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Pappi · 04-23-2019, 07:37 PM

I have this posted on another forum but thought I would get the opinions of every one here also.

Planning on getting new tires for the toy hauler in the next couple of weeks. I have narrowed my choices down to the Maxxis M8008s and the Carlisle Radial Trail HD. I am currently running Jaxon 205/75R15 LRC and will be upgrading to LRD in the same size.

I realize that most people would also include the Goodyear Endurance but I am not real certain that they have been out long enough to get a really good take on how good or bad they may be. I am not saying they are no good but would rather wait another year or two before spending my money on them.

Is there any one here that have the two above mentioned tires for more than a couple of years and if so what are your opinions of them. I have ran a search but most of the posts go back a couple of years and I would like to get some more up to date opinions.

Any and all opinions are appreciated.

Dropthejacks · 04-23-2019, 08:09 PM

You're asking for recent information on tires that have been out for years but you are disqualifying a tire which has only recently been out for a couple years? But to your point, if I wasn't running the Endurance (which I have been over two years now with about 16K miles on them with zero issues) I would choose the Maxxis. But as it stands I will replace the Endurances with, well, more Endurances when the time comes. I like the fact Goodyear is willing to actually stamp a speed rating on them vs. most other ST tire manufacturers who won't.

Pappi · 04-23-2019, 08:35 PM

Actually whether or not there is a speed rating stamped on the tire does not and will not be one of the deciding factors. Since both the wife and I are both retired we are in no hurry to get anywhere.

As I stated above I am not sure the Endurance has been in production long enough to make a decision based on fact and not on where they are made. I see that you have 16k on your tires without issue and they are made in the USA. As we all know the GY Marathon started out being made in the states and was eventually moved overseas and look at what happened with them. This is by no means to say that the Endurance will end up the same way but I would like to give them another year or two before I consider purchasing them.

It is my understanding that the Carlisle was recently re-engineered so my choice to use them may be just like my choice to use or not use the Endurance.

I appreciate the input and hope others will chime in.

JIMNLIN · 04-23-2019, 09:09 PM

Pappi...
higher speed ratings are more about the tires ability to deal with internal heat while carrying a load at highways speeds all day long....and not how fast one can go.
Maxxis is a bit dated and still stuck with a 65 mph speed rating. Not all Maxxis ST tires have the nylon cap under the tread which helps hold the tread on the tire. Maxxis doesn't say what sizes don't have the cap however we see Maxxis ST tire complaints on the many rv and non rv forums.

The Carlisle HD is their latest ST tire and is the only one of their lines I would recommend. The Endurance and the Carlisle HD both have been out around 2 years so take your pick for which one has the better service record.

I was around when all ST tires were made in the USA. We had the same issues with them also. The Marathons were good for maybe 4k-6k before throwing the treads on a road trailer. Goodyear did a remake on them with a circle S embossed in the sidewall in the '90s which did help a bit.

The Provider ST is one of the new gen M speed rated (81 mph) and has been around since the '11 era and has a good service record especially with the commercial hauling crowd.

Probably the best tire for 35k-40k miles at any speed on a trailer is the Goodyear Wrangler HT in a LT215/85-15 D at 2095 lbs capacity....if you have room in the wheel well.
Just about every major LT tire maker has a LT235/75-15 C at 1985 lbs capacity...if you have room in the wheel well.

I use 16" LT E on all my 5th wheel rv and equipment trailers. There good for 40k-60k miles depending on sizes and axle loads.

CARLnJANIS · 04-23-2019, 09:09 PM

Don't get too hung up on the speed rating. While some tires have higher speed ratings, going over 70 - 80 mph down the highway pulling a trailer is not wise. I usually stay in the 65 */- 5 mph range. I see drivers with overweight trailers being pulled by tow vehicles that are not rated for a trailer half the size doing 70 mph down the interstate.

Below are excerpts from two post I made about the speed rating that I got from some tire company engineers.

************************************************** ***********
About the tire speed rating. A tire speed rating is the certified speed for that model of tire. As for my Michelin trailer tires, speed rating 'J', my trailer tires are certified to 62 mph as they sit new on the tire rack. Once on your vehicle, everything affects that certified speed rating: age; road temperature; if a puncture has been repaired; that last pothole you hit; over-inflated/under-inflated; etc.

Tire manufacturers set a target speed for each tire model determined by the tire's design and construction. During lab tests, the tire is mounted to a machine that simulates the max load on the tire. The tire spins at ever increasing speed for a specified interval until the target speed is reached. If the target speed is reached before the tire fails, the tire is certified for that speed.

Some manufacturers will continue the test performing a 'Step-up speed' test. The speed is increased at intervals until the tire fails. This information is not normally published.

Will my tires fail at 75 mph. Not likely. Tire manufacturers factor in a buffer for heavy-footed drivers. The load on my Michelin's is only 78% of the max load, about 1,100 lbs shy of the max for each tire. I try to limit my speed to 70 mph but will inch up to 75 mph at times, depending on how far to the next rest stop.

*****************************************
After discussing tire speed ratings in another thread, I called Michelin about the 'J' speed rating on the XTA tire. Some posters I have read on various threads act like the speed rating is the Holy Grail and to exceed it is subjecting yourself and anyone else on the road to potential danger. During the discussion, the Michelin tire specialist mentioned something that struck a chord. Now I am just reporting a Reader's Digest version on what the tire specialist at Michelin related to me and am not making any personal judgment.

I said, I had a question about my 215/75R17.5 XTA tires. He started by explaining that the tire was a 18 ply tire and was for heavy regional use. He asked what I was using them on and I told him a 5th-wheel RV with two 7500 lb axles. He said that was a lot of tire for the load. He asked what psi was I inflating the tires and I said 90 lbs. He said that was good.

I asked if the 62 mph speed rating on my XTA is written in stone? He said that 62 mph is the speed the tire is certified to perform safely. I told him I usually drive at the speed limit but not more than 75 mph. He stated that I could safely drive at 65 mph. He also stated I could drive 70 mph for a short period of time, but he wouldn't recommend driving 75 mph. He stated anything over 65 mph can create a side-to-side vibration in the tire that will cause cupping and shorten the life of the tire. Remembering the previous thread on tires, I asked him if anything else can cause cupping. He stated that a worn suspension could and over-inflating the tires causes the same side-to-side vibration.

P.S. The speed rating on the XTA is certified at 62 mph for 10 minutes. That is the testing time interval to determine that the tire is safe at that speed. So, if your trip is longer that 10 minutes, you are riding on non-certified tires.

FastEagle · 04-23-2019, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CARLnJANIS

The speed rating on the XTA is certified at 62 mph for 10 minutes. That is the testing time interval to determine that the tire is safe at that speed. So, if your trip is longer that 10 minutes, you are riding on non-certified (Overloaded) tires.

And that's the bottom line.

Your Michelins are from the European market. The trucking industry over there has a 62 MPH limit.

For a while those tires were OEM on DRV units. Some suffered tread separations. Go to the DRV forum (5thwheel forum) and ask "Wingnut60" about them. I'm pretty sure he switched over to the GY G114s.

FastEagle · 04-23-2019, 09:48 PM

I don't know why the largest tire manufacturer in the world would have to prove a new tire line meets the standards they tout for them. If they are not abused by their owners they will perform as advertised.

Unlike many other brands they have increased their durability by adding scuff guarding materials in their sidewalls and speed ratings more desirable for our open highways.

Their draw-back is pricing. They do not get any tariff relief and will cost a little more because of it.

They have one completely new designed tire in their ST255/85R16 LRE. It provides 4080# of load capacity @ 80 PSI on 6.5" wide wheel rims. Problem is, they are 33" tall and will most likely have to go on trailers designed for their use.

IBDAGRIZ · 04-26-2019, 02:19 PM

I run the Maxxis 8008's in an "E" rating on my 9k lb TT. ST225/75R/15 Load rating of 2830lbs at 80psi.

I've run them for two years here in Texas and usually about 65-70MPH on the freeway. Still look like new.

Griz

SmokeyWren · 04-27-2019, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pappi

Planning on getting new tires for the toy hauler in the next couple of weeks. I have narrowed my choices down to the Maxxis M8008s and the Carlisle Radial Trail HD.

...Is there any one here that have the two above mentioned tires for more than a couple of years and if so what are your opinions of them.

Me. Maxxis have been highly rated by consumers for several years. I have had then them on my cargo trailer and my tw0 utility trailers for several year. Excellent, trouble-free performance.The cargo trailer has thousands of miles on it after several trips between Midland TX and the west coast (Seattle area, SoCal, Fort Irwin in the desert, Vandenberg AFB on the coast near Lompoc Ca. Also one trip to move daughter from El Paso to Ontario. OR.

The little experience I have with Carlisle trailer tires, they ae no better than Marathon, so I dodge them.

Quote:

I realize that most people would also include the Goodyear Endurance but I am not real certain that they have been out long enough to get a really good take on how good or bad they may be.

I rely on Consumer Reports. They haven't led me astray for the last 60 years or so of my total 80 years. So when I had a blow out on my new TT that came with Goodyear Marathon tires, I replaced it with a Goodyear Endurance trailer tire. (I didn't want to wait to order the correct Maxxis tire, so we'll see how the Endurance trailer tire holds up. Consumer Reports says they're good, so I'll bet they are.

Pappi · 04-27-2019, 04:26 PM

Thanks SmokyWren, that is the type of feed back I have been looking for. I will probably go with Goodyears based won everything I have read here and on other forums.

I will probably order them sometime next week as I am currently in discussions with Coachmen about an issue with my current rims and tires. Won't go into details here and now but if it all works out I will be a happy camper.

Again thanks and please keep your reviews coming, you never know I may change my mind.

Dropthejacks · 04-28-2019, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pappi

Actually whether or not there is a speed rating stamped on the tire does not and will not be one of the deciding factors. Since both the wife and I are both retired we are in no hurry to get anywhere.

It's not the fact I'm in a hurry. The Endurance gives me a speed rating of 87 mph. Most of rest of the pack either don't give one or it's at the ST standard of 65mph. Maxxis doesn't give one, for example, if you'll go to their website. I usually tow at 70 on the interstate, 55-60 elsewhere, so I'm not a rolling roadblock with people cutting me off and flipping me the bird. I'm just saying its nice to know Goodyear has enough confidence in their product that they are willing to put a rating on it. Plus, I'm more relaxed while pulling knowing I'm not anywhere near the upper end of the limitations of my equipment. And I went from a D to an E-load rated tire so I'm no longer pushing that limit as well. I think you will be happy with the GYs!

Pappi · 05-01-2019, 12:40 PM

Well I ordered my Goodyear Endurance tire yesterday and they were delivered to the tire shop for install about 2 hours ago. When I spoke with Discount Tire yesterday I told them that I would like tires that were no older than 1 year and preferably even newer. Went down to the shop and found the tires had a build date of 0319. Almost right out of the mold, I could not be happier.

A total of 425 from Discount including the Certificates for Refund or
Replacement and metal valve stems for my TPMS. Going to get them mounted and balanced Thursday. Now I just hope that all of the reviews and recommendations are good.

I want to thank every one for your help and I hope to see you on the road.