Trailer tires, what do we like these days?

[fund razor]

Well... what do we like?

I'll be getting new trailer tires (triple axle) soon and wondered what's been holding up and what's been going bad.

Thanks.

[fixxxer22]

I prefer the goodyear marathon. I have heard of people with 16 inch wheels on the trailer taking the used tires from the truck and installing them on the trailer (replacing them a little early) they are usually load range E and hold up long enough until they dry rot. I have had the best luck and longevity with the marathon. i have had some cookie cutters before and they cracked up quick.

[fund razor]

Marathons are kind of a standard, but I remember some horror stories in the past few years from Marathons.

[Chris]

Marathon.

[Sydwayz]

Firestone TransForce LT tires are what I replace mine with then they go.

[phragle]

Remember a key factor is obtaining the mfg date coding, and checking it on the tires you are purchasing. Just because your buying a 'new' tire doesn't mean it hasn't been baking in various warehouses for several years. Generaly tire companies count the life of the tire from the date of manufacture with a 3 year lifespan on a tire as the tire dries out. I learned this the hard way. I purchased new tire for a truck I had, a month and a half later the tread seperated on the left rear and did major damage to the bedside. I called the tire company and told them their brand new tire failed causing damage. They had me read them the code of the tire and told me the tire was over 5 years old and was consideed worn out. Had it been under 3 years tey would hae fixed my bedside. So my brand new tire was worn out before it even hit the rim.

[BUIZILLA]

BF Goodrich Commercial TA for the larger sizes

[Chris]

I looked at the Goodrich commercial tires- they have a line of small tires- I understand they're for low-boy trailers. It's been a couple years, but I remember them being about $250 apiece. I think they were something like 16 or 18 ply. Definitely rugged.

[fixxxer22]

The BFG commercial is a good tire. we run it on ambulances and deliverey trucks. They seem to stay straight even when the customer forgets to rotate them. and the ford cantilever forn suspension on vans can be a tire killer. not so much when it comes to the commercial.

[fund razor]

These will be 15s.

I'll look into Marathons.
I also have a Firestone dealer a couple blocks from the house.

[Knot 4 Me]

I run Marathons but they were made in Australia. Maxxis has come up as being a decent tire. Was going to look into them this year as replacements for my 6 year old Goodyears.

[Divenstar]

Remember a key factor is obtaining the mfg date coding, and checking it on the tires you are purchasing. Just because your buying a 'new' tire doesn't mean it hasn't been baking in various warehouses for several years. Generaly tire companies count the life of the tire from the date of manufacture with a 3 year lifespan on a tire as the tire dries out. I learned this the hard way. I purchased new tire for a truck I had, a month and a half later the tread seperated on the left rear and did major damage to the bedside. I called the tire company and told them their brand new tire failed causing damage. They had me read them the code of the tire and told me the tire was over 5 years old and was consideed worn out. Had it been under 3 years tey would hae fixed my bedside. So my brand new tire was worn out before it even hit the rim.

Sorry it happened Phragle...But, excellent info...

Divenstar

[BUIZILLA]

Goodyear makes a proprietary tire for Uhaul in different sizes...

find a BIG G-year commercial warehouse and check it out, I have 2 customers that sell tires in the Upper Keys and this is all they buy for boat trailers... when they can get them... neither one will stock or sell Marathon's or Carlisles.. how often have you seen a Uhaul trailer with a blow-out?

[Quinlan]

[ and the ford cantilever forn suspension on vans can be a tire killer.

So thats why the ONLY ford van I have in the fleet goes thru tires three times faster then the chevys

[fixxxer22]

[ and the ford cantilever forn suspension on vans can be a tire killer.

So thats why the ONLY ford van I have in the fleet goes thru tires three times faster then the chevys

Yes, but the silver lining is that it is strong. just scrubbs the tires when the suspension is jounced.

[jhenrie]

Been running cooper super service for like 10 years now. Ready for my 3rd set. Now they are called like super road master.

[Bad Idea Baja]

I run a Maxxis 10 ply 15" tire on my trailer. They are the only company that makes a 10 ply15" tire for a trailer.
I'm extremely happy with them. Discount Tire can get them. Just have to call them because they are not online.
I typically blew out 3 tires a season & I didn't even rotate these this past season. They still look 100% new & I put several thousand miles on my trailer last year.

[phragle]

Yes, but the silver lining is that it is strong. just scrubbs the tires when the suspension is jounced.

Easy to modify to make offroadable too.....

[fund razor]

I run a Maxxis 10 ply 15" tire on my trailer. They are the only company that makes a 10 ply15" tire for a trailer.
I'm extremely happy with them. Discount Tire can get them. Just have to call them because they are not online.
I typically blew out 3 tires a season & I didn't even rotate these this past season. They still look 100% new & I put several thousand miles on my trailer last year.

Interesting.

[phragle]

Fundy, I do NOT recommend this one....

http://www.freakingnews.com/hosted/tutorials/1005_final.jpg

[fund razor]

Yeah, but they have them at Harbor Freight really cheap. :)

[fund razor]

The trick is the shocks. :D

[ROGUE]

i might be interested in your take offs if they arent rotted. i need 3 yet, f78-15. which is 205/75-15

[phragle]

Enough Russian vodka and its a smooth ride...........

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p212/ikonvodka/IKONVODKAMAYDAY.jpg?t=1209578191

[fund razor]

i might be interested in your take offs if they arent rotted. i need 3 yet, f78-15. which is 205/75-15
Hi Tom.
I believe that is the size. There is some cracking, which freaks me out for over-the-road. You may call it rotting. I could take a pic when I go get the boat. My buddy who stores it in his warehouse saw them and thought he might want them for his cradle, and he had the benefit of seeing them.

If either one of you can use them you can have them for nothing. He doesn't need all six either.

[fund razor]

Enough Russian vodka and its a smooth ride...........

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p212/ikonvodka/IKONVODKAMAYDAY.jpg?t=1209578191

I used to consider myself a hijacker. You have put it into perspective for me. :D

[ROGUE]

Cool, yeah, take a look and a pic if you can, no hurry. Ive got three left with some pretty deep cracks and mine are loaded to the max. Only go 10 miles twice a year but bad things would happen if one ever let go.

[Knot 4 Me]

Maxxis at Discount Tire --> http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tires/maxxis/product/byName.do;jsessionid=k2ryL1fVLzvCLZN9FqBQNTjvHTHGxGwlJTB8CTbyyCBpSW5HRbZl42 n15RB4XnZQ2QglmsgyFndl1jTlrXBrNQB98CwBw9M0Tpjg5KT1pQ7vQZPGT6kCmdgfzlHxpT08! 1183320760!501280574?r=ILNINT%7Cpc%7C61704&tmn=M8008+ST+Radial+BS&typ=Trailer

[Bad Idea Baja]

Maxxis at Discount Tire --> http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tires/maxxis/product/byName.do;jsessionid=k2ryL1fVLzvCLZN9FqBQNTjvHTHGxGwlJTB8CTbyyCBpSW5HRbZl42 n15RB4XnZQ2QglmsgyFndl1jTlrXBrNQB98CwBw9M0Tpjg5KT1pQ7vQZPGT6kCmdgfzlHxpT08! 1183320760!501280574?r=ILNINT%7Cpc%7C61704&tmn=M8008+ST+Radial+BS&typ=Trailer

Nice find.:cheers2:
I'm a huge fan of hose tires. I like them WAY more than the Marathons I ran previously.

[Quinlan]

My first baja trailer w 15s and tandum I was ALWAYS having issues w Marathons. The second one I got w 16s and still tandum not 1 issue. Both Haritage trailers.

[Bad Idea Baja]

My first baja trailer w 15s and tandum I was ALWAYS having issues w Marathons. The second one I got w 16s and still tandum not 1 issue. Both Haritage trailers.

Don't get me started on Heritage trailers.:cuss:

[fund razor]

I brought it home yesterday. It has Marathons on it. Those were good enough to get it from Miami to Delaware and from Delaware to Ohio.

[sonicss31]

Not a good day. The road trip home to Balto after buying in Miami.

[dykstra]

Marathon

[Chris]

Not a good day. The road trip home to Balto after buying in Miami.

Yeah, but at last you found a nice, shady overpass to work under.

And it looks like that two-spares thing was a good idea after all.

[fund razor]

How do we feel about Carlisle? Sucky?

[Knot 4 Me]

How do we feel about Carlisle? Sucky?Yup, sucky.

[fund razor]

I found 205 75 15 Marathons for 115.00 plus tax locally, carryout. A guy will mount them for 10 bucks a rim. How's that sound?

That ends up being about 900 bucks to replace 6 marathons.
(I would use the best two of the old for spares)

[fund razor]

Sounds like "deflation." :D

[TCEd]

How do we feel about Carlisle? Sucky?

I pull my boat on a 3 axle steel trailer with Carlisle tires. Boat weighs 9500 with 1/2 tank of gas. Last summer I replaced all six due to side wall cracking which probably occurs on all tires that get 8-9 years old and sit in the sun half a year. Don't understand the issue with Carlisle.
Also, although I'm not a Walmart fan just about every store stocks Carlisle which is good if you're on the road and need a tire on Sunday.
ed

[Chris]

Tire Rack has them for $85. Shipping is cheap- they're just across the border in Indiana.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Marathon+Radial&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=075R5MAR6&tab=Sizes

Can you go up a size? You'll move to load range D.

[Chris]

The difference between 205 and 225 is .6" taller (1.2 overall) and .8" wider (.4 per side).

The difference is you get 6,000 lb more load carrying capacity and the ability to run 15 lbs more pressure. That's going to mean a cooler running tire and that equals failure resistance.

If you have to stick a set of longer shackle plates on it, it would be well worth the effort.

[sledge]

Not a good day. The road trip home to Balto after buying in Miami.

Sonic, that paint looks familiar. What boat is that?

[sledge]

The difference between 205 and 225 is .6" taller (1.2 overall) and .8" wider (.4 per side).

The difference is you get 6,000 lb more load carrying capacity and the ability to run 15 lbs more pressure. That's going to mean a cooler running tire and that equals failure resistance.


That's what I did on my trailer.

And tire covers. Anything to keep the sun/UV off. Even if stored under shade or indoors, cover the tires in black plastic bags. If you have an old Sunbrella cover, have it made into a couple tire covers. And UV-protectant tire dressing on both sides of tire...bling bling :D

[cpmarine]

I was running 10 ply 15" Carlisles on my tri axle, couldn't understand why everyone had horrow stories about them. I blew out 3 in the last 2 years, no real reason and no warranty. I went to Denmans and haven't had any problems with them. I do 10 to 15 NJ or NY to Flordia runs a year, lots of local hauling with a variety of boats. I am pretty sure I have overloaded the tires on at least 1 axle from time to time but so far the Denmans have held up fine.

[sweet addiction]

I have had good luck out of mine, my marathons kept blowing out and tearing up my fenders, One blew out within 15 minutes of it being pulled.






How do we feel about Carlisle? Sucky?

[Madpoodle]

Denman has a great rep these days.

I've run Carlisle's for years, the horror stories seem to come from those whose trailer tires are on the ragged edge. On my little trailer (18 Donzi) I had about 18k miles on em, finally lost one to dry rot. No other issues with them. Running Marathons now, we'll see...

[boomer35]

check out Tow Master, i've had them on my last 2 boat trailers, and love them

[fund razor]

Marathon may have had a problem for a while.

I am gonna look at the 225s. Good advice.