I have a 30 ft TT (7500 GVWR, though I'm not usually over 6K-6.5K lbs) with 4 Maxxis ST205/75R 14 LR C tires (all 4 always at 50 psi per specs). The front axle had 2 Maxxis from 2012, and the back axle had 2 of the same type from late 2016 (installed early 2017).This past weekend, I lost one of the 2012's at the very end of a 225 mile trip. Fortunately, I was going very slow at the time after 60 down the interstate for much of the trip, and there was no TT damage other than the tire being flat. I'm now ready to replace that and the other 2012 Maxxi on the other side on the front axle.My question is after reading the MANY threads here on the newer Good Year Endurance/Carlisle Radial Tires/Maxxis M8008 (now with LR D in my size) is which would make the most sense to get with the back 2 2016 tires, that I don't plan on replacing?While I would like to get the GY Endurance tires (LR D), would it make sense to get a different set of tires on one axle at 65 psi, and still keep my Maxxis on the other only at 50 psi (LR C)?I suppose I could always get 2 more of the same LR C Maxxis tires to also inflate to 50 psi to replace the 2 from 2012, and perhaps that would make the towing the most consistent?I've only traveled 3500 miles on the new 2016 tires and they look perfectly fine, so I'd hate to just scrap those, but overall thoughts are welcome.All things being equal, I'd be getting the Endurance after reading about those in many threads here, but I want to match the tires as best as possible for the expected life of the 2016 tires. Maybe my next set of tires after 4-5 years from now can all be the same?Thanks!

My opinion only- and not based on anything except my preference and procedure:I do not like to mess with the hassle and danger and damage caused by flats. And, I do not like to mix tire types....I would bite the bullet and replace all 4 with the GY Endurance in LRD's and get on down the road.

My trailer came with load range "D" tires and I replaced them with load range "E" tires (Maxxis 8008) on both axles. I didn't notice any problems with the load range upgrade. Keep in mind that this does not increase your load rating, it just ensures that your tires are not the weak link. I don't believe that going with the upgraded load range version of either the Maxxis or GY Endurance (they are both great tires) on the same axle will hurt anything. The downside is keeping straight in your mind the difference in inflation specifications between axles as you correctly pointed out.

Replace all 4. Take the best of the newest as a spare. You had a blow out on a tire a year beyond reasonable life expentency. Trailer tires regardless of brand are only good for 5 years. After that your playing with a loaded gun.While not a fan the GoodYear Endurance has been getting good reviews.

Its been my experience its not a good idea to mix 50 psi tires on one axle and 65 psi on the other. The biggest downside is braking imbalance between the front and rear axle especially on wet pavement. Now add the difference in tire tread pattern which also can lead to the same braking imbalance issues. Now if you have a lawn service trailer/utility trailer and most if not all the miles of service are around town then mixing load ranges and tread patterns isn't so much of a big deal. Hell many of those type don't have their brakes hooked up anywayz.

Load Range C tires may be within specifications but they weren’t in my comfort zone with a 5200 pound TT wet and loaded. And TT tires six years old? Not me again. I replace at least every four years...LR Ds.

replacing 2 of 4 tires on a TT question | Good Sam Community

camping_cowleys
Explorer
Oct 16, 2018
I did this exact thing on our vacation last year. 1000 miles into our trip I had 2 GY Marathons LR D go bad on me. Belts separated but no blowouts. Had 2 new GY Endurance LR E installed and put another 2000 miles on during that trip. Finished the summer of 2017 and traveled all of 2018 with that arrangement and no problems. I think the other Marathons will age out this year and plan to replace them with the endurance next spring.
LarryJM
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2018
Unless one has hard engineering data supporting installing wheels/tires that exceed the designed and rated axle weights IMO doesn't make sense. For many light and ultra light wt trailers with 3500lb axles putting tires that are rated over 3500lbs is not really needed. I understand why one would try and point to the age old "reserve capacity" concept, but I'm not sure how valid that is today.

I have never seen any valid and documented studies on this area and I personally can only see it being possibly beneficial if one encounters a road hazard like "curbing" or hitting a pothole where a much higher capacity tire might not be as damaged as a lighter tire.

I have for over 25,000 miles on this trailer run my tires to within 25 to 50lbs of their max load carrying capacity and have seen ZERO adverse effects. That is only a data set of one, but is one I know is good and all that is using the dreaded "china bomb" GY Marathon trailer tires. The only issue I have seen is the one set of Kumho 857s tires that had that extra capacity of over 300lbs per tire load carrying capacity where I lost three of them within 500 miles of each other from tread separation and sidewall bulging and they were less than 4 years old and only had around 5,000 miles use on them and had been running with over 300lbs excess load capacity per tire.

Larry
hawkeye-08
Explorer III
Oct 15, 2018
A friend in his 70s has been camping for years, he replaces two tires every two years, always keeps the best for spare of old tires. Also has bearings repacked while wheels are off.. Never had tire problem on trailer and he doesn't have to pay for 4 tires all at once..
Grit_dog
Navigator
Oct 15, 2018
time2roll wrote:
Most will say everything must match. I don't buy that it will make any difference. Get the pair of Endurance this year and replace the other pair in a few years if that is what the budget allows.

^This.
Atlee
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2018
Not sure I'd buy a 30' TT that only had 14" wheels. That manufacturer is cutting corners, and if it is cutting corners with equipment that easily viewable, where else is the manufacturer cutting corners.

deltabravo wrote:
I'd upgrade to 15s or 16s as well.
Mind boggling that a 30' TT has 14" wheels / tires on it.
deltabravo
Nomad
Oct 12, 2018
I'd upgrade to 15s or 16s as well.
Mind boggling that a 30' TT has 14" wheels / tires on it.
trail-explorer
Explorer
Oct 11, 2018
downtheroad wrote:
I would bite the bullet and replace all 4 with the GY Endurance in LRD's and get on down the road.

And I would upgrade to 15" tires and wheels.

Steel wheels are pretty cheap from www.etrailer.com

Sell your current tires and wheels on Craigslist
LarryJM
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2018
time2roll wrote:
Most will say everything must match. I don't buy that it will make any difference. Get the pair of Endurance this year and replace the other pair in a few years if that is what the budget allows.

This is what I would do too.

Larry
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 11, 2018
Most will say everything must match. I don't buy that it will make any difference. Get the pair of Endurance this year and replace the other pair in a few years if that is what the budget allows.
Dick_B
Explorer
Oct 11, 2018
There is a new school of thought (also indicated on MichelinRVTires.com) that the spare should be included in the tire rotation because a tire that is not used deteriorates faster than those that are used. I carry two spares and rotate all six tires every two years.
Overkill? perhaps, and they are Michelin XPS ribs that require 80 psi.

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