TKW wrote:
I was to hold off until next season that we can travel farther before I get a new set of tires. One of these barely 7 y.o. Marathon developed a slow leak from belt separation last weekend. I used the spare to get home from 100 miles away. Because we have a very nice fall weather this year, I thought we shall take advantage of the next few weekends camping. But travelling without a spare is not an option thus the new tires.
I thought I could get away with my 7 year old Marathon tires this year as well. Found out that I couldn't. 2 of the 4 had major bulges and had to be removed on the spot. One blew on a trip, but I can blame that on the shackels braking and not the tire. But, the point is, and everyone on here will tell you, 7 years is too long for a trailer tire.
Get the right load range tire, and replace them every 4-5 years and you should never have a problem, assuming, tire pressure checks, load is in check, and you stay within the speed rating of the tire. However, if you have a tire size that can be replaced by a similar load range LT tire, I am all for that. I just put Load Range E LT tires on my 5th wheel. I have about 9K over the tires, so well within the range E 12K rating. I have a large horse trailer that has had LT tires on it since new. The first set went almost 10 years and I only replaced them because the were cracking. I have never had a blowout on that trailer in 14 years with only 2 sets of tires. Planning to replace the tires next year as they will be 5 years old, but they are LT so they are better than the ST tires.
Talking to the Goodyear guy today about LT vs ST - ST tires are designed to go straight. Never get much abuse and only designed for rolling resistance. AN LT tire will not roll as well so might increase fuel cost, but a way better built tire. Whenever I have asked a tire professional about LT vs ST they can't tell me why one should buy an ST tire. And, if you need the extra few pounds of added load range, then maybe you should step up a load range anyway.
