O my five'r I have Goodyear Marathons. Had trouble blowing sidewalls. Went to G/Y commercial store and even stepped up a rating. Sidewalls still coming apart. <span style="color: #CC0000">JUNK TIRES</span>. Haven't heard anyone that has had good luck with them. Looking for a trailer tire that has some balls and can last more than 1,000 to 1,500 miles.
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1997 F-250 XLT EXTA-CAB, 7.3 P.S.D., 2-wheel dr., 95,000 miles, E40D trans., 4:10 rear., DIESEL INNOVATION 4 position CHIP, JoeServo IDM MOD, Tymar intake & HPX Hose, SONNEX Accumulator Valve & Tricumulator Springs, Tru-cool tranny cooler. Trans,Pyro(pre-Turbo)& Boost gauges,down pipe w/ 4" exhaust on back. Donaldson muffler w/ Kitty gone, Non-existing EBPV. 99 intercooler w/ gtspowerstroke tubes. Pull 28 ft 5th wheel and 17 ft boat,in tandem. Including truck, everything together weighs 18,080 lb's. http://community.webshots.com/user/ksfishman100
I've had Goodyear Marathons on two different travel trailers over the past six years, towed more than 50,000 miles with them and never had a problem. If your tires are rated for the load and the conditions you use them in and are maintained properly you should not have a problem. Overloaded, underinflated and curbed regurlarly are are factors which guarantee short tire life.
Several years ago, Goodyear did have a bad manufacturing run involving the Marathon tire but they should be out of the system by now.
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Early 99 F250 PSD (XLE4) XLT, Extended Cab, Short Bed, 4X2, BTS Trans/TC, 3.73 Limited Slip, Transfer Flow 48 Gal. Mid-Ship Tank
Western WA - Member since August 2001
I am like you. Lots of trouble with Goodyear Marathons. Made switch to Michelin XPS Ribs. These are a commercial truck tire. Pulls and tracks great with the Michelins. I switched after a friend with same Goodyear troubles had switched and praised the Michelins. If you are stuck with 15" tires, I have a friend that has had really good luck with Maxxis tires. He just got back from Alaska and had no tire problems on his 14,000 mile trip.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pull 28 ft 5th wheel...</div></div>
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. The trailer manufacturers don't put enough tire on their RV trailers.
More than likely your problem is tire weight capacity more than tire brand. Although the tires are rated for enough to handle the max axle weight of your trailer (assuming you don't overload the trailer), there is almost no "fudge factor".
If your trailer tires are ST205/75R15 on 5" wide wheels, then that's your problem. You need to buy new wheels and tires. The wheels must be 6" wide for the bigger tires, and the tires need to be at least ST225/75R15D.
I blew out three of the stock Marathons in short order. Then I replaced all the wheels and tires with 6" wide wheels and ST225/75R15D tires. That was several coast-to-coast trips ago, and I've not had any tire problems after the upgrade.
For tires, pay the big bucks for Cooper Custom Trailer Plus, which are available in only one size, but it's the size you need. ST225/75R15D. Click here.
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My Sierra Blanca is a '99.5 PSD CrewCab hot-rod Towing Machine! BTS tranny; TurboRamAir intake and 4" stainless turbo-back exhaust; DP-Tuner tunes flashed into an Edge Evolution tuner; ISSPRO EV gauges and TTM; AIC; SP-Diesel exhaust brake and torque converter controller. I special-ordered it new and plan to drive it until it quits.
Like FleetMan, my experience with Goodyear Marathons has been positive. Four years of towing my 5th wheel over Canada and the US; only have had to fix a slow leak in Mesa last year. (nail in tire).
They are 5 years old now and due for replacement. I will probably go with Marathons again although I have seen lots of props for Denman Tires.
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Here is most of what you need to know on getting your 7.3L started and how to operate it in the cold winter months. These posts use to readily available, but they've been hid in a subforum top of the 7.3 Power Stroke Engine and Drivetrain forum. Winter Operation (How I Do It) Hard/No Start? Check here first
Smokey - maybe it's time for you to re-state the importance of putting "ST" tires on trailers instead of "LT"s. Whatever I would write about it comes from having read your posts in prior years.
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Sold: 1999 White Lariat CC SB F-250. Sold to next-door neighbor in 2001....received final payment 2007! Still going strong at 198Kmiles as of Dec'07
Sold: 2001 Bright Amber Lariat CC LB F-250 with 4 million candlepower of LightForce lights in the bow. Line-X bedliner. Dual alternator. Clearance lights. Glass-tite cap. 250-gallon auxiliary tank for trips to the Lesser 48. 70-gallon auxiliary for trips around Alaska. Rec'd Dec'07: '08 ForestGreen/Gold F-350 CC LB. Handshaker, as always, Rear stabilizer, rear static video, rear step, dual alternators. B&W turnover ball on its way; soon to be Line-X'd. LightForces on their way.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Alaska Ranger</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Smokey - maybe it's time for you to re-state the importance of putting "ST" tires on trailers instead of "LT"s. </div></div>
For small to medium-sized trailers with 14" or 15" tires, then you definitely want Special Trailer (ST) tires instead of Passenger Car (P) tires. In a crunch, 15" Light Truck (LT) tires can be run on a trailer, but the tire and trailer industry experts say don't do it. ST tires have much stiffer sidewalls that can take the sideways dragging that trailer tires often have to endure.
But when you get up to heavier trailers, then the LT tires are fine. Until recently, there was no such thing as an ST tire in 16" size. Bigger trailers that required 16" tires all came with LT tires. Recently Goodyear Marathon began selling as ST 16" tire, and many trailer manufacturers now mount those on trailers that require 16" tires.
"Real" truck tires are designated as either steer, drive, trailer, or all position tires instead of LT or ST. So when you buy a real truck tire for a trailer, be certain it is either a trailer tire or an all-position tire. For example, the Michelin XPS 235/85R16 is a real truck tire suitable for all positions. So it's fine and dandy for a trailer tire if your trailer has 16" tires.
I was having inside wear on my gooseneck horse trailer tires and started blowing tires. Had it to the shop several times before they admitted I had bad axles (bought the trailer new and hauled about 2500 miles when the problems started). It's away having new axles put on now.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SmokeyWren</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For example, the Michelin XPS 235/85R16 is a real truck tire suitable for all positions. So it's fine and dandy for a trailer tire if your trailer has 16" tires. </div></div>
Thanks...except that really hurts. I just SOLD at a giveaway price my mounted XPS's at the same time I sold my '01 7.3.
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Sold: 1999 White Lariat CC SB F-250. Sold to next-door neighbor in 2001....received final payment 2007! Still going strong at 198Kmiles as of Dec'07
Sold: 2001 Bright Amber Lariat CC LB F-250 with 4 million candlepower of LightForce lights in the bow. Line-X bedliner. Dual alternator. Clearance lights. Glass-tite cap. 250-gallon auxiliary tank for trips to the Lesser 48. 70-gallon auxiliary for trips around Alaska. Rec'd Dec'07: '08 ForestGreen/Gold F-350 CC LB. Handshaker, as always, Rear stabilizer, rear static video, rear step, dual alternators. B&W turnover ball on its way; soon to be Line-X'd. LightForces on their way.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SmokeyWren</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Alaska Ranger</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Smokey - maybe it's time for you to re-state the importance of putting "ST" tires on trailers instead of "LT"s. </div></div>
For small to medium-sized trailers with 14" or 15" tires, then you definitely want Special Trailer (ST) tires instead of Passenger Car (P) tires. In a crunch, 15" Light Truck (LT) tires can be run on a trailer, but the tire and trailer industry experts say don't do it. ST tires have much stiffer sidewalls that can take the sideways dragging that trailer tires often have to endure.
But when you get up to heavier trailers, then the LT tires are fine. Until recently, there was no such thing as an ST tire in 16" size. Bigger trailers that required 16" tires all came with LT tires. Recently Goodyear Marathon began selling as ST 16" tire, and many trailer manufacturers now mount those on trailers that require 16" tires.
"Real" truck tires are designated as either steer, drive, trailer, or all position tires instead of LT or ST. So when you buy a real truck tire for a trailer, be certain it is either a trailer tire or an all-position tire. For example, the Michelin XPS 235/85R16 is a real truck tire suitable for all positions. So it's fine and dandy for a trailer tire if your trailer has 16" tires. </div></div>
Smokey: I've been thru 3 sets of so called ST load range E tires ( Titan and Carlisle sp? ) I searched the Tire Rack and several RV sites, I even called a local Tire Distributor to find out why I couldn't run LT load range E and what would it hurt! You are the first one to mention " all position tire ". How do you know if your LT tire is rated for all positions? I'm I safe in assuming the LT all position tire has stiffer side wall?
It's to late for me know I bought Toyo LT tires this spring. If I bought wrong again I can take your new information to the local shop after this set blows out!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mbcolorado</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> You are the first one to mention " all position tire ". How do you know if your LT tire is rated for all positions? </div></div>
Go to a "truck" tire site and look for an all-position or trailer tire in your size.
For example:
Click on this link: http://www.michelintruck.com/michelintruck/index.jsp
Then: <ul>[*]Click on "Choose a vehicle" and choose "LTL Carrier" or "RV".[*]Click on "Choose position" and choose "All position"[*]Click on "Choose a size" and choose "LT235/85R16E"[/list]The answer will be "XPS Rib"
And note that if you think the LT235/85R16 might be too big for your fenderwells, you can get a shorter and narrower XPS in size LT225/75R16E. More weight capacity than ST235/75R15, but not much bigger.
Also note that the XPS is the only Michelin tire that will fit a pickup and that is rated "truck all position". So the Michelin LTX is a good tire, but it's not a "real truck tire".
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I'm I safe in assuming the LT all position tire has stiffer side wall? </div></div>
The XPS is an "all steel" tire with steel radial plies as well as steel belts. And yes, the sidewall is stiffer than ordinary LT tires. Of course, you'll also notice that the XPS costs a lot more than other premium-priced truck tires such as Michelin LTX and BFGoodrich AllTerrain.
After seeing this thread I went to the Discount Tire Website and found this trailer tire fact page. I know they are trying to sell tires and I could see my trailer useage falling into this category, but "...The mileage expectation of a trailer tire would be 5,000 to 12,000 miles..." Is this a reasonable statement of trailer mileage?
I made it 43,000 miles on my triple axle trailer with Goodyear Marathons 235/85R16 Load range "E" and NEVER had a single flat tire.
The tires were five years old so I decided to replace all of them and a guy bought them from me for his F250 and they all seperated on him in about 10,000 miles (53K total. I went back with the same exact tire because I feel this was excellent tire life.
The key is to keep them properly inflated ( I run 80 PSI) and don't jack knife your trailer.
I just bought a new trailer the same brand and the manufacturer still uses Goodyear and told me they have not found a better tire and for what they charge they could put anything on them.
I'll stick with my Goodyears.
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2002 F350 7.3 PSD DRW Crew Cab Long Bed 4 x 4 AutoMeter C2 Guages on Wood Grain "A" Pillar, AFE Stage 1 Intake, Turbo Back 4 Inch Stainless Exhaust, DP Tuner W/ Stock, 40HP Tow & 80HP Economy, Glasstite Bed Cover, 50Gal Aux Fuel Cell, Custom Stereo, Titan Class 5 Receiver, Air Bags, Tru Cool 4590 Transmission Cooler
In previous threads, discussion pointed [as Smokey relates] to LT tires on 16" wheels for heavier trailers - in part because the marketplace didn't offer ST rated 16" tires. My 4 horse gooseneck came from the factory with E rated 16" LT tires, 235-85-16s, same size I have on the truck. They work fine for my load [12k trailer weight rating, on dual 6k axles; normal loaded weight of 6-9k]. As Smokey and others have said before - it all depends on your trailer's loaded weight! IF you have a heavy 5'er, and posts here confirm Smokey's report of trailer manufacturers selling less tire/wheel than they should, your solution is to upgrade to 16" wheels. Once done, you need to make the judgment whether your load is so heavy [and towing so frequent] to justify the expense of real 'truck' tires [XPS ribs] or the new-to-the-market 16" STs. Me, I'm fine to date with the cheapo LTs that came with my '04 trailer, and I expect to replace them with comparable E rated LTs when the time comes [that is, nmt $100 per tire cost, less than half the price of the XPS]. Smokey, what do the 16" ST Marathons cost?
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2000 F250 4x2 Supercab XLT; Detroit Truetrac ltd slip diff. w/PML aluminum cover; FTVB; BTM; PF pads in the front. DP Tuner stock/60tow/80econ. 203 'stat, Cat ELC coolant, Gauges, Ford AIS, Bilsteins, Michelin LTX M/S, B&W gooseneck in a Line-X sprayed bed; UWS low profile tool box. Towing a 2004 CM Winstar 4 horse trailer loaded with quarterhorses, whenever possible ....
Wife's New Ride: 1999 Mercedes Benz E300 Turbo Diesel Sedan
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Riggodeaux</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Smokey, what do the 16" ST Marathons cost? </div></div>
$117 plus shipping, mounting & balancing, for ST235/80R16D, from TireRack.com
( Click here. )
Note that's load range D, but weight capacity of 3,000 pounds, so it's equivalent to LT235/85E which has 3,042 weight capacity.
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