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

[The Famous Grouse]

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

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.

I understand that, but with radials there's looking flat and then there's looking FLAT. Even a radial will bulge significantly at the bottom when under-inflated by 10 or more pounds. I can still tell by looking, I've never looked at a tire and thought "that looks flat" and then measured it and found it to be at the recommended level.

I don't think members of this forum are necessarily representative of the average when it comes to being in tune to maintenance. I'm sure the average owner will inflate tires at the beginning of the season and if they "look" flat, but beyond that I HIGHLY doubt that a high percentage of owners check their tires before every trip or even 4-5 times a season at that.

Grouse

 

[Texasmark]

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

I'm currently running Shield brand 13x205 LR C radials on my boat trailer. Have had them on since '04. I check them regularly. There is uniform tread wear, what there is of it, and I have been UNABLE to see any weather cracking. I have another set of Shields on my 16' utility trailer and same thing holds true in age and condition. For the record, I am running GoodYear Eagle II on my pickup, but they are too new to know about cracking.

My lifelong experience with tires, and these are the first I had made in China, has been weather cracking in as little as 2 years. I am absolutely amazed at the Shield tire. Apparently they put something else in their rubber that prevents it. I am more than satisfied.

Mark

 

[oldjeep]

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

X3 or whatever on the Kenda Loadstars. Had very good luck with them. I tend to get them from eTrailer