Trailer Tires

[Johnny.Mac]

Hey everybody,

I am looking to get new trailer tires. The ones on there now are Power King 20.5 X 8.0 – 10. I am unsure of the age because they were on their when I bought it this summer but they look pretty rough. I am pulling a 1992 Bass Tracker 18. The furthest I will be driving is approximately 1.5 hours away and this will only be occasionally. Can anyone provide input on what tires I should get? Ply or Radial, stay with that size or change it?

Thanks!!

[lakerunner]

Why bigger? A 10 ply in that size is a tough little tire. Kept inflated they work fine

[vlxerdon]

What Lakerunner said. I have 10's on a tandem axle trailer that I towed from Pa. to Ga. They are tough and some ramps you need the smaller tires to unload right.





JD

[mzodarg]

Whatever you decide, looks to me like you store your boat in the weather. You have plenty of tread left but your side walls are trashed, might want to try some tire covers.

[Bamaman]

Remember that trailer tires are different animals from auto/truck tires, and they usually should be changed every 5 years--no matter the amount of tread. Ultra Violet light, water and general weathering are the enemies.

A big problem now is that there are no longer any ST or Special Trailer tires built in North America. Most every tire put on marine trailers and recreational vehicle trailers are made in China, and they're essentially junky tires. Most Chinese tires have brands I've never heard of--except Goodyear Marathons which are also poor quality tires now.

Right now, the Maxxis M8008's (many sizes) and the Kumho 857's (14") are the only decent ST tires on the retail market. If someone needs 16" tires, Bridgestone's Duravis R250's, Michelin's LTX ribbed industrial tires and the Goodyear G614's are LT/E tires and the ones to get.

Now, most pontoon boats are using 13" tires. High quality 13's are the Maxxis M8008's with 1480 lb. capacity each. That's it.

Now as far as 10" 10 ply tires go, I have no idea who's making them. They were very popular for many years on pontoon boats to keep the frames close to the ground and so you could get boats into shallower water.

My pontoon boat trailer has Chinese junk tires that are 3 years old. But I don't tow more than 50 miles per year. I'll next be putting Maxxis on the trailer, however.

[rancherlee]

In that size I'd look at the Kenda Loadstar tires, I've used them on several trailers and not one single issue with them, the current set on my pontoon trailer are 6 years old and no weather checking yet!

[RcgTexas]

I use that size on my trailer in tandem. As was said if you keep them aired up highway miles are not a problem.

[vlxerdon]

In that size I'd look at the Kenda Loadstar tires, I've used them on several trailers and not one single issue with them, the current set on my pontoon trailer are 6 years old and no weather checking yet!

Kenda is an excellent tire. I have used them on many motorcycles over the years with excellent results. One thing I want is a good tire between me and the highway on a bike.



JD

[Bamaman]

I'm also an RV'er, and monitor 4-5 recreational vehicle forums every day. You wouldn't believe how many tire failures there have been on RV's--a daily occurrence. The major problem is that damages to travel trailers and fifth wheel trailers are often in the $3-4K per failure since they really don't have fenders.

People preach online every day to get rid of those inferior Chinese tires, but so many RVers ignore the advice--and have to pay the price. They think a TMPS setup will prevent problems, but it happens faster than anyone can take evasive action.

My new fifth wheel trailer has had Westlake 16" ST/E tires swapped for Bridgestone Duravis R250 LT/E tires--20 lbs. heavier per tire.

The trailer under my Bennington has those cheap no name tires made in China. If I towed my boat more than 50 miles per year, I'd have already replaced them. I'll be going to the Maxxis M8008's in the future, however.

[Bryden24shp]

My old Hoosier trailer under the Manitou had Kenda 10" high speed 10 ply's. I had over 20,000 miles on those tires. The spare tire never saw the ground. They still looked really great when I sold the boat. The boat was always stored for the winter with the tires off the ground. Every trailer I have owned has been stored that way. In 35 years of towing, I've had 1 flat. On my last Baja's trailer, it took out a fender and running light when it blew. I think my luck has been in the way I store them for the winter. The Premier's Heritage is gonna get jacked up in the middle of November. Hopefully its sold by then to make room for the new one.

[ROLAND]

In that size I'd look at the Kenda Loadstar tires, I've used them on several trailers and not one single issue with them, the current set on my pontoon trailer are 6 years old and no weather checking yet!

I agree with rancherlee... off hand, don't remember what brand of tire was on my trailer, but I only tow about 10 miles each way.. about a year or two ago we were headed to the lake and the right side trailer tire blew out....Tire could not have had more than 200 miles on it... nothing like changing a trailer tire on the side of the road when it is literally 100 degrees outside...got rid of those tires the next weekend and went with kenda loadstar tires... haven't had a problem since.... just keep the correct air pressure in them... that's a must.

[Bamaman]

When I recently changed from Westlake (Chinese) tires on my 2015 model fifth wheel trailer, I had the chance to compare tires side by side. My Westlakes had delivery miles on them. The sidewalls on my new 16" Bridgestones are well over an inch thick, and the tires have twin steel belts bead to bead. My Westlakes weighed about 20 pounds less than the LT/E ribbed tread Bridgestones (58 lbs), were very thin and they were not visibly tough in any way.

What's hard to believe is that the Bridgestones are weight rated 500 lbs. each less than the ST Westlakes--when they're obviously twice the tire. I question the legitimacy of the tires' weight ratings, as provided by the Chinese manufacturers of ST tires.

And of the ST tires, the Kenda's and the Goodyear Marathon tires are big sellers--and also very poor in quality. Like I said before, you have no idea how many tire failures are being reported on Chinese ST tires--it's every day that RV'ers are having failures and experiencing substantial damages to their trailers.

The only Chinese tire that's any better than the rest are the Sailun G rated tire that's extremely heavy duty (110 psi max.)

I'm just not willing to put my family's safety in risk by keeping inferior, dangerous tires on any of my trailers. And I'm not willing to trust my second and third largest purchases (in my life) on cheap tires.

I hope you never have any problems like RV'ers have with ST tires. But you should never have peace of mind until those tires are replaced. This is a very serious safety subject.