Tire Issue

[djsamuel]

My 21BHS came with Vail Sport ST ST205/75D14 tires.  Upon delivery on 9/11/2013, I noticed a small blemish on the side wall of the tire.  Now the tires have approximately 400 miles on them, and that blemish has turned into a small crack.  Any opinions or knowledge of how LivinLite handles a tire issue?  I'm asking here since this is the "Ask the Factory" section requested by Livin Lite.  Here's a picture:

[johnny9k]

The raised areas around the splits may indicate a manufacturing defect. Get Don in service @ LL to look at this thread. Looks like there is a recall on some Vail ST tires, but may not be yours since they say "All the recalled tires are size 225/75D15, load range D". Could be another issue with your tire not recalled yet:

http://www.moderntiredealer.com/channel/retailing/news/story/2014/06/38-129-double-camel-trailer-tires-are-recalled.aspx

[djsamuel]

Thanks for this info.  Interesting that this specific recall has been expanded.  I'll have to keep an eye on that.

[djsamuel]

Contacted Don at LivinLite and he sent me the warranty forms for Lionshead Tire Co., the distributor of these tires.  Sent everything via email last week, but have not heard anything yet.  While camping this weekend, my wife and I talked about it.  I really don't trust the tires on this camper, and prior to our trip to Arizona and Utah in September, I may just replace the tires with Goodyear or Carlisle radials or possibly Maxxis.  

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Doug,[/font]

[font size="3"]FYI the CLs with the off road package come with BFGoodrich 195/75R14 AT tires, load range D. Not cheap, but seem to work and look good. Made in Mexico, not China.[/font]

[a href="http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire-selector/size/195/75/14/OE/BNW/all-terrain-t-a-ko/tire-details"]BFGoodrich[/a]

[djsamuel]

Thanks for that info Charlie.  I wonder if the same rims are used.

[johnny9k]

I would not trust the Vail Sport tires with those splits in them either. Would replace them before the next trip!

[djsamuel]

I just received an email from LionsHead tires.  They said they will replace the Vail tire under warranty.  I'm still not sure if I trust them though.  I may just spring for a set of the Carlisle Radial Trail RH tires.  They look pretty good, in spite of some of the messages posted about Carlisle.  Many of the people that post about tire blowouts have 7,000 pound trailers that are putting about 1700 pounds on load class C tires (1760 pounds limit).  The 21BHS comes in FAR below the load limits.

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/2133/thread" timestamp="1406143966" author="@djsamuel"]I just received an email from LionsHead tires.  They said they will replace the Vail tire under warranty.  I'm still not sure if I trust them though.  I may just spring for a set of the Carlisle Radial Trail RH tires.  They look pretty good, in spite of some of the messages posted about Carlisle.  Many of the people that post about tire blowouts have 7,000 pound trailers that are putting about 1700 pounds on load class C tires (1760 pounds limit).  The 21BHS comes in FAR below the load limits.[/quote][font size="3"]So would you go with the 205/75R14s or the 215/75R14s? And I assume you've looked at the Maxxis. They get good reviews. [/font]

[johnny9k]

If LivinLite is still installing this tire on new units, they need to know about the letter you received.

Have not used them yet, but heard good reports on Maxxis trailer tires.

Currently running Kenda Karrier radial ST tires on the LivinLite TT for the last 10,000 miles without issues. Started running Kenda bias-ply tires a few years ago on motorcycles and had good results on & off road.

Met a guy on the last camping trip that sells tire air pressure/temperature monitoring system for the trailer. Sounds like a nice system used on 18 wheel tractor trailers and gives real time read outs of pressure & temps. He uses the system on his F-250/30' Airstream rig and sold several systems to folks towing travel trailers. He was running Maxxis trailer tires on his Airstream, too.

It's the TST 507 (Truck System Technologies) system. He is a dealer for TST and sells the 507 system for $200 a set.

http://tsttruck.com/product/507-starter-system-kit/

Edit:

Started looking at tire reviews about Kenda & found this:

http://car-and-safety.com/kenda-karrier-st-radial-safety/kenda-karrier-st-radial-9999.htm

[djsamuel]

[quote source="/post/2134/thread" timestamp="1406144374" author="@charliem"][quote source="/post/2133/thread" timestamp="1406143966" author="@djsamuel"]I just received an email from LionsHead tires.  They said they will replace the Vail tire under warranty.  I'm still not sure if I trust them though.  I may just spring for a set of the Carlisle Radial Trail RH tires.  They look pretty good, in spite of some of the messages posted about Carlisle.  Many of the people that post about tire blowouts have 7,000 pound trailers that are putting about 1700 pounds on load class C tires (1760 pounds limit).  The 21BHS comes in FAR below the load limits.[/quote][font size="3"]So would you go with the 205/75R14s or the 215/75R14s? And I assume you've looked at the Maxxis. They get good reviews. [/font]
[/quote]I think I'll stick with the 205/75R14s since that matches what was on the camper.  The more I look at tires, the more they all seem bad.  Maxxis do get good reviews, but still some bad stories ( http://forums.goodsamclub.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27846817.cfm ).  Many of the tire failre stories can be attributed to some degree to other circumstances.  However, apparently, the Maxxis factory in Taiwan (or Thailand) has closed and the tires are in short supply until production ramps up elsewhere.  I had difficulty finding  anyplace near me that even had 1 in stock.  Also, a place like tire rack seemed to have limited availability as well.  At the same time, the Carlisle radial (the new one) is getting decent reviews, and they seem to have put a good effort into the tire.  Also, Goodyear has greatly improved the quality of the Marathons over the last couple of years, so who knows.  The Kumho 857 tires looked good, and then I also found some horror stories about them as well.

So I guess time will tell.  I'll wait and see if LionsHead comes through with the promised tire and go from there.

[funpilot]

Just saw that there is a sale on www.tirerack.com on these tires:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Marathon+Radial&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=075R4MAR6V2&tab=Sizes

Are they any good for our trailers?

[solds88]

Here's a good tip : Ask for metal valve stems the next time you have tire service. This will eliminate the potential tire blowout problem that was occurring, and could still be a problem, because of faulty Chinese valve stems. Also, last year a Sears tire salesman, here in central Indiana, told me that he would match Tire Rack's prices. And if I remember correctly he also said that they get their inventory from Tire Rack in South Bend, In.  

[cl21bhs]

I went to check the air on one tire, before my first trip, and when i took the cap off the stem it started to leak air. Good thing I had an extra set of valve stems, a set of four and the removal tool from Walmart. It saved the day, lesson learned " be prepared".

[solds88]

[p]Oops, my bad, I should have elaborated.  I wasn't referring to the Schrader valve itself. I was referring to the entire stem assembly. Here is a link to some of the articles concerning this problem. [a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2008/06/warning-issued-on-faulty-tire-valve-stems-following-rollover-death/index.htm"]http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2008/06/warning-issued-on-faulty-tire-valve-stems-following-rollover-death/index.htm[/a]  Here is a photo of what I was talking about.   [/p][p]
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