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Old 08-22-2010, 05:18 PM   #1
angerlo
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Default Marathon Blowouts and Question

I suffered four blowouts on our '97 TM 3023 over about 16,000 miles. All occured in 90 plus degree weather on Interstates (three in Florida) traveling at about 62 mph. The first, an original Carlisle could be explained by the age of the tire. Three others were approx 2 year old 14" GoodYear Marathons. Once I was told by the Good Year people that the cause was a defective valve stem made in China. I keep the pressure at 50 psi and check before I travel each day. When not in use the wheels are off the ground and have tire covers. Why the blowouts? The Marathons can't seem to take the weight + the speed + the heat. It's dangerous to change a tire on the side of an interstate. So, I will take state highways as much as possible.

My son, a civil engineer, who works in highway design tells me that Florida interstates have a "coarse coat" for safety. This coarse coat causes more tire friction enhancing safety but leading to more heat. The trailer wheel hubs and tires are slightly less warm on country roads, about the same warmth as my Tundra tires.

To decide what to do, I measured the spaces I have in the wheel wells with a compass and with current tires in place. They are:
4 and 3/4" above 14" Good Year
3" in front of wheel (3 o'clock)
1 and 5/16" behind wheel (9 o'clock)
3/4" from wide part of tire to fender skirt
Weighing TM
Weight on rear axle with weight dist. hitch properly attached 3200 lbs
Weight on rear axle with same unattached 3140 lbs
I was surprised that the difference was not greater.
So, that's 1600 lbs per tire when TM is fully loaded and that includes food, clothing, rear window awning, side awning, AC, hanging cabinet, battery, 3 gal in hot water tank, 1 bike. Spare(s) are in truck. A wheel expert told me that 1600 lbs "is pushing the envelope." The limit for Marathons is 1760 lbs.

I am seriously considering going to Kumho Part #857 Size 205 R14C 8D and using metal valve stems from Napa as shown in previous threads. (Part #90-416 Tubeless Clamp-In Tire Valve TR 416 1 and 1/4" lenght, Fits .453 and .625 rim holes).

An acquaintance recommended 15" 205 75 R15 Trail Master. I cannot find any specs or evaluations about these on the web. Has anyone had experience with these tires? Do they have a greater weight bearing capacity that the 205 Kumhos? I would be happy to know.

My thanks to experts Frenchy, Shrimp Burrito, Wm Tire and others for their helpful discusssions and advice.
97 TM 3023
04 Tundra
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Old 08-22-2010, 05:38 PM   #2
mcgyver210
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There has been lots of talk on tires & reasons for failures If you haven't already I highly recommend searching thru past post.

One thing that seems to always come up though is the need to upgrade to 15" tires which seems to solve most blowout issues. Also the consensus I have gotten is that GT Marathons are fine in a 15".
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Old 08-22-2010, 08:12 PM   #3
Harry Womack
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Default Blowouts

The 15" also blowout. I lost both of them on my TM and 6 out of 10 of the 15" on our Scout trailers. I switched brands.
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Old 08-22-2010, 08:15 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Womack View Post
The 15" also blowout. I lost both of them on my TM and 6 out of 10 of the 15" on our Scout trailers. I switched brands.
Harry someones just out to get you
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Old 08-23-2010, 09:03 AM   #5
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The more I think about tire blowouts, having both a 5-year-old Marathon and two 3-year-old Kumho blowouts, the more I am convinced there is not a systemic problem with any particular brand. If anything, the problem is across all brands, or ironically, none of them.

As far as I can tell, there are 3 major factors that contribute to trailer tire failure:

- age: the younger the better
- load: the lighter the better
- temperature: the cooler the better

Anytime any of these 3 factors reach high levels, your risk of failure goes up significantly. And if all 3 are high, you are begging for trouble.

I think users of 15" tires have better experience because they increase the margin of error for the load factor. They won't have as many blowouts as early as 14" owners, but they will if they wait too long to replace their tires, especially if they are heavily loaded and town in hot ambient temperatures.

So if you are usually heavily loaded and like to tow in the desert, even occasionally, you need to change our your tires every 3 years like clock work. Not 3.5 years, 3 years.

Perhaps wmtire can chime in as to his opinion.

Dave
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Old 08-23-2010, 06:21 PM   #6
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For whatever it's worth, my blowout epidemic ended when I got my tires balanced and filled with nitrogen.
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Old 08-23-2010, 06:53 PM   #7
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Wink Goodyear Service Bulletin PSM #2006-06

This bulletin says the speed limit on Marathon ST tires is 65 mph; at speeds from 66 to 75 mph, COLD tire pressure must be increased by 10 psi - not to exceed the psi limit on the side of the tire. The bulletin doesn't differentiate between 14" and 15" tires.

I believe that overloading, excessive speed, and wornout tread on tires all contribute to risk of blowouts. Also, failing to lubricate the axle bearings each season, will add to risk of failure due to overheating.

Last year, I bought a laser thermometer gun to check the axle and tire temperatures at gas/rest stops (Of course, as soon as I stop, the cooling airflow stops and these temperatures start to climb.).

Maybe - as mentioned in the postings - it's not a systemic problem with the tires, but a wake-up call for us to pay closer attention to our responsibilities.

Happy Camping!
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Old 08-23-2010, 08:51 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grill-n-go View Post
For whatever it's worth, my blowout epidemic ended when I got my tires balanced and filled with nitrogen.
Do you have 14" or 15" tires?

Thanks!

Theresa
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Old 08-24-2010, 12:00 AM   #9
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Ok so if load rating is part of the problem why not use a E Rated tire? Or would the 80 psi pressure cause more issues?
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Old 08-24-2010, 06:39 AM   #10
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If you dig through the tire posts, it appears that those that tried higher pressure tires found that it reduced shock absorption and caused other structural problems.
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