uniroyals are about 25 more per tire...

wondering if there is a real reason ?

Looking at the 3042 lb tires.

or anything else that is in the same ball park.

for a trailer

 

If the tires are heavily loaded and you want to ensure that you don't have any problems, the solution for those of us who tow heavy 5th wheels has been the Michelin XPS Rib all steel construction radial. These are available in the LT235/85R-16E size (3042 lbs load rating) used on many 5th wheels and are recommended by Michelin for commercial trailer service.

As a moderator on iRV2.com, I've run into a lot of people who have had tread separation failures on heavy 5vers - including me! I have yet to hear of a failure of a Michelin XPS Rib among those of us who have changed over.

They're not cheap, but neither is repairing a 5th wheel after a tread separation!

Rusty

 

Any experience with goodyear pathfnders? I was told they are the same load E 3042 lbs.....10 ply construction. The reason I ask is I can get those for about 550$ less then the mich.

 

We run Kelly Commercial CSR. 50000 mi warranty and a tougher sidewall.

 

Goodyear isn't a really popular option with 5th wheel pullers - the Marathons and (to a lesser extent) the Wrangler HT's do not have a good record insofar as tread separations are concerned. The Goodyear G159's or G614's (now obsolete in 16" sizes, I think, but you may still find some) are an all-steel construction competitor to the Michelin XPS Rib. I've never heard anything at all about the Goodyear Pathfinder - to my knowledge, they're not used by major OEMs in 5th wheel service.

My 5th wheel runs continuously at 90% or more of the tires' rated load, and it's pretty typical. That's why we probably see more than our share of tire failures, and why top quality tires are so critical to us. If your trailer isn't going to be that heavily loaded, you may well get satisfactory service with a less expensive tire.

Rusty

 

There are a couple of tires being offered in a 235 85 16 in a G load range which is 3750lbs @ 110 psi. I run a set on my 34' goose neck that hauls two Jeeps. Just make sure the wheel is rated for at least as much and you use steel stems. I know Goodyear makes one as does Bridgestone. Mine are a off brand
Trail America is what the sidewall says. Only time will tell how they hold up.

Scott

 

Goodyeay has replaced the G159 16" with a new model specificly designed for traler use. The G159 was a light truck tire and had problems with trailer appications, I believe. I have a 99 Alfa Ideal that came with them. a tire lost it's tread(did not blow!) and did $3700 damage
The new tire is the G614 RST, all steel, about $200 mounted. It is best to get it from a Goodyear Commercial shop.
Goodyear has an RV section on it's site. I filed a claim. Goodyear paid the deductible on the insurance and paid for the repacement of that tire completely, even thogh it was 6 years old. Further, they replaceded, Pro-rated, all the other tires. I ended up with 5 new tires for about $300 total cost.
If you have the G159's you might contact Goodyear throught the WEB to see if you can get them replaced. It seemed to me that Goodyear will go to great length's to satisfy their customers.
Give em a try!