New Tires and Valve Stems, Metal vs Rubber

I read up in the thread that tire shops just impact them on...or about. Most tire shops will use something called a torque stick that limits how tight you can get a lug nut - it looks like a regular old extension, but it is not one. I have a few myself and are surprisingly accurate.
 
I change and rotate a lot of tires myself. On my truck the M&S tires get rotated once a year, on my Escape I switch between M&S tires and winter Ice tires in October and April. On my trailers I make a point of rotating the tires annually. On the trailers I like to rotate the tire not only for increased tire life, but the check the hubs and brakes. I use an air wrench to remove and install the lug nuts. Each time I change a tire clean up the studs with a wire brush and coat them with a little bit of Copper Coat anti seize agent. This works really well. Then once I reinstall the wheel, I will tighten the lug nuts with a torque wrench. After a short drive, perhaps 50 kms I will recheck the lug nuts with the torque wrench again. It has been years since I have had a flat on any of my vehicles, and I have never had a flat while pulling a trailer, so I am lucky. I did have a flat in December in Chile, but that is a different story. Someone put a knife into the sidewall of our rental car tire at a viewpoint and then tried to rob us a km down the road when we realized we had a flat.
 
T.R. Bauer":1ouaeira said:
For those thinking the tire shop is basting wheels on with impacts:

https://www.floorjackshop.com/torque-st ... -need-one/
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Thanks for that info:

I'll have to check out the local tire shops. But I have had the service trucks put on the tires when flats occurred, with just an impact wrench. Most recent experience was last summer, on two different occasions on our RV. Got rid of those Michelin 5 year old tires when we got home! I carry a battery powered impact wrench, but also a torque wrench in the truck when towing.
 
I replace all trailer tires at the same time at 3-4 years from DOT date of mfg (not date bought). My last experience with Carlisle trailer tires was when one started delaminating at under 18 months. All five (even the never used spare tire) were delaminating and defective! Another mistake, never again...but just under a Boat Unit, so it was still a Good Boating Day overall. Now I wish I had just shipped them all to Colby.

Before switching to US made Goodyear Endurance, we’d had 4 explosive blowouts (3 on the side of I-10 in up to 110 head advisories in summer). No problems since with Endurance (now on our second set).

Harvey, at a 2018 Hontoon Hoot discussion on trailer tires, Flint Firestone on the CD25 Grace Full said he was running Carlisles that were also Made in USA but no details. You could try PM’ing him; in Jan he put her up for sale here. But based on my N of 5, I would instead get another set of Endurance tires (N of 10 to date) and sleep well. And demand that your dealer ask supplier about the DOT mfg date stamps (week/year).

Investing in good rubber can often be cheaper in the long run after all is said and done.

John
 
John, Thanks for that. I did replace my TowMax (Les Schwab) tires with the Good Year Endurance this time. Will have to see how they do on the 5 year run. I don't run up the miles like Colby, but may start on that this season if I can get out of the house.

Funny thing about the Endurance tires. The tread depth seemed very shallow compared to other new tires I have bought before. They looked like barely 1/4 inch deep. Seemed weird to me. Expected much different -- deeper tread.

On your Endurance sets, did the tread seem shallow?

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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Now I wish I had just shipped them all to Colby
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Only if you send me the good ones, and not the bad ones. :mrgreen: Not sure why you've had such bad luck with them. It's all I've run for the past 7-8 years and other than a nail in one one time, I've had no problems. The current set has even made a trip out west to Prince Rupert and down to Florida now. Perhaps you have to run them far and hard to keep them from delaminating? Or maybe it's because I carry two spares just in case? :? Or maybe they don't hold up to the heavier boat running 80mph down the road? :wink: Colby
 
My experience with Carlisle tires wasn't good, however, that was over 10 yrs ago, so maybe their problem was resolved or it was a bad batch. 3 out of 4 tires delaminated (large sidewall bubbles) at the same time on a 400 mile trip, low 90's outside temperature, tire pressures normal. Tires were 6 yrs old, so they were due for a change anyway. Haven't had a similar problem with any tires since, even Chinese. But also went from load range D to E to increase robustness.

I also run an aftermarket TPMS system, Hawkshead made in Canada, great system. I changed to metal valve stems at last tire change out due to the flexing of the rubber stems caused by the attached TPMS transmitters. Didn't have any issues with the rubber stems, just made goods sense to reduce the flexing and wear.
 
Harvey,
Tread depth looks normal or typical to me. My trailer tires have always ‘aged out’ before any tread wear is noticeable (excluding frame alignment etc issues). The last 17 years we’ve towed fairly heavy boats (the Regal 2665 was also over 11,000 lbs on a trailer rated for 12,000 lbs.) My theory is that always operating at close to redline increases failure rates at the weakest links in complex systems.

I last posted our Nov 2014 scale trailer weight in ‘heavy cruise’ mode with under half gas, no water, no waste at 11,060 lbs.

Returning Mar 7, 2020 from our Calusa/Hontoon hoot in ‘heavy cruise’ with same conditions scale wgt was 11,080 lbs. (Over the last 6 years Eileen lost 20 lbs, but fortunately I found them all, by golly).

Add 500 lbs for full gas, 240 for water and 72 for waste would be 11,892 lbs. Which is nudging up to 12,000, esp if we were to stop for a Arby’s double meat sandwich and curly fries and Big Gulp and Eileen’s Gyro.

I’ve read theories that tires are weakened but UV (although today the UV index was only 10) and ozone (NW Florida is the lightning strike champ of the entire USA). We travel at 62-65 MPH because that is what the rig seems to like. Now retired, we plan on relaxing my ‘replace at 36-48’ to a ‘48-60’ month regimen since a blowout doesn’t devastate our plans so much.

Best of luck!
John
 
HI John,

What I noticed right off was that the tread depth did not look "normal" but the tires look new. I have not been over to measure them yet but will get to that somewhere before I pull the boat out (if) for some cruising.

".... Now retired, we plan on relaxing my ‘replace at 36-48’ to a ‘48-60’ month regimen since a blowout doesn’t devastate our plans so much."

A blowout can devastate more than just plans. Not sure how much I's stretch out those numbers. A blowout can do severe damage to more than plans -- like trailer and hull damage. Really not worth the gamble I think.

My trailer is inside, out of the sun, we don't get that much heat here. If I don't tow this season, I might add a year on the other end of my 5 year tires this time. Will need to see what they look like buy the. (Might also even have a Tire Pressure Monitor System on board by then.)

Maybe see you at Hontoon next time around. Stay safe.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I am currently looking at new tires. My last all new set were Goodyears. I guess it was when they were having problems because I had 2 blowouts and one near miss. A trucker stopped me before it could blow out.

The Endurance sound good, but how do you know the set you buy won't be when the are having a problem with manufacture.

My local tires shops all say they are allowed to sell tires up to 23 months past the date code. They also say they are allowed to repair tires under 10 years old and that the life of tires is 10 years, if the tread is good and no damage.

I am also hearing that because of the Covid, some shops are running out of trailer tires. Lots of people are buying and using RVs and boats.

Seems like you just have to make a choice and hope for the best.

Steve
 
I reiterate my last post here towards the top of the previous page. Also with upgrading to a 25 I recently purchased some new 16” LR E Carlisles for $86/ea on Amazon.
 
On my equipment trailers I’ve gone to Goodyear Unisteel G614 RST Radial Tire - 235/85R16 126R. I’ve just installed a set on the 25. I have used every brand. For better or worse Or might I say richer or poorer. I will only buy USA made tires now. So far I have had really good service from them.
 
SeaSpray":1z8dd869 said:
My last all new set were Goodyears. I guess it was when they were having problems...

My local tires shops all say they are allowed to sell tires up to 23 months past the date code. They also say they are allowed to repair tires under 10 years old and that the life of tires is 10 years, if the tread is good and no damage.

Seems like you just have to make a choice and hope for the best.

Steve
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Tho old GY Marathon became crappy when GY was moving their production from country to country. Things have changed.
The tire stores can tell you they can sell old tires but you don't have to buy them.
 
When I finally decided on getting the tires, I went to my local Les Schwab and asked specifically for "USA made, nothing older than a 3 month from manufacture date, Goodyear Endurance with my size and load range (D)" The local said they didn't think they could get them. I called a LS shop in Portland that I have dealt with for many years, and they said "yes, we can get them but it might take a bit" so I told them to go ahead and call me when they are in. I checked them, USA made, stamped as such and were 2 months from mfg to tire store. Another reason I like working with Les Schwab tire stores.

That was right at the beginning of Covid, but I took the wheels off the trailer and put them in the truck, delivered them to the PDX LS shop and had new tires on and was on the way home in an hour.

And even though they are GY tires, I bought them from LS so have the full Les Schwab service warranty and they will honor that in 6 PNW states.

Steve, I would find a shop that will deal with you.I think Discount Tire can get and sell GY.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Chester":31nuh1c9 said:
Discount Tire is where I bought the GYs now on the trailer.
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Does Discount Tire do free flat repair, rotation, and balance checks. That is the main reason I do Les Schwab, except that they run out to meet me when I drive into the parking lot. :D

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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hardee":ddzw0r0w said:
Chester":ddzw0r0w said:
Discount Tire is where I bought the GYs now on the trailer.
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Does Discount Tire do free flat repair, rotation, and balance checks. That is the main reason I do Les Schwab, except that they run out to meet me when I drive into the parking lot. :D

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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They do for my car and did for my Jeep. I assume they would for the trailer.
On my Jeep they really earned their money. About but 4 times a year they'd have to clean debris, usually bark, out of the beads to fix the slow leaks. One time a tire had an 11" gash in the sidewall and they replaced it without any fuss. These were BFG mud tires.
 
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