Trailer Tires

[ColdHouse]

It appears that name brand tire manufacturers make tires exclusive for tire retailers like Walmart.
It also appears that many tires are not made in the USA.
So if what was once a name brand tire is manufactured in China, what makes it so much better than a tire you never heard of?

If all things are the same, what is the difference?

If speed rating is 81mph
Load rating is E
Would a cheap tire be as good as an expensive one?
Some sources say trailer tires should be changed every 3-5 years regardless of the tread or the way they look. I think that same source states that the mileage is at or around 10,000 miles or less.
So trailer tires aren't tires that a person is trying to get 10 years and 70,000 miles out of.

With all that said, does it make any difference which tire a person purchases?
Is a name brand expensive tire made in China as likely to blow out, down the road, as a no name cheap tire with the same specifications?

[ColdHouse]

Both these tires are Carlisle tires, one is from Walmart and I think exclusive to Walmart.

It sells for $101 and has the same specs as the Discount Tire that sells for $171.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Carlisle-Reliance-Radi ... /625793008

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https://www.webtires.net/browse/tires/Carlisle-42 ... R15-157950

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[mozz]

If it's exclusive to Walmart, Home depot, Lowes, it is junk. You need to read up on the Chinese fake tires. They were faking a very large well known brand. People were bringing them back for warranty because they blew out. Then when the serial number was looked up, the company said, we haven't made that model for years. The molds were stolen/scrapped and the Chinese took it from there what they do best.

Buy American tires, yes they are still made here. Made in US but owned elsewhere i wouldn't hesitate to buy either. I just bought all season touring Nokians for our 2021 Escape, they are made in Tennessee. They make the best snow tire you can get.

"There are only two genuine American brands: Goodyear and Cooper. The largest foreign tire companies with plants in the US include Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, Bridgestone, and Yokohama."

[Sunny Boy]

Not all American tires are American....

https://www.consumerreports.org/tires/where-are-your-tires-made/

And Carlisle is now called Carlstar.

https://carlisletransportationproducts.com/about- ... ny-profile#

Don't know about their quality now, but up until a few decades ago, when they were still in Carlisle PA. Carlisle Tire made the best inner tubes for antique vehicles.

Paul

[ColdHouse]

Not all American tires are American....

https://www.consumerreports.org/tires/where-are-your-tires-made/

And Carlisle is now called Carlstar.

https://carlisletransportationproducts.com/about- ... ny-profile#

Don't know about their quality now, but up until a few decades ago, when they were still in Carlisle PA. Carlisle Tire made the best inner tubes for antique vehicles.

Paul

Yes and it appears that Carlstar was recently acquired by another entity.
From what I read there is still Carlisle tires being sold because inventory has not been totally depleted.
I stumbled onto an RV site from 2017 where people were discussing Carlisle tires from Walmart vs Discount tire. It seems like Walmart has been selling Carlisle tires for a long time.

If I were in the Chinese Tire Counterfeiting business, I would not sell exclusive to Walmart for the Walmart Brand, I would mix them in to the high end sellers all over the place.
I think that it is possible a Walmart tire might be manufactured to a lesser tread depth but would think the speed rating and load rating would be in accordance with the manufacturing specs. Furthermore, I would think if Carlisle/Carlstar was having their tires counterfeited for Walmart by a Chinese entity they would be public about it. I don't find anything regarding it. I see other tire companies like Michelin with recent complaints.

My guess is you could go to the most expensive tire shop in your state and purchase the best American made tire and could get a counterfeit if counterfeits are being produced.

It does not seem uncommon for even high end tire companies to make specific tires for big box companies. Goodyear produces tires for Walmart.

[ColdHouse]

If you cannot trust purchasing a brand new tire from a retail store, that is all the more reason to never purchase one used. Who knows where the used one came from.

[exwoodburner]

I don't think trailer tires are manufactured with the same materials and/or quality control as passenger car/truck tires. It seems people have more trouble with trailer tires than anything else. I don't attribute it to sitting, exposure to sunlight, or whatever else people say. I think they are just plain made to a much lesser standard than car/truck tires. Anytime I see a trailer tire failure its usually some catastrophic separation or blowout. You almost never see that with car tires. With that said I would never buy a tire made in China. You are just adding to the problem. Just about everything that comes from China is of poor quality and probably has questionable QA/QC practices in place. Why would tires be any different? For small single axle utility or box trailers with a 3500lb axle I think the regular ST 6 or 8 ply tires you can get at all the major retailers are fine. Once you get to 5,000lb or more tandem or triaxle setups I wouldn't run anything less than a 10ply all steel constructed ST tire. 12 ply rating is better. And can get up to 14 or 16 ply rated. Stay away from the half nylon half steel construction. Especially if your trailer has three axles. A triaxle setup puts tremendous side loading on the front and rear axle tires when turning. As far as inflation pressure I always run max pressure as indicated on the tire. If it is summer time I will take stay about 3-5 psi shy of max inflation pressure to account for heat generated pressure creep.

The tires I'm talking about have a very noticeable difference in appearance than regular trailer tires you could get at a major retailer. They look like miniature semitruck tires and have a ridiculously strong sidewall and very hard rubber compound. Below is a link to what I'm talking about. Not sure where these ones are made but were the first that popped up on a quick Google search for 10/12 ply ST225/75/15 trailer tire.

https://www.prioritytire.com/by-brand/transeagle- ... gJXnfD_BwE

[ColdHouse]

I don't think trailer tires are manufactured with the same materials and/or quality control as passenger car/truck tires. It seems people have more trouble with trailer tires than anything else. I don't attribute it to sitting, exposure to sunlight, or whatever else people say. I think they are just plain made to a much lesser standard than car/truck tires. Anytime I see a trailer tire failure its usually some catastrophic separation or blowout. You almost never see that with car tires. With that said I would never buy a tire made in China. You are just adding to the problem. Just about everything that comes from China is of poor quality and probably has questionable QA/QC practices in place. Why would tires be any different? For small single axle utility or box trailers with a 3500lb axle I think the regular ST 6 or 8 ply tires you can get at all the major retailers are fine. Once you get to 5,000lb or more tandem or triaxle setups I wouldn't run anything less than a 10ply all steel constructed ST tire. 12 ply rating is better. And can get up to 14 or 16 ply rated. Stay away from the half nylon half steel construction. Especially if your trailer has three axles. A triaxle setup puts tremendous side loading on the front and rear axle tires when turning. As far as inflation pressure I always run max pressure as indicated on the tire. If it is summer time I will take stay about 3-5 psi shy of max inflation pressure to account for heat generated pressure creep.

The tires I'm talking about have a very noticeable difference in appearance than regular trailer tires you could get at a major retailer. They look like miniature semitruck tires and have a ridiculously strong sidewall and very hard rubber compound. Below is a link to what I'm talking about. Not sure where these ones are made but were the first that popped up on a quick Google search for 10/12 ply ST225/75/15 trailer tire.

https://www.prioritytire.com/by-brand/transeagle- ... gJXnfD_BwE

Yes those are made in China.
I agree about turning with a tri-axle. However, I think it is worth considering the length the trailer is has on the turning. I could be wrong but with a 42 foot fifth wheel you can't help but make big wide sweeping turns. With a 16 foot dump trailer, the turns can probably be much sharper.
Another consideration is the potential damage if a tire blows out. On my dump trailer, the fenders are made of thick diamond plate. The Fifth wheel has a black mesh fabric above the tires and under the flooring and lots of breakable things in the vicinity and plastic fender skirts.

[Keepaeyeonit]

QC is the main difference, from the raw materials to the finished product and everything in between.

I ran Goodyear Marathon tires on our first fifth wheel made in China, wore out a set of Maxxis on our second 5’er ( 20,000 miles) now I only buy Goodyear Endurance (made in the USA) pricey but wore out our last set ( just under 30,000)

Never once did I have a problem with any of the above brands although the Trailer Kings that came with the camper lasted 6,000 miles before they started to come apart from the inside.

[ColdHouse]

QC is the main difference, from the raw materials to the finished product and everything in between.

I ran Goodyear Marathon tires on our first fifth wheel made in China, wore out a set of Maxxis on our second 5’er ( 20,000 miles) now I only buy Goodyear Endurance (made in the USA) pricey but wore out our last set ( just under 30,000)

Never once did I have a problem with any of the above brands although the Trailer Kings that came with the camper lasted 6,000 miles before they started to come apart from the inside.

How did you find out they were coming apart from the inside?

[Keepaeyeonit]

Could see the casing deformation and a lump in two of the treads, glad I checked them before I left.

I always run better tires on everything on the road it may be more $$ but I never ( knock on wood) have tire problems for me well worth the cost.

[ColdHouse]

Well I received 2 Carlisle 225/75R-15's E rated 81mph tires today.

[ColdHouse]

A tire is only as good as its valve stem.