What trailer tires to get?

[Methu969]

Had a near blow out on way back from lake over the 4th weekend and I want to replace 3 tires (replaced 2 last year). I have Trail America 215/75R/14s on it now. I found them on net for $70each $120 shipping. Should I get them or go down to local discount tire and switch to Good Year Marathons?

[whitlock87]

I have the same tires, and have never had an issue.
so i would just get 3 new ones instead of 5 good year tires.
I would also make sure the new tires on on the back wheels.
(the back wheels on my trailer have the brakes)

[MoneyPity]

Ditto. IMO stay away from Goodyear Marathons. I had blowouts 2 years in a row with Goodyear Marathon tires. Both times it was in low 90's on trip home about 4 hours into a ten hour ride. The tire that blew were 3 years old. It was on a single axle trailer where I raised tires off ground in off season and they were properly inflated no dry rot or sidewall issues and when not in use were stored in garage with boat.

I don't have experience with brand you are looking at and have Carlyle tire on my new trailer for the Tige 20V and I have had sidewall bubbles occur on 1 tire and a pothole take out another. Carlyle was good and replaced the tires but I am not sure about them yet. We are headding on a ten hour trip shortly so I will know soon. I now carry a hydralic floor jack (portable) and a 4 end breaker as standard trailing equipment now.

MY truck jack although might be able to raise trailer I busted the one from a Durango so now I carry what I know will work. It is in plastic case and fits in back hatches with other tools just in case. I tow between 4k and 5k miles most years in the past and tools are a good insurance policy.

[whitlock87]

Ditto. I now carry a hydralic floor jack (portable) and a 4 end breaker as standard trailing equipment now.

.

good advice, we are leaving next week for a 5 hour dirve, i think i will throw mine in the truck

[bgkchild]

I don't know the tires you are looking at, but to me what really matters is the tires rating. Make sure it has a weight rating high enough for your boat and trailer. I drive alot of gravel roads and won't buy anything less than a 6 ply tire. The more plies the heaver the tire.

[Matt Garcia]

I have had good luck so far with my Goodyear marathons. My trailer is going on 4 years and haven't had any issues other than a large staple in one tire. Discount tire sells them for 120.00 a tire.

[NICKYPOO]

Goodyear.

[yearroundboarder]

Extreme trailer came with Carlisle tires in 2006. Had two replaced within the first year(blow-outs). I've always preferred Goodyear and have run them before on boat trailers. I just replaced all four on my Extreme; drove 5 hours each way on the 4th without issue.

[ImaPigDog]

I have have three Goodyear Marathons that were 3 yrs. old blow out disintegrate. Our friends just lost both of their Goodyear Marathons for their Malibu a few weeks ago when heading to our lake house. Some people have had great experiences with them. I would never buy another.

I did a lot of research at the time and ended up going with Denman Express:
http://www.denmantire.com/catalog.html

[talltigeguy]

Had a near blow out on way back from lake over the 4th weekend and I want to replace 3 tires (replaced 2 last year). I have Trail America 215/75R/14s on it now. I found them on net for $70each $120 shipping. Should I get them or go down to local discount tire and switch to Good Year Marathons?

You have the same boat I used to have. I assume this is on an Extreme trailer?

Once I had the valve stems replaced, then I quit losing tires. Obviously you had good valve stems or your tires would have blown out long ago. I lost 2 in the first summer before I realized what was going on.

That is a big heavy boat and the trailer tires are actually pretty close to max load for a load range C tire by the time you add all the gear and a tank full of gas. Also if the trailer is not exactly level, there will be more weight on the front or back. The only 14 inch tire in a load range D I can find is the Kumho 857. That is what I would consider getting if I were you. I wish the trailer manufacturers would get 15 inch rims, then the selection would be much broader.

Having tires that are 5 years old, you are smart for having them replaced, even if they still look new and don't have many miles on them. I think most tire gurus would agree.

[NICKYPOO]

My tires look great, but I'd rather pony up the cash for new tires then get a flat in the middle of nowhere Eastern Oregon.

Damn straight Skippy.

This is my second set of Goodyears and I've yet to have one fail. They track straight and ride soft. My towing performance improved immediately and I have been perfectly satisfied. I've been kicking around the idea of replacing mine just because it's been three years. I put less than 50 hours on my boat in the las two years, store in my garage and never tow more than an hour one way. They look nearly brand new so I'm still on the fence about it. Every Carlisle I've ever owned has failed. All six of 'em.

[Matt Garcia]

One thing I have wondered is if trailer tires are balanced from the factory? I assume they don't. The only reason I ask is because I have taken trailer tires in to Discount Tire to get a nail removed or fix a leak and they seem to balance them (have tire weights on them).

It seems that under inflation, long periods of sitting still, heavy loads and un-balanced tires are the recipe of blown tires.

[TeamAllen]

I have had Carlisle tires with one tire failure. It happened on my second set past the five year mark.
Replace every five years regardless of wear.

[Coop]

Last summer, on a trip to Powell (from So. Cal.), I lost one tire on the way out (blowout) and, before I could get that one replaced, I lost another on the way back, meaning I had no spare for the second blowout. Luckily, this happened near a town (St. George, UT) with a Big O, so I limped back there with one tire on the left side.

They sold me Commodore tires. I had/have no idea if those are decent -- I just had to take what they had (no choice at that time). They also sold me on the nitrogen fill, claiming it expands less in the heat and permeates less than compressed air, meaning it keeps its pressure better. Only downside is, when you do need to refill or top off the tires, you're supposed to do it with nitrogen. Big O will fill them for free if you have one close.

Anyone have thoughts on Commodore tires or the concept of using nitrogen instead of compressed air?

[Matt Garcia]

I am curious what tire pressure are you guys running?