RonC wrote:

---

hostage wrote:

---

I could care less if there made in the usa lots of good well known name brand tires like Michelin(example) are made in France brazil Germany etc
AS other have said ST tires are trailer rated only not for use on A C B etc
I personally bought Hercules chineses tire for MY DP 2958022.5 they were $392 verses Michelin at $800
I don't travel much and these will outlast the MH

---

 Just a couple of thoughts to add to where this thread seems to be going ... "I don't travel much and these will outlast the MH" is a hope, not a fact.  There are some tires that are made in other places than the US that are OK ... but ALL the US made tires are OK (this is a fact).  Tires made in China are cheaper for a reason.  Sailun is made in China and seems to be OK.  Most other tires of Chinese origin seem to fail at a higher rate than is acceptable. Tires are a safety related purchase, don't go cheap because it will cost you more to pay less.

---

 LOL  there are millions of Hercules tires(chinese)  on TRansports trucks all over NA;;if they had a high failure rate why are OTR truckers syill using them   all tires made in the USA are not OK  read the storys on forums of Firestones   a few years back(remember the law suits)  or current day goodyears blowing out on large A MH  etc give your head a shake  us tires are no better than Canadian or English or Japanese or Germany etc 

$I put 3500 miles per year on my diesel pusher iam not putting on $800 junk michelins when there are other tires just as adequate for under 400$
I don't give a **** where there made to be frank

ford was partly to blame but firestone was sued and held liable also  however my point was  NOT all Tires made in the states are OK as the poster tries to say

they all have there share of failures 

-- Edited by hostage on Thursday 24th of August 2017 09:52:34 PM

-- Edited by hostage on Thursday 24th of August 2017 09:54:29 PM

Barbaraok wrote:

---

Since you put so little mileage on your tires, you really need to have as good a tire as possible. Tires are made to be used and when not in use the plasticizers aren't being worked through the tire. I trust you do keep them covered. Age and UV/SMOG are the problems for MH tires.

We run Toyos since they were OEMs for our coach and have been very happy with them. Yes, they are a truck tire, but we are very happy with them.

---

 don't know where you heard that, but thats BS;;  using mh 3500 miles per year verses say 7500 has no bearing on the  tire other than the tread wear 

hostage... For as little mileage as you're putting on them, you could never have a failure issue, (3500 or 7500 miles per year will likely not matter significantly, neither is what I'd call even moderate mileage for a tire.) however you'll almost certainly have a tire age issue. Virtual every tire on the road will last around six or seven years give or take a year or two depending on build quality, application and design notwithstanding tire wear from normal use, and car and truck tires typical are driven sufficient miles to need replacement due to wearing out rather than ageing out (road hazards excluded). There is plenty of data, both anecdotally and from tire manufacturers on failure rates as tires age. It's one of the reasons they are required to date stamp on the tire sidewall. Tires, without fail, decompose or otherwise become less "flexible" as they age no matter how well you take care of them or how little you drive them. Yes, you can slow this process to a degree but you can't stop it. It's science. Most RVers will experience ageing out before wearing out in typical situations, and assuming they are responsible owners will replace aged out tires in a timely manner rather than push the envelope on old tires. This doesn't account for the type of abuse that results from overloading (very common), side scuffing, travel on poor roads etc. which will dramatically decrease tire life no matter what. Even "800 dollar junk michelins", as you put it, will fail if abused. I suspect better tires will cost more than inferior tires... for obvious reasons. You choose.

Barb's general recommendations are sound, as to tire brand... a choice. Barb's experience seems to work for her.

JHMO

TT - Provider ST215/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D from Etrailer

TV - Firestone Destination LE2

TOMMASO wrote:

---

Who out there has done the research on the best ST tires to use on our RVs? Fifth wheels, Class A's, travel trailers, etc.

Not made in China, USA only. Has one brand name surfaced to the top of the line? In rearguards to reliability, wear and tear, etc?

Consumer Reports did not mention RV specific tires in one report I saw??

Thank you for any info you folks have.

 

---

 It's already been pointed out but I'll do it again. ST tires are designed strictly for trailer service and cannot be used on motorized vehicles. 

$$$$$ are the big answer for China made tires. ST and other designs qualify for tariff reductions and mostly from China tire manufacturers. The ST tire is not as labor intensive as other designs. Adding  that to the tax savings will make them very desirable for any USA RV manufacturer.

The best of anything is a personal decision. Personal experience, Recommendations, he said, she said, unbiased (?) publication reports can all play a part in individual selections for the best of any product. I don't recommend brands, I don't even like to say what brand tires I personally use. I've been around awhile. I've had the good and the bad and even some of the really good. I've not knowingly ever had the best. I don't cut corners but I do like quality at any price, the lower the better.

There are numerous tires that provide extra durability. They cost the most. They age out just like others with less durability. Durability does not add strength to a tire, it just allows the tire to take more physical punishment. Taller treads = more mileage. Regrooveable/retreadable = mainly for high mileage users. Extra steel belt for penetration protection. Extra sidewall rubber for curb striking protection. Most of the smaller ST tires - 14" and less - are just basic design tires without any frills.     

FastEagle wrote:

---

Ron said; There are some tires that are made in other places than the US that are OK ... but ALL the US made tires are OK (this is a fact).

Ron, I've been writing about ST tires for more than 15 years and know for a fact that the Goodyear Marathons were first made in the USA and had a dismal failure reputation. It got worse when they sent them to a China plant. The same can be said of the first G614 steel cased tires.

Goodyear is now building another ST tire brand in a USA plant. It will take awhile before any accurate (other than anecdotal) feedback as to their worthiness and durability is available. However, Goodyear has a history of providing reimbursement for damages.

---

 No argument from me regarding GY Marathons or early G614's ... but that is historical information and not applicable to this discussion of which current tires to buy. The current GY Marathons would be still on my "do not buy" list.  GY has a new ST (US made) tire called Endurance which seems to be better than the Chinese made Marathons, but you are correct that most of this is anecdotal.  The current GY G614's are US made and reliable in their load range.  Regarding the US made thing ... the manufacturing standards that exist and the litigious environment of the US made US made products to be more likely to perform as advertised and as intended.

Barbaraok wrote:

---

FastEagle,

Yes, we have a statement about tire size, load, etc., where the generator slide opens (near front tires). It is very generic and does not specify any make.

Still do not understand this statement: " Commercial tires are governed by FMCSA regulations. All RV tires - any design - are governed by FMVSS standards. "

Are you suggesting that we can't put truck tires on our RV?

Barb

---

 I'm saying that FMCSA regulations are not applicable to tires - any design - used on vehicles built using FMVSS standards. 

The certification label provides the tire information that describes the Original Equipment tires by size and gives a recommended inflation pressure for all positions. That information is the minimum safe requirement for those tires on that vehicle. All tires in that size, regardless of brand will provide the same load capacity at the recommended inflation pressures. 

Barbaraok wrote:

---

And what does that mean?

---

 come on now? its pretty simple to understand

commercial vehicle minimum tire requirements are mandated by FMCSA   and RV vehicle minimum standards are dictated by 

FMVSS

Barbaraok wrote:

---

And, what does that mean to those of us who run with heavy truck tires on our Diesel Pushers? Are the tire police going to stop us and demand that we replace them. Are they going to explode on us, fall off going down the highway?

 

 

---

 LOL I guess the answer is yes   LOL;; the old ask a stupid question and you get a stupid answer  ;;;

Barbaraok wrote:

---

Paul,

I don't know why you have decided to be caustic with me. I'm trying to understand why running heavy duty truck tires is a no-no from the 'experts'? I have the correct size on, inflated to the correct pressure for our weight on the front and back axle (yes, we do weigh the rig), we replace every 7-8 years and prefer the Toyos.

---

 You're not reading what people are telling you. I wrote this in a previous post....The design and brand of tires are a personal choice. A MH tire is just another truck tire design, supposedly more suited for that service. You can also get them designed for drive, steer or any position on the axles.

Did you bounce your question about truck tires off your MHs manufacturer? Your owner's manual also suggests owners do that when seeking replacement tires.

FastEagle wrote:

---

Rickl wrote:

---

This is a fact, most commercial fleets on the road today run 5 manufactures for the most part. These 5 represent approximately 90% of the tires on the road (no particular order) Bridgestone (which includes Firestone and Dayton brands), Goodyear (includes Kelly Springfield), Michelin (includes BF Goodrich), Continental (includes General), and Yokohama. Chinese made/branded makes/models are a small portion of what is sold out in the market place. The reason is simple, they don't perform to the levels of these 5 major brands. Especially when it comes to retreading the casing.

As far as the "Firestone" debacle/lawsuits I can write a ten page opinion on the reason but let me sum it quickly - lack of maintenance and Ford lowering the recommended air pressure to help prevent rollover issues. The recommended air pressure took every bit of "load carrying capacity cushion" out of the equation. Then when the tire were run just 2-3 lbs less then the recommended pressure they were overloaded, plus the only issues showed up in AZ at high speeds at high temperatures.

RonC said it best, but I'll rob from an old Fram commercial - pay me now or pay me a lot more later.

---

 When one uses a comparison between commercial use and RV tire usage it is muddied because the tires are governed by different sets of rules. Commercial tires are governed by FMCSA regulations. All RV tires - any design - are governed by FMVSS standards. 

When large truck tires are used on RVs - any type - they are governed by FMVSS standards. Many MH owners may argue that point. Does your MH have a FMVSS certification label? It answers the question.

---

 Not to get into a huge discussion or create a problem, but FMVSS oversees all tires. FMCSA dictates the pull point of the tires in commercial applications. They do not regulate the other components of the tire. 

Barbaraok wrote:

---

Since the manufacturer of our coach went belly up during the '08 decimation, no one to ask. You are the one who brought up

" When one uses a comparison between commercial use and RV tire usage it is muddied because the tires are governed by different sets of rules. Commercial tires are governed by FMCSA regulations. All RV tires - any design - are governed by FMVSS standards. "

This implies that there are regulations that must be followed and running commericial truck tires would somehow be outside of those regulations on a motorhome. Otherwise, why bring it up? I am truly trying to understand why this is a big deal. And not just in this thread, but I've seen various threads where people get quite indignant at the idea of using truck tires, not "RV" tires, on motorhomes, as if we are deluded and will soon be in the ditch because of it.

I spent 20+ yrs up to my eyeballs in EH&S regulations and my ears/eyes always prick up when "regulations" are cited as I want to understand how that impacts what we are doing.

" When one uses a comparison between commercial use and RV tire usage it is muddied because the tires are governed by different sets of rules. Commercial (use) tires are governed by FMCSA regulations. All RV tires (fitted to RV axles) - any design - are governed by FMVSS standards. "

 OK, let me clear that up for you. The trucking industry may use many of the low platform truck tires for their "53" foot commercial trailers. Because many RV Motor Home owners use the same tires they often think the FMCSA regulations apply to the fitment of so called commercial tires on their MHs. They do not. All the tires used by truckers on their tow vehicles, classified as commercial vehicles also are governed by FMCSA regulations. 

-- Edited by FastEagle on Sunday 27th of August 2017 04:45:10 PM

-- Edited by FastEagle on Sunday 27th of August 2017 04:47:24 PM