huronwoods
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2008
- Posts
- 48
We recently returned from a trip from Ontario, Canada to Naples. Florida. We have a Laredo 29RK (32ft), with a 2003 F350 dually TV. A trailer tire disintegrated in Georgia, doing some relatively minor damage to the underbody under the slideout. The tires originally on the trailer were Carlisle USA Trail, 225/75-15, load range D, rated at 2540lbs per tire at 65psi. These tires have always run warm, especially on the slideout side of the trailer. The weight on the wheels is 9060lbs. The weight on the pin is 1520lbs. This gives a loaded trailer weight of 10,580lbs. Listed GVWR of the trailer is 10,900lbs.
I have been meticulous about checking cold tire pressures, checking them daily while travelling. I ran 65psi in the tires. I have read in this forum, and others, about the problems many people have with Carlisle tires, and ST-rated trailer tires in general. We completed the trip to Naples using my spare, fervently hoping that a second tire would not let go, and leave me stranded at the side of the road.
After we arrived, I started to do some research to see what was available in tires. With 15 inch rims, and a 2540lbs tire rating, we were limited to ST trailer tires. I was looking for a good, American-built tire with at least that rating, but I was amazed to find that no company seems to manufacture a trailer tire in the US any more. Even the GoodYear Marathon is made in Taiwan now, after they closed the Canadian plant that made them for a couple of years. Cooper trailer tires are apparently now subcontracted to China. After reading the numerous horror stories about Chinese-made trailer tires, I was reluctant to spend $500 on a new set, and worry every trip about when the next one is going to let go.
I decided to upgrade my rims to 16 inch, and use a good commercial-grade LT-rated tire in 225/75-16 size, load range E. These are rated at 2680lbs at 80psi. There are no LT tires with adequate rating available in 15 inch. The outside diameter of the 16 inch tires is 1 inch larger than the originals, which gives 1/2 inch greater height from the center of the wheel to the outside. Clearance under the fenders was ample for the slightly larger tires. My axles are 5200lb, which have a six-lug hub and 12inch brakes, so the 16 inch wheels would bolt on. I ordered four wheels from Southwest Wheel, at $42 each. Wheels are rated at 3140lbs, 80psi. Tires were Firestone Transforce HT from the Tire Rack, at $125 each. Wheels and tires were shipped to a local tire shop in Florida.
I am running 80psi in the tires, and after a 1900 mile trip home (thankfully, uneventful), I notice a definite difference in the stability and tracking of the trailer. I usually drive at 60 - 65 mph, which is right on the speed rating for ST-rated tires, but with the higher speed rating of LT tires, I feel that there is now a comfortable safety margin. The Firestones were always cold to the touch after pulling off the interstate. I did not notice any adverse effects in low-speed tight turns, as a few people have mentioned as a possibility with LT tires.
I know one thing for sure....I will NEVER tow with trailer tires in the future. Now that all these tires are sourced offshore, it would seem that the big tire companies have now washed their hands of making a quality product. Do a search online for trailer tire problems, and there are literally thousands of people who have experienced failures, usually with the 15 inch load range D tires on heavier trailers. I really wish the trailer manufacturers would spend a couple of hundred extra dollars on a $30k trailer, and put on decent tires with a bit of reserve capacity in the load ratings. I guess a lot of buyers, especially first-time, are more interested in the colors and fabrics than what the trailer is rolling on.
Apologize for the long post, but I thought I would pass on my experiences.
I have been meticulous about checking cold tire pressures, checking them daily while travelling. I ran 65psi in the tires. I have read in this forum, and others, about the problems many people have with Carlisle tires, and ST-rated trailer tires in general. We completed the trip to Naples using my spare, fervently hoping that a second tire would not let go, and leave me stranded at the side of the road.
After we arrived, I started to do some research to see what was available in tires. With 15 inch rims, and a 2540lbs tire rating, we were limited to ST trailer tires. I was looking for a good, American-built tire with at least that rating, but I was amazed to find that no company seems to manufacture a trailer tire in the US any more. Even the GoodYear Marathon is made in Taiwan now, after they closed the Canadian plant that made them for a couple of years. Cooper trailer tires are apparently now subcontracted to China. After reading the numerous horror stories about Chinese-made trailer tires, I was reluctant to spend $500 on a new set, and worry every trip about when the next one is going to let go.
I decided to upgrade my rims to 16 inch, and use a good commercial-grade LT-rated tire in 225/75-16 size, load range E. These are rated at 2680lbs at 80psi. There are no LT tires with adequate rating available in 15 inch. The outside diameter of the 16 inch tires is 1 inch larger than the originals, which gives 1/2 inch greater height from the center of the wheel to the outside. Clearance under the fenders was ample for the slightly larger tires. My axles are 5200lb, which have a six-lug hub and 12inch brakes, so the 16 inch wheels would bolt on. I ordered four wheels from Southwest Wheel, at $42 each. Wheels are rated at 3140lbs, 80psi. Tires were Firestone Transforce HT from the Tire Rack, at $125 each. Wheels and tires were shipped to a local tire shop in Florida.
I am running 80psi in the tires, and after a 1900 mile trip home (thankfully, uneventful), I notice a definite difference in the stability and tracking of the trailer. I usually drive at 60 - 65 mph, which is right on the speed rating for ST-rated tires, but with the higher speed rating of LT tires, I feel that there is now a comfortable safety margin. The Firestones were always cold to the touch after pulling off the interstate. I did not notice any adverse effects in low-speed tight turns, as a few people have mentioned as a possibility with LT tires.
I know one thing for sure....I will NEVER tow with trailer tires in the future. Now that all these tires are sourced offshore, it would seem that the big tire companies have now washed their hands of making a quality product. Do a search online for trailer tire problems, and there are literally thousands of people who have experienced failures, usually with the 15 inch load range D tires on heavier trailers. I really wish the trailer manufacturers would spend a couple of hundred extra dollars on a $30k trailer, and put on decent tires with a bit of reserve capacity in the load ratings. I guess a lot of buyers, especially first-time, are more interested in the colors and fabrics than what the trailer is rolling on.
Apologize for the long post, but I thought I would pass on my experiences.