What's the alternative to China Bombs

[mjones12]

On a previous camper I had 14-inch D-rated Kumho tires that were made in Korea. I have heard they are building a plant in Georgia. Everyone I knew with these tires - and there were quite a few - were very happy with them.

[dannyabear]

For 14" tires the Kumho 857 or Hankook RA08 is the only 'D' rated, 8 ply, 99 mph,2100# capacity,rated tire to replace the 'C' tires that come standard

[clydngail]

Forget ST and buy a good American made LT highway tread tire that meets size and weight requirements.

[Vince and Charlette]

One thing most of us are concerned about is a blowout. I suspect many of you have seen the 65+ mph disastrous blowout video from the accident Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. It involved loss of control which led to a rollover of a 40' DP towing a pickup truck. Reports so far link it to a blowout on the left front tire. Several discussions have led me to look into the Tyron Tire System, which is used by emergency vehicles and military. I haven't heard negatives yet, but the research looks convincing. The essence of the device is an internal wheel ring that prevents the tire from rolling into the center of the rim which causes shredding and separation. Check it out. If someone has further knowledge, please chime in.

[Stormrider151]

Originally Posted by UmptySquat

Would the Constancy LY188 tires on my Apex count as bombs? I have gone more than a 75 mile trip


2013 Toyota Tundra 5.7L
2015 Apex 288BHS

Nukes if you ask me. I had a set on my Salem that looked like they were about to blow sitting still. I thought I had the only 4 ever made. No one else had ever heard of them.

[LSUTiger]

Originally Posted by dannyabear

What size?

225 75 r 15

[Filterman]

I concur with these guys on most of the tires being made in China. Look on the side of a Goodyear highway truck tire. It says "Made in PRC" I did a lot of research and just bought Goodyear Marathons 235-80R16. I'm pulling a 2011 Wildcat T28RKS with a dry weight of 8000# and will be putting on most of 900 miles of gravel road this summer so I'll tell you in the fall if they were a good choice.

[Filterman]

Clydngail that's where I was headed....put on LT's. I was told by my local Goodyear dealer who I've dealt with for 20 years to not go there. He says the construction of the LT sidewall gives too much flex ( instability) and not enough to curb protection if you rub them on a corner. Tge LT would have been a lot more money so he woukd have ulterior motive I'm thinking.

[Witch Doctor]

tires that are put on aftermarket are pretty good even through they are made over seas, If they are made by a good Company such as Goodyear or someone else with a big stake in selling tires. It's the ones that are off brand that you have to worry about like Trail Express. US Manufacturers are on top of the quality control and specks. US people are at these plants like GY. Just to watch for this. GY is not going ruin there rep. they worked so hard to build. Just buy from a Rep Company like GY or Maxxis to name a few. Stay away from a odd ball tire name no matter what they tell you.

[Cathcartww]

My last trailer had 14" wheels, the current one has 15". With these two wheel sizes, the choices of tires with high load ratings and quality construction are very limited. The first thing to have to check to make sure the load rating of the wheel on you trailer can take the extra pressure of the higher pressure tires. After lots of research over the years, I think the best choices are:

14": Kumho 857 Trailer Tire http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....150516133245:s which is a trailer tire that exceeds the "ST" standard.
The only other choice I could find in load range D was be the Kenda Karrier Karrier. They used to make a load range D (65 psi) in size 215, but now they only off it in the 205 width, but it still has a couple of hundred pounds more capacity than the Load Range C 215's.

15": You have a few more choices in the 15" diameter. As mentioned, the Maaxis M8008 comes in load range E (80 psi) and is a very well respected tire. There are a few other manufacturers that offer a Load Range E ST tire, but Goodyear does not seem to be one of them.
Goodyear does make the Cargo G26 http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....5G26&tab=Sizes which is rated for "all position" including trailers and comes in 225/70R15 size which usually fits instead of 225/75R15. This tire is sometimes used on the euro-style (think Sprinter) vans, and is made in Europe. It is a well respected tire on various RV forums and at 65 psi, has a capacity of 2,470 pounds.

16": With 16" wheels, the choices are much wider. There are several manufacturers - including Maaxis - that make 80 psi ST tires, plus there are LT tires available. You have to make sure you get an LT tire that is rated for trailer use. The most popular seems to be the Michelin XPS Rib XPS Rib tires | Michelin US, but there are many others, and quite a few of them are not manufactured in China

Just my two cents .....

[Poppy94]

I'm thinking about converting over to bias on my 5er. I've seen the damage a blowout will do to a trailer & ouch! My car hauler trailer has bias & the last blowout I had, the tire folded around the wheel & saved it from asphalt damage & didn't sling it around or damage the fenders, your thoughts?

[mjones12]

Originally Posted by dannyabear

For 14" tires the Kumho 857 or Hankook RA08 is the only 'D' rated, 8 ply, 99 mph,2100# capacity,rated tire to replace the 'C' tires that come standard

If it's true that Kumho is building a US plant in Georgia, would that make them higher quality than the ones they make overseas? I don't know. Just wondering what folks think about that.

[indybp57]

Originally Posted by mjones12

If it's true that Kumho is building a US plant in Georgia, would that make them higher quality than the ones they make overseas? I don't know. Just wondering what folks think about that.

Not sure how they could be better. I've purchased several sets of Kuhmos for all my cars over the years and they are an excellent tire. I would place them just below Michelin quality wise. Definitely better than Goodyear.

[jlgail4309]

Kumho 857 had for a couple of years doing great. Bought tire rack

[UmptySquat]

Maybe a silly question here...how do you get the tire shops to change your tires out? Drive the TT over and they jack it up or do you take the wheels off yourself and drive them in?


2013 Toyota Tundra 5.7L
2015 Apex 288BHS

[johnruff]

Whichever way you choose - Pull your RV over or take in the wheels yourself, check with the tire dealer. On my first trip, the dealer told me he did not do trailers of any kind and recommended a place down the road a piece. Apparently there are quite a few dealers who do not deal in trailer tires at all so that may be a factor in your decision.

[wuffwuff]

The problem i was concerned about with the Kumho & Maxxis is they're not available everywhere. Making it a concern with finding a replacement after a blowout. I'm not particularly fond of trip delays, especially trying to find a match for my good tires.
The 14 inch tire is getting harder to find in D & E load range.
Though more costly, I replaced my st14 inch wheels with st15's which is more available.
RV manufacturers should consider installing 15's because 14's are disappearing from the car/truck market. RVs aren't keeping up with the trend.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by wuffwuff

The problem i was concerned about with the Kumho & Maxxis is they're not available everywhere. Making it a concern with finding a replacement after a blowout. I'm not particularly fond of trip delays, especially trying to find a match for my good tires.
The 14 inch tire is getting harder to find in D & E load range.
Though more costly, I replaced my st14 inch wheels with st15's which is more available.
RV manufacturers should consider installing 15's because 14's are disappearing from the car/truck market. RVs aren't keeping up with the trend.

x'2 but you need the clearance to the fender well to do that. 14" would be hard to find with that load range....

[Crusadernoob]

So being that I think it's time to replace the tires on my fiver, it's got 225/75-15 LR D the wheel max load is 2,830lbs. I was thinking about Maxxis M8008, what are the thoughts on staying LR D, or jump to LR E. I don't think that at this point in time I'm worried about the extra 15psi. The wheels should be able to handle that, I will upgrade to the metal valve stems regardless of the tire that I go with. Fiver is just over one year old, the build date on this one is 4012, I think I was lucky to get back on our 300 mile trip today with no damage.

[Windywest]

I went from LR C to LR E after a blow out a couple years ago, I air at 65 psi and the tires run great.