Original tires, keep or toss. Your opinion please.

[bonusvalue]

I am a newbie so I hope this works. We have a new to us 2009 2720SL with what I think are the original 215/75R-14 Marathon tires. Manufacture date "5107". They look great with no weather cracking. I would like some of your opinions on whether to keep the tire or throw them as far as I can and change to another tire that is a Load Range 'D'. I have read that any tire over two years old should be changed. What is you opinion?

 

[[email protected]]

I bought a 2009 2619 with original tires last summer. They looked great too. I put load range d tires on mine this spring

 

[eddugo]

I replace mine every three years. it isn't worth the damage to the camper and the hassle of changing the tire on the side of the road to keep old tires. Also, when I purchase, I tell the tire shop I want tires that are no more then two months old.

 

[tentcamper]

Most tire shops will not install if you bring the tire in that are 10 years old. I would consider them trash and praise the almighty I did not have an issue with them.

 

[B_and_D]

Replace them.

 

[bonusvalue]

Thanks for your replies

Now how about some suggestions or should I say what did you replace them with? I will replace them with load range D tire but what brand and where did you buy them also I want to stay with the 14 inch rims?

 

[[email protected]]

Don’t go to Walmart I did and they sold me 4 year old tires. I took them back and went to Dobbs and bought Goodyear range d tires 14 inch endurance

 

[Bill]

<snip> I will replace them with load range D tire but what brand and where did you buy them also I want to stay with the 14 inch rims?

I have read (but have not confirmed - you should do this) that tires purchased at WalMart, Costco, etc, are warranteed by Walmart or Costco, but not by the tire manufacturer. Is this good or bad? I don't know, and it would be worthwhile to closely read the warranty you are given when you purchase. But if you need a tire in a part of the country where there is no Costco, it might be a hassle.

Bill

 

[bonusvalue]

I have always had good luck at Costco. Walmart not so much.

 

[Kidkraz]

I bought my tires directly from the Goodyear website. Opened a chat with them and they handled everything. I even got a 20% military discount and the tires were pretty new. I don't remember the exact dates, but I was very happy with the price and the way they helped find a place in my town that replaced all three tires. They were the original tires from late 2012, so I knew it was time for a replacement.

 

[clan_salmons]

Several of us have saved money by going direct with Goodyear. Fresher tires too. Here's my experience.

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18532

 

[Lowknob19]

Original Tires?

Our 2006, purchased Jan. 2018, came with a brand new spare and two not-quite-matching off brand (Chinese, of course) tires with 2012 date codes.

We replaced them a month or so ago with new tires and wheels from etrailer.com: Provider ST215/75R14, load range D, $118.67 ea. (tires and wheels), free shipping & 1-year roadside assistance.

We haven't had the TM out of the driveway so far, but the tires & wheels look just fine. I know a little bit about the tire trade, and my hunch is that the Provider brand may well be from the same factory that produces famous-brand tires, but these are rebranded with different side mold dies. Kind of like Adidas & Nike shoes coming off the same line, just on different days. etrailer also has more expensive brands.

They came with 2016 date codes; disappointing, but not a major concern, since the aging takes place on the road, from sun and weather, potholes, etc., not in the warehouse. They'll be changed again in 2-3 years, and I expect they'll be just fine for our occasional trips.

The other point with load range D tires is to use steel valve stems, which are rated up to 100psi. The snap-in rubber stems are only rated to 65psi, and the 8-ply D range tires' recommended inflation is 65psi. Worth a few extra dollars, if only for peace of mind. etrailer didn't install the steel valve stems, but my local tire shop did that for free when they balanced the wheels. Got shiny new lug nuts, too; I think the TM is smiling at her new shoes.

 

[Padgett]

Simple, replace and toss old ones or put in big baggies and store in a climate controlled facility for the next forty years. By then a collector might be interested.

Usually unless exposed to the elements a tire is good for 6-8 years. Replace at 4 if you do not have a TPMS.

 

[eddugo]

I replace tires every three years. I run Maxxis Load range D now.

Bill; I bought Costco tires once sold as Towmaster made by Greenball. Ran them for 3 years they were fine. When I bought them, the guy said there was NO warranty. I am still running them on my utility trailer and they are 5 years old.

 

[Padgett]

Just as an aside, when I replaced mine in 2014, there were no LRD ST 215/75R14 tires that I found. Now there is so have a choice for the next set.

BTW the first three digits of the DOT code on a tire tell you who made it and in what plant.