www.iFourWinns.com

2 other choices for those who do not trust trailer tires made in the far East:

Pirelli ATR LT 235/75-15, D rated 2337 lbs @ 65 psi, $151 ea

Continental Vanco LT 225/70-15 D rated 2484 lbs @ 65 psi $139 each

both I got off the Tire Rack's website.
We have the Pirellis on my wife's Subaru and they are a nice riding and handling tire.

the fact that these 2 are available in both a D rating and 15" size makes them a very good choice if you want LT tires instead of 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

Towed back from Lake Michigan to Central Illinois on Monday and had really not towed that far when the rear left Carlisle blew out in one of the center lanes of the busy I80/94 corridor across northern Indiana. Changed out the tire with my spare and crossed my fingers the others wouldn't go on the remainder of the trip home. I have replaced the spare with a new Mastertrack 10 ply. The Carlisle was an 8 ply. I'll change that one tire out and my thought is to buy 3 more since I figure the others are probably just a blowout waiting to happen. The tires on the trailer came with the boat in 08 and I only tow a couple of times each year.

Anyone using the Mastertrack tire? My local tire guy is saying they are a better tire but of course he would say that as that's the tire he wants to sell.

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2008 Vista 278 Volvo Penta 8.1 Gi 375 hp
1999 Horizon 220 5.7 GSi

Just installed 5 Carlisle Radial Trail 205/75R14 Load Range C. A lot less to choose from with a 14" x 5.5" wide rim. C$115.00 balanced and installed. At my GM dealer no less.

Greg

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2008 210SS 6.2L DTS Bravo 1 Now featuring MercMonitor w/SmartTow

Other then Carlisle tires being junk, the biggest problem with the tires is under inflation speed and sun. Trailer tires are speed rated and most are printed on sidewall.Max speed for tires is pretty much 65mph

Agreed, safety first!. Always look at sidewall plys (more the better) and buy trailer specific tires not LT tires, load rating are also important especially if you do not have a tandem trailer, as when 1-blows the other is carrying ALL of the weight, it has the same wear as the one that blew. On my race car trailer I welded a sleeve mount for a removable pin style trailer jack on each side you just carry the jack cylinder in your truck and changing a tire is as easy as hitching and unhitching you trailer...jack stand included. I have the sleeves for the boat trailer also, and the jack is heavy enough to be dual purpose(once they are welded on).

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2000 H190 5.0GL

These tires are MUCH improved over any other Carlisle tire made previously. An excellent choice for trailer tires.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Agree 100%...have probably 1,000 miles under my Carlisle Radial Trails since spring of 2011 and they have been nothing but awesome.

We have a 1000km trip next week so we hope they are a good choice.

Now it's on to Turbo-Lube seals and wheel bearings. DOH!!!

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2008 210SS 6.2L DTS Bravo 1 Now featuring MercMonitor w/SmartTow

Just returned from a 1500 mile round trip with no trailer issues whatsoever. I scrapped the original Carlisle tires 3 years ago (because of 2 blow-outs) and replaced them with Towmaster tires and have never looked back. I also had the turbo lube seals replaced a couple weeks ago. I replaced them with the OEM triple-lip, spring loaded seals because the aftermarket ones I was using were all leaking. Having the clear hub covers definitely made life less stressful too because I could easily monitor the oil level whenever we pulled over for fuel, meals, and bathroom breaks. I still hate my FW's trailer like no other but this time, it served me well. Oh yeah, my H220 performed flawlessly for an entire week of daily boating, tubing, and fishing. Went thru 75 gallons of gas but well worth it! Just need a livewell now.... Hit 59 mph with just me in the boat too, speedo and GPS...

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2008 H220 Frenzy - 5.7L VP SX Drive
2013 Tahoe LTZ Tow Vehicle (admiral's ride)
2011 Ford F150 XLT Ecoboost Tow Vehicle

Interesting observation about the seals. I have replaced one with a double lip SKF and it is still sealed after over a year. I am doing the other 3 plus bearings now.

The original offshore seals have all leaked.

Greg

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2008 210SS 6.2L DTS Bravo 1 Now featuring MercMonitor w/SmartTow

Put another 600 or so miles last week on the Carlisle Radial Trails...have had nothing but great results.

I also put a new set of Carlisle Radial Trails on and put over 700 miles this last 12 days and they are much better than the older Carlisle tires that were on the trailer. Much smoother ride.

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

It's good to hear that Carlisle improved their product. I still have my 8 year old Kenda Loadstar bias tires on my trailer. Because the boat is moored they do not get much milage at all, I live 1/4 mile from the boat ramp. So over 8 years worth I'll be surprised if they have 100 miles on em LOL.

The other thing I can comment on is the Tie Down Super Lube hubs, I had a new trailer axle made 8 years ago as well by Champion Trailers in Slidell LA. The Super Lube (Champion calls it Spindle Lube) is a great system. I have not had to take apart the bearings once in all that time. I grease em at the beginning and end of each season and because it forces all the grease out the opening of the dust cap you can see if there is any water contamination. Never any water. I have had the drums off twice just to replace the wheel cylinders. Bearings and seals are still fine.

BTW for those of you still running drum brakes here's how to make the cylinders (weak point) last longer.

you take a new cylinder and put OMC/Bombardier triple guard grease inside the dust cap. Then get some High Temp RTV and put a bead of it around the groove in the cylinder where the cap fits and also in the hole where the pushrod goes. The grease keeps the piston from seizing in the aluminum bore and the RTV keeps the water out. I also grease the threads on the adjuster with the same grease and put a bit of motor oil on all the pivot points. Doing this they do not seize up and the drum brakes actually brake better on a light trailer because they produce more brake torque at lower actuator pressures than disc brakes. They also run cooler because of the strong return springs.

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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