Trailer Tire Recommendations

[NashvilleTJ]

Merry Christmas, Boys.

As many of you know, I've recently purchased and am upgrading a Kaufman 20', 15k trailer. From the factory the trailer came with Westlake ST235/80R16 14 Ply Load Range G tires - aka: China Bombs.

I'm in the market to replace those six tires with a more reliable 14 ply, Load Range G, M speed rated, heavy trailer tire, and would like to get some insight. I've received some advice in different places from a few folks here - particularly John ( @John Cooper ), but would like to get everything in one place.

After a bunch of research, I'm considering the following tires (in no particular order):

Westlake ST235/80R16 14 Ply Load Range G (Current Tires - for size and capacity reference only)
Goodyear G614 RST LT235/85R16 G/14PLY
Hankook Vantra TH31 ST 235/80R16 129/125M G (14 Ply)
Sailun S637T ST235/85R16 G/14Ply
Hercules H-901 LT LT235/85R16 G/14Ply BSW
Carlisle CSL 16 ST235/80R16 G/14Ply

I've looked closely at size, capacity, price, and reviews of all of these tires over the past month or so. A couple of observations:

1) I believe I need to stick with an 80 aspect ratio. At full stuff, my drive over fenders just clear the 80's (it was specifically built for that size), and the taller 85's would likely get into the edge of the fenders. The only exception to this is the Goodyear 85's. For some reason those are listed with a smaller diameter at 30.7" - about the same as my current Westlake's. The Sailun and Herculese 14 plys I have only found in an 85, and those are 31.7", which I think is too tall the clear.

2) Hands down - all the reviews and feedback I've read state that the Goodyear G614 is the best tire available in this range. However, they are only rated at 3750 pounds capacity (all the others are over 4,000), and they have an L speed rating (75 mph), where all the others are M (81mph). And, they are over $500 each. The others are generally half that cost.

3) I've found consistently good reviews on all of these tires. There are several others out there with consistently bad reviews - including the Westlakes - and I have left those out of the mix.

4) I ran Carlisle CSL 12 plys on my last trailer. They were quite beefy, and wore very well. I did have several blowouts, but attribute that to carrying 10,600 pounds on that 10,000 pound trailer - at 75-80 mph for 1,000 miles at a time. Colt ( @BlueC ) has them now and I fully expect those to be a very good tire for him. Heck, they are all brand new now...

5) The Goodyear and the Hercules are both LT tires - which many people do run on 5th wheels, etc. But in general, I would be more comfortable with an ST tire.

6) My review, backed up by many AI comparisons (which is actually pretty fun, and seems to substantiate my research), is that in general these tires rank in the following order:

Goodyear
Hankook
Sailun
Hercules
Carlisle

As noted, the Goodyear is an outlier, and the others all seem to be within spitting distance of each other. My guess is that the order of #2 through #5 could easily be argued otherwise. I do believe all would do the job and meet my expectations.

So, where I'm currently landing is with the Hankooks. Currect size, load capacity, speed rating, and consistently good reviews. Also, one of my sons is at Discount Tire - who carries the Hankooks - and can get me a nice deal (and great support as well).

Any insight or feedback on my analysis? Any tires I've missed which I should consider?

Thanks in advance, as always,
Jeff

 

[John Cooper]

Merry Christmas, Boys.

As many of you know, I've recently purchased and am upgrading a Kaufman 20', 15k trailer. From the factory the trailer came with Westlake ST235/80R16 14 Ply Load Range G tires - aka: China Bombs.

I'm in the market to replace those six tires with a more reliable 14 ply, Load Range G, M speed rated, heavy trailer tire, and would like to get some insight. I've received some advice in different places from a few folks here - particularly John ( @John Cooper ), but would like to get everything in one place.

After a bunch of research, I'm considering the following tires (in no particular order):

Westlake ST235/80R16 14 Ply Load Range G (Current Tires - for size and capacity reference only)
Goodyear G614 RST LT235/85R16 G/14PLY
Hankook Vantra TH31 ST 235/80R16 129/125M G (14 Ply)
Sailun S637T ST235/85R16 G/14Ply
Hercules H-901 LT LT235/85R16 G/14Ply BSW
Carlisle CSL 16 ST235/80R16 G/14Ply

I've looked closely at size, capacity, price, and reviews of all of these tires over the past month or so. A couple of observations:

1) I believe I need to stick with an 80 aspect ratio. At full stuff, my drive over fenders just clear the 80's (it was specifically built for that size), and the taller 85's would likely get into the edge of the fenders. The only exception to this is the Goodyear 85's. For some reason those are listed with a smaller diameter at 30.7" - about the same as my current Westlake's. The Sailun and Herculese 14 plys I have only found in an 85, and those are 31.7", which I think is too tall the clear.

2) Hands down - all the reviews and feedback I've read state that the Goodyear G614 is the best tire available in this range. However, they are only rated at 3750 pounds capacity (all the others are over 4,000), and they have an L speed rating (75 mph), where all the others are M (81mph). And, they are over $500 each. The others are generally half that cost.

3) I've found consistently good reviews on all of these tires. There are several others out there with consistently bad reviews - including the Westlakes - and I have left those out of the mix.

4) I ran Carlisle CSL 12 plys on my last trailer. They were quite beefy, and wore very well. I did have several blowouts, but attribute that to carrying 10,600 pounds on that 10,000 pound trailer - at 75-80 mph for 1,000 miles at a time. Colt ( @BlueC ) has them now and I fully expect those to be a very good tire for him. Heck, they are all brand new now...

5) The Goodyear and the Hercules are both LT tires - which many people do run on 5th wheels, etc. But in general, I would be more comfortable with an ST tire.

6) My review, backed up by many AI comparisons (which is actually pretty fun, and seems to substantiate my research), is that in general these tires rank in the following order:

Goodyear
Hankook
Sailun
Hercules
Carlisle

As noted, the Goodyear is an outlier, and the others all seem to be within spitting distance of each other. My guess is that the order of #2 through #5 could easily be argued otherwise. I do believe all would do the job and meet my expectations.

So, where I'm currently landing is with the Hankooks. Currect size, load capacity, speed rating, and consistently good reviews. Also, one of my sons is at Discount Tire - who carries the Hankooks - and can get me a nice deal (and great support as well).

Any insight or feedback on my analysis? Any tires I've missed which I should consider?

Thanks in advance, as always,
Jeff

Jeff

Since I'm a Michelin person (or was), now I'm just a retired tire, i would go with the Hankooks, although I sold the hound out of the Hercules. The Hankook is still the better tire.

 

[macleanflood]

We go through a lot of trailer tires four wheeling my dump trailer into questionable spots recovering abandoned vehicles and illegally dumped trash.

My general experience is that Goodyears have better sidewalls that other brands. One scuff or two would slice open just about any tire but a Goodyear.

-Mac

 

[Zorba]

I'm not a particular fan of Hankook, Have a set on the old MBZ. They are LOUD. They are a LOT louder than the K02s on the Jeep! But that's a different application altogether, and you probably wouldn't care about road noise on a trailer anyway.

 

[Apparition]

My research capability says you are on the right track. The Goodyears seem to be the best but most don't think it's worth the price and that speed rating is a non-starter.

Lots of praise on the 5'er forums for the Sailuns but the Hankook look to be about on par and you have a connection there.

 

[bucky]

The main difference between a LT and a TT is that the TT side wall is built to take the lateral loads placed on them when turning. I run LTs on my 14K dump trailer. I see many large 5th wheel trailers running LTS from the factory.
Personally speed rating is a major factor in my choice of a TT along with LR. I would never have anything below a M rating even though I don’t pull a trailer more than 70mph. I’ve used the Goodyear TT in the past and I stoped using them due to several premature blow outs. I’m a big fan of Maxxis tires but they only go up to a LR-E.
I noticed a tire separating on one of my flat bed trailers while walking past it this week. Build date is 03/18 so it was time to replace it anyway. I probably have over 10K miles on this tire. Several long trips to ID and ND hauling my equipment. I have 6 different trailers and keep tires in stock and change them out myself when needed.

 

[Abendage]

The Westlakes in the G rating are generally regarded as good tires. It’s the lighter duty ones that get a bad rap. I’d run what came on it until they wear out or age out.

 

[Zorba]

Dayton...

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Dayton...

A quick search confirms why they didn't make the list. Thanks for confirming with the wink emoji!

Merry Christmas, Zorba.

 

[lBasket]

A quick search confirms why they didn't make the list. Thanks for confirming with the wink emoji!

Merry Christmas, Zorba.

Are they wooden wagon wheels or something?

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Are they wooden wagon wheels or something?

When the review starts with "Offering a good balance between value and performance..."

 

[lBasket]

When the review starts with "Offering a good balance between value and performance..."

That does not sound like up your alley. More for some cheap ass like me

 

[Zorba]

A quick search confirms why they didn't make the list. Thanks for confirming with the wink emoji!

Merry Christmas, Zorba.

I don't think they're even around anymore. They used to make what was then the premier trailer tire with an odd looking tread pattern.

 

[Apparition]

That does not sound like up your alley. More for some cheap ass like me.

Sounds like a Hellcat ad.

 

[lBasket]

Sounds like a Hellcat ad.

Whoa whoa whoa... I wouldn't buy one of those

 

[alittleoff]

Not that this adds anything but, remember the tires U-Haul type trailers were using last century, Nylon bias-ply.
Whatever pressure those run, they were rock hard and could take a curb whacking.
Are the good offerings all radial ply nowadays ?

 

[srimes]

I don't know what trailer tire is best but if you don't find one that works I'm sure duallys would do the trick with any of them. With 8 tires back there you could run 100 mph without overheating!

 

[MtPockets]

So let me start by saying that I HATE "trailer tires".

I've blown more than I can count, which- ok I do have to take off my shoes and socks but still....

My theory on trailer tires is that the reason they blow is that the manufacturers give zero shits (and probably actually like) when those POS' blow out.

They ALWAYS have an excuse...

It was either:

A. Underinflated
B. Overloaded
C. Oversped (Most are rated for 65)
D. Older than 5 years, but some now say 3.

Bullshit. They make money when a tire comes apart so who cares if it blows?

I have switched to truck tires on nearly all my trailers because they put some give a shit into them.
If a truck tire blows out, especially on the front, they could be looking at a huge lawsuit. So they actually do try to avoid that.
How many times have you seen a pickup sitting along the freeway with a blown tire?
It happens, but not nearly as often as a trailer with a blown tire. And there are way the hell more pickups on the road than trailers.

This is what is on both my 28' fifth wheel and my 25' gooseneck tandem dually.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Cooper&tireModel=Discoverer+HT3&partnum=475R6DHT3

Good luck in your search.

Oh. I added a pic that shows my luck with trailer tires.
It was on a smaller utility trailer. Had zero miles on it, sat on the spare tire carrier its' whole life- around 3-4 years. Never saw the ground.

Blew out ON THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT!

 

[BlueC]

@NashvilleTJ Hey Jeff, have you talked to any commercial tire dealers? They might have something for you. All of my opinions and info of trailer tires are dated now, but years ago I worked at a commercial tractor & trailer shop, and we did a ton of tires. Unless told otherwise, we always installed Michelin or Goodyear on the tractors, and Continentals on the trailers (nobody wanted to throw $10K worth of Michelins on a trailer ). A commercial dealer might have some other options or recs for you, like Continental.

Of your list, I've had experience with Goodyear, Carlisle and Hankook tires, and they were all fine. Those Carlisles you sent me home with look like a good tire and they towed fine, but I haven't put anymore miles on them yet. It looks like a few have a chunk of balance weight, but that might just be whomever mounted them threw them on where they landed and went with it. I suspect your blowout issues came down to being at max weight and towing fast.

 

[mjonesjr84]

You said 6 tires so I'm assuming it is a tri-axle trailer? If so, make sure you also look at tires that have good scraping reviews. A tri-axle trailer will pivot on the center tire, this scraping the front and rear in a turn. I frequently see skid marks from my tri-axle when making a slow turn on concrete (ie fuel stops). The tighter you're turning, the more scraping. A tri-axle will wear tires out faster than a dual axle. I plan on rotating my tires in the spring.