Just thought I would give people a heads up on the Gladiator ST235/85R16 QR25-TS tires that I put on my 2014 Big Country 3650RL after two of the OEM Towmax tires failed. These are 95 PSI load range G tires, rated at 3,960 lbs with 95 psi "at freeway speeds" according to their web site. No speed rating on the side of the tire. I had high hopes for these tires as they are made in China by a plant that is 100 % owned by Bridgestone of China.
The first OEM Towmax failed at 3,000 miles and the second at 8000 miles, both in less than a year. I bought two of the Gladiator tires for replacements. I put two used Michelin LT245/75R16 tires that I removed from my truck on one side. They had 30,000 miles and were three years old when I put them on my Big Country. I put the new Gladiator tires on the other side. Well, two years and 8,000 miles later, guess which failed. The Gladiator. I have a TPMS system on the trailer so I know these tires have never been run under inflated. The TPMS has an audible alarm if the tire pressure is 5 psi under inflated. Anything less than that and the alarm goes off when the temperature drops 30 degree overnight. I carry an air compressor and the trailer doesn't move if the tires are below the recommended pressure.
I ran the Big Country over the scales when it was fully loaded and the rear axle combined weight was 11,240 lbs. About 2810 lbs per tire. How does a tire rated at 3,960 lbs at freeway speeds fail with 2,810 lbs in 2 years and 8,000 miles? Clearly G rated tires are not the answer to tire failures on our fifth wheels. I put the Towmax spare tire on to get me home from Florida. What a mistake. It had about 2,000 miles on it from a previous Towmax failure. It failed after about 400 miles and destroyed the side of my trailer. The spare looked brand new. The good news is that I have carried two spares since the trailer was new. My 2009 trailer also failed four tires in three years.
I bought Goodyear G614 LT 235/85R16 tires and will have them installed tomorrow. I plan to keep one of the Michelin's as a spare. I have more faith in a five year old Michelin made in Alabama than a brand new foreign made tire. I have failed three of the five OEM tires and one aftermarket tire in three years. I was fortunate on the first two because I caught them before they exploded. I changed them in a rest area because they looked like a bicycle tire due to tread separation. They both still had 80 psi when I took them to a dealer for inspection and replacement. I did see that Goodyear now makes an Endurance model trailer tire that is made in the USA. I almost bought them but my wife is tired of watching me change a trailer tire on I75 with traffic going by at 70 mph. She convinced me to spend the extra $100 per tire for the G614's. From what I've read, they are fine if you keep them inflated properly.
Anyone else have a problem with Gladiator Tires?
Has anyone tried the new Goodyear Endurance trailer tire? Is it made in the US?
The first OEM Towmax failed at 3,000 miles and the second at 8000 miles, both in less than a year. I bought two of the Gladiator tires for replacements. I put two used Michelin LT245/75R16 tires that I removed from my truck on one side. They had 30,000 miles and were three years old when I put them on my Big Country. I put the new Gladiator tires on the other side. Well, two years and 8,000 miles later, guess which failed. The Gladiator. I have a TPMS system on the trailer so I know these tires have never been run under inflated. The TPMS has an audible alarm if the tire pressure is 5 psi under inflated. Anything less than that and the alarm goes off when the temperature drops 30 degree overnight. I carry an air compressor and the trailer doesn't move if the tires are below the recommended pressure.
I ran the Big Country over the scales when it was fully loaded and the rear axle combined weight was 11,240 lbs. About 2810 lbs per tire. How does a tire rated at 3,960 lbs at freeway speeds fail with 2,810 lbs in 2 years and 8,000 miles? Clearly G rated tires are not the answer to tire failures on our fifth wheels. I put the Towmax spare tire on to get me home from Florida. What a mistake. It had about 2,000 miles on it from a previous Towmax failure. It failed after about 400 miles and destroyed the side of my trailer. The spare looked brand new. The good news is that I have carried two spares since the trailer was new. My 2009 trailer also failed four tires in three years.
I bought Goodyear G614 LT 235/85R16 tires and will have them installed tomorrow. I plan to keep one of the Michelin's as a spare. I have more faith in a five year old Michelin made in Alabama than a brand new foreign made tire. I have failed three of the five OEM tires and one aftermarket tire in three years. I was fortunate on the first two because I caught them before they exploded. I changed them in a rest area because they looked like a bicycle tire due to tread separation. They both still had 80 psi when I took them to a dealer for inspection and replacement. I did see that Goodyear now makes an Endurance model trailer tire that is made in the USA. I almost bought them but my wife is tired of watching me change a trailer tire on I75 with traffic going by at 70 mph. She convinced me to spend the extra $100 per tire for the G614's. From what I've read, they are fine if you keep them inflated properly.
Anyone else have a problem with Gladiator Tires?
Has anyone tried the new Goodyear Endurance trailer tire? Is it made in the US?