Posted 2018-08-22 6:39 AM (#171826) Subject: Gladiator Tires
Veteran
Posts: 102 Location: Waaaaay back Slaughter Hollow
I had a blowout last week on our stock trailer, totally our fault due to the age of the tire. I am currently shopping for new tires and are looking for some advice.
Our stock trailer is a ‘99 Featherlite 16’ gooseneck. We haul anything and everything on it- cattle, horses, hogs, garden tractor, four wheelers, furniture. It has two 7,000 lb. axles and GVWR is 14,400 lbs. The trailer itself weighs around 4K.
We also have a 3 horse ‘06 Elite LQ weekender with a 6’ shortwall and 8’ wide. It too has 7,000 lb. axles, GVWR is 14,000 lbs. and weighs about 8,000 lbs. It came with 14 ply Gladiator tires on it that have a manufacturer’s date of 2016 ok them. Yes, I know Gladiators are manufactured in China.
When we started tire shopping this week, our local farmer’s co-op recommended Gladiators for the stock trailer. Our thoughts at the moment are to pull the Gladiators off the LQ trailer and have them remounted for the stock trailer and to put either Cooper or Goodyear LT tires on the LQ.
Can I please get thoughts and recommendations on this?
Oh, and a funny side note. I walked into a “good ole boy” trailer store and told the owner I wanted a truck tire, made in the US, for the stock trailer. He immediately offered me a Hercules trailer tire made in China and told me that should do fine. I never gave him a budget, just told him I was looking for 5 American made tires and wanted them installed as well. I did not let him know I knew where Hercules was manufactured and assumed he offered them up because he had them in stock and he thought I wouldn’t know where they were made because I am a woman.
Posted 2018-08-22 8:14 AM (#171827 - in reply to #171826) Subject: RE: Gladiator Tires
Elite Veteran
Posts: 801 Location: Tenn/Ala.
What does the VIN tag on your Elite call for? Many of them in that era would have had LT235/85R16 Load Range "E" from the factory, often a Uniroyal. And they typically did very well. Personally, I like that type of tire for both of your trailers as long as the 3,042# per tire is enough. Past that, the Goodyear G614 "G" rating is great, but the $400 apiece is tough to handle.
Posted 2018-08-27 11:21 AM (#171841 - in reply to #171826) Subject: RE: Gladiator Tires
Veteran
Posts: 108 Location: Lawrence KS
Best tire I have found is the Hankook 14 ply tire - size 7.5 x 16". and put on bolt in valve stems. Can't go wrong this way - Tires are about $210.00 ea.
Posted 2019-02-24 12:22 AM (#172218 - in reply to #171826) Subject: RE: Gladiator Tires
Veteran
Posts: 233 Location: Pataskala, Ohio
I went with Firestone HT size LT285-75-16, I miss read the 3 for an 8 when ordering, they are only slightly larger but can carry more weight. Opted for the Highway Tread so they pull straight especially in rain and build up less heat. My tires are wearing well.
Posted 2019-03-22 8:42 AM (#172274 - in reply to #171826) Subject: RE: Gladiator Tires
Regular
Posts: 51
Lets follow the money and liability on the difference between a Light truck tire and a Special trailer tire. Lets say both are a 235/85 -16 radial. The trailer tire blows out and kills your child. You go to court and you prove that the tread came off of the tire and crashed the rig. The judge says too bad you overloaded the trailer. Not the liability of the manufacturer. Now the light truck tire loses the tread on you truck and kills your child and others. The judge says its the manufacturers fault of the safty of the tire and causes millions in legel payments. Which tire do you think is going to have the better quality of build in it.
I run Firestone 235/85-16 HT on my dually and horse trailer and they are 6 to 7 years old already and I have no problem still running them. They say to change them every 4 years. Would you except a new vehicle if the car dealer told you that in 4 years you need to throw the tires away because they were no better quality than that. I run a Ford F350 CCLB 4wd dually and a CM 4h with 10ft short wall. All tires are the same. Want to know which axel is carring the most weight per tire. The STEER axel. Even my trailer tire are not carring as much weight per tire as my steer tires are.
Posted 2019-04-01 4:18 PM (#172303 - in reply to #172218) Subject: RE: Gladiator Tires
Member
Posts: 31
Jeepplr - 2019-02-24 12:22 AM I went with Firestone HT size LT285-75-16, I miss read the 3 for an 8 when ordering, they are only slightly larger but can carry more weight. Opted for the Highway Tread so they pull straight especially in rain and build up less heat. My tires are wearing well.
Looking to get Firestone HT as well for the next set of tires. The current still some have life on it and we're still finishing some mods on the current Ram project my brother brought cheap. We throw the old wheels and cheap offroad tires, now the kiddos are enjoying our weekend warrior on slight muddy trails. We might paint the trailer first before getting a new set of tires.
Posted 2019-04-04 2:34 AM (#172305 - in reply to #171826) Subject: RE: Gladiator Tires
Veteran
Posts: 233 Location: Pataskala, Ohio
Two things about Firestone HT tires ON MY TRUCK.
1. I have way too much power and can make my truck do donuts with the HT tires. I use an AT that is sticky. A huge downside being I have a softer tire compound that last about 12,000 miles.
2. Now my horse trailer looks nice, I care how it looks. My flat bed car and small tractor mover is as ugly as I can make it. It has been stolen twice but the thieves wanted the truck and both times my ugly trailer was dropped less than a mile from point of theft. The police call me to come get it and once the sheriff pickup towed it home. Ugly trailers get returned.
Gladiator Tires
