Trailer Tires?

[matthewijenkins]

Hi All,

I just recently acquired an old 1970 (unsure of exact year due to weathering of VIN plate) Fleetwood Wilderness. It's approximately 16' and single axle. I'd like to get some new tires for it as there's just too much dry rot cracking upon close inspection. I was talking to a guy from Goodyear who mentioned what he called trailer tires, which I assume are for utility type trailers, not travel trailers. He said they hold a lot more weight but the disadvantage is they are louder than regular tires. But I was thinking this wouldn't matter since I'll be up in my truck.

Is there any reason why this would be a bad choice? Or would they be just fine? I googled 'where to get rv tires installed' but there are not so many listings. Goodyear and Campingworld were the main ones I saw. Is there some other place to go to? I also need to buy a spare and a rim for the spare.

I don't know much about tires for TT's. This is my first. Thanks for the help!

[JIMNLIN]

What you have on the trailer now is a metric car tire replacement, pretty typical for these vintage trailers. Don't replace them with the same.

Actually a P tire on a small single axle trailer make a excellent tire as evident the many small GVWR tandem axle and single axle trailers that come OEM with them.
I keep P tires on all my small trailers. Speed limit around here is 75 mph so my trailers aren't speed restricted plus a quality P tire that last longer (time and miles) than any brand ST tire.

[westend]

matthewijenkins wrote:
lol n7bsn. And thanks everyone.

The size tires on there now are P205/75R15.

What you have on the trailer now is a metric car tire replacement, pretty typical for these vintage trailers. Don't replace them with the same. I'd suggest you visit a Discount Tire or similar tire vendor and talk about tire replacements. If you're capable, I'd also suggest to pull the tires and hubs to inspect/service the brakes and bearings.

What I've found is that travel trailers that are recently sold have had little in the way of maintenance. On that same note, check out the roof and replace any loose or failed sealant.

Good luck with your Wilderness, it is a nice little trailer!

[Steve_B_]

I went through this research last year when replacing the tires on my "vintage" trailer that I had been running repro vintage car tires on. After much reading of all the debates on this site, and reading owner reviews on many others, I ordered the Kumho trailer tires. I was very happy with them last year on a long distance trip. No problems. They are listed as ST tires on the Tire Rack site but when they arrived they were labeled LT. I questioned that but was told that they are trailer service. I wanted the high speed rating that they offered. I run at 65 often as the trailer is small, like yours. I would recommend the Kumhos.

[CKNSLS]

azdryheat wrote:
Maxxis makes the only reliable ST trailer tire.

Statements like the above start a tire thread on a downward spiral.

[Redterpos3]

matthewijenkins wrote:
old 1970 (unsure of exact year due to weathering of VIN plate) Fleetwood Wilderness.

Love your rig here! For some reason I seem to really like the look of these old small trailers!! This one looks in good shape from the outside!

[W4RLR]

Bought Goodyear Marathons in 2008. Replaced them today with Goodyear Marathons. Both sets of tires made in China. I did not experience the so called "China bomb" with the Marathons, doubt I will with this set. There are a lot more Goodyear dealers out there than some of the other brands of trailer tires. I look at the rental trailers from U-Haul and the car hauler trailers from Penske, and what do they put on their fleets? Goodyear tires. Good enough for me.

[Clockman]

In the last 13 years of Tire testing, by far the best were Duro's..

[matthewijenkins]

lol n7bsn. And thanks everyone.

The size tires on there now are P205/75R15.

[n7bsn]

JIMNLIN wrote:

n7bsn wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
....
There is a good chance that trailer came with P tires (before ST tires came out). Passenger or truck tires were all we had back then.

em... no

My folks were using ST's on their trailer back then.

uhhh .... back then meaning before ST tires hit the streets.
If your folks were using ST tires it was after the era I mentioned.

It was the late 60's. Dad had a series of "blow-outs" and finally asked the tire guy what he should do, the guy said, use trailer tires not car tires.
So, since the OP was saying "1970's", you are talking about some time -before- his trailer was made?

[JIMNLIN]

n7bsn wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
....
There is a good chance that trailer came with P tires (before ST tires came out). Passenger or truck tires were all we had back then.

em... no

My folks were using ST's on their trailer back then.

uhhh .... back then meaning before ST tires hit the streets.
If your folks were using ST tires it was after the era I mentioned.

[kohai]

We really need a sticky for tire topics.

ST tires:

- Maxxis M8008 - most commonly recommended

- Carlisle Radial Trail RH - new design addresses problems from a few years ago. Upside is these have a higher speed rating, >65 mph, depending on size.

- Stay away from Goodyear Marathon, they are frowned upon even though they come from a good brand name.

[fla-gypsy]

ScottG wrote:

robsouth wrote:

azdryheat wrote:
Maxxis makes the only reliable ST trailer tire.

Merely one person's opinion.

And anothers.
Actually that's the opinion of many posters here.

and another for good reason and real experience with the issue

[n7bsn]

JIMNLIN wrote:
....
There is a good chance that trailer came with P tires (before ST tires came out). Passenger or truck tires were all we had back then.

em... no

My folks were using ST's on their trailer back then.

[coolbreeze01]

What size tires do you need? There are several choices.