Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

[Knot Waiting]

It seems pretty universal that these days no matter what brand of tire you buy, all trailer use rubber is made overseas. There's no avoiding it, even familiar brands are produced at a factory we can't pronounce. With this in consideration, what affordable trailer tires do you recommend?
I need to replace all four tires on my trailer; it's a tandem axle Shore Land'r with F78-14ST (205/75/14) 4 ply load B tires on it now. I work at a truck dealership and our parts department can get me "Goodride" tires at cost for $60 a piece. Now, understand that I don't want to put total garbage on my trailer but I also am not in the market to put unnecessarily expensive or pseudo-value tires on either. I tow about 15 miles one way to the launch and the trailer is elevated off the tires over the winter. What is my best option? Despite the cheesy name and knockoff stigma are Goodrides really that horrible for my application and use? Thank you.

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

Lots of guys on the RV forums I look at like the Maxxis brand of tires. They say they hold up better than Goodyear and some other brands. I don't have any personal experience with them but when I have to replace the tires on my camper, thats what I'm gonna go with. I think if you take care of any tire, you should get decent service out of it, just keep up on the maintanence. Good luck!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

I've been pleased with my Loadstars from Eastern Marine http://www.easternmarine.com/em_store/trailertires/ and I haven't anything bad about them.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

Michelin doesn't make a trailer tire and the rest on the market are fair to poor...I run Carlisles, replace every 3rd year, keep the air pressure up to specified on sidewall, hope for the best!....still keep a good spare and a jack handy!

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

Arguing who makes a good tire is like arguing who makes a good boat.
You will get a different opinion from each person.

Buy a properly Sized and Rated Tire that was Manufactured less than that 2 years ago and use it for its intended purpose.
Find the tires age Here.

If you want to know who really made it, and where, check the letters after the DOT mark on the sidewall then click Here.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

You couldn't give me Carlisles right out of the mold.
Maxxis set #3 for me never any problems.

 

[old jim]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

I'd also reccomend the Maxxis. Regards, old jim Oh go to
at least a load range C.

 

[sam60]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

Goodyear HMG 2020 made for Uhaul

 

[90stingray]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

I have read that Kumho (857's) makes a load D in a 205-75-14... but they run around $120 each. I have thought about trying to locate a set for next time. But right now i am rolling tow masters in a 205-75-14 load range c.... three years no issues. Whatever you decide, just keep 'em aired to the max and you'll be fine. I don't have my trailer tires balanced either.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

Don't become obsessive. Make sure the tires have a DOT label and the proper load ratings and CHECK the date of manufacture code http://recstuff.com/tireagecalculator.aspx Any brand can be a crap shoot but it is up to you to review the specs....DOT has made it easy and all the info is on the sidewall of the tire. Tires have a shelf life so check the date code, don't buy old tires!

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

Goodyear HMG 2020 made for Uhaul

X2-Mine are made in Canada.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

I am running the load stars , so far no problems.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

I use COOPERS, on boat trailer, and ALL of my vehicles.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

The thing that gets left out of the discussion on trailer tires is that storage, trailer setup, and use conditions, IMO matter a lot more than tire brand.

The vast majority of trailer tires die from exposure rather than wearing out. For example, even the best tires that are left exposed to the sun in the southwest are going to die a premature death. People tend to blame that on "bad foreign-made tires", but it's really owner error that killed the tires.

Also, there is use conditions. I haul a 16 foot Lund fishing boat on 12 X 4.8 tires at least 4000 miles every year. By trailer standards this is EXTREMELY heavy use and I strongly suspect that many trailer tires are not engineered to this level of anticipated use.

Also, many of those miles are heavily loaded, 1000 or more of them has the tires loaded to max capacity. Obviously, then, I really have no right to complain about the fact that I seldom get more than 2 years out of a set of bias ply tires.

Finally, there is the point of trailer setup. Tire life expectations are all going to be set based on a reasonably good trailer setup that is constantly monitored. Quick check of hands, who checks their tire pressure on every wheel before every trip? Yeah, I thought not. When I look at boats on trailers at the ramp, I'd bet 50% or more are running at half the recommended pressure.

Bottom line is that finding and buying good tires is less than half of the battle, IMO. The cheapest Wang Dong TrailerGood 2000 tire made by the Wang Fun Yu tire and Doll company in the Cheeapie Cheeepie province of China is going to outlast the best Goodyear if the goodyear is poorly maintained, run at low pressure, on a badly set up and heavily loaded trailer, that's left out in the sun all the time.

Grouse

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

The cheapest Wang Dong TrailerGood 2000 tire made by the Wang Fun Yu tire and dolll company in the Cheeapie Cheeepie province of China

.....this tire..... I have not heard good things about, lol.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

T Quick check of hands, who checks their tire pressure on every wheel before every trip?
Grouse

I might be in the minority, but on my trailers where the tires are near max capacity (snowmobile, boat), the pressure is checked every time I leave town. (which was roughly a 60 mile trip almost every weekend last year)

For my in town boating, the ramp is 3 miles away at 25 mph.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

Quick check of hands, who checks their tire pressure on every wheel before every trip? Yeah, I thought not.

I certainly do! And that includes the spare tire.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

.....this tire..... I have not heard good things about, lol.

Great! Now you tell me! Where were you with this golden nugget of info before I bought these for my triple axle trailer? Thanks a ton, buddy.

I might be in the minority, but on my trailers where the tires are near max capacity (snowmobile, boat), the pressure is checked every time I leave town. (which was roughly a 60 mile trip almost every weekend last year)

For my in town boating, the ramp is 3 miles away at 25 mph.

From my observations, you would be in the minority.

Check it out yourself when you're at the ramp wher you see loaded trailers and start keeping score. Looking at the tires, I can just tell many of them are significantly under-inflated. YMMV, but I'm sure very, very few people check inflation even 4-5 times a year, much less before every trip.

I would be willing to bet that many people don't realize how bad this is for tires or how much harder it makes the trailer pull.

Grouse

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

my Shoreland'r under the searay had goodyears on them. I replaced the two rear tires often from cord separation from backing into my garage with the tight turning radius I had to put the trailer into in order to get the boat in the garage in my Florida House. (there are now permanent tire scuff marks on the driveway). I found out the hard way that the tires corded from basically skidding them sideways. other than that, I was happy with them

my Shoreland'r under the Cruisers has Carlisle's on it, will be replacing them when they need it (not a carlisle or Kenda fan)

I visually inspect the tires, check the tire pressure and grease the bearing buddies at the start of every boating weekend. I also check the brake fluid and the actuation of the surge brakes by putting the ball and mount into the coupler to make sure the system has some resistance.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer Tires... from on a boat to under one. What's a decent brand?

Check it out yourself when you're at the ramp wher you see loaded trailers and start keeping score. Looking at the tires, I can just tell many of them are significantly under-inflated. YMMV, but I'm sure very, very few people check inflation even 4-5 times a year, much less before every trip.

Probably true, just keep in mind that a radial trailer tire is going to look flat when compared to a bias ply... Lots of newer trailers are coming with radials under them, especially on the larger boats.