Trailer tires

[Augie]

GoodSam study of RV tires and the better than 1/3 failure rate.

Link to study stating this please, I cant find it anywhere on net or Good Sam Site. My guess is this is a rumor of a study because someone said so. All I am doing is asking you to back up your statement at this point. If you are correct. I admit I'm wrong. If not I expect you to do the same.

I did find this

RV tires is simply not known at this point, because there is no data available to confirm or refute those concerns

http://blog.rv.net/2010/07/good-sam-club-rv-owners-council-to-survey-membership-concerning-rv-tire-safety-issues/

This says there is NO Study? what would you quote one that doesn't exist?

Perhaps you can share your experience with Chinese trailer tires?

And yes I understand Im a newbie and Im being antagonistic.
Bruce

The three tires I have(two runners and a spare) on my trailer, and the 6 on trailers of my parents have no failure. How many people here have failed. 4-5 total here out of how many hundreds???? Using your numbers every other person( each person has 2 tires most are Chinese made so 1/3 of 4 is greater than one out of four) would have a tire failure. this is just not the case. If your tire fails you become vocal that ALL TRES ARE BAD...... come on guys????

Give me concrete information and Ill change my opinion but until then all I can assume is that your opinions are based on preconceived false ideas.

But to each his or her own, and yes, that is the Sky falling...

[linuxmanxxx]

There are a lot more trailer tire failures than car tire failures and as long as the trailer doesn't have seriously heavy loads, it is largely considered much safer, economical, and readily available to replace trailer tires with normal car tires. The biggest issues are the 8" and 12" tires that are almost entirely supplied from across the pond. My 4.80 x 12 have to be inflated to 90psi and that is insane but the number one reason for failures in these tires is underinflation. My recommendation is yank the fenders raise them and go to at least a common 13" tire and have peace of mind and save some coin when you go to replace them later on.

[Wolffarmer]

90 lbs on a tire to me means that the construction of it can't take the heating from flexing. Thus little flex=rough ride=broken eggs, messed up galley, hard on trailer/cabin parts and who knows what else. Yeah, get a tire that can take the heat. So to speak.

Tires can take a lot more pressure than one would think. I think it was the Continental tire company that use to go to European motorcycle rallies and look for the most worn out ratty looking Continental tire and trade the owner a new set of tires for them. They would then put the tire on a test rig they brought and pump it up. They seldom blew below 300 lbs, if I remember correctly.

The heat build up from flexing is what often causes tire failure. UP the pressure and you can carry more. Or go slower and carry more. Can't seem to convince people to drive slower. Of course if the rims are cutting into the side wall you are toast anyway.

Randy

[bdosborn]

The three tires I have(two runners and a spare) on my trailer, and the 6 on trailers of my parents have no failure.

That's a pretty unimpressive sampling. How about a link to hundreds of tire failures like this:

Goodyear Marathon Failure

Or maybe 91 pages of tire failure stories and tire pressure rants:

RV.net Tire Thread

Read through those links and I'll bet you'll change your mind about Chinese tires. Besides, you really should do your homework before you comment on safety issues.

Bruce

[Wolffarmer]

Yishhhh, to much to read on that Tire pressure thread. Almost as bad as trying to read the Master Foamie thread.

I am sure there is some good info in there, somewhere. I am happy I am not trying to run my tires at a high load.

I haven't looked at the Marathon info. Don't plan to ever get a Marathon for any reason any way.


Randy

[Shadow Catcher]

I am away from the home computer so can not get all of the information in the tire folder however http://blog.goodsamclub.com/wp-content/ ... urvey4.pdf

[Augie]

I am away from the home computer so can not get all of the information in the tire folder however http://blog.goodsamclub.com/wp-content/ ... urvey4.pdf

90% of the respondents to the survey you linked to have Dual Axel Trailers, not applicable to our situatio, and this was a voluntary survey not a randomized sampling of members. Knowing this I assure you there is a voluntary response bias in this survey. Voluntary response bias occurs when sample members are self-selected volunteers, as in voluntary samples. An example would be call-in radio shows that solicit audience participation in surveys on controversial topics (abortion, affirmative action, gun control, etc.). The resulting sample tends to overrepresent individuals who have strong opinions. If they had tire failures it is more likely that they would have a strong opinion, like you, and fill out the survey.

Im not trying to get into a fight here Shadow, but you are showing a bias against tires made in China, YOu cite a single Good Sam survey, but on their site it states that the Good Sam Club RV Owners’ Council To Survey Membership Concerning RV Tire Safety Issues believes.

Failure Rate among RV tires is simply not known at this point, because there is no data available to confirm or refute those concerns

They know their survey is flawed and are not willing to take a stand either way....

[Deryk the Pirate]

Last weekend, was in the upper 90's and I wasnt alone on the highway with a burned up tire, saw 3 boat trailers, 2 atv trailers and a few pop up trailers changing tires along the side of the road. I destroyed 1 tire and mostly killed the other tire. Ive got about 2500 miles on the 12x4.8 weight range c tires. My lil vardo loaded is about 1700lbs.

if you look at the pics in http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=50477&start=15#p946259 I can fit a 13" rim. I hear ppl talking both ways on trailer tires vs car tires and I dont know enough to make an educated decision. I would like to be able to drive at 65 to 70mph without worrying about blowing out the tire from heat. I looked on pep boys web site at a small sample of 13" tires and the prices are good, but I wonder if the road hazard warranty would be voided if its on a trailer vs a car. Now i know a vw rabbit with 13" rims can drive at 65mph, so Im assumeing(dangerous thing to do) that towing a trailor with these same sized tires on should be ok. Would i be ok weight wise though? I did a google search and see the vehicle weights from 2020lbs to 2300lbs but thats on 4 tires, not 2. Im seriously tempted to carry 2 spares, but if I move up to a car tire I think it would be easier to get a replacement tire from any tire shop, then finding a trailer place.

My other concern is I have 4 bolt hubs. I can order 13" rims 4 bolt sized, but 5 bolt's way more common ( with 12" rims weight class c I had a problem last weekend finding a tire/rim, if i had 5 bolt hubs most of the places i called had them in stock, the 4 bolt were mainly weight class b) ... would it make sense to upgrade to 5 bolt hubs for the possibility if in a pinch I could throw on a trailer tire w/rim from walmart or lowes? I would prefer higher weight class tires then what I need just for safety sake...walmart had a 860lb weight class b tire.... that would be pushin the weight a bit, prefer not to do that... my axle is rated for 2000lbs, dont plan on surpassing that lol.

thanks

deryk

[Wolffarmer]

I fear that unless you got to a larger tire you will be pushing the recommendations. Might be able to get a 13 inch that will almost be suitable. If you find one that is close might think about filling it with nitrogen. That will help a little with heat.

At least i think that is what nitrogen does in tires

Randy

[oicu812]

I'm at the point of purchasing tire's, I'm not going to be able to match my tow vehicle tires with the camper like a lot of people do. The people who do would almost certainly go radial tires.
This thread hasn't said one over the other or if it did I
didn't notice. I know radials run cooler than bias but bias have stronger side walls. The tires I have picked are bias, trailer will be less than 1100 lbs.

Is this thread talking about just radials?

[linuxmanxxx]

There are not many trailer types that are radial. If the load is lighter and the size is available, I'd never go trailer tire.

[Wolffarmer]

There are not many trailer types that are radial. If the load is lighter and the size is available, I'd never go trailer tire.

Ditto

Randy

[dano]

I have an 800 pound teardrop trailer. I dont think tires will be a problem. For those who have had tire problems it could be a lot of diferent things.
Is your axle true?
Are your wheel bearings bad?
So many things can go into this but think of it this way. How many tires are on the road? Failer will happen to someone somewhere.

My two cents.

[Wolffarmer]

Also any tire that comes after the front tire will be more prone to fail more than the front.

If there is a nail, screw or other longer than wide object on the road it is laying flat and thus can't puncture anything. Until the front tire rolls over it at speed and sets it to spinning and tumbling for a trailing tire to hit it just right and get a puncture. If a person only drives empty highways the front tires will seldom get a puncture.

Randy

[Deryk the Pirate]

I fear that unless you got to a larger tire you will be pushing the recommendations. Might be able to get a 13 inch that will almost be suitable. If you find one that is close might think about filling it with nitrogen. That will help a little with heat.

At least i think that is what nitrogen does in tires

Randy

Randy, all of the 13" trailer tires I looked at are rated like 1300lbs and up...would car tires be rated for less weight?