones… the only real difference I have been able to verify is the different speed ratings and the number of trailers I see driving in excess of the rated speed of the ST tire…

Since most tire damage is cumulative and failure can occur hours, days, or even weeks after the damage weakens the tire, it leads me to believe speed even for short distances done repetitively can be a logical explanation for if not the cause of many of those failures…

That said and knowing almost all ST tires are made in China and no one will ever convince me that quality in Chinese manufacturing can be guaranteed or even well controlled (maybe someday but not yet), knowing that and watching 3 of my OE Duros self-district in under a year… leaves just low quality in some ST tires a real a real possibility that can’t be ignored either…

Making the change to LT’s isn’t a bad move, it’s just one not available to some and very expensive for all…
When are trailer buyers going to start making good tires a deal breaker… no one will listen until that starts happening…

bigcitypopo wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
IF, and only IF you must stay with a ST tire, Maxxis appars to have the best reputation.
There is however a huge drawback to them. Availability.
This forum is full of threads from those that had to WAIT for them as they had to be ORDERED.

In my mind this is a potential problem. Any tire can suffer damage on the road, and need to be replaced. Even the good ones. Yes the odds are a lot better, but should you need a replacement Maxxis while on the road.... Odds are you will not be able to get one.. You will either have to wait several days, or accept a inferior replacement.

So if you are able, I recommend going with LT tires. They suffer much less from the quality/reliability problems that plague the ST tires as a whole. They do not have the 65 MPH speed limit restriction, and are widely available just about anywhere.


Even if a LT tire should need replacing on the road, and the tire shop doesn't happen to have your brand in stock....They will have a LT tire of another brand that will be perfectly serviceable, so that you can continue on your trip without a tire concern.


Balancing and metal/rubber stems are down on the list as far I'm concerned. Balancing will likely never pay off in tire wear on a TT, and a solid axle won't transmit vibration to the TT like a steering/independent one on a car would. So long as the stems are rated for the PSI, then they are fine. Metal ones will last practically forever, but usually cost more..

Great info.. My tires are 225/75/15... I am game for an LT tire... Recommendations?

Sure. I'd ditch the 15s and get some 16s. After too many ST tire failures to count, that's what I did about 7 years ago. Not a single issue since I made the upgrade. And I gave the ST tires every chance.
I USED to be a ST proponent, believing all the propaganda that is posted on the net....That stuff all originates from those that SELL tires. I wish I could have all that money back that I wasted upgrading from one ST tire to the next, and one load range to the next. Finally ending up two sizes and two load ratings above the stock tires, which required new rims... And those were LRE ST tires.
Lasted less than a year before a catastrophic blowout. Laying floor mats to keep from burning myself on the hot AZ pavement while my wife was trying to signal the trucks to change lanes so the TT wouldn't rock so bad as they blew by... It was past time to throw in the towel

Don't do as I did. Make the jump now and save yourself a lot of trouble and money.

And for those that are thinking that the tires were run low... Absolutly not. I have a 80 gallon 2 stage compressor in my garage. My air hose can reach the TT in the drive. It doesn't move until the tires are aired to spec.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=219 And
http://www.taskmasterproducts.com/acatalog/whybuytrailertires.pdf

You may want to read these about LT and ST tires

In 15" I'd get Maxxis, balanced, and metal valve stems.

bigcitypopo wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
IF, and only IF you must stay with a ST tire, Maxxis appars to have the best reputation.
There is however a huge drawback to them. Availability.
This forum is full of threads from those that had to WAIT for them as they had to be ORDERED.

In my mind this is a potential problem. Any tire can suffer damage on the road, and need to be replaced. Even the good ones. Yes the odds are a lot better, but should you need a replacement Maxxis while on the road.... Odds are you will not be able to get one.. You will either have to wait several days, or accept a inferior replacement.

So if you are able, I recommend going with LT tires. They suffer much less from the quality/reliability problems that plague the ST tires as a whole. They do not have the 65 MPH speed limit restriction, and are widely available just about anywhere.


Even if a LT tire should need replacing on the road, and the tire shop doesn't happen to have your brand in stock....They will have a LT tire of another brand that will be perfectly serviceable, so that you can continue on your trip without a tire concern.


Balancing and metal/rubber stems are down on the list as far I'm concerned. Balancing will likely never pay off in tire wear on a TT, and a solid axle won't transmit vibration to the TT like a steering/independent one on a car would. So long as the stems are rated for the PSI, then they are fine. Metal ones will last practically forever, but usually cost more..

Great info.. My tires are 225/75/15... I am game for an LT tire... Recommendations?

This IS the issue. In the 15" size there are little and/or no choices for an LT tire. There are other considerations as well. Every wheel made has an individual rating as well to its ability to carry weight and a PSI rating! Exceeding the wheel capacity has its own inherent issues. Sometimes upsizing the tire is NOT the solution, that is why so many of us stick with ST tires in the 15" size. I am in the Maxxis camp BTW. They have the best reputation among the ST tires and I have used two sets on two different TT's with very good service. The ones I am replacing tommorrow have been in service 6+ years.

Huntindog wrote:
IF, and only IF you must stay with a ST tire, Maxxis appars to have the best reputation.
There is however a huge drawback to them. Availability.
This forum is full of threads from those that had to WAIT for them as they had to be ORDERED.

In my mind this is a potential problem. Any tire can suffer damage on the road, and need to be replaced. Even the good ones. Yes the odds are a lot better, but should you need a replacement Maxxis while on the road.... Odds are you will not be able to get one.. You will either have to wait several days, or accept a inferior replacement.

So if you are able, I recommend going with LT tires. They suffer much less from the quality/reliability problems that plague the ST tires as a whole. They do not have the 65 MPH speed limit restriction, and are widely available just about anywhere.


Even if a LT tire should need replacing on the road, and the tire shop doesn't happen to have your brand in stock....They will have a LT tire of another brand that will be perfectly serviceable, so that you can continue on your trip without a tire concern.


Balancing and metal/rubber stems are down on the list as far I'm concerned. Balancing will likely never pay off in tire wear on a TT, and a solid axle won't transmit vibration to the TT like a steering/independent one on a car would. So long as the stems are rated for the PSI, then they are fine. Metal ones will last practically forever, but usually cost more..

Great info.. My tires are 225/75/15... I am game for an LT tire... Recommendations?

Easy. Just buy Michelin XPS Ribs and load them up to the cold rating on the tire sidewall. Provided, of course, that your RV doesn't require 15 inch tires...

Fire Instructor wrote:
And the Kumho's are NOT Chinese! (at least the 14" Kumho's). They are Korean, and the get a great rating from most anyone who has tried them!

North or South? It matters :W

IF, and only IF you must stay with a ST tire, Maxxis appars to have the best reputation.
There is however a huge drawback to them. Availability.
This forum is full of threads from those that had to WAIT for them as they had to be ORDERED.

In my mind this is a potential problem. Any tire can suffer damage on the road, and need to be replaced. Even the good ones. Yes the odds are a lot better, but should you need a replacement Maxxis while on the road.... Odds are you will not be able to get one.. You will either have to wait several days, or accept a inferior replacement.

So if you are able, I recommend going with LT tires. They suffer much less from the quality/reliability problems that plague the ST tires as a whole. They do not have the 65 MPH speed limit restriction, and are widely available just about anywhere.

Even if a LT tire should need replacing on the road, and the tire shop doesn't happen to have your brand in stock....They will have a LT tire of another brand that will be perfectly serviceable, so that you can continue on your trip without a tire concern.


Balancing and metal/rubber stems are down on the list as far I'm concerned. Balancing will likely never pay off in tire wear on a TT, and a solid axle won't transmit vibration to the TT like a steering/independent one on a car would. So long as the stems are rated for the PSI, then they are fine. Metal ones will last practically forever, but usually cost more..