My ?China Bomb? tires got me scared, am I over thinking this?

[bnurczyk]

I bought my first boat 3 years ago and one of the first things that need attention was the trailer tires.
They were dry rotted P195/70R14 car tires on bent up deep-dish chrome rims with 2? backspacing. The PO said they were OEM? I opted for Neutral offset rims and skinner ST185/80R13 rubber for clearance.

Hearing of all the China made tire failures I went to a reputable trailer outfit and requested USA made rims and tires. The Sales guy assured me ?these Tow Max were made in the USA?. Well two years later I found on the web and verified by the dot code, they are the China made Tow Max, I got duped. Everyone is referring to these tires as ?China bombs?.

I just recently found all this out, by bragging about having US made tires (I?ll skip the details), now I?m eat?in crow.
I am going on my third season on these tires- no problem yet, but I do take a 350 mile trip (700+ round trip) each summer and what I read on the web, I no longer trust these tires.

Anyone have experience with USA Trail Carlisles or should I bite my lip and go with Maxxis or Loadstar everyone seems to like. My buddy had the Chinese made Carlisles and they were junk. I have read on other forums the USA Trail Carlisles are actually made in the US but I can?t find any official info to verify that, no reviews either.

I would go with the RV and car hauler crowd and use LT ribs but the overall diameters start out 5? larger than what I have now, and I would need the back spaced rims for inside clearance.

 

[JB]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

It seems true that a lot of China products are poor quality. Don't make too much of that. Some USA products are poor quality.

A lot of China products are good quality and excellent value. Don't let labels and prejudice make your decisions for you.

Rejecting a product simply because it was made somewhere or by some company can cost you a lot. I find that the availability of warranty carries a lot more weight than "Made in Timbuktu" labels.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

if they were that bad, there would probably be a recall on them

 

[bnurczyk]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

It seems true that a lot of China products are poor quality. Don't make too much of that. Some USA products are poor quality.

A lot of China products are good quality and excellent value. Don't let labels and prejudice make your decisions for you.

Rejecting a product simply because it was made somewhere or by some company can cost you a lot. I find that the availability of warranty carries a lot more weight than "Made in Timbuktu" labels.

Sorry if it came off sounding prejudice; I am not in any way prejudice. And I do like value In a “competitive” market place, but US manufacturing cannot compete when they have little things to deal with like OSHA, the EPA etc. and others do not (cheap labor really is not a factor). So now we are polluting the other side of the planet to side-step the EPA and keep costs down.
Well now I’m sounding political, so I’ll stop. Politics don’t belong on these boards.
By the way, the Maxxis and Loadstars I’m looking at are made in Taiwan.

 

[bnurczyk]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

if they were that bad, there would probably be a recall on them

They should!
Next time you are really board do some Google searches on the subject, it really is that bad out there.

I just want what is safe for me and those behind me!

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Anyone have an opinion on Deestone tires made in Thailand?

 

[cribber]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Whatever tire you select you have to make sure it is trailer rated. Check out this article from TireRack

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=219

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

I have been using the loadstar's with out any problems and I believe I am on my fourth set in 15 years, but I do change them out ever 4 years or so and I make sure the date code is the correct year. That is some thing you have to watch very close a lot of tire dealers will sell you a brand new 4 year old tire. I believe that is the source of so may tire failers just because it looks new doesn't mean it is.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Check the age of your tires.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

There is definitely an "Everything American is Better" attitude in this country.

I remember when everything "Made In Japan" was labeled junk.
If I recommended to you to "Don't buy Japanese Electronics. Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic are all junk!"
You would think I was Nuts!

As you have found, A lot of American Products are "Made in China."
If, only by looking up the Mfg Codes, it took you three years to find out your Tires are "China Bombs."
What does that say about the quality?

Other than running out of rubber, Tires fail for two main reasons, Heat and Age.
Rubber, synthetic or natural, is an organic produce, and will bio-degrade. (Slowly)
Sunlight is a major contributor.

Your tires have over 2000 miles by you accounting.
That is easily over a Million revolutions.
Tires flex everytime the rubber meets the road.
Tires that are not fully inflated, Flex more!
More Flex, More Heat! That is what lights the fuse on the "Tire Bomb" no matter who made them!

Inspect the sidewalls for cracking more than once a year, keep them well inflated, lube the bearings, and keep on rolling.

Show me a blown trailer tire, and I'll show you an old, under-inflated, or overloaded tire.

 

[JB]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Didn't mean to accuse you of prejudice, bnurczyk. My apology if you took it that way.

 

[90stingray]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

I looked up the tow max tires and they warranty them for 5 years from date of manufacture. That doesn't sound too bad... unless they have been sitting on a shelf for 4 years and you just got them... then you only have 1 year of warranty left. Here's a link to the warranty page http://www.towmaxtires.com/tires/Landing.aspx?application=warranty

 

[bnurczyk]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Thanks to all who have replied, good news is the Tow Max’s on my trailer were produced the 38th week of 09 so they were new production when I got them. I also take real good care of things, pressure, bearings etc. I do need to check alignment though.

My main concern is over the fact there is so much bad press on these tires when you start digging.
A guy I used to work with had back to back failures on brand new tires, don’t remember who’s they were though, just remember him going off “brand new, properly inflated, not overloaded, made in &%$#” well you get the idea.

Maxxis seem to have the best reputation followed by the Loadstars. The thing I like about the Loadstars is they have a D rated tire in my size. Reserve capacity is always a good thing right?

Also the link in post #7 provided the following;
"Also consider that Special Trailer (ST), as well as Light Truck (LT) tires are fully rated for trailer applications. This means ST- and LT-sized tires can carry the full weight rating branded on the sidewalls when used on a trailer."
So the guys running LT’s aren’t so crazy after all

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

My main concern is over the fact there is so much bad press on these tires when you start digging.
A guy I used to work with had back to back failures on brand new tires, don?t remember who?s they were though, just remember him going off ?brand new, properly inflated, not overloaded, made in &%$#? well you get the idea.

You aways need to consider that no mater what you research, you will always see the Bad Press predominate!
If someone mades a million widgets, and 5 people have a problem. You will read 5 bad reviews and 1 good one.
The other 999,994 are happy and just do not bother reviewing.

Anecdotal evidence is always suspect. (Conside UFO's and Bigfoot!)
The guy with Two brand new tire failures....
BRAND NEW ... Newly manufactured? or just new to him? How new?
PROPERLY INFLATED ... Are you sure? By whose definition? When was it measured?
NOT OVERLOADED ... Are you sure? Weighed? or just looks right? By whose standard?
Incidents like this take the NTSB Years to resolve.

Did he take some new, old tires, rated for 65 mph, Inflated to 85% Max pressure, loaded to 99% Max load, driven across death valley at 125 degrees at 80 miles an hour? You get the idea.
And... it's always, not their fault, it was because of those "Cheap junk tires!"
..... Then he goes out and buys 2 more of the cheapest tires he can find!

I am not saying there couldn't be a problem.
I am saying you only have one side of the story, and you have more questions than answers!

Most folks do not take very good care of their boats, Even worse care of their trailers.

 

[bigdee]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Just because it says made in USA doesn't mean the materials were.....and in most cases they are not!! Sad but very true.

 

[drrpm]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

The tires have lasted a couple years already. If they still look good I wouldn't worry about them. Stuff that's junk tends to fail early. If they have been kept properly inflated and stored under shelter they should be good for at least another year or 2.

 

[Alan_Scott]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Show me a blown trailer tire, and I'll show you an old, under-inflated, or overloaded tire.

Say, your not a tire rep, are ya? That's a simplistic "one size fits all" answer that doesn't take manufacturing defects into account.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

<<<"Also the link in post #7 provided the following;
"Also consider that Special Trailer (ST), as well as Light Truck (LT) tires are fully rated for trailer applications. This means ST- and LT-sized tires can carry the full weight rating branded on the sidewalls when used on a trailer."
So the guys running LT’s aren’t so crazy after all ">>>

I'm not sure I buy this, although all I know is what I learned around here. I recall in previous discussion that, generally, trailer tires are built to handle the sideways pressures from sway and cornering that vehicle tires cannot. Also why they have to be fully inflated, and often call for greater pressure than a comparible car tire.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Say, your not a tire rep, are ya? That's a simplistic "one size fits all" answer that doesn't take manufacturing defects into account.

Nope .. Not even related to a tire rep! And , YES it is simplistic!
... But unfortunately, True, more than 50% of the time. (Not 100%)

...I am not saying there couldn't be a problem.
I am saying you only have one side of the story, and you have more questions than answers!

Most folks do not take very good care of their boats, Even worse care of their trailers.

The tire will let you know it is going to blow.
They do not go from shiney new, round, and cool, and then blow out 60 seconds later.
If you pay attention and read the signs, you will know something is wrong before it becomes a disaster.

In aviation you check the Tires and Oil before each flight, even if you just landed 30 minutes ago.
Flying is inherently more dangerous than boating, but the same principals apply.

Some folks have never lost a tire on the road, some have lost count, it is not ALL due to the tires.

 

[lncoop]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

<<<"Also the link in post #7 provided the following;
"Also consider that Special Trailer (ST), as well as Light Truck (LT) tires are fully rated for trailer applications. This means ST- and LT-sized tires can carry the full weight rating branded on the sidewalls when used on a trailer."
So the guys running LT’s aren’t so crazy after all ">>>

I'm not sure I buy this, although all I know is what I learned around here. I recall in previous discussion that, generally, trailer tires are built to handle the sideways pressures from sway and cornering that vehicle tires cannot. Also why they have to be fully inflated, and often call for greater pressure than a comparible car tire.

That's always been my understanding as well.

 

[Jim311]

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Re: My ?China Bombs? got me scared, am I over thinking this?

Trailer tires are pretty much ALL cheap. I don't see why you'd simply not trust them after like three seasons of towing. If they were going to spontaneously explode, they'd have done so already. Several seasons of use is not enough for them to prove themselves as decent tires to you?


As far as the debate over passenger tires, I don't see why it makes a difference. If they're rated for a certain load, why does it matter? A passenger tire sees way more cornering forces. It's usually higher volume than a trailer tire, meaning it requires less pressure to support an equivalent amount of weight.