New to Camping, New to Forum Tire Troubles

[Rodney Metrejean]

Just retired and started camping. Made 5 trips so far, total of 1295 miles. We have a 2020 Highland Ridge Mesa Ridge Limited Travel Trailer (34 ft) pulled behind a 2019 Ram 3500 Big Horn Dually. Had our first blowout on Thursday 08/19/21. I've attached 2 pictures. One is the blown tire, the other is the opposite side of the trailer, same axle (rear). I've done a ton of research and it seems that Goodyear Endurance Tires would be one of the best choices, however, they appear to be unavailable. I ordered two of them from the Walmart in McComb Ms, got an email that they would be ready for 8 oclock yesterday morning, and had also scheduled an appointment to have them installed. After an hour drive, a 45 minute wait in the store, they told me that it was a Walmart.com mistake that they didn't have the tires. Got a couple of emails in the store cancelling my install appt. 1st, then a 2nd one a few minutes later cancelling the tire order (even though the website showed 4 available at the McComb Ms. Store.) I've looked on other websites and find long delivery for these tires, up to 02/22. Can I get some advice on other tires that would be equally good. PLEASE, DO NOT RECOMMEND CASTLE ROCK. 1300 miles life is unacceptable. Look closely at the unblown tire, bottom left center side of the pic. There is a small hole (5/16" dia) there with belt exposed that is the beginning of the next failure.
Please help. And YES, I do a walk around inspection before each pull, and check tire pressure. I cant help it. 30 years as a Mechanical Engineer. What I havent done yet, but will before the next trip is get a TPMS. Even though it wont help much with a blowout, the real time monitor should alarm and at least I will know I"ve lost a tire.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
rpm

 

[Fish]

Carlisle

 

[Gramps.busa]

I had Carlisle on an equipment trailer, & they were pure junk.

 

[Desperado]

You were lucky that it didn't shred and go up into your trailer that is what happened to us

 

[Joe Hogan]

You might consider LT tires (light truck) rather than ST tires.

This is a popular solution to replace China Bombs



https://www.etrailer.com/question-329237.html

 

[MapNerd]

I can’t recommend a particular tire but I do have a few recommendations that hopefully will help.

1. I know you said you check your pressure, but do you also check your weights? The pressure you should use is not necessarily what is printed on the sidewalll, but should be pressure associated with the load it is carrying. if you’re overloaded, you need to lose weight. Changing to a higher rated tire will help with blowouts but it will do nothing for your frame and axles.

2. Install a TPMS ASAP. It can absolutely help you prevent a blowout, especially one that monitors temp as well as pressure. You should get early warnings of temperature and pressure increase beyond a set threshold, which should be your signal to get off the gas and stop at the first safe pullout.

 

[Fish]

I had Carlisle on an equipment trailer, & they were pure junk.

I had them on a Windjammer travel trailer and they were great.

 

[JRW-NAW]

2x on a TPMS, I've used Carlisle and Sailun S637's on 5th wheels.

 

[Suncruiser owner]

Just retired and started camping. Made 5 trips so far, total of 1295 miles. We have a 2020 Highland Ridge Mesa Ridge Limited Travel Trailer (34 ft) pulled behind a 2019 Ram 3500 Big Horn Dually. Had our first blowout on Thursday 08/19/21. I've attached 2 pictures. One is the blown tire, the other is the opposite side of the trailer, same axle (rear). I've done a ton of research and it seems that Goodyear Endurance Tires would be one of the best choices, however, they appear to be unavailable. I ordered two of them from the Walmart in McComb Ms, got an email that they would be ready for 8 oclock yesterday morning, and had also scheduled an appointment to have them installed. After an hour drive, a 45 minute wait in the store, they told me that it was a Walmart.com mistake that they didn't have the tires. Got a couple of emails in the store cancelling my install appt. 1st, then a 2nd one a few minutes later cancelling the tire order (even though the website showed 4 available at the McComb Ms. Store.) I've looked on other websites and find long delivery for these tires, up to 02/22. Can I get some advice on other tires that would be equally good. PLEASE, DO NOT RECOMMEND CASTLE ROCK. 1300 miles life is unacceptable. Look closely at the unblown tire, bottom left center side of the pic. There is a small hole (5/16" dia) there with belt exposed that is the beginning of the next failure.
Please help. And YES, I do a walk around inspection before each pull, and check tire pressure. I cant help it. 30 years as a Mechanical Engineer. What I havent done yet, but will before the next trip is get a TPMS. Even though it wont help much with a blowout, the real time monitor should alarm and at least I will know I"ve lost a tire.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
rpm

Do not go to an LT tire stick with an ST tire. If anything, go up one load range. If you are already blowing tires, I’d bet you are very close to the max weight of your tires. Trailer companies are nortorious for putting on axles and tires that are barely enough capacity. ST tires have stronger sidewalls than LT tires.

 

[John&Andrea]

Look at the weight of your rig loaded and see how that compares to the weight rating on the tires. Each tire times the number of tires, I’m guessing you have a tandem axle. You may be very close to the max weight on the tires. You may need to step up to a higher rating tire. I had trouble on a fifth wheel years back and went from an E to a G tire and never had another problem. It was recommended by fellow camper to do this and it help us out. No matter what type tire I put on the rig, we had blow outs. The G tire stopped it. If you have D rated tires I would go to an E, if E go to G. The manufacturer puts a tire on the rigs just to get by. That’s it. Take a close look.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Another vote here for Carlisle. We use them on our hybrid trailer with no tire issues.

 

[Rodney Metrejean]

Do not go to an LT tire stick with an ST tire. If anything, go up one load range. If you are already blowing tires, I’d bet you are very close to the max weight of your tires. Trailer companies are nortorious for putting on axles and tires that are barely enough capacity. ST tires have stronger sidewalls than LT tires.

Getting this off the sticker on the side of the trailer:
Weight of trailer w/ full propane cylinders = 7176 lbs.
Max weight of cargo = 1819
Total these two and voila you get the GVWR of 8995

1. We have never traveled with anything in any of the tanks, Gray, Black, and Aux. Propane bottles could be full.
2. We have the normal stuff for cooking (aluminum no stick pans, silver ware, plates, paper stuff, etc)
3. We carry a couple of chairs, the stuff to connect the trailer to power and water, sewer, level blocks etc. I would estimate that we dont have more than 300 lbs of gear. No where near 1800 lbs.

Off the tires (Each tire is rated for 2830 lbs @ 80 psi cold) NOTE: This is the single rating as opposed to the Dual Rating which is less.
4 tires = 11,320 lbs

Load on Tires at GVWR = 8995

Tires are running at 79% of Max Weight Rating.

For us we are running at about 7676 lbs (500 lbs of gear)

Therefore: Tires are running at 68% of the Max Weight Rating.

That does not count the safety factor in the design. I can only conclude that the quality of the tire is not equal to its rating. Which is obvious from the picture. Being a mechanical engineer, I would be a little nervous switching to an LT tire. This is not a Light Truck. As you can see by the response to this request for help, opinions vary. I do believe however that your recommendation to go to a higher Load Rating is a valid one. Its a shame that you have to go to a rating that is almost twice what you need due to poor quality. I can say emphatically, though, it will not be a Castle Rock Tire.

 

[Rodney Metrejean]

You were lucky that it didn't shred and go up into your trailer that is what happened to us

Desperado, I am thankful to the one who provides my luck. It could have easily happened like it did to you.

 

[Joe Hogan]

Here is a story that might help identify a failing tire.

Also, talking to a local truck tire shop manager, he indicated that many times the tread separation is due to corroded steel belts. When the metal corrodes, it expands which separates the tread from the carcass. Most trailers are stored out in the weather where rain and morning dew attacks the tire belts.

In your picture the belts look like they are rusting. Certainly espoused to the elements.

ST tire belt separation “autopsy”

RV Tire Safety with RV tire expert Roger Marble [click on any image to enlarge] This info is from an inspection I did awhile ago. Some may find it informati

www.rvtravel.com

 

[Joe Hogan]

additional reading Tread Separations & Tire Defects - FAQ from TireFailures.com

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

It is all well and good to estimate how much (or little) “stuff” gets loaded in an RV, but until you put it on a scale, you don’t really know. I’ve known several folks over the years who swore they only put a small amount of stuff in their RV and they “knew” they were way under the max loading…only to put it on a scale and be shocked that they were, in fact, way over what they thought.

Weigh your RV to determine whether your tires are overloaded. If they really aren’t, then you have bad tires, under inflated tires, or both!

TJ

 

[Joe Hogan]

Cat Scales are your friend CAT Scale Apps | CAT Scale

 

[Rodney Metrejean]

It is all well and good to estimate how much (or little) “stuff” gets loaded in an RV, but until you put it on a scale, you don’t really know. I’ve known several folks over the years who swore they only put a small amount of stuff in their RV and they “knew” they were way under the max loading…only to put it on a scale and be shocked that they were, in fact, way over what they thought.

Weigh your RV to determine whether your tires are overloaded. If they really aren’t, then you have bad tires, under inflated tires, or both!

TJ

I intend on weighing the trailer. The nearest Scale to me is a 30 minute drive. At the moment I need two tires (maybe more once I pull the other two and inspect them). In short I have to buy tires BEFORE I can weigh the trailer. That is why I reached out for fellow RVers experience on specific tires that worked for them. To be honest, I never even imagined that I would have a tire failure so soon. Interestingly, I had a tire failure on my truck in the first 10,000 miles which was a belt shift (Chinese Tires). The dealership replaced the tire (with the same brand) at no cost to me. My travel trailer dealer responded by saying if I didn't have the extended warranty, I was out of luck. Anyway, thanks for the input.

 

[MoparFin]

I had a blowout and replaced my old tires (no clue what brand) with Carlisle Radial Trail HDs. Went up one load rating (from C to D) and they are rated to 80 mph, but I max out at 65 (70 downhill with a tailwind). They have been great so far, hold air very well, trailer feels much more stable towing.

 

[KR1973]

The Goodyear Marathon was discontinued in my trailer size and the new Goodyear model was called Endurance. I put the Endurance on my work trailer last year. They are made in CHINA like most other ST tires. On my fifth wheel I have 3 year old very low miles, Goodyear Marathon ST E rated tires. I just took a 1500 mile trip last weekend with my 5th wheel and I lost 3 of the 4 Goodyears in the first 500 miles. I put on what was available because I needed to get down the road and made it the last 1000 miles without a problem. My point being that almost all ST tires are now made in china and rather than the maker I would say the important thing is how old they are. I plan to change my trailer tires now every two years regardless of the miles on the tires.