Suggestions for TT tires?

I have a 25’ grand design TT needing new tires. It’s double axle and usually weighs in around 5500 pounds loaded, though I believe the gross weight on the trailer is somewhere in the 6xxx pound range. We tow several thousand miles a year and travel some FR roads along with a lot of pavement.

anyway, stock tires are getting thin and I want to replace them before our big trip (about 5k miles) in June. The rims are the stock GD 14” wheels. I’d like to stick with stock wheels.

any suggestions?

 

Goodyear Endurance is pretty much the only way to go. Everything else is a ticking time bomb made in China.

 

I've got ~16k on my 2 yr old Trailer King RST's. They came on my trailer which is a very similar size and weight to yours. Figure they may make it to next spring, but plan to keep an eye on them as the season progresses. Our travel plans for this season are ~4k miles, a little lighter than the previous two years. My uncle switched his trailer to Goodyear's right when he bought it as he was concerned of all the online talk about the other brands. As far as I know he's been happy with his Goodyear's.

It's my opinion (Which I state as an opinion) that most trailer tires fail due to sitting, and when they're finally used, being used under pressured. I tow a lot, and always check pressures pre-trip, and watch temps with my seek thermal camera at fuel stops to ensure nothing is getting out of hand.

I've also had good luck with Carlisle's. I have 13" radials on my boat trailer, and have always run the bias 12" on my small utility trailer (These are in rough shape at ~10 years old, but I only use it around the immediate area now). However, neither of those trailers see near the action my travel trailer does. . .

Goodyear are likely a safe bet, but a big spend. China quality has increased over the last few years. A lot of new campers you heard about could have been sitting on a dealer lot for over a year never having moved. which could also lead to issues.

YMMV

 

Jeez, Bro. I swear you and I may live in parallel universes. Our trucks are built nearly the same and we both have 25’ GD trailers?

Goodyear Endurance is 100% the only way to go. I went up one size so I could bump to a LRE. Mine came with 205/75-15 LRD, and I went to 225/75-15 LRE though. Oddly, GD has changed the OEM size to a 225 LRE.

The difference in handling is substantial.

 

Ha! Didn’t realize you had a GD, too! Towing this sucker with the deaver springs and ADS shocks is definitely much nicer than stock. Just gotta get me some of those 5.29’s and I’ll be as cool as you

thanks for the suggestions. Sounds like Goodyear is the ticket.

 

Yes for Goodyear Endurance. Second would be an upgrade to Michelin LTX tires like Mattedfred spoke of. This seems to be an Airstream thing from what I have seen. A lot of earlier Airstreams came with Goodyear Marathons but they were prone to failure so the Michelins were a good alternative. Now the GY Endurance have been very reliable so the Michelin upgrade isn’t as common.

 

Overspeed is a factor in trailer tire failure too. Many ST tires are rated at a max speed of 65 mph, and exceeding that for any length of time can lead to excessive heat build up and a blowout, especially during warm weather. There are definitely ST tires rated for 80+ mph, and while I have no interest in towing at those speeds, a higher speed rating does indicate that the tire creates less heat and / or dissipates heat better.

I have some Carlisle Radial Trail HD on my cargo trailer, and I would buy them again.

 

I’ve heard different on the max air pressure recommendation. I’ve been told that, like a truck tire, you need enough air to carry the load. Granted, there will be a minimum pressure that is safe. In other words, you can’t run 8 psi in your LRE ST tires if you slap them on a Home Depot utility trailer.

I run 60# in my (80# max) tires.

I’m a firm believer in TPMS on trailers! A decent system costs about the same as one more tire and may prevent you from a huge expense when a tire blows and gears the plastic fender and half your siding off.


No LT tires!!!

 

Yes on the gears. Tremendous upgrade for the towing.

Once you get your WDH reset for the new truck suspension, you should be pretty impressed with how it handles your trailer.

Getting my big ass brakes installed today, and will haul the trailer in a few weeks. That may be a worthy investment, as well. Will report back on that.

 

Another vote for Goodyear Endurance.

 

We use a TST 507C for our trailer. I has a nice little screen that sits in the console measures temps and pressure and has alarms that you can set.

We run our GY Endurance tires at 65 psi cold which does a good job of carrying the load. According to the chart below, we are running at a pressure to carry 5,080 lbs. with the 225/75R15 on ours.

 

That's a good chart. Looks like I am actually running more than necessary on mine. 4 tires carrying maybe 7,000# total. I could be as low as 35 PSI for that load.
I'm using a TireMinder i-10 TPMS. Probably works just like your TST. High/low pressure alarms, and high temp. I think the alarm goes off if pressure gets more than 20% above your set base, and 10% below. Temp alarm is around 130°F if I remember correctly.

 

We have been playing with the pressure since we got the trailer. The tell tale signs that our tire pressure might be too high is popped rivets on teh trailer and cabinets falling off the walls! We have 3 popped rivets (all interior) in 3 years so not too bad. No cabinets have fallen off either. At 65psi, we have a bit more suspension action at the trailer and this model has a solid axle mounted to the frame so nothing to soften the ride.

The dealer that we bought it from said to run the tires at full 80 psi cold pressure but Goodyear's literature seems to say different.