Trailier Tire Issues!

[dielawn]

Hey bu Crew!

I have been having either extremely bad luck or we have just been jerked around by the trailer people who tell me I am good to go. I currently have an 07 VTX which we bought brand new last season. From the beginning of the season in 08 up until right now, I have had 4 BLOW OUTS and 1 nail in my boat trailer tires. I understand the nail was a fluke thing but i am starting to see a trend with these trailer tires.

I was wondering what kind of tires everyone has on their extreme trailer? I currently have Ultra Sport ST/R (ST235/60R14) on the trailer right now which are a normal C-load tire. Is there a trailer tire out there i can actually have faith in? These tires are all brand new with less than 1200 miles on them and they are blowing up like water balloons. I have a Lake Powell trip coming up in September and I am looking at a 9 hour drives each way and really would like to feel confident in my trailer tires. Does any one have any suggested tires? I obviously want the trailer to ride as nice as possible but i need a tougher tire. Will changing the tire load size to E-Load do anything? Thicker Side walls? Any input is great input!

Thanks!

[mellen_mpz]

I have an 06 boat/trailer and after blowing 2 of them last week, the guy at the tire shop said that our tires were actually from 04'. Just because the boat is fairly new doesnt mean your tires are!

I had a bad "Tire week" last week as well. Replaced all 4 of my boat trailer tires, 3 of my toyhauler tires, 2 dirtbike tires and got a screw in my truck tire (at $750 per tire thank GOD they were able to patch it!!!!). Seems to come in waves

[RTS]

What kind of truck are you driving that has $750 tires on it?

[dielawn]

I guess you could say i have 4 brand new tires already with 4 blow outs... It seems they are just happening randomly. The tires just seem to explode for no particular reason. Anyone have any tire brands they trust? or specific tire specs?

[Ndawg12]

What kind of truck are you driving that has $750 tires on it?

No kidding, and I thought $325 a peice for BFG AT 305/65/18 was expensive!!

[RTS]

I guess you could say i have 4 brand new tires already with 4 blow outs... It seems they are just happening randomly. The tires just seem to explode for no particular reason. Anyone have any tire brands they trust? or specific tire specs?

Sorry to derail your thread there...I would recommend the Goodyear Marathon tires. If you have a tandem axle trailer, I'd say the load range C Marathons should be fine, but the load range D tires will be better. I have a single axle under my Sunsetter and have had very good results with the Load Range D Marathons.

[RTS]

Also...you need to make sure you have the proper tire pressure in the tires you are running. Fill them to the max cold pressure listed on the tire. Under inflated tires (especially in trailer tires) will flex too much and generate excessive heat, leading to blowouts. 4 blow outs in a year is a lot. Either the Ultra Sport tires are junk, or something else is wrong.

Don't be afraid to fill those tires to the MAX COLD inflation pressure...Goodyear recommends this for their Marathons.

Edited August 18, 2009 by rts

[colobuskier]

The problem I have had is that I was unable to get a trailer tire in that size. This left me with very few choices of tire (BFGoodrich or the Ultra). If I was having that much trouble I would consider changing rim and tire set-up to get to use a real trailer tire. I know nothing about the VTX, does it have ballast tanks? If so are you hauling with them empty? Not being nasty here just trying to understand why you are blowing up tires with so few miles on them?

[fijidaniel]

What kind of truck are you driving that has $750 tires on it?

No kidding, and I thought $325 a peice for BFG AT 305/65/18 was expensive!!

Poor gas mileage if you're towing with super swampers!

[dielawn]

What size tire is are you using? the goodyear marathons dont make 235s with a 14in rim...

[dielawn]

I am most definitely not towing with my tanks filled in fact i tow with nothing in the boat except the standard gear in the boat... Wakeboards, skis, life jackets etc. Nothing is in the boat that would be considered excessive weight.

[mellen_mpz]

What kind of truck are you driving that has $750 tires on it?

40 inch toyos on 22 inch rims are not cheap!!! 3 grand for new shoes!

[Ndawg12]

What kind of truck are you driving that has $750 tires on it?

No kidding, and I thought $325 a peice for BFG AT 305/65/18 was expensive!!

Poor gas mileage if you're towing with super swampers!

14.5 mpg at 75 mph and no trailer, 8.5 mpg at 65 mph with trailer.

[mellen_mpz]

What kind of truck are you driving that has $750 tires on it?

No kidding, and I thought $325 a peice for BFG AT 305/65/18 was expensive!!

Poor gas mileage if you're towing with super swampers!

14.5 mpg at 75 mph and no trailer, 8.5 mpg at 65 mph with trailer.

My F350 gets about 17mpg not towing and about 13 towing the bu'. Not too shabby for 40 inch tires!

My old F250 (V-10) got 11 freeway, 6 towing!!!!!!

[Ndawg12]

What kind of truck are you driving that has $750 tires on it?

No kidding, and I thought $325 a peice for BFG AT 305/65/18 was expensive!!

Poor gas mileage if you're towing with super swampers!

14.5 mpg at 75 mph and no trailer, 8.5 mpg at 65 mph with trailer.

My F350 gets about 17mpg not towing and about 13 towing the bu'. Not too shabby for 40 inch tires!

My old F250 (V-10) got 11 freeway, 6 towing!!!!!!

That's really the only complaint with my Tundra.

Edited August 18, 2009 by nemire12

[Pistol Pete]

Check out this.

[shade]

I have never heard of so many trailer tire failures until I joined TMC. I've never had any tire problems, but my boat/trailer are only on the 3rd season. I don't even think my Boatmate came w/ trailer tires. I think they are passenger car tires. They are Z-speed rated Kumho 225/55 ZR-16 tires. I've never heard of Z-speed rated trailer tires, but I could be wrong.

It seems like people are having ALOT more trouble w/ tires built specifically for trailers than they have w/ their car/truck tires. Maybe trailer tires just aren't made as well.

I'm sure I will have a tire fail after making this post!

[dielawn]

I am getting a lot of references to people i talk to locally, saying that they have regular car radial tires on their trailers and have had zero problems with them. I am thinking of switching to regular tires rather than trailer tires. I have now heard the a lot of the trailer tires aren't made like they used to be and a lot of the tires are being out sourced. What is everyones thoughts on regular radial tires VS Trailer tires?

[tigercity]

Blowouts are usually caused by overheating. That can be caused by underinflation, or overloading. Check the weight limit on the new tires you are buying. If you are running freeway speeds, you need to have lots of extra weight capacity. I do not know of a trailer tire that is speed rated for more than 65 mph.

[footnlongline]

Blowouts are usually caused by overheating. That can be caused by underinflation, or overloading. Check the weight limit on the new tires you are buying. If you are running freeway speeds, you need to have lots of extra weight capacity. I do not know of a trailer tire that is speed rated for more than 65 mph.

[Soon2BV]

I don't even think my Boatmate came w/ trailer tires. I think they are passenger car tires. They are Z-speed rated Kumho 225/55 ZR-16 tires.

Interesting, because the Boatmate website only lists 14 & 15 inch tires / wheels, and either Trail America or Goodyear Marathon are the two tire choices.

Either your dealer did a custom buy, or traded out to these tires.

Trailer tires have a stiffer sidewall due to the loading - not just the weight, but also cornering and load shifting - with no shocks and solid axles they take a much rougher travel down the same road. Car tires have softer sidewalls to give a smoother ride, better cornering, etc. The tire closest to a ST (Trailer) rated tire is an LT (light truck).

For speed rated tires - the faster a tire can go, the softer the rubber compound they use to make it (softer rubber grips dry pavement better), so the tire will wear out faster than a "slower" rated tire.

Here is a link to a good tire description website -

tire rack

[dalt1]

Blowouts are usually caused by overheating. That can be caused by underinflation, or overloading. Check the weight limit on the new tires you are buying. If you are running freeway speeds, you need to have lots of extra weight capacity. I do not know of a trailer tire that is speed rated for more than 65 mph.

Or it could just be the tire quality is not up to par even as new! I have had several Goodyear and Carlisle failures in the past 5 years. Always keep at 50 PSI as recommended, not over weight capacity, and always stored in garage. Tires all less than 3 years old and they just fall apart. (tread seperation) Keep an eye on your tires and look at them before every trip. If they are bulging as if over inflated, change them right there.