I have a 10 year old KZ Frontier 28 foot travel trailer that I've had for 7 years now and in the last few years have had a blowout (or 2) on my annual long distance 800 mile trip to Florida from Texas. My tires are Maxxis M8008 (which I thought was the best) 205x75x14. These tires are < 3 years old when they blow.My question is, can I upgrade to say, 225x75x15, that way I could get a 10 ply 2830 lb max load tire? Or maybe even a 235x80x16? I realize it'd be hard to tell without looking at my RV but just wondering if anybody has an opinion.

Maxxiss are the best your going to find in a ST tire but I suspect there's just too much weight for a 14" tire. So I would move up to the 15's or even 16's if you have room.Also remember to keep your speed at or below 65 with any ST tire.How many inches of clearance do you have between your tires?

I like you used to have blow outs every time we went camping. I got a large tire all the way around. went from 14's to 15's and a big tread print. no more blow outs. cost me over $1000 but worth it.

I had similar problems with blow outs. I changed from my Goodyear Marathons to Maxxis and changed my driving / loading habits and have had good luck since.The following are my tips:#1: Hit the scales. Ensure you aren't overloading the tires#2: Watch your speed. I used to drive at 70+ mph. I have now slowed it down to 60 mph or lower.#3: Tire maintenance. Cover them from the sun when you store for any length of time. Keep up your tire pressure (cold inflation) and check it often. #4: Purchase a TPMS. They watch your tire pressures and temps while driving. Good piece of mind.#5: Have the tires balanced.#6: Watch the heat. Any blowout I've ever had happened when the weather was 95+ deg with strong sun.If you have the rooms to do so, upgrading your tires (and possibly rims) will be an added benefit. Even when doing so, the tips above are good practice.Good Luck!

I doubt you will be able to move to the 16 inch wheel , you should be able to find a better tire in the 15 inch size . Choice between LT and ST is yours alone to make . I prefer tires rated for a higher speed and weight capacity , running a tire at or close to its maximum capacities both speed and weight can lead to problems .

Tire Advice | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

hddecker
Explorer
Jun 27, 2014
LarryJM wrote:
gmw photos wrote:
Just opinion here, but if you are blowing out every type and brand of tire you are trying, then something else is wrong. Most likely overloading and/or under inflation.
With your trailer, is it a possibility to do an axle flip to gain clearance in order to go to 16" tires ? Once you get into 16" you have a much greater range of options that should cure your problems.

I agree it's something else besides the make or even size of tires causing these blowouts.

In addition to your overloading/under inflation causes, excessive speed and curbing/potholes are also candidates for what might be going on here.

Larry

Yep. I have only ever seen one post from someone that admitted being the cause of their tire problems, and he sited three things, overloaded, under inflated and excessive speed.
LarryJM
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2014
gmw photos wrote:
Just opinion here, but if you are blowing out every type and brand of tire you are trying, then something else is wrong. Most likely overloading and/or under inflation.
With your trailer, is it a possibility to do an axle flip to gain clearance in order to go to 16" tires ? Once you get into 16" you have a much greater range of options that should cure your problems.

I agree it's something else besides the make or even size of tires causing these blowouts.

In addition to your overloading/under inflation causes, excessive speed and curbing/potholes are also candidates for what might be going on here.

Larry
hddecker
Explorer
Jun 26, 2014
When I replaced my tires last year, I went up two load ranges from "E" to "G"and found that the tires have already given me twice the mileage, while running cooler.

IMHO the RV indusrty puts the bare bones minimum for tires on out campers.

With the 14" tires you may not be able to go up two load ranges, if at all. If you can't go up in load, then look for the tire that has the stiffest sidewall you can find.
gmw_photos
Explorer
Jun 26, 2014
Just opinion here, but if you are blowing out every type and brand of tire you are trying, then something else is wrong. Most likely overloading and/or under inflation.
With your trailer, is it a possibility to do an axle flip to gain clearance in order to go to 16" tires ? Once you get into 16" you have a much greater range of options that should cure your problems.
rrichar1
Explorer
Jun 26, 2014
ScottG wrote:
Maxxiss are the best your going to find in a ST tire but I suspect there's just too much weight for a 14" tire. So I would move up to the 15's or even 16's if you have room.
Also remember to keep your speed at or below 65 with any ST tire.

How many inches of clearance do you have between your tires?

Between the two tires 4 1/2 inches. Between the inner wall of the wheel well and the inside of the tire 1 inch. 2 inches between the top of the tire and the top of the wheel well.
rrichar1
Explorer
Jun 26, 2014
DRSMPS wrote:
I had similar problems with blow outs. I changed from my Goodyear Marathons to Maxxis and changed my driving / loading habits and have had good luck since.

The following are my tips:
#1: Hit the scales. Ensure you aren't overloading the tires
I've done this in the past and the weight is in the acceptable range.
#2: Watch your speed. I used to drive at 70+ mph. I have now slowed it down to 60 mph or lower.
I to never drive over 60 MPH
#3: Tire maintenance. Cover them from the sun when you store for any length of time. Keep up your tire pressure (cold inflation) and check it often.
I do this and run at 50 psi which is the max for my tires
#4: Purchase a TPMS. They watch your tire pressures and temps while driving. Good piece of mind.
I have one and use it but it's really only good for monitoring psi. When an actual blow out occurs it does you know good. Plus the last one I had it was delaminating and flapping and trail vehicle saw it and notified me before it blew and it had full psi.
#5: Have the tires balanced.

#6: Watch the heat. Any blowout I've ever had happened when the weather was 95+ deg with strong sun.
Hard to do when you are driving a long distance in one day. I pray for rain on the way home
If you have the rooms to do so, upgrading your tires (and possibly rims) will be an added benefit. Even when doing so, the tips above are good practice.

Good Luck!
rrichar1
Explorer
Jun 26, 2014
DRSMPS wrote:
I had similar problems with blow outs. I changed from my Goodyear Marathons to Maxxis and changed my driving / loading habits and have had good luck since.

The following are my tips:
#1: Hit the scales. Ensure you aren't overloading the tires
I've done this in the past and the weight is in the acceptable range.
#2: Watch your speed. I used to drive at 70+ mph. I have now slowed it down to 60 mph or lower.
I to never drive over 60 MPH
#3: Tire maintenance. Cover them from the sun when you store for any length of time. Keep up your tire pressure (cold inflation) and check it often.
I do this and run at 50 psi which is the max for my tires
#4: Purchase a TPMS. They watch your tire pressures and temps while driving. Good piece of mind.
I have one and use it but it's really only good for monitoring psi. When an actual blow out occurs it does you know good. Plus the last one I had it was delaminating and flapping and trail vehicle saw it and notified me before it blew and it had full psi.
#5: Have the tires balanced.

#6: Watch the heat. Any blowout I've ever had happened when the weather was 95+ deg with strong sun.
Hard to do when you are driving a long distance in one day. I pray for rain on the way home
If you have the rooms to do so, upgrading your tires (and possibly rims) will be an added benefit. Even when doing so, the tips above are good practice.

Good Luck!
rrichar1
Explorer
Jun 25, 2014
I tried the Kumho 857's awhile back and they blew out as well.
FastEagle
Explorer
Jun 24, 2014
FastEagle
SprinklerMan
Explorer
Jun 24, 2014
I doubt you will be able to move to the 16 inch wheel , you should be able to find a better tire in the 15 inch size . Choice between LT and ST is yours alone to make . I prefer tires rated for a higher speed and weight capacity , running a tire at or close to its maximum capacities both speed and weight can lead to problems .

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