New Travel Trailer Tires

[Eran X. Jones]

When you change out your "China Bombs" for GoodYear Endurance Tires, do you just buy 4 or do you buy an extra for the spare? I am leaning toward the 5 tire purchase insted of just 4.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Eran X. Jones

When you change out your "China Bombs" for GoodYear Endurance Tires, do you just buy 4 or do you buy an extra for the spare? I am leaning toward the 5 tire purchase insted of just 4.

Why would you want to keep one crappy tire you don't trust to run in the other four spots as a spare?

I actually bought six.

I always carry a spare, spare on l-o-n-g trips.

[RockwoodUL2604]

In my case I only purchased 4 tires. I have owned three campers during the last 16 years. The first one I never used the spare. The second camper (owned 10 years) I put 15 miles on the spare. Present camper I put 45 miles on the spare. For me the spare gets me to a place where I can get a flat fixed or purchase a new Goodyear Marathon tire. I don't have any intention of putting the spare in service. On my present Rockwood, my wheels are nice aluminum rims and my spare is a white steel wheel.

[5picker]

Spares are like insurance... you don't need it until you need it.

I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

After seeing all the grenaded CR tires posted and the reports of CR spares separating having never touched the ground, there is no way I'd be comfortable keeping the CR as a spare and using it to get me anywhere.

Everyone is different.

[babock]

I replaced all 5 tires. If I am in the middle of nowhere and have a flat, I want a good tire to get me out of nowhere.

[lbrjet]

Originally Posted by babock

I replaced all 5 tires. If I am in the middle of nowhere and have a flat, I want a good tire to get me out of nowhere.

X2

[TitanMike]

Today I replaced all 5. I put on a lot of miles and if I'm unlucky enough to have a flat I want something I could continue the entire trip on if I chose.

If I need to put the spare on the ground I'll just get the spare properly repaired and not worry about having to change back.

[itat]

I replaced all five. Someone here posted about their spare going bad before it was ever used and then when they needed it, it was unusable.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by itat

I replaced all five. Someone here posted about their spare going bad before it was ever used and then when they needed it, it was unusable.

I've read many posts claiming this but have seen very little corroborating evidence. Not even a picture showing a tire that's come apart without ever being installed on a hub.


Easy to tell a "never used" tire from one that's been traveled on for even just a few miles.

[itat]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

I've read many posts claiming this but have seen very little corroborating evidence. Not even a picture showing a tire that's come apart without ever being installed on a hub.


Easy to tell a "never used" tire from one that's been traveled on for even just a few miles.

You may be right, Mike, but I would have replaced all 5 anyway. I replaced the spare on my previous TT that had never been used just because of its age. As 5picker said, it’s insurance and I renew it every 5 years.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by itat

You may be right, Mike, but I would have replaced all 5 anyway. I replaced the spare on my previous TT that had never been used just because of its age. As 5picker said, it’s insurance and I renew it every 5 years.

Agree and I just replaced my spare too.

I'm just skeptical of all the claims that go like "I know a guy who's spare exploded on the mount and it had never been on the ground" or similar versions.

I've seen tires explode and there's usually a lot of collateral damage. If it did so on a spare tire holder surely someone would have pictures of the huge dent in the back of their RV and the shredded spare tire cover they recovered from a block away.

[itat]

Ya, I don’t know about claims they exploded. I’m just thinking it could go bad as I said in my post. Especially if they aren’t covered.

[Jakieboy]

Don't even consider buying Goodyear "Marathon" trailer tires. They are Chinese knock-offs of the USA made tires from years ago. Summer of 2010 we blew out 3 of our 4 Goodyear Marathons on one trip from SoCal to Montana and back. Ended up with four different brands of trailer tires by August of that summer. The last blowout occurred when driving to Laguna Seca Raceway for the Historic Race Car Week. I took the carcass of the failed tire to a local Goodyear tire store, and the store manager advised me that the tire was more than 6 years old before it was ever even installed on my TT!!

Always check the tire manufacture date imprinted on the sidewall of each tire before taking delivery of any RV or replacement tires.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

I've read many posts claiming this but have seen very little corroborating evidence. Not even a picture showing a tire that's come apart without ever being installed on a hub.


Easy to tell a "never used" tire from one that's been traveled on for even just a few miles.

I'll make a mental note to snap a pic the next time I see one come in the shop. I've seen several mounted under vehicles.

[Iwannacamp]

Could you just let the spare down to 20-25 psi to lessen the damage and possibly prevent it?

[Trawlerphil]

I changed out my "Indonesia Bombs" for 4 new Maxxis load range E tires. I suspect many of the tire tales are really "operator error" . For example, over-inflation or under inflation, or someone putting load range E tires on rims with load range "C" valve stems and then blowing them up to 80 PSI. As for worrying about the spare, the USA isn't a 3rd world country and I expect no one would have to drive too far before they came across a tire dealer. Some people just look left and look right before crossing the road. Others, also look up!

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Iwannacamp

Could you just let the spare down to 20-25 psi to lessen the damage and possibly prevent it?

No reason why you couldn't but then when you have a flat/separation/blowout you'll have a nearly flat spare to replace it with. If one wants to do this be sure to carry a compressor.

As for the lower pressure preventing deterioration, doubt it will stop what causes the tire to deteriorate which is usually UV, Ozone, and exposure to radiant heat from the sun.

[itat]

Originally Posted by Trawlerphil

I changed out my "Indonesia Bombs" for 4 new Maxxis load range E tires. I suspect many of the tire tales are really "operator error" . For example, over-inflation or under inflation, or someone putting load range E tires on rims with load range "C" valve stems and then blowing them up to 80 PSI. As for worrying about the spare, the USA isn't a 3rd world country and I expect no one would have to drive too far before they came across a tire dealer. Some people just look left and look right before crossing the road. Others, also look up!

If you replaced the spare you’d need look no further than the back of the trailer and you’d have an exact replacement immediately.

[Daycruiser]

Oh why not, yep replaced all 5.

[myredracer]

So how old is the spare and was it covered the entire time? Note that heat is not good for ST tires and if it was hanging off the bumpers for years in the sun, it may look just fine but *may* have degraded internally (I think).

We're just about to replace our 5 year old Marathons with Endurance. Found a great price on the Endurance ($114 per) and just need to get to the store a few hours away. Our existing spare is a brand spanking new Marathon, zero miles on it and it has been under the TT the entire time on a BAL spare tire carrier, thus no UV exposure. DW is an accountant and we have been having "discussions" on replacing the spare. We're thinking of selling the Marathons on CL to someone looking for tires on a utility trailer and may at least recoup a couple of $$ which could go towards a 5th tire.

As mentioned, when you need the spare, you will really need it. Chances are you could be many miles from home or a tire shop...