Trailer tires bias-ply or radials???

[bfrank]

Check this out.....on our way to a new spot last night..coolers full....two best ski partners in tow.....and I see a chunk of rubber fly up in my rear view......so I keep rollin....30 seconds later pow (also I was going 65MPH's)!!!!!

So what do you guys run for trailer tires??
The bias ply or trailer radials??

With my Gekko I ran the bias-ply and never had any issues. I went to change these out and the dude at the tire store said the radials are better.
I'm confused?????

Also what do you guys use for a jack?? The jack from the Durango would not lift the boat, so I had to run home to get the 1 ton floor jack.

[lee]

I like the Goodyear Marathon radial tire. Have had very good luck with those.

[Coach]

I have run Maxxis radials for the last 4 years and have loved them. I also have a neighbor who has a car trailer with them on the trailer and has hauled that thing all over the nation. Neither of us (knock on wood) have had any blow outs or flat to date.


As for a Jack I have a bunch of 1" thick boards screwed together to make and incline. If I blow out a tire on the trailer I pull out the incline and back or pull the trailer forward to the top level of the incline board. This will bring your other tire off the ground so you can take off the wheel. I think it cost me less than $10 to make. I find it easier to use than a jack.

[dogbert]

I had radials and I'm not sure I would go to them again. All 4 failed in spectactular fashion within 5 years. My trailer fenders were severely damaged and one blowout took out all my lights on one side of the trailer.

I had to get mine replaced on a saturday evening, so I was forced to go to Walmart. BTW, Walmart carries carlisle trailer tires rated at 1760 lbs.

[TeamAllen]

I have Carlisle Tires. Others have had terrible problems with their Carlisle Tires. My previous set lasted along time and my current set is doing fine too. I think the current set is radials.

There were a few prior posts on this topic. I'll post the links.

Carlisle Tires

24V Tires blowing out

[Tip]

I have the Goodyear Marathons. I just towed my boat 3800 miles from NC to WA via AZ in 110 plus degree temps without a single tire problem (I say tire problem because my Suburban was stolen in Las Vegas, but that's a whole other story!)

I used the jack that came with my Suburban to remove the tires and grease the bearings before the trip, it worked well and and easily lifted my 22V.

[Tequilasun]

Goodyear Marathons

Carlisle still scare me from a blowout 5+ years ago, that almost totalled my boat.

[dogbert]

BTW, I don't care what kind of tire you have, after 5 years you need to replace them, regardless of wear. Tires these days have a 5-6 year life expectency. I pushed it 6 years and within 2 months had to replace all 4 due to blowouts. I had Goodyears, too. I also think it makes a difference whether or not you have a single or double axle trailer. I gotta believe it's pretty hard on the tires when I back around the turns in my driveway.

[raythompson]

Originally posted by dogbert
BTW, I don't care what kind of tire you have, after 5 years you need to replace them, regardless of wear.

I will disagree with that.

I had a set of tires for 18 years that never gave me a problem. The difference was that these tires were on a trailer that was kept in a garage, away from the sun and UV damage.

The replacement interval depends on how the tires are stored. If they are stored outside, in the weather and sun, then yes. If the tires are protected the life span is considerably extended.

[bfrank]

So from everone's comments I gather that the radials are the choice of the masses.

[chpthril]

Most tire failures are due to: low tire pressure, dry-rot/old age, and puncture! Niether bias or radial holds up any better than the other. The sidewall on a radial acts as a shockabsorber, less trailler bounce.

I like radials, but niether one is a bad choice.

I use a small 'Bottle Jack" that I got from Nothern Tool Co.

[talltigeguy]

Extreme Trailers had a bad batch of valve stems that would fail and then the tire would go flat and blow, all while driving. They have since fixed that problem.

Once I blew out two tires on a brand new trailer in the first year, others came forward with the same experience and Extreme fixed me up. Thank heaven for the internet! It keeps those businesses in line.

[race fan]

If your trailer sits out in the weather the tires will go bad fast. Keep them covered and they will last much longer. I always replace my tires every 4 years weather they need it or not. Its much cheaper and eaiser then replacing them on the road. Not to mention the peach of mind it brings. If you store your trailer on dirt make sure your tires are on wood or bricks. The dirt sucks the oil out fo the rubber and they may look good on the top but the bottom will be another story

[raythompson]

Originally posted by race fan
I always replace my tires every 4 years weather they need it or not. Its much cheaper and eaiser then replacing them on the road. Not to mention the peach of mind it brings.

And that is an apple of an idea.

Humor aside, spending $400.00 once every four years is not a bad idea. That is money well spent when you consider the problems that a blown tire (or two) will do to your day.

[jsz]

Besides covering my tires, I put the whole trailer on blocks to get the tires off the ground. I've got to think that helps somehow.