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New User
Posts: 2
| We all know that our trailers are only as good as the tires it rides on. No hoof no horse right?
What does everyone love or hate for tires? Looking for 205/75R15 to be put on a 2 horse Hawk w/dressing room that will be ‘new to me’.
Makers to stay away from? Tires that blow out more than you'd like?
Let me hear it! |
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 Regular
Posts: 71
  Location: Everton, Arkansas | Goodyear is making a small trailer tire now, the Edurance. It is a radial tire. I put a set on our bumper pull trailer and love them. Our big living quarter trailer is running on Michelin XPS Rib tires. Really love them. |
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Expert
Posts: 2958
        Location: North Carolina | I WON'T TELL YOU WHAT BRAND TO BUY OR NOT BUY. Just my experience:
Tire size: 225-R75-15
Three horse GN trailer, No LQ but a dressing room with storage. Trailer is level so tires share load roughly equal. Usually two horses, pulled at 65 Mph or less. Max load on trailer tires 7960 pounds (weighed with 3 horses and stuff for a week)
Original set, Carlisle rated D. had a blow out, replaced all with
Denman ST LR E purchased Six, Had two blow out, one developed a blister, three developed internal tread separation.
Towmax ST LR E purchased Six, One blowout, Five developed internal belt separation. (I got better at recognizing before catastrophic failure)
Hercules, Power STR LR E … 3 years So far and no failures. |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
   Location: Pataskala, Ohio | I have answered this question a few times. Here are the highlights.
1. I will never have Chinese tires holding my horses or my family off the ground.
2. I am lucky to have tire experts in my family and good friends who fix cars and my truck and trailer for a living. When I took my trailer in for a safety inspection and brake adjustment my mechanic friend found all 4 of my Chinese tires had belt separation.
3. Never use ST tires, see the Chinese thing, they are all Chinese, even Goodyear.
Now, my trailer has some issues, water damaged my floor, but I know my LT tires are up for anything I can throw at them. No longer am I limited to 65mph speed restriction of the ST tires. I have a highway tread pattern that helps the trailer stay right behind my truck. Now when driving on a warm July afternoon on miles of fresh black asphalt I don’t worry about the trailer tires over temping and blowing out. With the highway tread the trailer stops straight wet and dry. If only they kept the water out of the LQ but that was my fault.
Go find an American, Canadian, European or Japanese tire made for LT use and put it under your horses, fill it with air to the max pressure for the tire. I cannot guarantee no tire issues but in my circle of friends that number 20 plus trailers, those of us with LT tires on the trailer have the least issues. |
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| usa made michelins for me |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 657
    Location: Rayne, LA | Here is another vote for NO CHINEESE |
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New User
Posts: 2
| Actually from my research so far TireRack.com has the Goodyear Endurances manufactured in the US. Looks like they've shifted manufacturing around from where they've done in the past. So they might be an option.
I'm scheming to take advantage of some black Friday deals with any luck as I'll need 5 tires no matter what I get.
There looks to be several options with speed ratings greater than 65, L or M rated. The Endurance is 80+, the Hercules 75 mph. The biggest thing seems to be getting the proper load rating and proper inflation. And no China tires, got it!
Anyone travel with a portable air compressor? Thoughts?
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 Regular
Posts: 71
  Location: Everton, Arkansas | As I mentioned, I do run a set of Goodyear Endurance tires on my small horse trailer. Thet are AMERICAN made. I have had them on the trailer for over 3 years, lots of miles, no issues at all. And again, nothing but Michelin XPS rib on the big trailer. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 804
    Location: Tenn/Ala. | If it were my trailer, I'd step up to the 225/75R15 instead of the 205. Looks much better, and I've never seen fender interference issues. I don't usually advocate size changes, but I do here.
Do like the new Endurance. And for the most part, you'll not find a LT in a 15" size anymore. |
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Expert
Posts: 2958
        Location: North Carolina | RTSmith - 2019-11-25 8:23 AM
If it were my trailer, I'd step up to the 225/75R15 instead of the 205. Looks much better, and I've never seen fender interference issues. I don't usually advocate size changes, but I do here.
Do like the new Endurance. And for the most part, you'll not find a LT in a 15" size anymore.
RTSmith … I would go LT but as you said... not available in 15 inch size. I'm reluctant to bear the cost of hubs & wheels to go 16 inch or better. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 804
    Location: Tenn/Ala. | hosspuller - 2019-11-25 11:54 PM RTSmith - 2019-11-25 8:23 AM If it were my trailer, I'd step up to the 225/75R15 instead of the 205. Looks much better, and I've never seen fender interference issues. I don't usually advocate size changes, but I do here.
Do like the new Endurance. And for the most part, you'll not find a LT in a 15" size anymore. RTSmith … I would go LT but as you said... not available in 15 inch size. I'm reluctant to bear the cost of hubs & wheels to go 16 inch or better.
You'd probably have clearance issues with the common 16" sizes. We are seeing good things from the Endurance tires so the 225/75R15 should make for a Happy Camper. Biggest issue with trailer tires is no one checks the air pressure very regularly. And let's face it, it can be tough to get the trailer somewhere to air up a tire(s). |
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Expert
Posts: 2958
        Location: North Carolina | TRSmith … Thanks for the info on Endurance tires. I'll check into them if the Hercules tires aren't satisfactory.
While I could fit the larger wheels... (Blocked trailer, so have extra fender clearance) The cost of 6 wheels & 4 hubs for a 20 year old trailer isn't in the cards.
Having two spares has been worth the effort. (as recommended )
1: after a tire failure, don't feel exposed with no spare far from home.
2: after two tire failures, able to keep traveling. (Trailer Tires being close together are vulnerable to road hazards.) |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: SC | Could someone please comment on Westlake tires which come on Merhow. We have been very happy with Goodyear and not one problem on long trips with current LQ but looking at Merhow and see they come with Westlake. Thanks. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 804
    Location: Tenn/Ala. | Have seen a lot of Westlake tires and have not seen any particular problems. I would not put them in a premium tier like the Goodyears, but they seem to serve their purpose as a mid grade tire. |
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Veteran
Posts: 170
   Location: Minnesota | Direct from China - need one say more? Of course they are "State of the Art". |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: SC | Thanks for above comments. Also appreciate original question about Hawk because will be replacing tires next year on my Hawk 2H GN with DR. |
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Member
Posts: 33

| Cereza - 2019-11-25 5:35 AM Actually from my research so far TireRack.com has the Goodyear Endurances manufactured in the US. Looks like they've shifted manufacturing around from where they've done in the past. So they might be an option. I'm scheming to take advantage of some black Friday deals with any luck as I'll need 5 tires no matter what I get. There looks to be several options with speed ratings greater than 65, L or M rated. The Endurance is 80+, the Hercules 75 mph. The biggest thing seems to be getting the proper load rating and proper inflation. And no China tires, got it! Anyone travel with a portable air compressor? Thoughts?
I just bought some truck accessories including a Viair compressor at 4wheelonline. This Viair is portable and works great. It is not expensive also. |
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