Carlisle trailer tire life expectancy

[Mark Major]

I haven't really kept track of how many I've bought over the past ten years of owning this boat, but this one I purchased four or five years ago when it's predecessor suffered the same end. Usually I've seen distortion in the tire and replaced it in time, but this showed no symptoms prior to failure. Granted, four or five years is a good life span for a tire, but this one spent most of that time unused as a ready spare. It exploded at 60mph and I was stopped in under 100 yards; this is what was left.

The tire is a Carlisle ST205/75R15 load rating C (I'm pretty certain, short of DNA testing) as is the replacement and two existing tires. I always keep proper pressure and check temperature while traveling; this failure was within five miles of starting the trip. I'm keeping better records now, but would like to hear of any experiences others have had, or of recommendations for a better tire for the application.

The boat is a 1986 Hunter 23 and boat/trailer load is @4100# normally.

 

[Ross]

Why not go to a better grade/brand of tire? The back wheels on a front wheel drive vehicle are just trailering the back end of the car.

 

[petersea]

O.K. here is my take on this. Biggest problem is the tires are not the correct rating for what you are doing with them. They rate at 1820 pounds at 50 psi. http://www.etrailer.com/pc-TPTW~15RTW-I-WM.htm?utm_source=dealtime&utm_medium=ppc&Affiliate=deal Your boat and trailer weight in at 4100 pounds ( probably more if you add up all the gears etc etc in boat). You need to get the correct rated tire. You are overloading it. You are 15% overloaded without taking into consideration for wear, heat etc etc. My advise is get more then the minimum rated for your use get a little more capacity. Actually at 4100 plus pounds you might want to consider a duel axle trailer.

 

[Rick Webb]

It was a Radial Tire

A Bias Ply C Rating 15" Tire is Rated at 2150

Maybe a "D" rated tire is a good idea they are rated at 2540

http://www.championtrailers.com/tire.html

Teh two biggest thing you can do is keep them out of the sun as much as possible and be a fanatic about tire pressure

 

[zeehag]

the picture looks as if the damage was caused by rotating tire from one side of trailor to the other---- by taking a directional tread and turning it on the opposing direction-- it loosens and shreds the tread --donot ever rotate any radial tire from side to side--and do not allow the tire techs to do that either--most do not realize radial tires are directional--they also donot care if you have to spend more money for new tires within 1000 miles of rotation of tires...be careful--get the correct rating and do not ever rotate form side to side your directional radial tires--goood luck and have fun!!!!

 

[jackhartjr]

When we purchased our travel trailer we replaced the 6-ply tires, (The least the manufacturer could get by with) with 10-ply MAXXIS tires. Overkill, yes.
I also put nitrogen in the. After over two years at 50 PSI they have lost exactly one pound, probably due to checking air before each trip.
I agree, put the highest rated 10-ply on it, use nitrogen and you will probably not have to worry about them.
ZeeHag, I see what you are saying...however when they rotate the tires on our vehicles they move them around from side to side with no apparent problems. Explain further please.
Jack

 

[Ross]

Everything you ever wanted to know about tires but were afraid to ask!
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/tiretech.jsp

 

[zeehag]

tires are the least understood things that folks trust with their lives...radial tires are directional. they donot do well when moved side to side--their life cuts to shorter and you may feel a vibration in the tires as the tread begins to deteriorate--some of the newer tires i was advised are not as directional as they used to be--but many brands are quite directional and is not good to relocate radial tires from one side to the other as the tread does remove itself from the tire---if you allow the techs to move them side to side, i wish you lots of luck. i worked with tires a long time in sports car racing an di still will not allow the techs to side to side rotate--only front to back--i lost tread from 3 diffw3renbt tires--thank gods of the road they werent on my Z cars---!!!! but on my trucks----be careful with the rotation thing--the radials are directional. i know the life is shortened and many stores will rotate side to side so they can get more business--LOL--isnt that a gas---they keep their business by hurting the customer......be careful.......some of the higher performance tores are maqrked --make sure if you use these they are treated accordingly-- read the sidewalls ....those tell you more than you really wish to know....r rated tires are only rated to 55 mph at intervals--LOL folks donot know this.....read the tire walls if there isnt any other source of info--tire testing on the racetracks taught me a lot!!!!
the rotation thing started with the nylon tires that stopped being used in the 60s--yet the practice continues of rotation....antiquated and dangerous practice....front to back same side is the way to "rotate" radial tires..

 

[sand sailor]

bias plywith out a doubt

if you dont put 10k mi on the tires a year then bias ply tires are the way to go they hold up better when not in use they dont come apart as destructively as radials and they dont have a shelf life as do radials (3-5 years)yes radials perform better and last longer (mile wise) but have a much shorter shelf life so if your not putting the miles on the clock is still ticking.
i have 3 trailers all with bias ply tires tht are at least 5yrs old some at 10 yrs and have had no problems and i load the crap out of them if my radials we're more than 3yrs old i'd throw them away and replace them cause they're not safe any more

 

[Brian M H23]

The Hunter 23 REALLY nees D rated tires or two axles. I personally went for the second axle. The tires might just maybe be loaded to their maximum ,but as soon you drive down a road with a crown, the right side tire is overloaded!

In my opinion, the running gear that boat comes with (no brakes, single axle) is meant for moving it around a boatyard. for a 4000+ lb load, brakes and twin axles are a necessity; epecially when it sits up as tall as this boat. The height makes weight transfer side to side happen even mor dramatically.

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Same Experience

Mark,
Five years ago I bought five new carlile tires ST 225/75D15. I am towing a 23' Oday on a tandum trailer. I had a tire start to untread itself on the NY Thruway. Fortunately my wife saw chuncks of rubber comming off in the mirror and we pulled over before it blew. The tire had about 150 miles on it. At first Carlile wanted to inspect the tire before they would make good on it than I explained it was still holding air a month after it untreaded itself. They sent a new one without further question. I must tell you I am still a bit sick that the rest of them are going to follow suit. I had a problem with one other tire, it developed a bubble in it; however that happened because my brake hung up and draged heating the rim. Just my experiance.

 

[Mark Major]

Thank you for the wealth of advice. I agree the tires are overloaded, the trailer is inadequate and three years seems to be the life expectancy of these radial tires as I use them (mostly parked). I really don't want to go with two axles but I'm going to look into it. Now, with dual axles can I use a smaller tire? As I recall I get a slightly lower trailer height with radials (cruicial when launching and retrieving on some of the ramps I use) but the original bias tires were in terrible condition when I got the boat and still held up remarkably well. I take a lot of risks sailing as I do, but it seems the greatest are simply getting to the ramp, including the difficulties of launching and retrieving this model.

What bothers me most about this is the last time I took my leisure in buying a tire I discussed D rated radials, giving the load particulars to the dealer. I've trusted providers with making the proper choice for me (cost wasn't discussed in the equation) and they keep selling me these tires, as if there was nothing else available on the market. I should have done my research long ago- ignorance is expensive.