I'm about to buy new tires for my 26 ft Springdale bunk house fifth wheel. I am looking at getting the Goodyear Marathon tires, 225/75 R15 Load Range D. This is a little bit of an upgrade since I had the smaller C range tires. I was curious what you guys think, or what kinds of tires you guys are putting on your travel trailers. I also wanted to know if trailer tires are supposed to be balanced? This is the first new set I have put on since I have owned the trailer. Thanks!

John

 

I am running michelin xps liht truck tires on my 5th wheel

 

I am running michelin xps light truck tires on my 5th wheel

 

I have read some good reports on Maxxis trailer tires on rv.net.

 

Do they need to be balanced when mounted?

 

I just replaced all 4 of my C rated Goodyear Marathons with Goodyear Marathon 225/75 R15 Load Range D. I had the C's on for 4 years with no problems so I upgraded to D's. I just made a run from Massachusetts to Key West Fl. and back with no problems and I drive 70 - 75 mph (80-85 when the brides not looking) I have a 10,000 lb 5er.

When I was heading south, stopped for fuel, saw a 1/4" bolt in one of my new tires, put the spare on, When I got to Key West I went to Goodyear Dealer expecting to buy a new tire, They put a patch on the inside of the tire (no plug) told me it was good as new, put it back on the 5er and drove home, no problem, it's still on and looking good.

Like yourself, when I was ready for new tires, I asked a lot of questions on Trailer forum's. No one had anything good to say about Goodyear Marathons, everyone said they xxxx. Everyone had their own brand they liked and maybe they are good or even better then Goodyear's. But they really turned me off, and I had good luck with them, so I stayed with them,(up-grade to D's)

Anyway happy shopping.


PS One very important thing, always run 5 - 10 lb's air over what it states on the tire.

 

I had Marathon C's on and had great results with them. I went with Maxxis this time since I've heard very good things about them but whatever tire you do go with, be sure and have metal valve stems put in. The tire shop didn't want to balance my tires but I made them do it just because I can't see where it would have hurt anything and it just might have made a difference.

 

I have the tires on our 5th wheel balanced and have metal valve stems. Well worth the money.

 

I cant understand why anyone would not balance trailer tires! ask yourself this, should I balance my truck tires? that should answer your question. what makes a trailer tire any diffrent? it is round ( maybe ), it will be out of balance and it WILL shake the trailer if not corrected .

bill

 

I asked pretty much the same question a little while back, here's a link about GreenBall Towmaster trailer tire's.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=139932

Tony

 

I think I have the same trailer you do. Do you have the sailboat picture by the dinette?

I put Marathon C's on mine and they've been just fine. I travel light and keep the air pressure at sidewall max (50 psi).

 

Good choice, also have had good sevice from Tow Master.

 

I do contract work at a number of Goodyear plants and I can tell you their quality control is top notch. Yes, I am biased as they do help pay my bills. I have seen them trash what appeared to be perfect tires because the x-ray showed a minor fault or blemish. They x-ray every single tire that is built as well as multiple visual inspections. They also pull a certain percentage and cut them up looking for any defects or problems. I use Goodyear tires on every thing I own and have never had a problem with any of them. I don't get any kind of discount being a contractor so I pay the same price any one else would.

 

Very well put, I agree 100%. Where I got my new tires, they didn't want to high speed balance them, I said that I would pay what ever you want and stayed there over his shoulder and made sure they were balanced right. I have aluminum rims and they had to use stick on waits on the outside and the regular waits on inside of rims. It wasn't a easy job to get it right, at first he just turned them on the machine and put waits on them and put the tires aside and I made him recheck them, they weren't right, after a few times he said aluminum rims can't be balanced, so after I started to complain, so he got another guy to do them, thats when he came up with stick-on's on outside and the regular on inside. But if I didn't watch, he would of just went through the motion and charged me for balancing.

 

Ok, I will get them balanced!! Tony T...I read up on the link and started doing research on the towmasters, the only problem is I am not sure where to buy them. I have yet to find anywhere online that sells them. Do I just need to go to a local tire dealer?