General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

[JimS123]

I haven't bought trailer tires in quite a few years. Back in the 1980's I bought 2 sets of China tires "made by Goodyear" and they self destructed in 2 years. Then I switched to genuine Goodyear (says made in USA on the sidewalls) and have run them for years with good luck.

My 1999 trailer came from the factory with Carlisle Trinidad tires and they only lasted 2 years. Replaced them as well with Goodyear USA tires with good luck.

Fast forward to now. Carlisle makes "USA Trail" tires and they are about double the price of their China made Sport Trail tires.

So, my question is......are the current manufacture China tires improved?...or should I just stick with a known USA tire?

(My research has indicated that USA Trail is the ONLY USA made trailer tire)

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

I have yet to buy something from China that was better quality than USA or Japan. I just bought two tires from Les Schwab that are made in China, my other tires on my pickup or made in Korea (sport kings),
It is getting hard to find USA made stuff. I would guess the more expensive the tire the better quality, but twice as good who knows.
Depending on your tire size, I have light truck radial tires on my camp trailer (50 psi rated load range C) If a light truck tire will work you have many choices from USA, Japan, and other. The ones on my camp trailer are 215/75R15.
Don't let people tell you you have to use trailer tires, look at the tires rating for load and see what you need. I would recommend not getting a tire that just meets your weight requirement.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

I disagree with the hunter..... buy trailer tires. Load is not the only part of the equation.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

I disagree with the hunter..... buy trailer tires. Load is not the only part of the equation.

Agree, there are a lot more issues with sidewall flex on a trailer and regular tires may hold up and may not. They make "trailer" tires for a reason not just to gouge your pocket book.

 

[Cannondale]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

I have yet to buy something from China that was better quality than USA or Japan.

While in the main I'd almost agree completely, when it comes to computers, it's hard to buy components, etc., that aren't made in China.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

China just does not have the same standards as USA--in anything made there. Look at the dog food fiasco. You still can't buy a knife that will hold an edge. Corruption is rampant: If people die from substandard products---so what? people die all the time. Life is cheap to them. Etc.

Right now, Chinese manufactured goods are very much like Japanese made goods were 50 years ago. Quality will improve but it will take time.

Until they come up to world standards, I will try to avoid buying anything made in China---But that is difficult.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

You'll get better service from a LT or even passenger car tire than from an ST tire no matter where the tire is made. Just make sure the tires can handle the load.
I've used passenger radials on my boat trailer for 40,000+ miles at over 100 different ramps. No more ST tires for me.

 

[dude11]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

If you don't like China stuff--don't go to Walmart--98% china goods.I bet ole Sam is still spinning in his grave!!

 

[53skipper]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

If you don't like China stuff--don't go to Walmart--98% china goods.I bet ole Sam is still spinning in his grave!!

And his heirs and stockholders are laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[Shrike]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

Why not support American workers whenever possible?

 

[steelespike]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

C: 2006 I bought harbor freight 12" china trailer tires and rims both were awful.Tires wore fast and rims yellowed and flaked in about a year with no winter exposure.
I have 4 WalMart 12" tires and rims about 2 years older than Harbor freight. still close to factory condition.Probably USA, white with red and blue stripes 520 X 12
tires.

 

[sfw1960]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

Why not support American workers whenever possible?

I agree with that.....

 

[dazk14]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

If you have 14" tires, buy the Korean made Kumho's.

Flat out the best trailer tire that I have ever seen.

 

[QC]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

Let's keep this a technical discussion please ^^^^^

Don't let people tell you you have to use trailer tires, look at the tires rating for load and see what you need. I would recommend not getting a tire that just meets your weight requirement.

Do more research, this is not an accurate statement. In fact the second sentence somewhat contradicts the first. Trailer ratings matter.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

There are couple of very modern tire plants in Asia, namely Kumho and Maxxis. Both produce a quality tire with the latest tech, and in the trailer tire segment, probably the best radial ST tires out there. Goodyear may have started producing traielr tires in the US again but they're still Goodyear and have their quality issues. I'm not aware of anyone else producing a true ST tire in the US. And you're kidding yourself that ST doesn't make a big difference.

 

[JimS123]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

Let's keep this a technical discussion please ^^^^^


Do more research, this is not an accurate statement. In fact the second sentence somewhat contradicts the first. Trailer ratings matter.

I think what he was trying to say was that you don't want to JUST meet your trailer weight, but that the tires should EXCEED your minimum weight requirement.

 

[JimS123]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

And you're kidding yourself that ST doesn't make a big difference.

I understand why Trailer tires are trailer tires. I know what to buy. My question was ONLY to determine if China tires have improved vs. the crap they made a few years ago.

 

[JimS123]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

C: 2006 I bought harbor freight 12" china trailer tires and rims both were awful.Tires wore fast and rims yellowed and flaked in about a year with no winter exposure.
I have 4 WalMart 12" tires and rims about 2 years older than Harbor freight. still close to factory condition.Probably USA, white with red and blue stripes 520 X 12
tires.

Places like West Marine and IBoats sell reasonable good stuff. EVERYTHING sold at Harbor Freight is bottom of the barrel crap. Not a fair comparison.

 

[JimS123]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

If you don't like China stuff--don't go to Walmart--98% china goods.I bet ole Sam is still spinning in his grave!!

I believe he IS spinning. WM's corporate philosophy was to sell 100% American. But now what are they to do? The american companies that are suppliers changed their business model to be importers instead of manufacturers. Blame it on NAFTA and other regs.

Its not WalMarts fault. They only sell what is available.

 

[QC]

Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

OK, I see your point Jim, but I think dockwrecker and I were mostly reacting to elkhunter's suggestion that an ST rating was not important. Remember your thread is used by others for research, so the technical points made within a thread are important regardless of your original question . . .