Originally Posted By: CapriRacer
Originally Posted By: matrass
Thanks for your take on the trailer tires. the standard suggested size for the trailer is 215/70 /R14 but I have been looking at the 215/75/ R14 as they are a more common size.
???? ST tires don't come in 215/70R14. Is it possible your trailer is supposed to take regular passenger car tires?
Check to see if you have a tire placard on the trailer. It might be on draw bar, or on the frame somewhere.
Originally Posted By: matrass
will have to check out the current rating on the tire but I am pretty sure they are C rated. the Maxxis is rated at 1870 per tire. the GVW for my trailer is 4,400 but I am sure I do not reach that weight. trailer weighs 1,000 plus the motor is 440 and the boat is 1,500lbs for a total of 2,940 lbs. I f I add my gear and batteries it should be not more than 3,300 lbs when towing.
Based on that, I'd say that 215/70R14 is NOT the proper size. You couldn't get to 4400 GVW using a passenger car tire.
Originally Posted By: Donald
I think he meant to up the load rating .......
Actually, I meant going up in load carrying capacity - which you can do by either going larger or going up in Load Range (with the appropriate pressure increase)
But looking at things, if there isn't room to go to a 15", then matrass is stuck - he can't go larger in load carrying capacity.
Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
Weirdly enough, even though some people bash them, I've had good luck with Carlisle, especially if I run them 5 PSI above maximum PSI, and check pressures religiously. They seem tougher, the bias ones even tougher in the sidewall area than the radials.
One of the fascinating things about this whole subject is the reaction people have. In order to explain why I am fascinated, I have to explain the statistics involved.
Tire structural failures are pretty rare events - and note I am leaving out structural failure caused by road hazards. I think even trailer tires are less than 1%.
That means that the odds of a single person having a failure is less than 1 in 50 (for a single axle trailer - less than 1 in 25 for a 2 axle trailer) So it should be expected that MOST people won't have issues.
Then look at people who have had multiple failures. 2 failures would be 1 in 625 (assuming a 2 axle trailer), and 3 failures 1 in over 15,000. So those guys with multiple failures ought to be looking at what they are doing wrong. Those odds are really quite high and would point to some factor other than just tires.
When I've had trailer tire problems, it's been because somebody curbed a tire, got a puncture, or never checked pressure. That said, I have had a few Chinese made ST radials (Freestar, Power King, & and Milestar) get multiple punctures, sometimes more than one at a time, because the tread area was just too thin. Seems like they're often in an "unrepairable" area too. Knock on wood, haven't lost a Carlisle yet (though they are made in China too). The OP should look for C rated LT 14" radials-they exist, I've used them on S-10s before-they would be tougher than your average ST trailer tire.