Dr L-88

I’m looking for a set of 225/75X15 trailer tires. I want good quality. My local tire store suggests a Hankook ST225/75R15 E Vantra trailer tire at $173.19 each, installed. He says this is the best one he sells. He also sells a Mastertrack ST225/75R15 E UN203 for $110.25. Both are 10 ply rating. I’m not shopping by price. I don’t use my trailer a lot, but I do haul some valuable cargo and I don’t want any problems. He also suggests 3 years is the maximum life for trailer tires.

Do you guys have any better suggestions than what my local independent store is suggesting? As always, thanks in advance for your help

Rex

jim lockwood

Hi Rex,

I put a set of Goodyear Endurance trailer tires on my travel trailer and then did a 5800 mile trip. The take-offs were also Goodyear Endurance tires which were 7 years old. I put 3000 miles on them in the last year. I would have kept them longer except for the then-looming 5800 mile trip. For it, I decided to exercise some caution.

The Goodyears were $144 from Amazon and shipping was free.

Jim

RED340COUPE

Tire Rack also sells trailer tires.

Roger Walling

I have never heard of 3 year tire life. I would look on the internet for better deals.

Dad's '66 427

And..... the Goodyears are made in the USA!!!

Not to mention..... if you ever need a replacement, I would hope that a Goodyear is easier to find out in the middle of nowhere, than an 'off brand' that had a good price.....

road pilot

OK I am stupid. Why would you not use a regular non trailer tire for 20 bucks
more and get a 5 year warranity? I just got offf of the TireRack site.

RED340COUPE

Trailer tires are different. More plies, run at a higher inflation, when I replaced the tires on my utility trailer it was recommended to use high pressure valve stems also, I complied. Got them at NAPA they have a steel shank.

Dad's '66 427

As just mentioned......

road pilot

Thanks You learn something new everyday. Its funny before I got back on
the Forum ,I thought it might be a weight and infation issue.
I guess I was right.

Lotsacubes

Sidewalls totally different from car tires. Just imagine the mighty hand of god grabbing the trailer right over the dual axles and twisting it. This occurs pulling into the pumps at many stations requiring tight turns. Tires on the same side are sheared in opposite directions and internally, if used a lot, eventually they fail. Usually on interstate at 70. I spent tens of thousands of dollars buying tires to learn this. Our trailers are used commercially going east to west coasts. Ate LOTS of 15” trailer tires including top of the line Goodyears until going to 16s. AND for some reason usually failed for my drivers in the middle of the desert. After stranding me several times (in the desert) replaced trailers. I’m sure many here will testify 15s working fine. Ok. Anyway, trailer tires are different. Peace. Larry

66jack

Walmart sells them....$137.79

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hankook-V...BoCeK8QAvD_BwE

2tired

I put Goodyear Endurance tires on my car trailer last year, including the spare. No tire is failure proof, but I see the Endurance touted online by camper owners as the #1 choice.
YMMV

Dr L-88

Thanks to everyone for your input. Sounds like it’s a big thumbs up for Goodyears. My local independent tire store “can’t” (????) get Goodyears so I’ll make a trip to the local Goodyear dealer to see if I can do business with him.

Wishing everyone a good day today and an even better tomorrow.

Rex

Chambered

Yeah - I learned this a few years ago pulling my bass boat. One of the "car" tires blew on a Saturday afternoon just outside of Lansing, MI. OK - no problem, go find a tire dealer & get a new tire, or a couple of new ones. WRONG - BIG PROBLEM! I discovered it would have been easier to find a Circle K on the moon than find a TRAILER tire. Several places had car tires that would fit, but none had a trailer tire. And, by law, they would not install a car tire for my boat trailer. I was running the spare for the boat trailer - it was a bias ply 20 year-old tire & I was sure it would fail - just didn't know how far I could get on it.

So about 160 miles later, we reached our destination remarkably & I had to order two new trailer tires through Wal Mart. I went with Carlysle tires & so far they have been no problem. As I recall, they are like 8-ply, so there definitely is a difference between trailer tires & car tires.

vettefred

Had my first blowout on my 24ft trailer about 8 years ago. Going 75 mph through Greensboro on 85 in the left lane. I was lucky to get her over three lanes onto the shoulder. It was not a fun experience especially that I had my 58 in the trailer just coming back from new dash installed. I had the standard issue 15inch trailer tires ( I think they were Carlyle).
Talked to a few of my trailer owning buds and was advised that I should replace with a 10 ply tire. I did do that and never had any problem since. I think the standard tire I was on were 5 or 6 ply tires. - Fred

2tired

For anyone doing a search, Carlisle ( not Carlyle) is the correct spelling for the tires.

Westlotorn

15 years back the Chinese trailer tires were the only ones I could find to buy for my open car trailer. Took a 5,000 mile trip with them when brand new, I also carried 2 spares on that trip. Had zero problems in 5,000 miles and a lot of that was at 80 mph. Load was light, 3500 pounds each way. A year later went to use the trailer again for a 60 mile trip, air pressures all checked prior to departure. Blew 2 tires within 30 miles of home, separate sides of the trailer. They were 15" 205's I do think they had a C rating. Replaced with 225-15s D rated and they are still on there today, many 200 mile trips loaded but no more long distance trips. Trailer is only used to haul less than 6,000 pound loads. I do know they are overdue for replacement but so far they have performed quite well and no cracks showing, I still carry 2 spares just in case. Another thing to check is SPEED ratings for the trailer tires. Some are only rated to 55 MPH.

Redbird

I'm with Jim. Always get the best. It is never fun when you blow a trailer tire with your pride & joy on board.

Dr L-88

Went to local Goodyear store today. Getting a set Monday.

Thanks !!!

Rex

Westlotorn

All this trailer tire discussion had me curious. I have a utility trailer, single axle, uses the Mobile Home axle and tires, the 8 x 14.5 open center rims. Tires are rated for 3,000 pounds each. I have had Goodyears on this trailer for 40 years, same tires. My son borrowed this trailer and I forgot to tell him that one tire has a slow leak. He had the trailer for over a year. After his use that tire which was supposed to have 55 psi was run loaded with only 15 Psi. The sidewalls cracked but it did not fail, it just looked ugly. So I put two new tires on this past week. I decided to take a look at the tire that cracked to see how close it was to total failure. I cut it straight through the tread and sidewalls. Only hard part to cut was the Bead at the rim. The tire felt great, inside looks great and rubber was very pliable still. The only metal was in the bead, it looks like it had 6 or 8 ply corded reinforcement in the sidewalls and tread layer. I was very impressed. I am keeping the second 45 year old tire and mounting it under the deck for a spare. I bet the replacement won't last 4-6 years and that is sad.

The amount of tires being dumped into our landfills because the manufacturers have chose to let them age out by lowering the quality is senseless. The tires should be built with better lifespans and help keep us safe while keeping the landfills empty. This short tire life issue was built into the tires by the manufacturers to sell more tires and we are allowing it.
The old tires don't blow it is the tires built in the past 20 years that are dangerous in my opinion.