Needing new Tires on my Camper

[zombieman]

Bought a camper late last year to use for hunting. Turns out the thing was in way better shape than expected and after fixing it up a little we decided to take the kids camping to a local state park. Really did have a BLAST and would love to upgrade to one for the entire family to use more comfortably. My current camper needs 4 new tires on it right now and will be buying some next week. Looks like It'll be costing close to 400$ which is what I paid for the camper. I'm not concerned about spending that money on the camper being that I no doubt am going to be using it for hunting. My question is, what would be a good tire to put on it? I cant remember the brand I looked at today but its not a well known name brand tire. The guy said hes put several sets on campers and everyone likes them. I know there rated at 2000lbs per tire but are six ply tires. This set will cost me $290 mounted and balanced. Another place has another set for $430 and are 9 ply tires but I don't know the load rating. Would you suggest 9 ply or be more concerned about the load rating? This is a double axial 18ft pull behind camper and I'm guessing weighs about 4000lb max. Thank you.

[zombieman]

Well, I ended up going with some Hi-Run tires. Happy with them so far, but I'll post my review as soon as I take my first roadtrip. After doing a little research I have come to realize that almost every single tire out there is now made in China.

[JIMNLIN]

Gladiator LR=D 8 Ply Rated) QR25-TS Trailer ST205/75R15 - 390$ (mounted and balanced)

TRANSPORTER LR=D 8 Ply Rated) $330 (on ebay)

GOODYEAR MARATHON (6 Ply Rated LR=C)

I doubt the wheel on a 18' trailer can handle a 65 psi rated D load range tire. At 4000 lbs your load requirement per tire is 1000 lbs approx. Tire experts and folks with actual experience tell us a 15-20 percent reserve capacity is nice.
You sure don't need a 65 psi rated tire on a trailer that small. A load range C will serve you well.

Asking for input about tires for your trailer requires giving some tech info about what size your present tires are and their load range. Now if your going to buy new wheels then the door is open.

[Mvander]

Try to go up a load range. B to C or C to D. In my opinion even if you buy the biggest peice of******tire and under utilize it by 30-40% you have a huge built in saftey margin. BTW I just bought Hercules Power STR (China I think) for around $400 all-in in the next higher load range and am happy so far. I have around 2000# extra capacity so these tires are under worked.

[zombieman]

OK, I've been looking at several different options but really am wanting to stay around the $450- range. I'm really glad I posted this because I never really knew how important tire pressures and load ratings are. This camper will be traveling a max of about 60 miles one way. There are like five state parks within that range of our home and we will only be taking advantage of those until I upgrade my Camper to a newer one. Anyway, these are the ones I'm kinda looking at right now that are options that are in stock here locally. I know the Goodyear is the better brand but I was concered about the lower Ply and the lower LR of 1850 lbs. What are your thoughts?

Gladiator LR=D 8 Ply Rated) QR25-TS Trailer ST205/75R15 - 390$ (mounted and balanced)

TRANSPORTER LR=D 8 Ply Rated) $330 (on ebay)

GOODYEAR MARATHON (6 Ply Rated LR=C)

[CKNSLS]

Atlee wrote:
I too am wondering about the NEW Carlisle Radial Trail RH trailer tires, which are not to be confused with the old style Carlisle tires, which Carlisle is also still selling.

I know the old Carlisle tires have a reputation of being close to junk tires, and maybe somewhat deserved.

However, I understand the NEW Carlisle ST tires are constructed like the Maxxis ST8008 tires.

Of course, the Carlisle reputation is such, the new Carlisle could go a decade without a blowout, and they'd sill be looked upon as junk tires.

One other thing I wonder sometimes, is how many of these "junk" tires blow out due to abuse, such as under inflated, or traveling at sustained speeds of 70 mph for sustained miles.

I know traveling to Florida on I95, I'm passed by lots of folks pulling travel trailers who are doing well over 65 mph. Seems like some folks pulling trailers are determined to drive the same speed as everybody else, irregardless of the fact they are pulling a 5, or 6, or 7,000# trailer behind them whose tires call for a max of 65 mph speed.

westend wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:


I installed 4 Carlisle 15" ST Radial Trail RH (the new ones) on my 5,500 pound TT in Florida. They went all the way up to Vermont, and then back to Utah without any issues. They were always at spec'ed inflation and I NEVER drove over 60mph.

Thanks for posting. I'm in the market for a new set and am looking for some endorsement/detractor of the new Carlisle's.

FYI-Any detractors of Carlisle will be on the old design tires. I saw RVs speeding on my 7 1/2 month trip I just returned from. The observed speeds of 70-75mph were not uncommon. The tires can't take these prolonged speeds, they blow and a picture gets posted on RV.Net of the tire and how lousy the ST tires are. With very few exceptions, I don't believe any of it.

[JIMNLIN]

Good looking trailer. I have lots of memories in my first 20' TT when the kids were still young.

I would go with what we know that works and thats the Maxxis ST8008 that has a proven track record and has the least amount of reported issues.

Hopefully the new Carlisle will work out but its gonna' take several years and thousands of miles before any conclusion can be draw one way or another.
Beware some of the other may pops mentioned. A google on the net has lots of real times experience and cuts thrugh lots of the simply bad info on this website when it comes to tire issues and what works best. Your call there

[bighog01]

Just bought a set of the new Carlisle's. One short trip so far. Have a long trip planned in 2 weeks. Ill post on how they do. As always, with any tire the key is keep them properly inflated, and don't overload or curb them.

[Atlee]

I too am wondering about the NEW Carlisle Radial Trail RH trailer tires, which are not to be confused with the old style Carlisle tires, which Carlisle is also still selling.

I know the old Carlisle tires have a reputation of being close to junk tires, and maybe somewhat deserved.

However, I understand the NEW Carlisle ST tires are constructed like the Maxxis ST8008 tires.

Of course, the Carlisle reputation is such, the new Carlisle could go a decade without a blowout, and they'd sill be looked upon as junk tires.

One other thing I wonder sometimes, is how many of these "junk" tires blow out due to abuse, such as under inflated, or traveling at sustained speeds of 70 mph for sustained miles.

I know traveling to Florida on I95, I'm passed by lots of folks pulling travel trailers who are doing well over 65 mph. Seems like some folks pulling trailers are determined to drive the same speed as everybody else, irregardless of the fact they are pulling a 5, or 6, or 7,000# trailer behind them whose tires call for a max of 65 mph speed.

westend wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:


I installed 4 Carlisle 15" ST Radial Trail RH (the new ones) on my 5,500 pound TT in Florida. They went all the way up to Vermont, and then back to Utah without any issues. They were always at spec'ed inflation and I NEVER drove over 60mph.

Thanks for posting. I'm in the market for a new set and am looking for some endorsement/detractor of the new Carlisle's.

[westend]

CKNSLS wrote:

westend wrote:
I'd say your weight estimate of 4000 lbs. is definitely close. My 1972 22' weighed 4300. There have been some posts about the new Carlisle Trail RH tires but the jury is still out. They changed the construction of the tire just recently. I think $400 or greater is about average for a set of four in my area.

BTW, nice clean looking older rig you landed there.

I installed 4 Carlisle 15" ST Radial Trail RH (the new ones) on my 5,500 pound TT in Florida. They went all the way up to Vermont, and then back to Utah without any issues. They were always at spec'ed inflation and I NEVER drove over 60mph.

Thanks for posting. I'm in the market for a new set and am looking for some endorsement/detractor of the new Carlisle's.

[CKNSLS]

westend wrote:
I'd say your weight estimate of 4000 lbs. is definitely close. My 1972 22' weighed 4300. There have been some posts about the new Carlisle Trail RH tires but the jury is still out. They changed the construction of the tire just recently. I think $400 or greater is about average for a set of four in my area.

BTW, nice clean looking older rig you landed there.

I installed 4 Carlisle 15" ST Radial Trail RH (the new ones) on my 5,500 pound TT in Florida. They went all the way up to Vermont, and then back to Utah without any issues. They were always at spec'ed inflation and I NEVER drove over 60mph.

[dadmomh]

Beware!, the tire discussion always goes on ad nauseum. You'll get some good, solid information, some wise-cracks if you mention budget, some will swear that if you don't buy X brand you're just gonna kill your family. Suggest you take it all in, spend lots of time reading online, maybe get the opinion of an RV dealer or two and then make the best educated decision you can. We replaced the tires on our HTT last Mar and I thought some were going to come to blows...this is one of those subjects that brings out both the best and the worst in folks. Just learn as much as you can.

[DiskDoctr]

What is your tire size? Etrailer has some good info on tires.

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Tires_and_Wheels.aspx

I would guess you'll hit the axle weight limit before the tires at 2k per tire. You have a dual axle on a trailer that will (likely) handle whatever you put in it.

Be sure to check your brakes and battery (powering your breakaway system) on an older rig. Also double check for any tongue or frame rot...just to be safe 😉

Still an AWESOME rig!

[westend]

I'd say your weight estimate of 4000 lbs. is definitely close. My 1972 22' weighed 4300. There have been some posts about the new Carlisle Trail RH tires but the jury is still out. They changed the construction of the tire just recently. I think $400 or greater is about average for a set of four in my area.

BTW, nice clean looking older rig you landed there.

[CKNSLS]

naturist wrote:
An 18 footer could weigh more than 4,000 lbs fully loaded. I'd look for the plate that tells you the GVWR. I don't know when they started requiring that plate, but it is usually on the outside left, near the front.

There are both radial and bias-ply tires available, as well as some really cheap Chinese tires. You kinda get what you pay for, you know? I'd suggest springing for the better quality radials, personally. I get about 15% better milage out of the radials on my similar-sized trailer, and at today's fuel prices, that will pay for the premium paid for the tires fairly quickly.

And I agree, you got a screamin' deal, if the inside looks anything like as good as the outside.

Just get an ST tire that has an outer nylon cap within your weight range and you will be fine. These include Maxxis, Carlisle, Towmax, and Westlake to name a few. I am not sure what the above poster is referring to by "cheap Chinese tires". If one has priced ST tires lately none of them are "cheap".

Please note that all these tires are a "new generation" of ST tires to better cope with highway temperatures.