I had my Lakota built and received it last January. It came with ST 235-8-16 tires. I travel to approximately 10 shows a year within a 3.5hr radius, so it is not like I have driven the tread off of the tires! In my last 3.5hr round trip, I have blown 3 tires. I am a fanatic about checking my tire pressure and I have a TPMS on the tires as well. After the first tire blew, I took the trailer in and had metal valve stems put on all of the tires and thought that was the issue. Then I blew 2 tires within 150 miles of each other. Both times, prior to leaving I checked the air to ensure all tires were filled to recommended capacity. My TPMS was kind enough to alert me to the last blow out, but the previous 2 tires it failed to alert me and even told me there was 80psi still in the tire when it was flat! But that is another post. The tire dealer recommended that I replace all of my tires with LT 245-75-16 tires. I wanted to get others opinions on that change. I just purchased 2 new tires, so this will be an additional expense for me, but I travel by myself and at 50 yrs old trying to change a trailer tire on the side of a busy highway is NO FUN!!! And of course no one will stop to help. I need to ensure my safety as well as my horses. Thx for the advice.
Posted 2012-05-20 6:16 PM (#144101 - in reply to #144100) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
So why are the tires blowing? If they are not underpressure is there another reason for the failures?
Is your trailer too heavy for the tires? Have you weighed you trailer ( fully loaded) and compared that weight to what the tires are rated to carry?
If you are with in the weight specs for the tires and not underinflated. I'd start looking at alignment for the tires. Tires will blow pretty fast if the axles are bent or serious out of alignment.
You need to find out WHY you are blowing tires before you jump to installing the next size up tire.
Posted 2012-05-20 6:23 PM (#144102 - in reply to #144100) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
That LT245-75-16 lrE is only rated at 3042# at 80 psi, same as a LT235-85-16 lrE... Your problem is probably a Chinese built ST trailer tire that is over rated for what it can carry, plus they are speed rated at 65 mph max. Weigh your trailer and go from there...
Posted 2012-05-20 7:17 PM (#144104 - in reply to #144102) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
I agree with both retento and Painted Horse. We have a Lakota and it's about 1&1/2 years old. We have put quite a few miles on it in that time and this last trip we blew 2 of the tires. I feel like the tires are pretty much crap. When I really looked closely at one of them you could just see that the side walls had little cracks all in them. We weighed our trailer and the weight on the axles was well within the range for the tires on our loaded trailer. We have a two horse with crap tires too but they managed for almost 4 years. When one went, they all looked like they were getting ready to blow. We put all new Goodyears on it. We're planning to upgrade our tires which sucks after having to put 3 new tires on (the first flat was from something we ran over, can't blame the tire for that) within the last year. Although, every tire is different....perhaps we should put one more odd one on and do an experiment..LOL.
My friend has a Lakota but has had it for several years. She blew tires left and right...she upgraded her tires, etc. and then found out the chasis sat too close when the trailer was loaded....something to consider checking anyhow. Ours has plenty of clearance.
Posted 2012-05-20 7:28 PM (#144105 - in reply to #144102) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
retento,
We currently have the 245-80-16 on our trailer. If we were to upgrade to the tire you recommended to the original poster, would we need to upgrade our rims too?
Posted 2012-05-20 7:44 PM (#144106 - in reply to #144105) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by randemtam on 2012-05-20 7:28 PM
retento,
We currently have the 245-80-16 on our trailer. If we were to upgrade to the tire you recommended to the original poster, would we need to upgrade our rims too?
Possibly. the 14 ply load range "G" tires are rated at 3750# at 110 psi. Alot of the rims are only rated at 90 psi. A good tire shop/man can tell you if a rim up grade is needed... I bought a set online already mounted on the rims for less than the tires cost locally....
Posted 2012-05-20 9:26 PM (#144112 - in reply to #144100) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by uffan831 on 2012-05-20 5:55 PM
I had my Lakota built and received it last January. It came with ST 235-8-16 tires. I travel to approximately 10 shows a year within a 3.5hr radius, so it is not like I have driven the tread off of the tires! In my last 3.5hr round trip, I have blown 3 tires. I am a fanatic about checking my tire pressure and I have a TPMS on the tires as well. After the first tire blew, I took the trailer in and had metal valve stems put on all of the tires and thought that was the issue. Then I blew 2 tires within 150 miles of each other. Both times, prior to leaving I checked the air to ensure all tires were filled to recommended capacity. My TPMS was kind enough to alert me to the last blow out, but the previous 2 tires it failed to alert me and even told me there was 80psi still in the tire when it was flat! But that is another post. The tire dealer recommended that I replace all of my tires with LT 245-75-16 tires. I wanted to get others opinions on that change. I just purchased 2 new tires, so this will be an additional expense for me, but I travel by myself and at 50 yrs old trying to change a trailer tire on the side of a busy highway is NO FUN!!! And of course no one will stop to help. I need to ensure my safety as well as my horses. Thx for the advice.
So what was the manufacture date of those tires by the DOT mark...I'd also check your "new" replacement tires DOT mark...
Posted 2012-05-20 10:09 PM (#144113 - in reply to #144100) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Expert
Posts: 1877 Location: NY
I ran in to a problem with getting tires for my stock trailer, the dealer told me I have to use st tire by state (NY) rule, I told the guy that they would not work on my trailer so off I got to find some body for tires why is it that these tire are aloud to be out there
Posted 2012-05-20 11:25 PM (#144120 - in reply to #144100) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I will soon be in the market for some trailer tires to replace the fitted ST Carlisle wanabe tires. Apparently they were installed about a year ago, and I would be afraid to let my family go anywhere with them in place.
The tires that most interest me are the LTs built by Goodrich and Bridgestone.
A while ago I purchase some "take offs", almost new tires swapped out by the owner of a new truck. They have been flawless and I saved about a third of the cost from new.
I wouldn't purchase used tires that have accumulated any working mileage.
Posted 2012-05-21 10:18 AM (#144129 - in reply to #144113) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by loveduffy on 2012-05-20 10:09 PM
I ran in to a problem with getting tires for my stock trailer, the dealer told me I have to use st tire by state (NY) rule, I told the guy that they would not work on my trailer so off I got to find some body for tires why is it that these tire are aloud to be out there
Posted 2012-05-21 5:43 PM (#144134 - in reply to #144106) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
I was told to check the rim as it would be stamped on there. It was simply stamped max load #3750. I believe this would mean that those rims would work (just). I am correct in this or am I missing something?
Posted 2012-05-22 6:26 PM (#144157 - in reply to #144100) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Member
Posts: 44 Location: albany, ga
I checked the DOT stamp and apparently these are Chinese tires...DOT 83B5.....thanks Lakota! I wsill be replacing the 2 that are left right away and will check the DOT stamp on the replacements as well. Thx for all of the info!
Posted 2012-05-22 9:12 PM (#144160 - in reply to #144157) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by uffan831 on 2012-05-22 6:26 PM
I checked the DOT stamp and apparently these are Chinese tires...DOT 83B5.....thanks Lakota! I wsill be replacing the 2 that are left right away and will check the DOT stamp on the replacements as well. Thx for all of the info!
What were the last four digits?...should be the week, week, year, year of manufacture.
Posted 2012-05-23 4:48 AM (#144175 - in reply to #144100) Subject: RE: LT 245-75-16 tires
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
83B5.... That 83 means mainland CHINA, the B5 means specific type as in Special Trailer Radial, etc... Lakota probably saved themselves $500.00 plus on using those tires rather than using a name brand non Asian built tire. It's all about dollars and cents/sense....
LT 245-75-16 tires
