Tire question?

[IT_Burnout]

Looking for some advice here.

We purchased a used 2011 Montana 3150RL 5th wheel late last fall. GVWR on it is just under 14000 lbs. We didn’t get a chance to use it last year at all. We towed it home 2 hours away and then just winterized it and put it right into storage. This is our first 5th wheel so we are a bit green on the subject. We have had a few camping rigs before, a popup, TT, and a class C.

It came with Marathon 235/80R 16E tires dates on them are from the year 2012. I felt the guy I purchased the unit from was pretty straight up with me on all issues including telling me of any problems he knew about with the unit as a whole. He did take very nice care of the unit as a whole. He did tell me he had read about all the negative stuff on the Marathon tires but they have never given him any problems. He used the rig mainly to winter in AZ from MI each year. We have stayed in touch and he has been a good source of info even after the sale. He wanted to sell the unit do to age and health.

The tires look very good on the unit. I don’t see any dry rot, or cracking and they have plenty of tread. I know that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be replaced.

Now for my question would you replace these tires? If so what you put on it. I like to be frugal, but not at the expense of any ones safety or extra headaches. If I do replace them I am looking more for quality over price. I get a general feeling that Sailuns, Maxxis, Carlisle, and maybe Goodyear Endurance might all be good choices.

We are retired this year and the DW and I don’t plan any long trips with it this year. Just spending some time in our home town in norther MI and some time in the MI UP. Alaska is on our bucket list for maybe next year. DW thinks I am going a bit overboard thinking about replacing the tires right off the bat. She says wait until next year before we do a long haul somewhere. I feel like every time I do something like that Murphy’s laws kicks in bites me in the behind.

BTW I do plan on install an EezTire TPMS system and doing all tires on the truck and trailer just to keep a watchful eye on things.

I know plenty of folks around here have way more experience with all of this then I do. We both agreed to see what you folks have to say and let that be our guide. What say you, replace because they are aged out or use 1 more year?

Thanks, Bob

[donn0128]

And your being sarcasric DUDE!
I made an honest suggestion based on his rigs weight rating. Your perfectly free to suggest something else, but it is one option many people have chosen to do on trailers of this size and bigger. So get over your know it all attutude.

[Me_Again]

donn0128 wrote:
What axles does it have? If there 7K axles, I would suck it up and put 17.5 inch tires and wheels on it and not look back. If 6K axles then I would look for a quality LT tire.

Come on dude. It is a 14K GVWR trailer. 17.5" rims and tires are a very large over kill.

OP, what is the GAWR on the placard? Chris

[B_O__Plenty]

If I had a set of NEW Goodyear Marathons I would replace them. They have a terrible reputation. Why wait another year. Just put the new tires on now and be done with it.

B.O.

[MFL]

This is always a tough call, and a personal decision. If used locally, speed kept less than 65, Id probably just use them, after looking them over very closely, finding no issues. Now if your wife said "we need new ones", yes, replace them. However, since she is fine to use them, YOU, won't take the beating, when Mr. Murphy shows up.

On the other hand, money no issue, replace with new generation tires, since you plan on doing it next year anyway. Either way you do it, no one on here will pay the damages, even if a new replacement tire blows!

Hope you enjoy the new to you FW!!

Jerry

[glkids2]

we need more info to give you a better idea which way to go. 6 or 8 lug rim, pull tire off the trailer and check the ratings stamped on the inside of spokes of the rims.sorry you cant see them by crawling under the trailer with a flash light. and axle load ratings.

[Sandia_Man]

We replace our tires for our RV every five years and been doing so for nearly a couple of decades. Yeah, none were worn out looking, or overly dry and cracked, just done it for peace of mind. Happy to report never a blowout in all those years, not even a flat tire either.

With TPMS you plan to install you could keep a watchful eye on them as you just plan to RV within your state, maybe get another year out of them. Air them up properly and keep your speed down, it's possible to squeeze more life out of them. Me, I would replace them and enjoy.

[Fresno_Tundra_D]

It all depends on what kinds of risks you like to take. For me, I would give it at least another year or two. The Goodyear Marathons were the OEM tire on our 5er and I got over 12 years and more then 25000 miles on them before I changed over to Maxxis. I never had a blowout or any other issue with them. I took good care of them and they served us well. The Maxxis tires have been very good so far but I would stay away from Carlisle just based on what I've heard. Good luck!

[donn0128]

What axles does it have? If there 7K axles, I would suck it up and put 17.5 inch tires and wheels on it and not look back. If 6K axles then I would look for a quality LT tire.

[laknox]

Personally, I'd dump those tires PDQ and pray you don't have a blow out on the way to the tire shop. I'd go with something like Michelin Ribs or the near-identical Bridgestone R250, which are less expensive. Both are steel carcass and heavy tires. Sailun is another brand that's getting good reviews as are several other non-Chinese Asian-made brands. Do a search here on tires and you'll get weeks of reading. :B

Lyle

[2oldman]

Tires search

[jmtandem]

If a tire blows underway it can do thousands of dollars damage. What would you do with five year old tires? Tires that did not travel much if at all in the last year? Tires with a sketchy reputation?