tire info and recommendation

[raycarlson]

oop's i just noticed that was for three tires, sorry go ahead and buy the antique tires they are cheaper.

[Tomfoolery]

I should add though, to my surprise, some of our Australian friends have on previous threads reported credible, repeated successes using LT tires on their Mac trailers. Which is something that is totally not recommended by those knowledgeable in the field. But, the proof is in the pudding, as they say.

I've always found that interesting, too.

All I can come up with is that it's possible tire standards are different there, and perhaps ST tires either don't exist, or trailer tires are not the same as what we expect here. I just looked on an Australian trailer parts web site, and all they list for tyres are LT. I'm sure there's a good reason for it; I just don't know what it is.

[WASP18]

oop's i just noticed that was for three tires, sorry go ahead and buy the antique tires they are cheaper.

I recommend you read "Seahouse" accurate description again. It was exactly what I found when I researched the differences in tires. Concerns about "rolling resistence" are a non-issue when towing a trailer, IMO. Rolling resistence is about how tires affect gas mileage. I also recommend that readers on this forum research the dry-rotting of tires on sidewalls. Owning bias ply and radial tires for over five years puts your tires in the real "antique" category and is not recommended; however, you won't find the industry admitting to this problem.

[raycarlson]

try a little Armoral on your tires, it will keep them looking new for years and years, dry rot will be a thing of the past with a little pm. also ST and LT tires are safetly interchangable, no real difference both are a little stiffer sidewall and harder compound versus a passenger tire. there is no secret compounds or internal lubricantes as previously stated here by someone who has been listening to one to many salesmen.

[DaveB]

Russ, if you ever decided to upgrade to a tandam aluminum Trailer (Cost about $3400 without brakes) .
You will find towing and launching much better both on ramp and highway.
Tough is much longer than stock, no sway at all, gives the wheels tracksion control and much better ride for boat.
Dave

I am a firm beliver in the Tandem Axel. I have each tire rated at 1780 lbs. If I have a blowout that other wheel will keep me in control.
Tires are much less in cost than upgradeing to D,E,F.
Keeps my mind at ease 65mph down the Interstate.
Dave

I agree. Would love to upgrade to second axle but budget doesn't allow it right now. Plus I only tow it 60 miles a year to and from the marina each year. Single axle above 65mph is not comfortable.

[WASP18]

try a little Armoral on your tires, it will keep them looking new for years and years, dry rot will be a thing of the past with a little pm. also ST and LT tires are safetly interchangable, no real difference both are a little stiffer sidewall and harder compound versus a passenger tire. there is no secret compounds or internal lubricantes as previously stated here by someone who has been listening to one to many salesmen.

No thank you. Armoral is strictly a cosmetic. No one has yet figured out how to prevent dry rot. Some people cover their tires as a deterrent but it doesn't prevent tires from oxidizing. Save money and buy bias ply tires for trailers for "short term" use.

[March]

I would LOVE to update to a second axle trailer, but its price is prohibitive--there are so many other things that take priority. $3000 plus is a big hunk of money. So I keep rationalizing that the trailer was deisgned (marginally) for safe trailering. I have been trailering safely with only one axle for ten years now. The disadvantages are still obvious but manageable:
1. Tongue weight has to be carefully established by arranging weight before departure
2. The wagging factor will still occur, but if I drive at around 55-60 mph, it's manageable. Faster than that will increase gas consumption anyway
3. I blew tires on the trailer--twice. The trailer never swayed out of control, being trailered. Thunk thunk thunk, pull over, curse and spit, and change the tire. Not a pleasant experience, but still dully under control.
4. I trailered for thousands of miles with no major mishap. Last year I bought new tires for the trailer in view of a Florida trip--they were the best according to this site (can't remember the brand, but one can do some research--Marathons, maybe?). Even so, I blew one after 600 miles--must have been the temperature of the highway. Changed it with my ratty spare that lasted nicely for 100 miles, until I got to civilization and bought a proper one.
I am still thinking about adding a second axle, merely to reassure myself, Nevertheless, trailering long distance is perfectly doable with a single axle

[Hamin' X]

try a little Armoral on your tires, it will keep them looking new for years and years, dry rot will be a thing of the past with a little pm. also ST and LT tires are safetly interchangable, no real difference both are a little stiffer sidewall and harder compound versus a passenger tire. there is no secret compounds or internal lubricantes as previously stated here by someone who has been listening to one to many salesmen.

I really don't want to get into an argument here, so I will just suggest that folks do their own research on the tire manufacturer's web sites. Having been in the tire business in a previous life, I do know that there are significant differences between LT and St service tires. If anyone thinks that this is incorrect, there is a pile of money to be made on false advertising and/or fraud litigation. Good luck with that. Oh, and don't put dressings of any kind, moral or otherwise on your tires.

~Rich

[Catigale]

Even so, I blew one after 600 miles--must have been the temperature of the highway

Probably not. Ive measured the pressure rise on trailering and deduced that on a single axle trailer on my , at full rated pressure cold of 50 psi, the air equilibrated at about 60 degrees C temperature rise (end temperature of about 190 Fahrenheit.....the tire and wheel stay cooler than this (120-130 maybe) due to heat capacity and also obvious cooling from spinning in ambient air (approx 85 IIRC)

You would see some impact from a hot highway of, say 100F, but not enough to cause tire failure..

More likely...impact with foreign object debris (FOD for Colonel King), tire defect,

Check tires, wheels , bearings every 1-2 hours on the single axle trailer. If you do have a problem, you will get to choose where you deal with it.

[bscott]

Carlisle manufactures a complete line of trailer specific tires: http://www.carlisletransportationproducts.com
Click on the More Media tab for some interesting loading ramp situations

Spraying SPF 30 sun block on bungie cords increases bungie cord life--it might work for tires too

Bob

[WASP18]

try a little Armoral on your tires, it will keep them looking new for years and years, dry rot will be a thing of the past with a little pm. also ST and LT tires are safetly interchangable, no real difference both are a little stiffer sidewall and harder compound versus a passenger tire. there is no secret compounds or internal lubricantes as previously stated here by someone who has been listening to one to many salesmen.

I really don't want to get into an argument here, so I will just suggest that folks do their own research on the tire manufacturer's web sites. Having been in the tire business in a previous life, I do know that there are significant differences between LT and St service tires. If anyone thinks that this is incorrect, there is a pile of money to be made on false advertising and/or fraud litigation. Good luck with that. Oh, and don't put dressings of any kind, moral or otherwise on your tires.

~Rich

Here's a link to an "ABC 20/20" investigative report which revealed that NEW tires should not be used if they're six years old based on the manufacturing date, NOT the purchase date. On many tires, the manufacturing date is coded and is cleverly located on the inside of the tire. An example of the code: 4302 which means the 43rd week of the year 2002. I strongly recommend that all on this forum watch this short film. http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Here's a link to a thread where the Mac owner had only 1,000 miles on his seven year old tires. Read what happened. http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... es#p128853

Apparently in the UK, according to ABC, it's common knowledge among consumers to avoid buying "tyres" that are six years old based on the date of manufacture.

[vkmaynard]

We switched to radial tires a long time ago. They last longer, run extremely cooler (= less friction = less wear = better MPG) and handle better. We use the most recommended Maxxis brand. Next we are going to add shocks to the trailer.

They 6" axle move back on the X trailer was a BIG improvement on reducing sway. We really like the single axel for handling and intend to keep it that way.

Victor

[raycarlson]

i personally don't worry about the age of i tire if it passes my inspection, but i did notice while sitting in Discount Tire (a large AZ tire store) waiting on a flat repair that they posted a letter in several places in the store that they will no longer mount or repair a customer tire that is found to be in excess of ten years old as determined by the manufactuers data code molded on the side of the tire.So after 10-15 years of age there could possibbly be something to this age thing if their corp. lawyers are concerned, but five years sounds more like a good marketing ploy to sell more tires to a gulliable public.As to this ST LT debate, i'm no engineer,well actually i am(locomotive) not the degreed kind,but i will take an actual engineer's(degreed) advice any day over that of a tire store salesman.And coincidentally while again waiting in Discount Tire, they had several tire industry related technical magazines on the rack,one had quite a comprehensive article with several large brand design and chemical engineers in the tire manuf industry giving opinions on this very subject.The overall gist of their opinions was that ST LT is not a factor as long as the load range was sufficent for the towed GVW there was no reason to reccomend one over the other as the main difference was that ST tires are marketed to the lighter duty end of the market. And LT tires serve the heavier end of the trailer market ie 10-50,000lb trailers.I'm sure youve noticed it's hard to find a 13" load range B LT tire but there's plenty of ST's,likewise there's ten LT's in 16" load range E for every one ST that you will find on the market.Look at larger 20" semi trailer tires,they don't even have an ST category.As for the anti-dressing rant about Armorall or other tire dressings,they've been around now for thirty years an are well proven.Works the same as car wax on paint, it seals the tire from the oxygen preventing oxidation plus they add a commercial grade sunscreen to the mix, if there was any sort of safety issue it would have shown up in thirty years, instead i"ve noticed that every 150-200mph sports car sold comes off the showroom floor with an Armourall like substance applied to it's tire, why would they do that if there was any hint of a liability issue??

[WASP18]

Out of curiosity, I checked the date of manufacture on my three new bias ply tires. 0612 (Jan. 6, 2012) Looks like I have six years of dependable tire life ahead as long as I don't run into any FOD.

Several years before Armoral was introduced as a tire cosmetic, most car dealers used Johnson's Clear Floor Wax on vinal roofs and tires in their showrooms to optimize the appearance of their new vehicles. Armoral was a blessing because it didn't require any hand buffing. Once a new car is driven out of a dealer's lot, the dealer could care less about the effects of a cosmetic enhancment. Remember "Rusty Jones"? Although not a car cosmetic, It was snake oil and the general public fell for it. Cars rusted anyway especially Chrysler products and Volvos in the late '70's.

[WASP18]

Out of curiosity, I checked the date of manufacture on my three new bias ply tires. 0612 (Jan. 6, 2012) Looks like I have six years of dependable tire life ahead as long as I don't run into any FOD.

Several years before Armoral was introduced as a tire cosmetic, most car dealers used Johnson's Clear Floor Wax on vinal roofs and tires in their showrooms to optimize the appearance of their new vehicles. Armoral was a blessing because it didn't require any hand buffing. Once a new car is driven out of a dealer's lot, the dealer could care less about the effects of a cosmetic enhancment. Remember "Rusty Jones"? Although not a car cosmetic, It was snake oil and the general public fell for it. Cars rusted anyway especially Chrysler products and Volvos in the late '70's.

Oops! 0612 + the sixth week of 2012