Buying tires...help

[tpassmore]

Wannabe + trailer weighs 3500lbs; axle is 4 lug mount. unfortunately LTs only come in 15", passenger tire load is 1500lbs so they're under rated and ST's suck. my cheap $60 st bias tires wear wierd and 1 has a bubble, after 2 seasons.

here's the quandary, all radials are made in China; Carlisle makes a bias in USA; i can buy cheap $60 bias that's used up after 1-2 seasons.

any suggestions?

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Buying tires...help

Not any that you'll wanna hear...

Short of changing axles to get 5 lug hubs and larger tires/wheels, move the fender mounts etc, your $60 you're spending right now sounds pretty cheap. LTs are a crappy substitute for ST tires. But down in teeny tire world where your trailer is, there's very little to choose from. If you do step up the wheels, axles and hubs, you can get Maxxis Radials. Indonesian yes, but if you do a little web research you'll see they're highly regarded.

 

[a1nowell]

Re: Buying tires...help

Go to www.easternmarine.com they have a 13' radial ST from Goodyear. I think it is made in USA.

 

[tpassmore]

Re: Buying tires...help

Dock u r right on. with this rig theres very little choice and they ain't good. fortunately my primary lake is only 35 miles. but we do make a few trips per year. i'll just take four spares with me on trips, as i don't trust these new tires made in China. I reviewed Maxxis and yes they do stand out.

maybe next year i can sell this outfit and buy a newr boat with quality trailer. this is my first, so its a learning process. however, i love the power and entertainment it provides...just getting there.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Buying tires...help

Northern tool sells a variety of 4-lug rims that really open your options up for buying tires.

 

[tpassmore]

Re: Buying tires...help

been looking at NT but their tires are more expensive plus have to pay someone to mount and balance. if i experience changing tires every 3rd year, i might just buy a tire mounting machine.

meanwhile, decided go with Maxxis. Discount Tire found the size i need and they have the least complaints, maybe because they aren't as popular.

is balancing new tires worth the extra $$ ?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Buying tires...help

no MAXXIS is GOOD stuff...

I personally never balance trailer tires but my truck and trailers are heavy..... with a light trailer and tow vehicle you may notice a vibration

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Buying tires...help

been looking at NT but their tires are more expensive plus have to pay someone to mount and balance. if i experience changing tires every 3rd year, i might just buy a tire mounting machine.

meanwhile, decided go with Maxxis. Discount Tire found the size i need and they have the least complaints, maybe because they aren't as popular.

is balancing new tires worth the extra $$ ?

I wouldn't buy their tires (shipping will kill you), but they do have rims in various sizes to allow more options for tires.

 

[infideltarget]

Re: Buying tires...help

Last time I bought from DT, even with shipping it was over $200 less than buying the same tires locally. Come to think of it, they shipped free. And I got a $70 rebate from Michelin to cover mounting and balancing. Just sayin.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Buying tires...help

been looking at NT but their tires are more expensive plus have to pay someone to mount and balance. if i experience changing tires every 3rd year, i might just buy a tire mounting machine.

meanwhile, decided go with Maxxis. Discount Tire found the size i need and they have the least complaints, maybe because they aren't as popular.

is balancing new tires worth the extra $$ ?

I think balancing is worth it but obviously not everybody agrees. To me, if it rotates, it should be balanced.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Buying tires...help

If 50 mph with unbalanced tires would make your car shake, why wouldn't you assume your boat is getting the hell beat out of it also with unbalanced tires?
Always balance.
This shouldn't ever be a question.

 

[infideltarget]

Re: Buying tires...help

If 50 mph with unbalanced tires would make your car shake, why wouldn't you assume your boat is getting the hell beat out of it also with unbalanced tires?
Always balance.
This shouldn't ever be a question.

agree 100%
vibration is horrible for bearings and fasteners regardless of where they are...trailer or car.

 

[tpassmore]

Re: Buying tires...help

shipping is not a issue. been buying from DT for 25 years and they always offer best price for same brand-n-size. They're getting these Maxxis locally and are able to receive the same day.. i understand they're made in Indonesia but can't be any worse than made-in-China, plus haven't heard any negatives, which is good news.

balancing makes sense because i don't like vibration on hwy. and trailer bearings can get hot, then dunked in cold water, not good, if not properly protected and sure don't wanna spend my vacation time at a local grease shop. plus the affect on gas mileage at $4.00/gal.

nothing wrong with asking "why do i always balance new tires?" oh yea.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Buying tires...help

go look into getting semi tires balanced..... at most shops they'll laugh at you.... the larger the diameter and the heavier the vehicle and the lower the road speed the less it matters....

It's doubtful that anyone will say it's bad to balance because of course it isn't but it is less important on some things than others.... fwiw the tires on my jeep are also not balanced... my goldwing is the same way....no problems with either... now my dually and stang both have them balanced.... the stang is smooth as glass but the dually still vibrates a little at about 63 mph... probably a slightly bent rim

this also varies depending on the brand of tire... some are WAY better balanced from the factory than others...

Another thing to consider... Do you have bias tires on a trailer that set for weeks or months at a time and then you make a short trip to the lake.... if that were the case you'd get plenty of vibration just from the flat spots in the tires and balance wouldn't make any difference

 

[dlngr]

Re: Buying tires...help

If my boss could save a few bucks by not balancing our semi tires,he'd do it. We don't drive any truck without the tires balanced-especially the steer tires. Makes it easier to hold the steering wheel all day with the wheels balanced.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Buying tires...help

Yeah I don't know what Smoke is referring to unless it's off road truckers or something. Balancing semi tires has been common practice for years, especially steer tires.

 

[infideltarget]

Re: Buying tires...help

Yeah I don't know what Smoke is referring to unless it's off road truckers or something. Balancing semi tires has been common practice for years, especially steer tires.

The only ones they didnt balance back when I was driving were the trailer tires. They hopped and bounced all over the place.
FWIW, @smoke...curious as to why you dont balance the tires on your 'Wing. My CBR and GSXR both have balancers on them, and would not DREAM of riding without them. When I put new 33" x 12.50 on my last Jeep, they were balanced too. Heck, I have 'em bubble-balance my lawn mower trailer tires. Just sayin.

 

[tpassmore]

Re: Buying tires...help

DT spin balanced and installed new Maxxis. drove around town and they felt good. no vibration or sway. they were made in Thailand. imo smog police in USA strongly encourage importing tires.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Buying tires...help

I've driven a LOT of trucks.... never even seen a balancer big enough for em.... heard of em but never seen em.... Also never had a vibration problem up to and including 8 axles and 200k gross... I mount my own tires on the wing and the jeep. I've never had a vibration on the wing and I knock weights off (if balanced) or tear chunks out of the tread on the jeep on a regular basis offroad so it would be pointless to balance.... I'd have to do it every weekend.

Maybe saying most shops would laugh was a mis-statement..... most of the shops that I've dealt with would tho... I've never been asked if I wanted em balanced and haulinng heavy equip you go through a lot of tires

Really tho my whole point was just that it isn't the cut and dried "everything that turns" case that some would indicate.... I certainly don't mean that balancing is ever a bad thing.... it just sometimes isn't very practical for some situations.

O/P you will be very happy with maxxis... top shelf stuff

 

[tpassmore]

Re: Buying tires...help

bot and balanced a pair of Maxxis ST. made a trip to Hill Country, about 500 miles. happy to report trailer was very smooth and uneventful. maybe they'll last a few more trips. thanks for all your input