Anyone have any recomendations for a good, yet less exspensive, replacement tire for a 2 axle 13000lb GVW 5th wheel travel trailer? It has had Good Year Wrangler HT, E rated truck tires on it, they're getting old and its time to replace them. Any pros / cons on truck tires verses trailer tires, brand suggestions, etc...

 

I don't have a good sugggestion, I never kept any of my trailers long enough to need new rubber. The new standard is 5 years no matter how good or bad he actual tread is.
I currently have Mastercrafts (C) on my boat trailer, I'm sure their junkers, but for a 2800lb. boat 12-15 times a year, they are fine.

 

What size are they?

 

From what we see out of Goodyear HT, I am surprised they have lasted long enough, without catastrophic failure, to get worn out.

7.50-16 tires are available in load range G = 14 ply-rating.

235-85-16 can also be had in LR-G; but, they are harder to find, and much more expensive.

This is not meant as a plug and only put here for comparison purposes: At our shop, we have 7.50-16 LR-G tires priced at $120 each; price includes mounting, balancing, stem, and all applicable taxes, including sales tax.

When we convince someone to try them on their gooseneck, they come back wanting more, and tell all their friends, who also buy them.

Load range E is fine on a truck; but, in our experience, they are barely capable on a trailer, especially on long hauls.

Although the ten-ply might be rated for the weight, it cannot stand the heat at sustained highway speeds.

 

Well, after talking to Discount Tire (been doing buisness with them for years), Went with Pathfinders Trail T/A, 245 75R 16 E rated tires, 10 ply rated, with a primarily highway tread design (not to be confused by the "Trail T/A" part of the name). Replaced 5 tires (including the spare), with lifetime road hazard for $500. I just hope they last as well as the Goodyears did, they actually went 8 years and about 20,000 - 25,000 miles (I know, way longer than they should have been on there), before the tread seperated on one of them.

By the way, I sure can't complain about the Good Year Wrangler HTs I had on the trailer. Allthough in the past I had some issues with D rated Wranglers I had on a halfton truck, blew two of em off the back (at seperate times about 800 miles apart) pulling a 26 ft 4500 lb. travel trailer with a class IV equalizer hitch.