Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

[bruceb58]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

but the tire brand rhymes with Mow Taster

Interesting. I had a set of Mow Tasters before and they were great so I insisted on getting them as my last set. Will see how mine last.

 

[I_5320]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

Quick update.

On-line site I purchased these from stated they generally try to sell trailer tires less than a year old, they normally check the date codes before they ship but missed this shipment, and will replace this set with newer ones at no charge. (They thought they could find me some no more than 6 months old)

I will not plug their name on this site but at this point I won't bash them either.

I will however plug Iboats since I've been very happy with my on-line buys through them and only shop elsewhere when they don't carry what I'm looking for.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

Quick update.

On-line site I purchased these from stated they generally try to sell trailer tires less than a year old, they normally check the date codes before they ship but missed this shipment, and will replace this set with newer ones at no charge. (They thought they could find me some no more than 6 months old)

I will not plug their name on this site but at this point I won't bash them either.

I will however plug Iboats since I've been very happy with my on-line buys through them and only shop elsewhere when they don't carry what I'm looking for.

Good for you and good for them! It is always better to try a little diplomacy first before you hit 'em where it hurts.

 

[jcfitzgerald]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

(IMO) Complaining on social media only makes the poster look bad in most circumstances.

 

[jkust]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

I certainly hate whiners and victims but to say that 51% of circumstances for which folks complain make them look bad is a bit random. I appreciate when you can get the story from someone and avoid the same circumstance. Particularly on a site like this where we can drill down as to what happened.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

Same thing here, last year I dropped around 6 k on stuff through iboats and ever thing was very smooth.

 

[matt167]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

I always discard tires older than 6 years. Doesn’t matter if they are good or not. Front tires on my truck are getting close, but they may be worn out by then too ( Cooper Discover ATR's with at least 40k on them )

 

[jcfitzgerald]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

I certainly hate whiners and victims but to say that 51% of circumstances for which folks complain make them look bad is a bit random. I appreciate when you can get the story from someone and avoid the same circumstance. Particularly on a site like this where we can drill down as to what happened.

This isn't social media. It's generally a technical or specialty forum. I was referring to chats, FB, etc. The folks on tech forums that need to hear the legitimate complaints may not be on purely social media.

 

[loose rivet]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

If I replaced every tire I own ever 6 years I'd go broke.
Lets see, 4 trucks, 5 cars, two motorcycles, 14 boat trailers, 3 utility trailers, an open car trailer, and two enclosed car trailers, then count the tractors, 23 garden tractors, 2 small farm tractors, 1skid steer loader, and a back hoe.

The tires on most of the tractors probably came on them new, several are over 40 years old, all are over 30.
Two of my cars have under 12,000 miles on them, but are over 10 years old, one needed tires after 5 years, (Goodyear tires started shelling off chunks of tread), and the other still has its original Michelin tires although they're showing some sidewall cracks now. At $150 a pop, they're staying on there till I get a real deal on tires for it.
My newest truck, a 1994 still has its original tires at 40K, my 1986 truck had new tires in 2009, brand new Firestones that still look fine, but have less than 200 miles on them. My shop truck has 80K on a set of 1996 Michelin tires that it came with.

Pretty much any trailer I've got that is either newer than about 1999, or has had tires since, has needed tires nearly every other year.
The rubber dries out and literally falls apart and the casing don't stay together either. It used to be a tire could be worn down with cords showing and still hold air, but now they leak right through the rubber, long before the cords show. If they get to the cords, they blow apart. I had a brand new 8" trailer tire, inflated to 30 psi blow up in the back of my truck, it was 3 years old and stowed in a milk crate along with a jack and some other spare parts, the brand new, never ridden on tire blew up in last summer's heat. The rubber dry rotted so bad it let the tire bead come out of the rubber casing and slip over the rim. It was bought as a tire/rim combo summer of 2010 at a local store here. The tire had an 0909 date code on it that I could see, branded Tow Master. What surprised me even more what how rusty the rim was inside the tire, it was a galvanized rim but it was nearly rusted through. Not worth even putting another tire on. The spare I carry now is from a 1960 something trailer, an old Uniroyal tire on a painted rim. It don't leak and probably will out last me.

 

[jkust]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

This isn't social media. It's generally a technical or specialty forum. I was referring to chats, FB, etc. The folks on tech forums that need to hear the legitimate complaints may not be on purely social media.

Ok I see. I do Linkedin and that's it. I don't give a crap that someone had a case of the mondays on facebook or that you had a great meal at a restaurant or to see the 100th picture of your kid. I get ya though...I appreciate these forums and even complaint threads when they may have some merit.

 

[BrianCinAz]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

Been reading trailer tires are good for 3-5 years.

Just received a set of Kenda KR25 Radials with these date codes. (Plus had to wait 2 weeks for delivery)

1411 (April 2011)
4610 (Nov 2010)

Does warehouse time effect age? Should I return?

Yes, years ago I worked for Goodyear and then Firestone Tire. The official company policy for each was / is that rubber ages the day it drops from the mold. Even sitting in the garage, the tires will rot and need to be replaced. That is why you should never allow someone to mount your new tires before you get to inspect them. If buying mail order tires, then you need to call first and make sure that you are getting fresh tires, not old closeout tires.

where do you get the info to "crack the code" and where do you find the numbers?

14th week of 2011 and 46th week of 2010

 

[BrianCinAz]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

I bought two new Load Star tires for a 2005 boat trailer I have here just so I had fresh tires to go pick up a boat I bought 200 miles away, the tires were new and date coded 3611, both are dry rotted now to the point they won't hold air. they didn't last at all. They have less than 450 miles on them and their already leaking. The tires that came on a brand new trailer I bought last summer are also already dryrot cracked on the sidewalls.

The tires made in China do not have the UV inhibitors in the rubber.

 

[loose rivet]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

The problem here is that no one stocks or lists tires that aren't made in China.
The brand choices are H188 or something to that effect, Duro, Load Star, Cheng Shin, Kenda (rare), and Tow Master. On occasion you find Carlisle tires but their super expensive and don't seem to last any longer. A bought a set back in 2007 and they're dry rotted and cracked to the point of leaking already. Nearly all of my tires are 5.30-12 or 5.70-8, 4.80-8, and a few with small 13" tires.
I've bought tires both local and online with the same results, in a year or two they're showing cracks, in 3 or 4 they won't hold air and are leaking out the cracks. Trailer tires rot faster than car tires too. The tires on my company car are from 2005 and have not a single crack in them, their made in China, branded Mile Maker. They've been fine and they were CHEAP. They were 1/3 the price of a name brand set for that car. They've got 45K on them and have no sign of cracking or age, they even wear well.
They also didn't need any weights when they were new, unlike the original tires that had 1 to 2 oz on each wheel.

It seems like the tire's lifespan is being shortened on purpose, they tires are three times the price they used to be, often more and they don't last even a fraction of the time they used to. I think we're dealing with a case of 'planned obsolescence' with the intent of simply selling more tires.

 

[I_5320]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

Considering it was not a Iboats sale I did not feel it was appropriate to mention the name at all. Any bashing would have been in the form of a Vendors site/product review. Which I do take seriously when I buy things. However usually it's about the product.

Also, I Titled the thread this way to get some attention. I was actually hoping I'd get somewhat of a consensus of feedback saying "Don't worry about it,, a 2 year shelf life is fine." In fact the $$ is no big deal. $150 for a set of Radial tires. My main reason for the thread was the safety factor.

So I do have a update from Kenda's Warranty dept I'll pass along.

*Kenda Rep was not aware of a US DOT age limit.
*Their warranty policy is 2 years from date of purchase with a max of 4 years from manf date code. So although these were at the tail end they were mostly still covered under their standard warranty.
* As to the expected age he stated there we too many factors to consider to make a blanket statement. (Seemed very genuine about this and it appears this is often debated internally) He did say that the Radial S-Trail tire had a good track record in regards to warranty claims.
* He also mentioned that I may notice some sway going to the radials versus the bias tires and that I could lower the tire pressure a little bit if I was +25% or so under the tire weigh capacity. Stated if my tire was crowned too much it may wear prematurely at the center. Apparently you can do some adjusting on a radial to allow the tire tread to sit flatter. However, he did mention there's a trade off with a little more heat so you have limitations. You don't want to do this with Bias tires. So it sounds like the optimum ratio for ST Radials is to have 10-15% excess capacity and run at max pressure.

So here's what I concluded since my goal is to avoid having a tire failure:

I'll minimize risk of overheating and if anything go a few lbs under max. See how she rolls on the road. If I see too much center wear I can always adjust.

Knowing the manf warranty for 4 years of mold date. I'll buy the newest ones I can fine and replace every 5 years from date code. (Assuming I taking care of them and won't be putting the mileage on them)

Last, sounds like the days of 10 year trailer tires are gone. So I skip 2 dinners out with my wife in a 5 year period and I break even.

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

...I was actually hoping I'd get somewhat of a consensus of feedback saying "Don't worry about it,, a 2 year shelf life is fine." In fact the $$ .

There was thread on this just a few days ago. 2 years is getting along, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. They're not inflated, in the sun and weather, loaded, etc. 2 years mounted, sitting in the same spot is going to do much more damage.

Here's the thread: http://forums.iboats.com/trailers-towing/trailer-tire-replacement-594761.html

So I skip 2 dinners out with my wife in a 5 year period and I break even.

Don't know that I'd recommend this, however. At the very least, don't tell her.

John

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

There was thread on this just a few days ago. 2 years is getting along, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. They're not inflated, in the sun and weather, loaded, etc. 2 years mounted, sitting in the same spot is going to do much more damage.

I am glad someone is going to buy the 2 year old tires. Just not going to be me.

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

Good question. I looked at Kenda's web site and there's no warranty info on Trailer tires. I do recall someone writing "some countries " have a 6 year limit.

I have a call into Kenda. We'll see what they say about age. Wanted to get my facts straight before I formally disputed.

We have a 2 year limit here on all tyres here!

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

We have a 2 year limit here on all tyres here!

I suppose that's a limit from the date of manufacture? That's reasonable. Again, tires in storage do not deteriorate at the same rate as those outdoors, inflated, loaded, etc.

John

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Just bought trailer tires and they're already 2 years old

I am glad someone is going to buy the 2 year old tires. Just not going to be me.

Everyone has their own analities. As I said in another thread, a large portion tire failures are due to stupidity and laziness. And some are just simply bad luck. You read the posts here that told of very old tires (one guy said 25 years) still running. While I certainly don't recommend that, tires very seldom "just blow out", as people are fond of saying.

Six years of service time is a reasonable limit. Storage time? UK standards say six years, I saw somewhere. I don't know that I've seen an American standard. You have to be wary of manufacture's organizations recommendations. I think you'll see in the near future they'll recommend any tire that's punctured, regardless of the severity of the puncture, be replaced. They have a vested interest in selling tires.

John