Posted 2009-05-26 8:43 AM (#105455) Subject: proper trailer tire selection
New User
Posts: 4
Location: Selma, NC
Looking for advice on the proper trailer tire for my 2006 exiss XT/314 3 horse. Had two blow outs this past weekend on a trip to True West at Big South Fork in Tenn. The original tires are LT235/85R16. I now beleive these are not prpoerly sized for the weight of this trailer. The GVWR on the trailer is 14,400#. I am pulling it with a Freightliner sport chassis. After some time on the internet this weekend it sounds like I should be looking for a tire that is rated for 4340 pounds allowing for a 20% safety factor and tires that are rated for highway speeds, an L rating? Any advice would be appreciated. Having a blow out on I40 with the wife's horses in the back can be very stressful.
Posted 2009-05-26 9:40 AM (#105457 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Glenn, Welcome to HTW, I'm just a few miles north of you.... I run Goodyear Load range G, G614RST's on my Cherokee 6 horse head to head, ( gvwr 16000#, 8000# axles) haven't had a minutes trouble with them. We just got back from a trip to Georga and they did fine on that stretch of I-95 through South Carolina.... That road is like driving through a mine field. What make were/are your tires and how old are they? Are they those Chinese built HI-RUN brand, or Trail America? Alot of those ST tires are only rated for 65 mph... The G614's are rated to 75 mph, they are good for 3750# at 110 psi. Be sure your rims are rated for 110 psi.
Posted 2009-05-26 1:56 PM (#105472 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Veteran
Posts: 197 Location: MT
Tires are probably the right size but you need to look at what ply the tires are I don't run anything under a 12 ply on my stock trailer that we've had 8 head in or my 4 horse living quarter thats 28ft on the floor.
Posted 2009-05-26 5:42 PM (#105487 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
Retento is right on. Buy the Goodyear 614's, check your axle alignment with a straight edge after the blowout and you should be happy. Don't worry about the extra money your gonna spend because you will more than save it back in the long run
Posted 2009-05-26 6:09 PM (#105491 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
If we do the math. A 14,400b trailer and assume a conservative 20% on the pin = 14,400*80%=11520lbs on the axles.
11,520 / 4 tires = 2880lbs per tire.
Load range E tires in your size will be rated between 3042 to 3400 lbs per tire. For example the Goodyear Marathon 235/80/16 E is rated at 3420lbs Which gives you the 16% safety margin.
If you step up to the "G" rating you jump to 3750 lbs per tire. Which gives you a 24% safety margin.
Personnally, I've had great luck with the Goodyear G614 tires.
Posted 2009-05-26 7:07 PM (#105497 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Member
Posts: 17
Location: Evansville, IN
I pull a 2005 Exiss 414. I had nothing but trouble with the factory tires. They are made in China by the way. When I pulled my tires I noticed that the wheels where also made in China. I installed new wheels rated for 3750 lbs. per tire and new Goodyear G614. I have had no issues since installing the new tires. I do make sure to keep the tires inflated to the max pressure.
Posted 2009-05-26 8:34 PM (#105500 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Member
Posts: 29
I had alot of trouble with the tires on my trails west and the factory was NO help, but I did get it fixed and now have no more trouble with it. I t does not matter what the math tells you 16" tires are not rated for enough weight or speed. I put 17.5 tires and wheels on my trailer and I do not have any more problems, I pull a 4 horse living quarters with a slide. The wheels I have are rated for 6800 lbs and the tires are rated for 4800 lbs, I have a good safety margin now.
Posted 2009-05-27 1:52 AM (#105508 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
´Made in USA´ not the norm for trailer tires
By Vera Linsalata
Tire Business Imports will continue to rule in the niche market of trailer tires for camping and boating customers, according to participants in the field.
No one knows for sure how many trailer tires are imported versus manufactured in the U.S. But like other high-volume tires, trailer tires tend to bring low margins, according to Jeff Kreitzman, CEO of American Pacific Industries Inc.
Kreitzman estimates the U.S. replacement ST, or Special Tires, trailer tire market consists of 6 million to 10 million units.
API has trailer tires made for it by an undisclosed tire manufacturer at its Qingdao, China, plant, but Kreitzman declined to comment on how many units are imported or sold in the U.S.
API plans to launch its own ST trailer tire line in the Gladiator brand next spring, Kreitzman said. Currently, API sells Gladiator-brand medium truck and earthmover tires.
"We have a pretty good customer base in (Gladiator)," he said. "We figure it´s a natural fit."
Loosely defined, ST trailer tires are used in a variety of towing applications, including boat, utility and travel trailers, said Tim Landis, vice president of aftermarket and replacement tire sales for Long Beach, Calif.-based Greenball Corp.
Competition in the U.S. trailer tire market has driven prices for the products down and lowered profitability, Kreitzman and Landis both said. However, Landis said Greenball is seeing its radial ST trailer tire business growing as more original equipment manufacturers are preferring radials to bias-ply because of radials´ greater load carrying capacity and smoother ride. He declined to disclose sales.
Greenball imports its Towmaster and Transmaster trailer tire brands from Indonesia, Taiwan and China, Landis said.
Other companies that supply ST trailer tires are Goodyear, Titan International Inc., Maxxis International Inc., Carlisle Tire & Wheel Co. and American Kenda Rubber Industries Co. Ltd. Of those firms, Goodyear and Maxxis both said they manufacture their trailer tires in Asia, but neither would say at which plants.
Maurice Taylor Jr., Titan chairman and CEO, recently said that except for a few contracts with trailer manufacturers, Titan is out of the trailer tire business.
The travel trailer and camper manufacturing industry reported revenues of $9.28 billion in 2006 with a 15.9 percent gross profit. These numbers reflect sales in all trailer segments, including those that would not use ST-type tires.
In the boating trailer sector, research firm Statistical Surveys Inc. tracks boat trailer registrations in all states and noted that new registrations fell 34 percent to 64,898 units through May 31 compared with the year-ago period. New boat trailer registrations at year-end 2006 totaled 204,405 units, down from 223,978 in 2005, according to Randy Lemasters, sales and marketing manager for Statistical Surveys.
I was at a small show in Georgia this past weekend. There were four trailers there with damaged fenders and black tire marks on the side due to blown out "Chinese" tires. One of them had even ripped off one of the drop down windows.... Wonder what was going through that horses mine other than bits of rubber and shards of steel wire!!!. The oldest trailer with damage was a 2005 Kiefer Built.... Tires on this trailer were 235-85R-16 lrE's, three horse trailer with a 4' sw DR. The tires were built in 2005. They had the whole set replaced while we were at the show. The owner replaced them with a set of brand new, (built in 2007), HI-RUN trailer tires. I asked why did they buy those crappy tires, their answer was.... They were cheap!! I guess they be sitting on the shoulder of I-40 in August wondering why those "cheap" brand new, two year old, tires they bought this spring have ripped another fender and light off their trailer.
I wonder how much it cost to replace a fender, a light and a drop window, buff out some paint and replace torn graphics.....?
Posted 2009-05-27 6:06 PM (#105569 - in reply to #105457) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
New User
Posts: 4
Location: Selma, NC
The tires were "supertrailer, radial trail" tires. They were made in china and made in 2005 if I am reading the code properly. I bought the trailer in October of 2007 and have put about 2000 miles on it since buying it. It was the exiss maufacture's show trailer for 2006 and I have no idea how many shows it was hauled to that year. The tires did not show much wear. Based on the advice in the forum I am leaning towards the g series goodyears but I have to have the wheels checked out to make sure they can handle the extra pressure.
Posted 2009-05-27 7:05 PM (#105573 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Measure the center bore hole. If it measures 4.885", then it's rated at 3315#. if the bore is 4.90", it's rated at 3750#. Some rims may be stamped 3800#.
The weight should be stamped on the rim itself, maybe somewhere around the valve stem area, not on the center lug nut section. You may see, 16x6JJ. The weight may be stamped somewhere in that area.
Check the trailers serial number plate, the info may be stamped there also.
Posted 2009-05-28 6:44 AM (#105596 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
New User
Posts: 4
Location: Selma, NC
Retento,
I checked the wheels and found, 16X6.0 J.J. DOT CT&W 7 5 2005 stamped in the inside of the wheel. I asume that the 7 5 2005 is the manufacture date. Do the other numbers and letters tell you if the wheels are heavy enough to use the Goodyear G614 tires you recommneded? Where did you get your tires? My farm is just 14 miles off I 95 up NC 42 so I am pretty close to you in Rocky Mount.
Posted 2009-05-28 8:23 AM (#105601 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Glenn.... Check with the guys at White's Tire in Wilson. They'll know if those rims will work. Your stock rims may be rated for 3550#, if so you can run 100 psi rather than 110 and you'll be good. My last trailer had 3800# stamped into the steel rather than the maximum psi.
You the guy with the two Belgians? Or on the hill on the right just east of hwy 39... Maybe near Reins From Above Therapeudic riding. Or do you live closer toward Percy Flowers Store? I go that way all the time going to Clayton. I'm on hwy 97, 7 miles east of I-95.
Posted 2009-05-28 8:31 AM (#105602 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Missouri
If you go to the Goodyear link that Retento provided, then click the "promotions" link, you'll find a $25. per tire rebate in effect thru July 31. Might be as good a time to buy as any.
Posted 2009-05-28 8:34 AM (#105603 - in reply to #105601) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
New User
Posts: 4
Location: Selma, NC
Retento,
I will check on the tires and wheels. I just spoke with Exiss tech service and they thought that the Goodyears would be a good selection. Our farm is on Jordan Narron Road. That runs parellel to 42 from percy's to NC 96. We have mostly quarter horses, altough after being in Big South Fork in Tn, last week I am ready for a big walking horse to ride the trails with.
Posted 2009-05-28 8:27 PM (#105662 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Missouri
In response to Gone's question if all Chinese tires are bad, I can vouch to the inferior quality of rubber in at least some Chinese products. I bought a set of saddle horn "wraps" (strips of inner tube rubber made to wrap a saddle horn for better grip and for protection). Made in China, and in this instance, it didn't matter (I thought) to me. Okay, I wrapped my saddle horn and ponied my 2 year old along on a trail ride. She had been ponied a ton (not a lot of pulling or tugging). At the end of about a 3 hour ride, each of the 4 wraps were in shreds, as a matter of fact, by the time we got back to the trailer, there was no rubber on my horn at all. It.just.shredded.off. On other saddles, those horn wraps have lasted for at least a season, sometimes 2-3 more. We are talking about some seriously crappy product. Off topic (sort of), my family is undertaking a new mission to buy USA only products. It is difficult, but not impossible, and IMO, we all need to shop for our country's future. Stepping off the soapbox now.
Posted 2009-05-29 11:47 AM (#105688 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
The LT235/85R16 is what I have on my truck and horse trailer. I have LT 235/80R16 on my camper. We have never had a problem with our tires. How old are your tires? Even if they look new the rubber could be drying out and make them prone to blow outs.
Posted 2009-05-30 7:12 PM (#105729 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Pleasant View, Tennessee
Just bought a new Bison. Has Dexstar wheel company wheels that have a sticker that says 16X6K 3750 lbs. Tires are PowerKing Tow Max ST, ST 235/80R16. Delaer told me 80 PSI is correct for this. Trailer weight is about 8800 lbs. without horses, etc.
Posted 2009-05-30 7:51 PM (#105730 - in reply to #105455) Subject: RE: proper trailer tire selection
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
The wheels are probably OK, but I wouldn't give you a dime for those tires.... Here's a list of all the tire mfg. plants. You can use the DOT code that's stamped on the tire to find out where there were built. If it has an "83" code then they were built in mainland CHINA. Remember to keep your speed at 65 mph or below when running these "ST" tires.
I have a 2007 Carraige Cameo, came with Towmax ST235/80R/16 tires, have 6000 miles on them, have one with steel cord just popped out of the top side right at the tread level and another that looks like the sidewall has large marshmallows all over the outside sidewall. I am an absolute nut about tire pressures. This just happened after a 130 mile trip in 49 degree temperatures, with tire pressure checked imediately before departure at 80 psi cold. Called Carriage, and basically they said tough, call Towmax. I'm trying to figure out what brand tire to replace these with so I can head to Florida in 10 days, and not have to worry whether I will get there without having a blowout. Carriage coulldn't care less, sorry I went with them.
Another...
I have a 2006 Carriage Cameo fifth wheel,, it came from the factory with Power King Tow Max tires, the size is ST235/80R16, Load Range E.
I have less than 5000 mile on them and have had 2 failures in less than 6 months. This unit was new, with only factory delivery miles on it, about 1500 miles.
The "POWER KING" line may be built by, TBC Corp. Kelly, Hankook or Denman.
proper trailer tire selection
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