As of the year 2022, what tires are recommended?

[Mr G]

I have been looking through the various tire topics and threads regarding tire replacement, but the years on each vary. Are some of the tires that were recommended on this forum even around now (2022)?

So with that in mind, I would like to ask what specific tire make/model whether based on personal experience or your own research, would you recommend for replacing ST215/75R14 on a TM? And which ones to definitely avoid?

 

[Bill]

For years, TM used Goodyear tires called Marathons. They were spec'ed as Load Range C, which was barely adequate, and were OK, but not super. A couple years ago, Goodyear replaced them with tires called Endurance. People seem to like them a lot. I don't know if the 14-inch version can be had in a Load Range D, but if so, that would be a good choice.

If you are replacing tires, have you considered moving to 15-inch Load Range E tires? You will need new wheels, and you may (or may not) need a lift kit. But you get a much larger load-bearing capacity.

Bill

 

[Mr G]

My TM does have the lift kit, any downside to going with the 15 inch tires? (besides being heavier when changing a flat).

 

[Bill]

The only downside when I did it was that the 15" tire is a bit wider, which makes it harder to fit on the spare tire rack. My solution finally was to modify the rack a bit, as shown in Post #4 here

https://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5828

Others have done similar mods. And some have taken a different and easier approach. They buy two 15-inch wheels/tires and mount them on the TM. They keep the best 14-inch wheel/tire on the rack as a spare. The reasoning is that if you have a flat, you can replace it with the 14 inch spare, and run with one 14 inch and one 15 inch tire until you reach a tire repair shop. Since the TM does not have a solid axle, it doesn't care if one tire has a radius a half inch larger than the other one. And the flat tire, being flat, mounts on the spare tire rack easily, where you carry it until you reach the tire shop.

As they say, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

Bill

 

[Shane826]

Goodyear Endurance (yes you can get 14” Load Range D), Carlisle, or Maxxis seem to be the best brand name tires out there. I’ve also heard good things about Provider tires from eTrailer, but they’ve gotten ridiculously expensive. Definitely go Load Range D if you have a single axle TM. Look for a stated speed rating. I see a lot of trailer tires rates M for 81mph. If there is no rating, they are tested for 65mph. Would I tow at 81mph? No, but like anything else it’s not wise to run something at max capacity for long.

 

[Wavery]

I have been buying Maxxis M8008 225/75/R15 tires for all of my trailers for about 12 years now. I've never had an issue. They are rated at 2540# each. Speed rating "R" 106mph..... They are available at Amazon with free shipping.


You can pick up trailer rims easy enough. Just make sure that they are rated the same or higher than the tires.

The advantage of running 15" (beside the higher weight rating) is that they give you a little added ground clearance for entering and exiting driveways.

 

[Shrimpburrito]

I have been buying Maxxis M8008 225/75/R15 tires for all of my trailers for about 12 years now. I've never had an issue. They are rated at 2540# each. Speed rating "R" 106mph..... They are available at Amazon with free shipping.

I second the vote for Maxxis M8008's, and I always use load range E. Ever since, after having multiple blowouts on each of Goodyear Marathons and Kumho's, I've had great luck since over 10s of thousands of miles over 10+ years. I suspect the biggest factor is the higher load rating, though I've never used any other brand of load range E tires on the TM.

Also got them at Amazon. Then pulled off the TM wheels one at a time, making 2 roundtrips to an installer to put them on. Piece of cake, way easier than trying to find someone that carries them or is willing to get them.

Dave

 

[YNPKing]

In 2014 when I brought my new 2417 Sport, it came with Goodyear tires. I changed them out for the same brand after they were 3 years old. Tire brand, size, and load range are all important factors but I rate tire maintenance just as important if not more so. I was told at the factory based on their experience to maintain my tire pressure at the maximum indicated on my tire sidewall which was 50 psi. And, if the date code on the sidewall indicates 3 years old, consider changing them for new tires unless mileage indicates an earlier date. This has worked for me towing some 20,000 miles.

 

[Wavery]

In 2014 when I brought my new 2417 Sport, it came with Goodyear tires. I changed them out for the same brand after they were 3 years old. Tire brand, size, and load range are all important factors but I rate tire maintenance just as important if not more so. I was told at the factory based on their experience to maintain my tire pressure at the maximum indicated on my tire sidewall which was 50 psi. And, if the date code on the sidewall indicates 3 years old, consider changing them for new tires unless mileage indicates an earlier date. This has worked for me towing some 20,000 miles.

I have always heard that 6 years seems to be the time to replace trailer tires. I've been doing that for many years with success. This is the 1st time that I've heard 3-years. Sounds to me like someone is hoping to be your tire supplier...

As for tire pressure, if most Trailmanors are using the original manufacturer tires, they are probably rated at around 1875# x 2 tires = 3750# total payload. The TM 2720 probably weighs close to that much when fully loaded for camping which would be 100% of the tires rating. I'm not sure about the 2417 Sport but my guess is that the tires are rated close to the GVWR of that trailer. The reason that maximum air pressure is necessary is because the tires are being loaded to their maximum weight rating. It's seldom a good idea to have tires that are barely rated enough to support the payload that they are carrying.

The Maxxis M8008 with the "E" load rating are rated at 2540# each for a total payload of 5080#. If your trailer weighs in at around 3500#, the tires are being stressed at 70% of their capacity and will run cooler and last much longer. Maxxis has a chart which tells you what air pressure to run the tires @ according to the payload.

 

[Mr G]

For years, TM used Goodyear tires called Marathons. They were spec'ed as Load Range C, which was barely adequate, and were OK, but not super. A couple years ago, Goodyear replaced them with tires called Endurance. People seem to like them a lot. I don't know if the 14-inch version can be had in a Load Range D, but if so, that would be a good choice.

Bill

Thanks for the information, I looked into the Goodyear https://www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/goodyear_rv_brochure.pdf

and it appears that the ST215/75R14 size is load range D (2,220 lbs.) and speed rating to 81 mph

 

[Steph-WO]

I have a 2022 2922 KS and the tires it came with are a brand called Mastertrack. They are ST225 175R/15. 80 PSI. Load rating is Q. Speed Rating is E. Weight Capacity is 2830 per tire. I looked them up and they are very cheap, $64 per tire. Is always worries me when something is so much cheaper than any other comparable product. Anyone have any experience with these tires.

 

[Shane826]

Mastertrack is used on a lot of RVs coming off the assembly line. That said, they don’t have a great reputation. I don’t think I’ve ever read of anyone putting a second set on their camper.

Also FYI you have the speed and load ratings backwards, haha! Q load rating would be for like the crawler that used to transport the space shuttle to the launch pad and speed rating E would be a max speed of 43mph!

 

[Steph-WO]

This is what my tire shop said about the trailer tires.

Load Range is "E". This means it is 10 ply and using 80 PSI
Speed Rang is "M" which is 81MPH
Load Index is 117, which means each tire can carry 2,833 lbs at 80 PSI

He also says the Mastertrack tires are just like tires that come on cars from the factory. They are adequate but will not last very long.

This year I did almost 5,000 miles with the trailer and next year it will be closer to 10,000 miles. Maybe I should just put really good tires on now

 

[Wavery]

This is what my tire shop said about the trailer tires.

Load Range is "E". This means it is 10 ply and using 80 PSI
Speed Rang is "M" which is 81MPH
Load Index is 117, which means each tire can carry 2,833 lbs at 80 PSI

He also says the Mastertrack tires are just like tires that come on cars from the factory. They are adequate but will not last very long.

This year I did almost 5,000 miles with the trailer and next year it will be closer to 10,000 miles. Maybe I should just put really good tires on now

If I were you (which I'm not), I would put on a good spare now. Recommend Maxxis M8008 load range "E". Then in about 2 more years replace the tires on the trailer. The originals should certainly be OK for 4 or 5 years. Mileage makes little difference to trailer tires (unless they are mistreated). What trailer tires suffer from mostly is on-use..... sitting in one spot.

The rubber needs to be "exercised" to keep the rubber viable and avoid sidewall rot. That's why particular attention must be paid to the spare tire, it's the most important tire on the trailer and the most ignored. I can't tell you how many stories that I've heard about people having a blow-out, putting on the spare and it blows out 10-miles down the road, leaving the owner in a pickle.

When you buy new tires, rotate them and put the spare (that's never been used) on the right side of the trailer and put put one of the new ones on the left, the other on the spare. In 6- years, buy all 3 tires new.

 

[Steph-WO]

Thank You. I travel with my alone with my dog so want to be extra careful. I will buy the spare before heading out next spring.

 

[Wavery]

Thank You. I travel with my alone with my dog so want to be extra careful. I will buy the spare before heading out next spring.

Always put the spare on the right side of your TM unless it's a new tire.

Avoid putting "iffy" tire on the left side of the trailer, where your plumbing is. We've had stories of blow-outs not only taking out the pluming but taking out the galley cabinetry all the way to the fridge.

 

[Shane826]

Your 2022 TM should have a plumbing guard on it. That’ll help protect the plumbing in case of a blowout.

 

[Steph-WO]

THanks both of you. Yest MY TM does have the guard, but I never want a blow out. Safety over $$$ for me.