Can't find the quite extensive multi-page "thread" on trailer tires - which I THOUGHT was only a few days ago.

Anyway, going to have to revise my opinion - the opinion I offered in that earlier discussion, was that it was better to have American-made tires.

B A N G ! went that idea!

Backgound - We have a approx. 7,000 lb. boat on a approx 3,000 lb three axle trailer. Came with bias H78-15 ST's. After about 6 years, when they still had plenty of tread, I decided I would get radials (was concerned about how hot they got during desert runs up to Lake Mead in the summer, at 60-65 mph.

I bught R235-75-15 radials, made in U.S.A (not sure who the mfg. is ; the brand is Cornell, which is Pep Boy's "house" brand). Yesterday, one blew completely apart. No sign of puncture/running low.

Not sure what I want to do now - radials do run MUCH cooler - no question about that, and HEAT is the enemy of tire structure. No question about that.

But how hot is "too hot" for a tire ? Trying to decide whether I am now scared of radials, and should replace all with bias ST 's ?

 

There was just a big discussion about this very thing on the AACA forums.

http://forums.aaca.org/ubbthreads.ph...713#Post430713

Apparently, there are many now made in China that seem to be troublesome.

I have been running Goodyear Marathons on my Haulmark for many years and they have given me good service. I definitely think you should use tires made expressly for trailers.

 

just came back from my local tire store. They say they have been selling the china-made "D" rated trailer radials I just bought, for a year now, in some cases, to multi-vehicle fleet users, without any "come-backs". Was in a spot - want to go to Lake Mead today, so I bought em.

As a side-note, the spare I used to get home with, was one of the original heavy duty trailer BIAS tires that came with my trailer when it was new fifteen years ago.

AMAZING the difference in running temps, between the radials and the bias. No question the radials run SO much cooler.

Pretty made I had to buy a China product - he says as far as he knows, Carlisie is the only brand still made in the United States, and he says they have had customers report failures with those.

To be cont...!

|? ? ? ?