RV tires made in the USA?

[arnko37]

I have heard opinions that ALL 5th wheel tires are made in China regardless of the brand name on them. Does anyone out there know for a fact ( no guesses or opinions please) if this is true? If there are any brands that are not please tell me what they are. Muchas gracias.

[JohnnyT]

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JohnnyT Moderator

[Atom_Ant]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

The "problem" isn't mfg in China - it's the ST specs.

Yes - it's all the spec's fault. With the Chinese you have to be very specific about using real raw materials without lead, arsenic, cardboard, fecal matter, uranium, etc. It's just possible the ST tires are made from expanded foam and spray paint because we weren't detailed enough in our spec.

How many homes do we have to strip drywall out of or toys do we have to recall before somebody stops making excuses for it.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

arnko37 wrote:
I have heard opinions that ALL 5th wheel tires are made in China regardless of the brand name on them. Does anyone out there know for a fact ( no guesses or opinions please) if this is true? If there are any brands that are not please tell me what they are. Muchas gracias.

All *ST* tires originate in China (or other countries or other Asian countries).

The "problem" isn't mfg in China - it's the ST specs.

"MainerBob' - take note: GY marathons have been failing for years - which includes Marathons mfg in USA.
You may not have tires mfg in China (the GYs) - but they are still ST-bombs!
GY Marathons in LR-D - are affectionately known as "GY Balloons" - and "Maypops" that..... may pop..:W

Many choose Michelin or BFG *LT* tires for their trailers.
Some folks upgrade 15" wheels (and tires) to 16" to get away from limited choices - although Maxxis seems to do OK.

BTW - Michelin (and BFGs, etc.) are mfg in the USA - as well as numerous other countries including China..;)

~

[Atom_Ant]

Are those actually stamped "made in USA"?

Here is where the Turnpike Tire STR2336/2337 are actually made:

Company information:
Beijing BOE Commerce Co., Ltd. was established in 2010 . We is an exporter of China (Mainland) Farm Machinery Parts products. We have exported products to many other countries, such as North America South America Eastern Europe Southeast Asia Africa Mid East Eastern Asia Western Europe Central America Northern Europe Southern Europe. We are especially strict with quality and after-sales service, take Win-Win policy as our highest target, and do our up most to provide products with best. We warmly welcome all friends from all over the world to be our business partners on the basis of equality and benefits to create a good future.Please visit our website at www.boegroup.net for complete informations about our company!

[MainerBob]

Last week hit a curb going into a fuel stop and slashed open a 15"
GY Marathon. Fortunately there was a GY dealer right across the street.
He didn't have another Marathon (225x15") so he sold me a Turnpike ST the right size. It is made in USA. Never heard of them. My only question is that the Marathons (made in USA) are load range D and the new tire is load range E. I use the same 65lb in all four. Anyone see a problem here?

Bob

[Atom_Ant]

dbbls wrote:
There are no ST tires manufactured in the US. I would not install ST tires on a heavy 5er, use LT and 235/85 16 tires are a suitable substitute for 235/80 16.

This is the best answer to the OP's question.

There are no US made ST tires anymore, even if the name is a US name.

To get into the confidence of a US tire, you have to leave the ST behind and go to an LT. Wide range of choices in the 3,040lb capacity, not so many above 3,040lbs.

[Me_Again]

edatlanta wrote:
I replaced my OEM ST235/80R16 Marathons with Good Year G614's which are LT235/85/R16, but load rating G vs the OEM E's. They were a perfect fit and fortunately for me my wheels are rated for 110psi max so no wheel change was required.

It was stated above that the LT235/85R16 is one inch taller than the ST235/80R16? I'm not sure where that came from, but Good Year's specs show both tires are 30.7" in diameter. I had absolutely zero problems changing to the G614's other than price, but you get what you pay for and peace of mind was worth the price to me.

The GY G614 is not a normal light truck LT tire, is a trailer only tire that is smaller in diameter than the popular LT235/85R16E's tires like the RIB, R250 and TA.

Go look at your sidewall, it is branded Trailer Serviced Only!

Chris

[edatlanta]

I replaced my OEM ST235/80R16 Marathons with Good Year G614's which are LT235/85/R16, but load rating G vs the OEM E's. They were a perfect fit and fortunately for me my wheels are rated for 110psi max so no wheel change was required.

It was stated above that the LT235/85R16 is one inch taller than the ST235/80R16? I'm not sure where that came from, but Good Year's specs show both tires are 30.7" in diameter. I had absolutely zero problems changing to the G614's other than price, but you get what you pay for and peace of mind was worth the price to me.

[FastEagle]

arnko37 wrote:
I have heard opinions that ALL 5th wheel tires are made in China regardless of the brand name on them. Does anyone out there know for a fact ( no guesses or opinions please) if this is true? If there are any brands that are not please tell me what they are. Muchas gracias.

Using RV trailer tires as a standard for your posting you have invited more than just the Special Trailer (ST) into the mix. A very high percentage of RV trailers with axle ratings up to and including 6750# GAWR axles are fitted with ST tires. After that weight rating we will start finding a larger number of Light Truck LT tires that are designed for trailer axles. Once the axle rating gets to 8000# the medium duty truck tire is king of the road and the favorite brands will be made in the USA.

Currently Carlisle Tire may be the only full time active producer of ST tires made in the USA.

FastEagle

[cpaulsen]

gjwarneke wrote:
Cooper and Goodyear tire companies started out as American manufacturers and have stayed that way to some extent. Goodyear is now an international company, but its world headquarters remain in Akron, Ohio. It also owns the Kelly Springfield and Dunlop brands. Cooper manufactures tires in Ohio and Georgia; Goodyear in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, New York and Kansas. Denman Tire, founded in 1919, is based in Ohio.


Major Global Tire Companies



Michelin is the world's largest manufacturer of tires for vehicles from bicycles to the space shuttle. The French company purchased the American firm Uniroyal-Goodrich company in 1989. In the United States, it manufactures tires in Alabama, North and South Carolina and Arkansas. Bridgestone, a Japanese company bought out Firestone, another company with American roots, in 1998 and makes tires in North and South Carolina, Ohio, Illinois and Tennessee.

(This was copied and pasted from eHow.com)

And a lot of Firestones are made in China.

[RFCN2]

BF Goodrich makes 16" tires here in the US. I owned a set of six I bought at Sam's Club and they worked well.

[Cameo_Phil]

Here are several relevant pieces of information that some of you may find useful. The 1st web address is a sheet that covers tire care and tells you how to read the tire codes.
Tire date codes and tire care

The 2nd web link shows a listing for manufacturer plant codes indicating where the tire is manufactured. This listing is maintained by the DOT and unfortunately hasn't been updated for several years.
DOT manufacturer code listing

[dbbls]

There are no ST tires manufactured in the US. I would not install ST tires on a heavy 5er, use LT and 235/85 16 tires are a suitable substitute for 235/80 16.

[pronstar]

Have you considered 245/75-16 tires?

A bit shorter, and not noticeably wider, than a 235/85-16 when looking at them side-by-side.

I just went this route, in a Bridgestone Duravis R250 like others have posted. They gave me some spacing between the tires that I was lacking with 235/85-16 ST's.