General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

elkhunter338

Master Chief Petty Officer
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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

We can all have our thoughts on if we have to put trailer tires on a trailer. There are many trailers out there without quote trailer tires.
I just bought 2 passenger tires 205/65/R15 for my boat trailer. 44 psi tires, rated at 1400 lbs each. The tire shop did not bat an eye when I said I needed a couple of tires mounted on my rims for a trailer. The load on each tire is 1,000 lbs. so I am well within the load rating of the tire.
Does anyone really know what makes a trailer tire so special.
Other than it is hard to get a LT tire (50 psi) in a tire smaller than 215/75/15.
 

Sixmark

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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

We can all have our thoughts on if we have to put trailer tires on a trailer. There are many trailers out there without quote trailer tires.
I just bought 2 passenger tires 205/65/R15 for my boat trailer. 44 psi tires, rated at 1400 lbs each. The tire shop did not bat an eye when I said I needed a couple of tires mounted on my rims for a trailer. The load on each tire is 1,000 lbs. so I am well within the load rating of the tire.
Does anyone really know what makes a trailer tire so special.
Other than it is hard to get a LT tire (50 psi) in a tire smaller than 215/75/15.

They didn't bat an eye because most of them have no clue what they are even selling, the majority of tire shops now look at a computer screen and just look at size and then they slap it on whatever the customer wants it on.

If you check the legality of it, they are not legally responsible for any tire that they do not physically install on a vehicle themselves. If you bring in a loose wheel and have them put a tire on it, then once it leaves their door , you become the responsible party.

Trailer tire compositions are made differently than a passenger or LT tire, trailer tires generally have a substantially different aspect ratio than a passenger or LT tire as well.

These are just some of the factors why I resigned from a national tire chain, they didn't want to sell the right product, they just wanted to sell any product.
 

Sixmark

Master Chief Petty Officer
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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

oh.....just to add to the original topic......

The Kumho brand tires have been getting rave reviews from many different customers in different applications.

I buy the best quality product that in return provides me with the safest product. I always try to buy American, even if it's more money, but I won't sacrifice safety over any loyalty concerns.
 

ezmobee

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Mar 26, 2007
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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

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.

This could not be more wrong if you tried.
 

ChampionShip

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Mar 18, 2010
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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

I've been told that if you trailer alot of miles than you want radials......or was it bias ply?? I can't recall, but will concur that Harbor Freight is pretty much only good for hand tools that you only plan to use once- stuff like that. Get a good set of tires that will more than exceed your weight rating. I think that American made is the way to go because it supports our market, but that's an opinion since I don't have a poly-science or econ degree like some guys claim to on here.
 

ezmobee

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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

OK, splain it to us then.

Watch Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices. There's lot of other research out there as well. Wal-Mart basically forces their suppliers overseas...not the other way around.
 

richardgreen

Seaman
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Sep 25, 2010
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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

Based on your own experience, stick with the US made tires and you'll be happier in the end. You'd be kidding yourself to expect a product made to hit a low price point to be of particularly high quality, regardless of it's origin.

RG
 

Low dsrt jon

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

:eek::eek::eek: Buy a set of MAXXIS trailer tires. Best on the market right now. LDJ:):):)
 

reelfishin

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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

From past experience, the Chinese tires seem to show dryrot cracks after about 2 years, regardless of wear or use. This far less common among US made tires.
On the highway, with new tires, I've had no issues with any of the Chinese made brands sold around here for trailers but I don't travel very far and rarely do the tires see a maximum load.

When it comes to regular passenger tires, I've had no issues at all either with Chinese tires. My one truck at work came to me used with four new Chinese Goodyear knockoffs, I was leery about those tires but 58K later they're doing just fine. I think the brand on the sidewall is something like Goodtrend or similar. I did see one private tire dealer selling them, they were about 1/4 the cost of new Goodyear tires. They don't seem to be as stiff or 'underrated as comparable US made tires but they are serving their purpose. I most likely won't put Chinese tires on again unless there's no other choice, it's just a matter of principle to buy American when I can.

When it comes to trailer tires, for a trailer that maybe sees 300 miles per year, I'm not too picky as to what I put on it, just about any tire will rot away long before it wears out.

If I were traveling long distances over the freeway, I'd buy top of the line US made tires. My work trailers all get US made tires unless there's no other option at the time.

If your trailer sits indoors, out of the sun or if you cover your tires from the sunlight, chances are the Chinese tires will be fine. The last I checked a set of new 12" wheels and tires with Chinese tires were about $100, double that for US made tires, plus the rims. That difference is hard to swallow for someone that don't pull his trailer but a couple times a year.
 

dingbat

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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.

You may find it interesting that the Department of Transportation doesn?t agree with that philosophy.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regu...unkKey=090163348008f296&keyword=trailer tires

571.110 Tire selection and rims and motor home/recreation vehicle trailer load carrying capacity information for motor vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less.

S4.2 Requirements.

S4.2.2.1 Except as provided in S4.2.2.2, the sum of the maximum load ratings of the tires fitted to an axle shall not be less than the GAWR of the axle system as specified on the vehicle?s certification label required by 49 CFR part 567. If the certification label shows more than one GAWR for the axle system, the sum shall be not less than the GAWR corresponding to the size designation of the tires fitted to the axle.

S4.2.2.2 When passenger car tires are installed on an MPV, truck, bus, or trailer, each tire?s load rating is reduced by dividing it by 1.10 before determining, under S4.2.2.1, the sum of the maximum load ratings of the tires fitted to an axle.

S4.2.2.3 (a) For vehicles, except trailers with no designated seating positions, equipped with passenger car tires, the vehicle normal load on the tire shall be no greater than 94 percent of the derated load rating at the vehicle manufacturer?s recommended cold inflation pressure for that tire.

(b) For vehicles, except trailers with no designated seating positions, equipped with LT tires, the vehicle normal load on the tire shall be no greater than 94 percent of the load rating at the vehicle manufacturer?s recommended cold inflation pressure for that tire.
 

reelfishin

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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

How did this ever turn into a discussion of whether or not to use trailer or ST rated tires?

The OP asked if anyone had any experience with Chinese tires.

There is no written law that I know of banning the use of passenger tires on a trailer.
In general trailer tires have stiffer sidewalls and can carry more load.
The stiffer sidewalls also help to prevent sway but this is more noticeable on a trailer loaded closer to it's max rating.
If you boat and trailer weigh say 1,000 lbs, then you would never experience any advantage with an ST trailer tire. The main concerns of using a passenger tire on a trailer come when loading of the trailer exceeds or approaches the tire's max rating.
I run passenger tires on my 14' aluminum boat trailer, they ride softer, last longer, and I have a better selection of sizes. At under 800 lbs on the trailer, I'm certainly not over stressing the sidewall or ever going to experience any sway towing it due to the tires.
If I recall, those tires are rated at something like 1140 lbs each. Well over double what is required. The passenger tires smoothed the ride by a long shot, that trailer would bounce all over the road when I had even 4 ply trailer tires on it, now with the passenger tires it rides smooth and I'm sure the softer ride is doing wonders for the boat as well.

When it comes to Chinese products, what I find most of the time that they are a copy of the real thing, the issue is how well did they copy the original, did they cut any corners, and was the manufacturer worried about making it just look like the original or did they truly copy the product through and through.

So far it's been my experience that the biggest issue with most Chinese made tires is ozone and/or UV resistance. I've not had any fail on the road, but have had plenty get some pretty nasty sidewall cracks after only a year or two. The softer sidewall radial trailer tires seem to show cracks the earliest.

More often than not, you can only find the Chinese made tires, I've often been up against either using Chinese trailer tires or waiting for a store to order US made tires simply due to supply and demand. The average buyer wants tires for cheap, so that's what they stock.

All tires will age, all tires will eventually show cracks. I have a pair of Carlisle Trail USA tires on a trailer in the garage, they are dated from June of 2007, they have never been out of the garage. I put them on the trailer when I picked up that project boat and they've been sitting in a heated garage since. They are already developing sidewall cracks about an inch or two down from the tread corner. They have less than 40 miles on them and were installed in January of 2008. I've got a set of Towmaster trailer tires on my 19' boat, which sits outdoors, which were new in Aug of 2008, and they have pretty pronounced sidewall cracks showing. That boat is parked on a concrete pad next to the garage with a cover over the boat, and two RV tire covers. Those have about 400 miles on them. They will most likely not make it through next season as I suspect the cracks will start to leak air.
 

JBF 1962

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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

The compounds/designs for trailer service tires differ in that they are designed to withstand more uv's, spend more time sitting etc. It's just such a different life for them than that of automotive tires. As to Chinese rubber, most don't comply to DOT standards, just avoid them. Also, should we abandon all our industry in North America?
 

dockwrecker

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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

" As to Chinese rubber, most don't comply to DOT standards, just avoid them. "


Now that just couldn't be any more wrong if you tried. Unless it's labled off road use ony, it HAS to be DOT compliant.
 

QC

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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

Agree ^^^^
 

JimS123

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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

Also, should we abandon all our industry in North America?

Absolutely NOT. I'll usually pay double for a USA made product, but if the item I want is ONLY made in China I won't do without it just for spite.

My original idea was to buy Goodyear Marathons, but then I found that they are made in China too.

My second choice was Carlisle USA Trail because my research indicated that was the ONLY USA trailer tire. But further investigating has shown too many complaints re. the quality of this tire.

Hence the reason for posting the question in the first place.
 

JimS123

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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

As to Chinese rubber, most don't comply to DOT standards, just avoid them.

I've seen things made out of Chinese rubber and wasn't impressed. However, I can't confirm or deny whether it meets DOT standards.

But I do have some first hand knowledge about how they do business....

Last year I completed a factory build in the US. Against my advice the CEO chose a Chinese company to supply the process equipment. I wrote the specifications for the plant and it was clearly stated that all equipment has to meet ASTM, CE, UL, EPA and all other US regulations.

It didn't!

The wire did not meet UL and the local inspector failed the electrical systems, half of the welds on the mechanical components were faulty, the structural supports failed inspection because of inadequate strength and all of the parts (inclding handrails had to be replaced becaue they were painted with lead paint.
 

crewscontrol

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Sep 15, 2010
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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

Due strictly to age the OE tires on the trailer that carries my 270 Sea Ray were replaced by 4 eight ply China tires with adequate rating. The VERY FIRST TIME the boat was trailered to the ICWW TWO of the FOUR China tires separated within the first 80 miles. When I examined the remaining two China tires, both were on the verge of separating as well.

My local tire dealer "made them good", and told me it was almost impossible to find trailer tires made in the USA. Right or wrong I paid the difference and bought 4 new eight ply truck tires that were made in the USA. I have run them for the past 3 years with no problems. No more China tires for me.
 

rodbolt

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Sep 1, 2003
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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

they still make tires in the US ?
 

elkhunter338

Master Chief Petty Officer
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Re: General concensus on USA vs. China Tires?

What size of boat tire are you looking for
205/75/15 or what?
 
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