lets talk tires

[thudd3r]

the tires that come on toyhaulers and campers are pretty infamous for going out with a bang.  they are cheap to start out with, usually not rated for the load we put on them, and add to that the fact that they dry rot while sitting all winter,  and you have a recipe for a blown tire.

i still have the load range c tires and after 2 seasons i feel i am on borrowed time.  so what tires have you replaced the stockers with?  i am thinking a load range d tire is a minimum requirement.


thanks

kev

[tommyc]

My 8.x24 has the Kumho road venture a/t. I have probably 6k miles on them in a year with no issues. Trailer usually weights in about 8-9k lbs.

[thudd3r]

what are everyone's thoughts about running lt tires on a camper?  i have heard both ways...that they do fine or that the twisting and increased loads cause issues.

going to an lt tire would definitely decrease the cost and increase the selection

[charliem]

[font size="3"]My 21RBS, with the factory off road package, came with LTs. I'm partial to LTs on TTs and TVs as long as you operate them within their ratings. I also believe you can get a better tire in LT vs STs from China.
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[zasseg]

Im in the market for some skins to. My 2014 Axxess came with some super cheap Westlake brand tires on it and I got a bubble in the side wall (1500 miles on the tires) took it in for warranty work and LL said I must have hit something so your S.O.L.

[billmoore]

Our 2014 Bearcat came with Westlake tires as well, but at least they are LT tires, load range C.

[zasseg]

Mine are a ST load range D

[billmoore]

[quote source="/post/9203/thread" timestamp="1428807853" author="@justchuck"]Mine are a ST load range D[/quote]Wow that is pretty bad to only get 1500 miles out of a load range D tire... now I'm thinking mine may not last too long.

[scout]

I've had 2 flats in one day with the stock carlisle tires. So i ordered the Dexter #10 - 2" Casita lift kit for our 13 RDB to put larger LT tires on. I wanted to go with the BF Goodrich all terrain tires that come with the off road package. Anyone have any thoughts or experience with the BF's on their off-road packages? Any knowledge anyone could share would be appreciated(both with the lift install and the tire size/selection). I was thinking of going with 14's on the RDB but not sure of the appropriate width...

http://www.perfectcasita.com/casita-axle-lift-kit.html

[charliem]

[font size="3"]I have the factory installed Goodrich LT195/75R14s on my 21RBS. I like them so well I'm going to replace the BFG P-Metrics on my Tacoma with the same BFG AT KOs in a larger size. I can't help with the lift kit, but here's my take on the tires. Of course you'll have to buy new 14" wheels. The LT195/75R14s are the [/font][font size="3"]smallest of the 14" AT KOs and [/font][font size="3"]would be well within specs on the 13RDB. I would not look at anything bigger. You will also need to make sure they will physically fit your new fender clearance and axle spacing. The tire diameter is 25.5". More info at

[a href="http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire-selector/name/all-terrain-t-a-ko-tires"]http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire-selector/name/all-terrain-t-a-ko-tires[/a]
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[scout]

Charlie,

Thanks for the thoughts, and the info. I have had the AT KO's on my last couple of trucks and have never regretted it. They are pretty good in the deep snow up in Calgary too. Appreciate the specs and the measurements you have provided. I will update in a few weeks once I get it all figured out and installed.

Keith

[dh50]

Our '15 Axx has Westlake ST load range D tires rated 2640# at 65 PSI.  Just bought in January, so we haven't used 'Woody' enough yet to have war stories to report.  (We've renamed it since a confrontation with a woodpecker who left his mark on our brand new hauler.....his last mark, incidentally.)

However, we have experience with blowouts in SUV's, a couple of them actually, and they are no laughing matter.  The second and worst blowout occurred returning from TN through SC.  It left us with a totaled Infiniti QX4 and quite traumatized.   The good Lord with the help of a barrier railing ultimately prevented us from going over a cliff.  To add insult to injury, we later received a sizable bill from the fine State of SC for destroying their barrier.  It was a terrible experience, and do recall the foremost thought in mind just before what seemed an imminent plunge to ? was, "I wish I had my seatbelt on".  We now buckle up faithfully.    

Yeah, we'll keep a close eye on Woody's tires made in China.

[bill618]

Guess that I have been lucky so far when it comes to trailer tires.   Been towing something since 1984 and have had only one failure on a new tire that was a road hazard a block from home.    I did just purchase a set of tires for my Argosy and have done some research before I made the purchase.   Again probably no right or wrong answer just varied opinions on tires.    I went With Carlisle  15"  Load Range E to support a trailer that is less than 4k lbs.   I do not have much room in the wheel wells for and LT  (Light Truck ) Tire.  Sway with P (passenger) or Lt tires can be a problem, but most sway is caused by too much weight in the rear and not on the tongue.    Max inflation recommended is 80psi.    I will run at 70psi to compensate for the pressure increase when tires are hot and less weight of the trailer.    I will watch the tires like a hawk.    Went with these from a dealer called Pomps tires.    A nationwide dealer that works mostly with heavy truck tires and has a huge network of dealers and road call trucks nationwide.   I insisted on the same date code for all the tires and they are only a few months old.       I know the dealers well and they service a large fleet of trucks where i work.  After doing research and looking at all the tires available I asked him what he would recommend.    Dealer said and I quote  "  Carlisle is sold by dealers all over the nation and will be easier to deal with an issue if you were to have one along the road".    Went  to the RV show in Chicago over the winter and took pictures of tires, yes tires.     All I found were made in China or someplace in Asia. Airstream put Goodyear Marathons on all their units that were there.      A tire with a reputation for failures.  Maxxis 8008 and Kenda seemed to be ahead of the pack and are sold by Discount tire.       Lt tires are better in my opinion if you have room for them,  many of the newer units set a lot higher on the suspension.      Another observation and I will close this rambling  hard to read post.   Just got back from a Chicago to Nashville trip.  Lots of 1 tons with d.o.t. numbers hauling new RV units from the Rv capitol Elkhart Ind along I 65.      Noticed several new units going down the road and the axles and tires were bouncing violently like the tires were severely out of balence, this .  Certainly could cause a tire to blow with this kind of hammering for hours at a time.      Wish I had taken video or pictures of the units but did not.  Most were fine.   The trailer was Not bouncing just the suspension.     Main thing is to check the tires often, before each trip for sure and at rest stops.  If the tread is hot you may have a problem.  Have someone follow you to see if your suspension is bouncing at 65 mph. ST (Special Trailer ) tires are not rated for the speed limits of 70 mph that are currently allowed on many interstates.  I personally do not exceed 65 when towing.           Search other forums  on other RV or Boat sites and search for tire issues.    All that I went to had some sort of tire discussion.     Best of luck with your tire selection.     Bill

 P.S.  My unit had been setting idle for several years,  I took off BF Goodrich Bias ply 7.00-15.  Receipt in owners manual with trailer said they were installed in July of 1989,  Yes 1989 it is not a typo.   they were cracked and dry, but built when tires were still made in America  

[thudd3r]

thanks for the insight bill...i have been considering the carlisle in a load range d.  going up in load range is bound to help since i do carry a 1200lb toy in the back and i have added a few things to the vrv.  luckily the carlisle is carried by discount tire and the price is decent at $99

[spot1]

Started running Kenda bias ply on Dual Sport & vintage motorcycles several years ago with good results.

Running Kenda Radials (Loadstar Karrier) on my boat trailer & CampLite without issues. Running Kenda bias ply (Loadstar) on my motorcycle trailer, without any issues.

Started buying trailer tires from e-trailer after buying the lowest priced Kenda trailer tires off of internet and found the DOT manufacture date to be 2 & 3 years old when received for the lower price. So far tires purchased from e-trailer were the same DOT manufacture year when purchased. Replace my tires when they reach 5 years from the DOT manufacture year.