Finally happened to me, blown Castle Rock tire

[pburch]

I read everyday about the "China Tires", but thought i would maybe get 2 - 3 thousand miles before I needed to upgrade.... WRONG! Just about to get on 95 north to get back to Melbourne FL - my wife decided we should stop and get a sandwich, as we pulled in the parking lot BOOM blew out a tire. Thank the good Lord it was there and not on the interstate!!! I go to change the tire, and the bottle jack died on me. Some nice fellow let me use his jack- there are still good people out there!!! Anyway, headed for new tires tomorrow..... I would like some insight on tires .... 2018 Hemisphere 282RK GLX - right at 8000# loaded - thinking of the Goodyear Endurance i have read so much about ...
What load range???

Thanks

Presley

[larry2c]

Just curious, was your air pressure in the tire that blew where it should be before the blow out? Any sign that you might have picked up a nail or road debris that caused the blow out?

[Macrosill]

I used Maxxis 8008s on my old trailer. They were good. I just put endurance on the current trailer a few weeks ago.

Those are the 2 most recommended brands right now. Whatever tire you choose to get make sure you upgrade the load range of the tire. If you currently have Load Range C then move to a Load Range D. If you currently have Load Range D then move to a Load Range E. This seems to be the most advised upgrade when it comes to tires.

The manufacturers use the load range that just makes the GVWR with not much reserve in capacity. I higher Load Range will give you more reserve and should prevent the tires themselves from being maxed out or even overloaded. Some surmise that this is the main cause of the china bomb phenomenon.

It is my understanding that the RVIA has recently upgraded their tire specs and now trailers are being delivered with higher load range tires.

[ysidive]

Originally Posted by pburch

I read everyday about the "China Tires", but thought i would maybe get 2 - 3 thousand miles before I needed to upgrade.... WRONG! Just about to get on 95 north to get back to Melbourne FL - my wife decided we should stop and get a sandwich, as we pulled in the parking lot BOOM blew out a tire. Thank the good Lord it was there and not on the interstate!!! I go to change the tire, and the bottle jack died on me. Some nice fellow let me use his jack- there are still good people out there!!! Anyway, headed for new tires tomorrow..... I would like some insight on tires .... 2018 Hemisphere 282RK GLX - right at 8000# loaded - thinking of the Goodyear Endurance i have read so much about ...
What load range???

Thanks

Presley

I put Goodyear endurance on my trailer as soon as I brought the trailer home... So far in the last two years I have put about 10,000 miles on the tires and I am very happy with them.. Always check tire pressures for proper inflation... I never tow over 65mph... Another friend has used the Sailun tires and is also very happy with them I prefer the Goodyear because they are very good quality and made in the good old USA...

[D W]

If I might ask, what size tires/load range were you running?

[frank4711]

Watching .... always watching threads on Castle Rocks

[pburch]

Good morning;

Thanks so much for the replies!!!!

Yes, the tires were all aired up to 65#s, and I weighted at the beginning of my trip - 7280# on the axles - the only other affect could have been heat, as it was in the mid 90s - I usually don't pull over 60 MPH and especially now as my truck is new...tire size 225/75/15s steel belted radials load range D - 4 ply w/ 2 ply sidewalls. IMHO the tires coming on these trailers are not rated higher enough to perform under any conditions - I thought maybe I could get 2-3 thousand before upgrading, but not the case - only less than 1800 miles on these tires - Do what you want, but I would recommend tire change as soon as you drive from the dealer!!!!

Presley

[REL]

I swapped out my Castle Rocks in March before we took out TT out for the first time . I put Maxxis 8008s on...Found them on Amazon for a good price..Date codes were 2019.

[upflying]

I suppose a class action lawsuit will someday put an end to the installation of Castle Rock tires on new FR products.

[SilhouettePenny]

10 ply LR-E tires will make you happy. If you can find a Discount Tire store they sell Westlake and Carlisle trailer tires. Don't forget the spare.

[gbaldwin]

10,800 miles on factory tires on surveyor. still look like new. Picked up one screw in CG.... plugged and patched. No probems ... knock on wood.

[D W]

Originally Posted by upflying

I suppose a class action lawsuit will someday put an end to the installation of Castle Rock tires on new FR products.

Yeah, and the lawyers will make millions, and folks with Castle Rocks will get a check for $15. BIG WHOOPY!

[itat]

Originally Posted by pburch

Good morning;

Thanks so much for the replies!!!!

Yes, the tires were all aired up to 65#s, and I weighted at the beginning of my trip - 7280# on the axles - the only other affect could have been heat, as it was in the mid 90s - I usually don't pull over 60 MPH and especially now as my truck is new...tire size 225/75/15s steel belted radials load range D - 4 ply w/ 2 ply sidewalls. IMHO the tires coming on these trailers are not rated higher enough to perform under any conditions - I thought maybe I could get 2-3 thousand before upgrading, but not the case - only less than 1800 miles on these tires - Do what you want, but I would recommend tire change as soon as you drive from the dealer!!!!

Presley

Glad to hear your blowout didn’t happen on the interstate. Hopefully it didn’t cause any damage.

Goodyear Endurance and Maxxis M8008 don’t come in Load Range D for the ST225/75R15 size tire. Are they 205/75R15? LR D (2150# max.) should be sufficient for 7280# on two axles. That said, heat is a huge factor with ST tires.

In September 2017, RVIA started mandating that member manufacturers install tires that will handle 110% of the axle’s GAWR. That should be a minimum.

[Ezgoin721]

I took off the Castle Rocks from my 2018 26FB13 Vengeance toy hauler as soon as I got it home, which means they had about 1500 miles on them. Sold them to a local farmer. I installed Goodyear Endurance with a step up in load range. Have since towed the 10,000 lb trailer about 3000 miles without a problem. Tow between 65-70 mph and tires inflated to 80 psi. I like the Goodyear’s for all the reasons stated, except for the fact they only have 8/32” tread brand new.

[mikdanmck]

Originally Posted by pburch

Good morning;

Thanks so much for the replies!!!!

Yes, the tires were all aired up to 65#s, and I weighted at the beginning of my trip - 7280# on the axles - the only other affect could have been heat, as it was in the mid 90s - I usually don't pull over 60 MPH and especially now as my truck is new...tire size 225/75/15s steel belted radials load range D - 4 ply w/ 2 ply sidewalls. IMHO the tires coming on these trailers are not rated higher enough to perform under any conditions - I thought maybe I could get 2-3 thousand before upgrading, but not the case - only less than 1800 miles on these tires - Do what you want, but I would recommend tire change as soon as you drive from the dealer!!!!

Presley

Were you using a TPMS to monitor pressures and temps? Curious if you had seen a spike in tire temperature or significant change in pressure to give you early warning

[pburch]

No TPMS system, so wasn't warned before it blew

Presley

[TSman]

I do not know much about trailers but was wondering why not upgrade to truck tires on a trailer. Seems that would be a good solution but I suspect there is a reason not to. Just curious.

[dannyabear]

Originally Posted by Ezgoin721

I took off the Castle Rocks from my 2018 26FB13 Vengeance toy hauler as soon as I got it home, which means they had about 1500 miles on them. Sold them to a local farmer. I installed Goodyear Endurance with a step up in load range. Have since towed the 10,000 lb trailer about 3000 miles without a problem. Tow between 65-70 mph and tires inflated to 80 psi. I like the Goodyear’s for all the reasons stated, except for the fact they only have 8/32” tread brand new.

Shallow tread does not 'squirm' as much and carry less heat

[D W]

Originally Posted by TSman

I do not know much about trailers but was wondering why not upgrade to truck tires on a trailer. Seems that would be a good solution but I suspect there is a reason not to. Just curious.

It's because of the MAX LOAD (Index) of the LT tire is not sufficient for the TT or 5er.

[dannyabear]

Originally Posted by D W

It's because of the MAX LOAD (Index) of the LT tire is not sufficient for the TT or 5er.

That is not always true, example is Goodyear G614 or Sailun S637