Maxxis, Kenda, Kumho, Titan, or ???

[PHS79]

Today I pulled our 2012 Grey Wolf out of storage to install a few goodies on it. I noticed that the Trail Express tires are starting to get some weather checks on the sidewalls, even though they are only 2.5yrs old (build date of 32 10), only have 2500-3000 miles and the tires are either covered or the camper is parked inside when not being used.

I called a local dealer today, they carry Titan ST tires. I looked online and found the Kenda Load Stars, which my dad has on a couple of trailers and has been happy with. Then of course there is the Kumho and Maxxis tires.

So which ones should I go for? Also what places online have the best prices?

BTW my current tires are 205/75-14, I have more than enough room to go to 215/75-14's if I need to.

[Flagstaffer06]

Check out discounttiredirect.com, treaddepot.com and even ebaymotors has a tire center.

All have some good prices. I know there are tons of talk and discussions of different brands etc of tires. I ordered Gladiator tires off of treaddepot.com. Load range D tires and they were $71 each. I spoke to a few places and they had nothing but good things to say about the Gladiator tires even though they are a chinese brand.

Alot of people might disagree and say Maxxis or Goodyear Marathons are the way to go. Obviously, this was just my opinion and this time I decided to try out the Gladiators.

[bakken]

I have only one thing to add to the discussion.
If it only costs an additional $100 to $150 to put a good quality tire on your camper, do it. I would never use a cheap tire, considering the amount of damage a blown tire can cause to your camper.
I run Maxxis, but have heard good things about all four of the brands in your subject line.

[Flagstaffer06]

Yes, I agree with Bakken as well if you can afford it, go for it. I researched tons of brands and even more name brands (with the exception of Maxxis) had reviews and complaints of blow outs. Alot of folks may disagree with my choice but, a few suppliers (even ones who don't sell that brand) I have spoke with mentioned good things about my choice of tires. Therefore, I decided to give them a try.

Good luck with your search, based on the majority of campers on here who's opinion I would certainly trust, you can't go wrong with the Maxxis tires.

[PHS79]

I found these UE-168 (N) BRAVO SERIES - OnlineTires.com. They are rated at 2271lbs and pretty much the same size as the current tires. They are also roughly the same price as the Maxxis M8008. So what do you think?

[RodeoGeorge]

Originally Posted by PHS79

I found these UE-168 (N) BRAVO SERIES - OnlineTires.com. They are rated at 2271lbs and pretty much the same size as the current tires. They are also roughly the same price as the Maxxis M8008. So what do you think?

Those are not Trailer Tires. They are SUV Tires.

RodeoGeorge

[PHS79]

I just found another tire that I am considering, the Hercules Power STR in 215-75-14. Like other 215/75/14's they have a load rating of 1870lbs which is 110's more per tire than I have now. I know the local farmers co-op is a Hercules dealer, so I am going to call them in the next day or 2 to find out a price and what else they may carry.

I have probably spent more than 8-9 hrs researching 14" tires for our TT, what a PITA! I haven't found alot of reviews on the Hercules STR but what I have found has all been pretty positive.

[f5moab]

Hercules tires are manufactured by Cooper Tire and Rubber. I noticed last week that most of the trailers in the back (where I work) have Hercules tires, so I ask the maintenance guy and he stated in five years, he has never replaced one except for normal tire degradation due to sitting on UV rays.

I have and continue to use Cooper tires on many of my vehicles. I have yet to have a tire blow and that includes the STTs I ran on my H3 for 40K miles.

I'm actually considering removing my 205/75R14 Marathons on my TT and installing some 205/75R15. Just to get a lot stronger tire, and my dislike of Goodyear tires.

[PHS79]

After calling 7 tire dealers and getting prices and not ever heard of probably 75% of the brands that they had, but our local farmers co-op had Titans and Hercules. I ended up ordering the Hercules Power STR 215/75R14 for $91/tire OTD mounted and balanced. They should be here in about 2 weeks, our first camping trip is just more than 3 weeks away. But if for some reason the new tires are not here yet I am just going to "barrow" a 1 year old set of Load Stars off one of my dads trailers.

I also called our dealer yesterday to let them know how my tires were weather checking. Today I got a call out of the blue from the service manager, he wanted my email address to send me a warranty form to fill out, he wanted to submit my tires for warranty replacement. I told him how I had just ordered new tires literally 10 minutes before he called, he said no problem, if they warranty the tires and send a replacement set he said that they dealership will just buy the replacements from me. What the heck, its worth a shot!!

[f5moab]

I have been working with Cooper in regard to some off-road tires, and asked a question of their rep in regard to the Hercules tires. He finally sent me an email to tell me that Cooper NO LONGER manufactures Hercules TT. He did not know until he checked through the internal channels at Cooper.

So, my previous implication that Hercules are made by Cooper is incorrect. However, we still have some at work, they are three to four years old, marked as made in the USA, and have been trouble free.

Whether or not their new ones are USA made, I don't know. Would have to check the mfgr location code.

[Ditchooker]

I have just bought the same tires, and upsized the one size as well. (205 to 215)My tire dealer advised me that they are Chinese made now.

[acadianbob]

I put this tire on my trailer to replace my 205/75R14 C rated Goodyear Marathons.

RADIAL 857 - Kumho Tire USA, Inc.

Awesome tire. D rated and good for 99 mph speed rating. It is an 82 aspect ratio instead of 75 so you would get the same circumference with a 195/82R14 but more load rating. If you have plenty of room, just get the same 205. Way more load capacity.

I've put about 8,000 miles on these Kumho's now without any issues. On the other hand, I never had any issues with my Marathons either. They went 5 years and 25,000 miles.

[Fire Instructor]

Originally Posted by acadianbob

I put this tire on my trailer to replace my 205/75R14 C rated Goodyear Marathons.

RADIAL 857 - Kumho Tire USA, Inc.

Awesome tire. .

I also put the Kumho's on last season... I don't have anywhere near the miles that AcadianBob has on his, but I am equally pleased with their performance.

You will find that you are VERY limited in choices in a 14" tire.

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Originally Posted by Fire Instructor

I also put the Kumho's on last season... I don't have anywhere near the miles that AcadianBob has on his, but I am equally pleased with their performance.

You will find that you are VERY limited in choices in a 14" tire.

Our 5'ver came with Kumho's, been very happy with them...much better tire than the other factory installed brands on other campers we've had.

[PHS79]

Originally Posted by Ditchooker

I have just bought the same tires, and upsized the one size as well. (205 to 215)My tire dealer advised me that they are Chinese made now.

I figured that they were probably made is China, like most of the trailer tires now days. I liked the fact its atleast a brand that I have heard of and also I was able to get them locally.

A friend of ours had a blowout last year on their way to Yellowstone, I knew that they had gotten 4 new tires on their 5er while on the trip. I helped him move the 5er out of his shed last week and noticed that they had gotten Hercules tires. He said that the dealer in SD where he bought them said the Hercules was one of the best trailer tires he has even seen. I hope thats true!

I checked on the Kumhos, but none of the local shops were able to get them.

Like other things, the Andersen WD hitch being one of them, I will be the "test dummy" for the Hercules tires.

[Fire Instructor]

Originally Posted by PHS79

I checked on the Kumhos, but none of the local shops were able to get them.

Try Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels (On-line or by telephone). Great company to work with, in my experiences.