It's time for some new tires on one of our trailers.

I need to stick with 235/80 16's because clearance in the wheel wells is an issue. I also need to stick with load range E's.

What should I look at brand-wise? It's got Mission/Load Max brand on it now, and many have told me they're cheap tires...

Also, all the tires are cupping and much more worn on the very outside edges than anywhere else. The rest of the tire is wearing fine on all. Any ideas what's causing this? I think some of it must be scrubbing from tight turns, but I'm not sure. I'm still learning about trailer axles/tires!

I've had good luck with Goodyear's Marathon ST series. They seem to hold up really well when mounted on a decent rim.

As far as cupping goes, I've read on a couple of 5th wheel forums that it is due to the axles being out of alignment. You will have to find an alignment shop that has experience with Trailer axles.

There have been guys that had brand new 5'ver's taken to an alignment shop and found the alignment way out.

I guess no one really pays much attention to trailer axle alignment. I know I never gave it a thought until I read the tire wear issue.

On my TT, I've got about 4000 miles on a 3 yr. old trailer and tires. I've had no unusual tire wear at all. I do over inflate to 41 psi though, due to the OEM tires being Load range B on a 6200 lb gross trailer. I will go to Load Range C when I change the wheels over to Al. Rims.

Might depend on how much you want to pay also. I know on the RV forums, the Michelin XPS ribs are highly rated for large 5th wheels and Trailers. They are a LT tire, all steel construction, very reliable. They are just expensive. I haven't heard one complaint about them though.

If you must stay with 235/80's then your selection is very limited. Goodyear probably is the best and if tire wear is a issue then make sure you get them balanced. I rarely see a trailer tire/wheel that doesn't take a lot of weight to balance it. Any chance 245/75's would fit?

Thanks for the advice. I'm just going to swap them out so that they're all 235/85s--gonna be way simpler and more standardized. I should still have enough clearance in the wheel wells.

I talked with my local tire guy today, and he recommended I just go with a highway tread LT tire. I see the majority of folks running LTs on trailers, and they seem to work just fine.

Is there really wrong with running LTs on a trailer? The actual load rating of the tires combined is 200 lbs heavier than the GAWR, so it should be completely safe load wise.

LT's work just fine.

Hey thanks a bunch, trailerpro! Your trailer advice is always appreciated!

Out of curiosity, why is it that trailer tires aren't as standardized as truck and passenger tires? It seems like "LT" and "P" tires are standardized, as are commercial, heavy truck tires--but trailers designed to be pulled with pickups use all kinds of oddball sizes and off-brand manufacturers.

For example, I can't see where big names in tires like Toyo, Bridgestone, Firestone, Michelin, etc. make tires designed just for these trailers.

Any thoughts?

Good question. It does seem like Goodyear is the only major tire company making ST tires. Almost everything else is off brand. LT's work so well in most applications that maybe there isn't enough demand to develop trailer specific tires.

I've had good luck with Goodyear's Marathon ST series. They seem to hold up really well when mounted on a decent rim.

As far as cupping goes, I've read on a couple of 5th wheel forums that it is due to the axles being out of alignment. You will have to find an alignment shop that has experience with Trailer axles.

There have been guys that had brand new 5'ver's taken to an alignment shop and found the alignment way out.

I guess no one really pays much attention to trailer axle alignment. I know I never gave it a thought until I read the tire wear issue.

On my TT, I've got about 4000 miles on a 3 yr. old trailer and tires. I've had no unusual tire wear at all. I do over inflate to 41 psi though, due to the OEM tires being Load range B on a 6200 lb gross trailer. I will go to Load Range C when I change the wheels over to Al. Rims.

I am in need of tires too for my Travel trailer. Currently has 235/75 15 LT's IIRC. They seem a bit wide for the actual wheel well, and I know they weren't what came with the trailer. Best I can see is probably going with a 225/75 15. I was looking at Goodyear marathon's, but I am seeing ALOT of bad reviews out there. Any thoughts? Maybe they used to be unreliable and have changed? Or is there a better tire out there? I really don't want to spend too much, because honestly I only use it a couple times a year, and only go about 40 miles away.

Need some recommendations on brands.

I think Marathons are like Edge Juice problems. There are so many of them out there that you will hear a lot of complaints. Overall There are not many good alternatives in 15". The only one that might be better is Denman. They make a load range E in a 225/75/R15. They are the only 10 ply 225/75/15" that I know of.

Skipp--You might consider going the route I did and just use LT tires BUT in the size you want.

I was all hung up on getting the "correct" tire for a trailer, but I finally just ended up going with a highway tread LT for my 32' enclosed.

So far I'm really happy with how they're working out...put a few thousand miles on so far. My logic was that STs are harder to find, especially if you have a blowout...

Well that is what is on there now, they seem a little weak in the sidewall. It is a Triple axle trailer, and the sidewalls seem to have to much give and bounces like crazy when your going down the road.

I am gonna make a couple calls this morning to some tire shops and see what is available before I even go down to one. I have a feeling it is gonna be hard to find 7 matching tires....:cool:

Well that is what is on there now, they seem a little weak in the sidewall. It is a Triple axle trailer, and the sidewalls seem to have to much give and bounces like crazy when your going down the road.

I am gonna make a couple calls this morning to some tire shops and see what is available before I even go down to one. I have a feeling it is gonna be hard to find 7 matching tires....:cool:

Tires for a multiple-axle trailer need quite a bit of flex in the sidewall. When you make a turn, effectively the trailer above the tires on the inside of the turn is attempting to pivot around a point between those tires. That puts a lot of sideways force on the tires - toward the trailer mid-line on the leading tire, opposite on the trailing tire. The tighter the turn the higher the forces. Take a look in your mirrors some time.

Keystone sent a DVD to a lot of owners last year that showed this effect dramatically. They (their lawyers) were warning about the need to check your lug nuts frequently. The tires were really squirming around and you can imagine there would have been a lot of forces on those wheels , lugs and bearings.

Coyotekid has 16" tires which work well in an LT.
Rolloffhill has 15" tires which don't work well in an LT because they are not available in a heavy enough rating. I call them "glorified car tires".

Coyotekid has 16" tires which work well in an LT.
Rolloffhill has 15" tires which don't work well in an LT because they are not available in a heavy enough rating. I call them "glorified car tires".

Well in an effort to get the strongest tire I could for my beast of a trailer, I ended up with 225/75 15 10 ply bias Carlisle trail pro.....Not sure if it is the BEST tire out there, but the price was right, and seeing as I was buying 7 of them, and only pulling about 100-200 miles a year, I think they will do the job.

Flame on if needed....at least I will be ready for next time.....:cool:

Load Range E? I Didn't know Carlisle made 10 ply 15". Either way if you only run 100-200 miles a year you should be fine and they will last a long time. Just watch for dry rot if the trailer sits outside. Bias are notorius for that.

Pretty sure they are load range D, but I coulda swore the guy said they were 10 ply. Either way like you said they should be fine. I stopped by Camping World on the way home and looked at some tire covers. Didn't get any, but also saw they had some tire dressing, and some 303....

I ended up getting the 303 and will try to keep that on there when I think about it. Usually the trailer has another trailer parked next to it blocking th morning sun, and on the other side is the shop, so it doesn't get alot of direct sunlight, but I would like to keep them from dry rot.

You think the 303 will do enough or should I go ahead and get some covers?

Thanks

I stopped by Camping World on the way home and looked at some tire covers.

If you have a Northern Tool & Equip nearby look for the trailer tire covers there. I bought mine from them & they were about 1/2 what CW was wanting...):h

I've not familiar with 303.

If you have a Northern Tool & Equip nearby look for the trailer tire covers there. I bought mine from them & they were about 1/2 what CW was wanting...):h

I do have one of those pretty close, I think the tire covers were about $20 a pair.

I've not familiar with 303.

http://www.303products.com/main.php?infopage=protectant

I was just wondering if tire dressings and this stuff actually worked.

Coyotekid has 16" tires which work well in an LT.
Rolloffhill has 15" tires which don't work well in an LT because they are not available in a heavy enough rating. I call them "glorified car tires".

Good call on that one Trailer Pro! I got to thinking about that after I posted--it's tough (if not impossible) to find a high load rating in a 15" tire--even if they do call them an "LT" tire.

I could be wrong here, but I believe Nanking makes some high load-rating trailer tires in oddball sizes?

Me personally I use Bias ply's on any trailer with more than one axle. You can always find one with the right load rating. I have "G" Load 14 ply Goodyear bias on my triple axle 21K gooseneck. I did run Radials at one time when i first got it and had to make a tight turn loaded and POW!!!!! a bead let go. didnt blow the tire but the flex in the sidewall from turning rolled the sidewall clean off. frequent turning with multiple axles and radials can and will lead to seperated belts. the radial belts are not designed to flex like that. The "ST" radial are better but not perfect. I will never run anything but Bias on my multiple axle trailers.