Cooper SRM II or transforce HT?

[KMLsquared]

12,900 max weight Rampage toy hauler, what would you recommend? I can't find much experance with the coopers or that a few good reviews. The coopers would be about $100 dollars cheaper overall. 6K axles btw.

Side note. Anyone ever bought from simple tire?

[KMLsquared]

Thanks for the responses! It just seems not too many people have run the coopers. I ordered the Firestones from tire rack. They should be here tomorrow.

[billmac]

".....I had Firestone HT's installed on my 14,000# GVWR 5th wheel. They were about $180 each installed and balanced. I have run HT's on several trucks and been very pleased with them....."

Me too. I chose the Light truck Transforce for my 5er because of their reputation. I have Michelin ribs on my dually truck. Very satisfied.

[JIMNLIN]

I think you mean Michelin owns BFG and Uniroyal.
One of my older GN equipment trailers I bought used had new LT E Cooper SRM II on the trailer. Kept the trailer for 9 months and 15k miles with no issues with the SRM IIs. The trailer was a older used model that didn't have a torque tube so I sold it.

The Firestone Transforce HT comes with a 17/32 tread depth vs 14/32 tread depth for the SRM II's. Years back the tire with more tread was considered a premium tire.

[Housted]

We have had the Coopers on our 5er for about a year. Went with them since they are a ribbed design good for towables. They are made in USA. We have had good luck with Coopers on two different trailers of about the same weight (12k#) We have a stone 10K# on our 5er axels so the tires are plenty of capacity. They are wearing well and work just fine.

Housted

[Dandy_Dan]

KMLsquared wrote:
12,900 max weight Rampage toy hauler, what would you recommend? I can't find much experance with the coopers or that a few good reviews. The coopers would be about $100 dollars cheaper overall. 6K axles btw.

Side note. Anyone ever bought from simple tire?

Just for FYI Michelin owns BFGoodrich and I believe Bridgestone. I had BFG's on and when they had the recall they replaced with Michelin XPS. Happy with them so far. They are steel cased and heavy. Good luck and Happy Camping.

[Vulcaneer]

Last June I had Firestone HT's installed on my 14,000# GVWR 5th wheel. They were about $180 each installed and balanced. I have run HT's on several trucks and been very pleased with them.

I am not that high on Michelin's. But the Duravis 250's are getting good reviews. I do like the fact they have steel carcasses. While the Transforces and Coopers have polyester carcasses.

So why did I have Transforce tires installed? We were in transit. Dealer could get them quickly. They were made in Canada. They were manufactured three weeks before they were installed. They were reasonably priced. If I was home and had time, I would have gone for the steel carcass Bridgestone Duravis 250's.

edit...On a side note...Bridgestone/Firestone factory owned stores would no install LT tires on my trailer. They tried to push ST's on me. Saying they were bound legally to do that. I went to an independent Bridgestone/Firestone dealer. He wanted to do the same thing. But when I told him I would not accept Chinese made tires, And if he insisted, I would go elsewhere. Then he relented and decided he would sell me the Transforce LT's that I asked for. So beware that dealers might try that.

[therink]

I have the Transforce HT LTs on my 12,280 lb fiver and couldn't be happier, but I am only comparing them to crappy Chinese STs that came on it. I have only ran then for one season now so not a lot of history to report. I felt they were the right tire and cost for my needs.
Make sure you have them balanced.