time for new tires on the PUP...radial? brand?

[Bowfin]

My new-to-me Coleman Taos uses 5.30x12 tires, load range C, 80 PSI. One good duro and two flat Carlisles that look like WalMart specials with the standard rubber valve stem. All teh local places I've looked only sell Carlisle.

What brands are preferred? Are there any that are American made?

Can I convert to radials? What are the benefits of radial camper tires?

I plan to get the steel or brass valve stems.

Learned alot about tires and tire storage from the search function.

[PattieAM]

My new-to-me Coleman Taos uses 5.30x12 tires, load range C, 80 PSI. One good duro and two flat Carlisles that look like WalMart specials with the standard rubber valve stem. All teh local places I've looked only sell Carlisle.

What brands are preferred? Are there any that are American made?

Can I convert to radials? What are the benefits of radial camper tires?

I plan to get the steel or brass valve stems.

Learned alot about tires and tire storage from the search function.

You might check out "Kenda/Loadstar" tires for trailers - that's what my Niagara has and they are holding up well.  My product brochure tells me to contact a Fleetwood Dealership for service/replacement.  But I have seen Loadstar's in some tire retailer ads.

[eanddrice]

We have the Kenda/Loadstar tires also.  They are holding up very well!!  I very seldom even have to add air to them.

[erich0521]

I've read & heard some folks say that they do not like Carlisle as a brand.  I bought Goodyear Marathon brands last yr (which were expensive) but about the only brand in my local area for my specific ST size.  Hopefully others will chime in with better help.

[SpeakEasy]

I converted to radials the year before last, and I like them better. They seem to track better than the bias tires did. They also seem to hold onto their pressure better. (I obsessively check my pressure while I'm on a trip.) I have two different brands, for reasons that I won't go into. For me, I've just bought the brands that were available at the time and place when and where I've needed to buy tires. Surprisingly, it's been my experience that not many places carry an assortment of trailer tires.

-Speak

[brainpause]

Kendas, LoadStars, and Goodyear Marathons don't carry a great reputation among the heavier trailer owners. In fact, the Kendas and Loadstars have an absolutely AWFUL reputation.

I wouldn't use them on trailers heavier than a popup. I'm currently looking into new tires (already) on my 1 year old hybrid. Attempting warranty claim.

Larry

[dthurk]

We recently processed a warranty claim on the factory tires that came with or camper from Carlisle.  They replaced all 5 tires, we went with radials that replaced the bias tires we had.  Local tire dealer put on Duro's, claim the Carlisles we had were very poorly made, the Duro's are much higher quality.  Not sure the difference is in Manufacturer as much as the line of tire.  Each manufacture may produce better and cheaper lines of tires.  This may have something to do with some people having good luck and others expressing severe problems with same name tire.

[flyfisherman]

Overall, I've had pretty good service from Carlisle tires, not only from the service of the tires themselves but also from the Carlisle Company. I did have one tire seperate right in the middle of the thread (bias belted). Called Carlisle and they had UPS pick up the tire (no cost to me) and very shortly called me back and said indeed the tire was bad. What they did in this case, since I had the tire replaced while on the road, after I sent them in the receipt, they cut me a check ... and was pretty quick about it, too.

I have a fishing buddy who has a SIL who is the general manager of a big tire distributor that services the coastal Carolina's and has given me a little insight on tires and tire manufacturer's. Also, I've got some years of experience in buying and using trailer tires over the years (yeah, I know, that and a $1.50 will get a cup of coffee, too!) ~ But what my buddy's SIL tells me is that ALL tire manufacturer's have a bad run of tires from time to time ... changing manufacturing plants, re-tooling manufacturing equipment, a change in materials and sources, employee problems and maybe even when Mars lines up with Jupiter! But he says what is real important is how a company backs their products when there are problems, because they all seem to have them from time to time. Here, he says, Carlisle is excellent. Also, since I use the 5.30X12" PU tires, he says Carlisle's radials for this size have been having problems and would recommend staying with the bias belted. But, another interesting point on the Carlisle bias tires, especially in this case for the 5.20X12", there are different
series for the same sized tire, one series being a better tire than another. For example:  The Carlisle "Sport Trail" series, the one you'll see in Wal-Mart, is a two ply rated tire. Said to give a better ride and, of course, cheaper priced. Then, there's the "USA Trail", sold through tire dealers (and more expensive), which is 6-ply rated (for the Load "C", 4-ply for the Load "B"). If you were to stand the two series side by side, the USA Trail would stand taller, because it is larger in diameter and has a deeper tread ... more rubber when the tire meets the road!

My first PU was a '96 Coleman/Fleetwood that was bought (in'97) after it had set on the dealer lot for the better part of a year. It was, of course, a left over model and bargin priced. Came with Duro's (13") and both tires went bad within 6 months and less than 3,000 miles. Fleetwood told me Duro was responsible for the warranty and the the distributor for Duro told me too bad because they were on a previous year's model. I replaced them with Carlisle's and never had a problem. Was to sell the camper with those same tires and lots of miles later on. Was saying bad things about Duro tires until meeting my friend's SIL (the tire man) and he said my experience with those tires going bad quickly was not that uncommon of an occurrence. He said when a camper sits for long periods of time and on the bare ground (which was where the '96 Coleman was parked at the dealers), the tires are subject to deteriorate much faster. He goes on to say (at least for this part of the country), that all the hype about UV light doing tires in is meant to sell more of those sun UV covers! He says parking the camper on bare ground for long periods of time is much worse. Experience with my boat trailer kinda bears that out ... it's parked on the west side of the garage, in full afternoon sun, day in and day out, and as best I can recall the tires were replaced in '99 or '00. True, the trailer does not travel long distances or carry a great deal of weight, but it sits there in the sun, soaking up all those UV rays! What I do for both the boat trailer and the Starcraft, is place one of those patio concrete slabs (maybe 8'X12") under each of the tires.




Fly

[Bowfin]

Thanks for the replies folks.

Flyfisherman, thanks for the insight and mentioning the difference betweent the Carlisle Sport USA and Carlisle Sport Trail. I plan to get the tires from a dealer, so I should be good there, but I'll check to make sure they're USAs as well. I've heard and read many reports of Carlisle standing behind their tires, so I will go ahead and get those mounted up.
My camper has the Sport Trails on it now, so hopefully when i go with the Sport USA, it will eliminate all the wiggle I get at 60+ mph with the bikes loaded.
I also planned to park my camper on the patio blocks. Gonna get some for my boat and utility trailer too.

[flyfisherman]

Thanks for the replies folks.

My camper has the Sport Trails on it now, so hopefully when i go with the Sport USA, it will eliminate all the wiggle I get at 60+ mph with the bikes loaded.

For sure tires can make a difference on how a trailer handles going down the road. Especially if the air pressure in them is not up to par. However, sometimes in addition to good tires with the proper psi ... having the camper set as near level as possible when hitched, balancing the cargo inside for the right tongue weight and even the use of an anti-sway bar, especially when carrying bikes that might be getting the load sort of out of balance. I think we need  to have all the right things going for us we can. And, for what it's worth, the tire manufacturer's say (the 12' tires for sure!), the top highway speed for trailer tires is 65 mph; and that's what I try and cruise at.


Good luck,


Fly

[wavery]

Thanks for the tip Fly.......

I am in the market for tires too. My trailer has been garage stored all it's life and moved quite regularly. I move the trailer and (at least a tire revolution) once a week or more. My tires look great but they are old and I am starting to get concerned due to age alone.

I'll be looking for the Carlisle "USA Trail" tires.

[Bowfin]

I dropped the wheels off today at the tire store. The USA's were $10 more a tire at $46 than the Trails, but I went for them anyway, since i wasn't happy with the Trails. The counterperson showed me where my tires had started to spearate. It only had a bubble by the bead, but he spotted it right off. Getting the high pressure valve stems as well. The old tires Carlisles were 2003's according to the DOT date.

[tyrrionn]

I am on my second PU (both purchased new) and both times bought radial tires when the stock belted ones wore out.  Can't remember brands, just went with radials that matched what I had, along with getting them balanced.  Seems shops don't normally balance a trailer tire, had to specifically request it each time.  I was AMAZED at the smoother ride I got, both times.  They seem to wear better than the belted did also.  Maybe it's just me, but I'm a radial fan all the way now...

[Bowfin]

Well...tried to bolt on the tires this weekend they are too big?!?!

Same size as stock 5.30x12. Also what is mentioned in the manual. I took my spare Duro 5.30x12 and stood it next to the new ones and they new ones are over an inch taller. The Carlisle trails I took off were the same diameter as the duro spare. I'm going back to see if the cheaper Carlisle trails wil be the right diameter.

Hoping to go camping next week.

[flyfisherman]

Well...tried to bolt on the tires this weekend they are too big?!?!

Same size as stock 5.30x12. Also what is mentioned in the manual. I took my spare Duro 5.30x12 and stood it next to the new ones and they new ones are over an inch taller. The Carlisle trails I took off were the same diameter as the duro spare. I'm going back to see if the cheaper Carlisle trails wil be the right diameter.

Hoping to go camping next week.

I noted that the USA's were a tad taller, too. When installing mine I leaned the tire forward (and inward) a little and then slipped it right up into the wheel well. Now I have plenty of room for the tire inside the wheel well, but getting them through the ABS "fender skirt" can be tight. When taking a wheel off, after the lug bolts are removed, I'll pull the bottom of the wheel out first.

When I jack up the Starcraft I do so behind the rear of the spring shackle and then place a jack stand close behind the jack. I know the camper is then stable
enough for me to mess around with the wheel. And if the camper is not hitched, I make sure the other wheel is chocked, including the front jack dolly wheel.

I would think your camper would be about the same dimensions, wheel well wise, as mine. Afterall, they were designed for the 12" tires. Give it another look see and let us know.



Fly