www.iFourWinns.com

So the tires which came with my trailer are branded "Freeway" Less than 500 miles on the trailer/tires, and one of the tires is cracking I want am going to replace all 4, I do not want to risk a blow out. After reading the horror stories about Carlisle tires, and Goodyear Marathons, what brand do you guys recommend?

I've narrowed my choices down to two tires, the Maxxis M8008-ST or the Kumho 857. What do you think of these?

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2011 SL242 5.7 VP GXi - 320 HP Dual Prop

I recently trailered my 318, 3 hours to northern Michigan. I bought a trailer for it from another forum member last winter. Not wanting to have any bad tire experiences, I decided to replace the existing ST245-75R16 Load Range D Carlisle's. Not to mention they were 6 years old.

I ended up buying from Belle Tire, and had a lengthy discussion with the guys behind the counter on the problems with ST tires, delamination ect. They told me alot of the 5th wheel guys are using LT truck tires.

Well I decided to try that instead of having a bad trailering experience with such a big load. I ended up with Firestone LT 24575R16 Load Range E. I went up one load range just for the sidewall stiffness issue that is always the argument as to not use LT on a trailer.

They performed flawlessly, and I took a tip form some of you guys and did the IR thermometer and kept track of sidewall and bearing temps. I had no noticeable swaying or any other issues.

OK everyone, be nice!

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

The Khumo has good reviews from most users, and is one of the few tires in a 14" size, in a D load range. I have used the Kenda Load Star bias tires and they have been great, no cracks or bulges and they are now 7 years old. Goodyear also makes an LT D rated Wrangler ATS in a 235/75-15 size if you want a tire made in the US, even though it's not a trailer tire, a D rated tire in that size should be more than adequate if you have 15" rims.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Didn't realize that you couldn't get the Kumho in a 15" size. I'm looking at the maxxis tires now.

My current tires







Supersized pic - > click me

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2011 SL242 5.7 VP GXi - 320 HP Dual Prop

wow, even my 7 year old Load Stars don't have any cracks like that.
It depends on what you want, if you don't mind buying an imported tire, the Load Stars and the Khumos are good.
If you want made in USA, I'd look at getting the GY Wrangler ATS 235/75-15 in D rating, as long as the load capacity is adequate for your trailer. The D rated 225s in ST trailer size may be a few hundred pounds higher rated that the Goodyears, which are an LT truck tire. And some people don't like Goodyears, but I had 2 sets on my Jeep, I never had any kind of catastrophic failure of the kind common with trailer tires...

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I know they get their name dragged through the dirt on internet forums but I have had great luck with Carlisle. I just replaced all my tires with new ones and they tow great. Carlisle hired a new engineering guy and he redesigned the construction of the tire. The tire I went with are Radial Trail RH.

I like the maxxis. I have done a fair amount of research online and have not yet seen anyone complain about them and have only come across positive reviews. That being said I still am not confident that there really is a good dependable trailer tire out there. I just don't understand why I see so many more trailers on the side of the road than any other vehicle including semis. I say keep the speed down, limit tight turns, and check your tire pressures and temps often. Also I think it's a good idea to get rid of any trailer tire over 4 or 5 years old especially if it's been in the elements. But what the heck do I know - I have had all kinds of tire failures over the past 2 years ( albeit they were all old carlisles that failed).

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2005 Horizon 250

That's interesting about the change at Carlisle, WD. I wouldn't rule out new Carlisles, depending on some more reading about the situation. The only good thing about us not boating this year is that it was time to replace the tires (even though they still look perfect, having always been stored indoors). As it is now, I'll wait at least until next season which will give me a bit more time for some consensus to form.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Had what I had read about Carlisle confirmed by a friend of a friend. I know what you mean about tires looking perfect. The Carlisle tires on my trailer were original from 2000 and still looked perfect also until on day home from the ramp I developed a very decent size shutter. After limping home, and looking at the tire closely I saw that the tread was delaminating. Monday morning at the tire shop they found that three of the four had this issue. Mine too are stored indoors in the winter and have wheel covers in the summer.

Is this the new design from Carlisle y'all are talking about? It looks like it's already available. Check it out : http://motorsportsnewswire.wordpress.co ... e-0622115/

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2005 Horizon 250

Looks like it. So now, all of you go out and buy a set, and put a couple thousand miles on 'em over the winter so I'll know what to buy next year.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

It all sounds good but this news release is just really a marketing tool. The proof will only come when thousands have used these in real world. So, I agree with you Mike, I'll wait until next year and see if it seems these are doing as well as advertised.

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2005 Horizon 250

One of the challenges will be when someone talks about how great their Carlisles are, will they even know whether they have "old" ones or "new" ones. It may be a few years before anything really meaningful emerges.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Yes...that is the tire I have now on my trailer that I bought about a month ago. I was told that I have the new design as they were manufactured late May. Probably have 500 miles on them and so far so good. Will put about another 500 on them while on vacation next week.

I'll probably switch to the Maxxis tire, I've only read good reviews.

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2011 SL242 5.7 VP GXi - 320 HP Dual Prop