Best 13" trailer tire, HELP

[OKnewguy]

Hi gang, I need to pick your brains. I have been trying to decide what tires to get on our new (to us) boat trailer. This site and other searches get so many conflicting stories and opinions, I thought I might ask you all directly.
What is the best/tuffest, long lasting tire around. The current size is 175/80 13. My trailer is a shorelander tandem, the 13 are the largest I can go with, without messing around with the fenders. My boat is 3250 pounds dry according to
Used 1998 STARCRAFT CO STARSHIP 2015 DB prices, values, specs and options at NADAguides
But this, does not include fuel or anything. I have a feeling that I am right at the limit of these c rated 13's.
Are the Goodyear Marathons good? It seems like just about all tires are made in China now.
Thanks, Dave

 

[OKnewguy]

Can a moderator move this to transportation, this is what I get for surfing will home sick.
Thanks, Dave

 

[kennyd]

Can a moderator move this to transportation, this is what I get for surfing will home sick.
Thanks, Dave

Click the triangle with the exclamation point in it on the left under your user name to directly refer it to one of the mods.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am a boat dealer and I can tell you the Marathons have gone to crap. My guess is they are cheapening them up to compete. They used to be top notch.

Your biggest issue is going to be flat spotting with that weight boat and the small trailer tire. You really need to put it on stands if not used for a month or more.

As for the tires I like the Greenball Radials and the Chinese Tow Masters also in a Radial.

Chris

 

[OKnewguy]

I hear you on flat spoting. I have always put my boat trailers up on jack stands over winter, and have been trying come of with a way to lift it all the time. I appreciate your help, I was hoping you might see this post, because I know you deal with boats (some of them much larger then this little guy).
Thanks, Dave

 

[crbr]

I am a boat dealer and I can tell you the Marathons have gone to crap. My guess is they are cheapening them up to compete. They used to be top notch.

Your biggest issue is going to be flat spotting with that weight boat and the small trailer tire. You really need to put it on stands if not used for a month or more.

As for the tires I like the Greenball Radials and the Chinese Tow Masters also in a Radial.

Chris

I am considering ditching a set of Marathons with less than 500 miles on them. Too many stories (on a boat forum) of failure at speeds of less than 60 - 70 MPH. However, I hate to haste and waste. The Marathons have not been recalled by the Feds.

Here's a popular read that (IIRC) is posted somewhere else here.

.

 

[George2615]

Instead of your 6 ply tires you can buy 8 ply trailer tires rated for 1660 lb in size 185/80-13. One brand is Duro. Here's a link. DiamondPilot may know of other brands of 13" 8 ply's that will work also.

http://durotires.bizland.com/duro_bias_trailer_tires.htm

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am considering ditching a set of Marathons with less than 500 miles on them. Too many stories (on a boat forum) of failure at speeds of less than 60 - 70 MPH. However, I hate to haste and waste. The Marathons have not been recalled by the Feds.

Here's a popular read that (IIRC) is posted somewhere else here.

.

2 years ago my first choice would have been Marathons, but not today. Like I said they have gone to crap. I have really had the best luck out of the Tow Masters from China. There is also a brand which I am sure is made by the same company called Trailer King or something like that and are just as good.

I would not ditch them till I had a problem either. The Marathons are still better than the Carlisle any day of the week. I refuse to put a trailer behind my truck with a set of these after last summer. I had had problems in the past but blowing 2 tires on a 500 mile trip last year was the end for me. Did I mention it was Sunday and no tire shop was open. I can deal with one flat but the second is a day buster with no spare. Ended up putting 2 used car tires on it at a truck stop for $40 and made it home no problem. Would have been better off with used car tires over them Carlisle.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Instead of your 6 ply tires you can buy 8 ply trailer tires rated for 1660 lb in size 185/80-13. One brand is Duro. Here's a link. DiamondPilot may know of other brands of 13" 8 ply's that will work also.

185 / 80 D 13 & C 78 - 13 Duro Trailer Tires

The problem is in 13 and 14 inch tires to get anything more than Load Range C or 6 ply you have to go to Bias in most sizes. Radials pull so much better and allow for higher speed and just seem to do a better job.

Chris

 

[George2615]

The problem is in 13 and 14 inch tires to get anything more than Load Range C or 6 ply you have to go to Bias in most sizes. Radials pull so much better and allow for higher speed and just seem to do a better job.

Chris

Chris, I got the impression from his post he's at his weight limit for his current tires. For the amount of time he'll be towing I think he would feel safer with a higher rated tire even though its not a radial.

 

[OKnewguy]

I was wondering about the bias ply myself. I tow 65 miles minimum to go to the lake, it is almost entirely highway. I have also heard that the bias might not be as good for the extreme heat we get in the middle of August.
I was just researching some other forums, and alot of rv'ers are making a switch from 13" to 15" in order to open up the tire choices. I went out a glanced at the boat, and I would have to completely mess with the axles and fenders. BTW, they had a link to a 15" rim with 5 on 4.5. I did not know such a beast existed. My past boat was a 20' glastron on a single axle trailer. It had 14's but again I was right at the max with it too. I usually would get 3 years before I had a blow out, and then I would replace them all.
If I got the Tow Masters (or really any tire), would I dramatically improve longevity by lifting the tires all the time? BTW, next Tuesday our carport is being delivered, I sprung for the enclosed sides.
Thanks for replies so far!
Dave

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would only put the boat up on blocks when its down for the season. I keep all my trailers on blocks for the off season. For example my boat is up from November to May. It gets used every weekend during the off season.

As for the Bias I would just ask your local tire shops what they sell and have good luck with. The only trailer we have Bias on is our converted Mobile Home Trailer into a House Boat Trailer. Its 70' long and has 5 axles. The only tire we can get for it is Bias in the load range we need. It only travels 1 mile at a time and top speed is 25 mph or so.

I would not go to bigger tires. I had a customer with a camper with 14" tires that he wanted me to put new brakes on. I did that and the next year he was due for tires and wanted to go to 15" tires. We had to get 1" lift blocks made at a local machine shop, was not to expensive ($80), then place them between the springs and axle. That was no problem, what ended up being the problem was the brakes. The larger tires gave rolling mass and the brakes were much less effective and he would have ended up having to go to larger brakes but he traded for a new camper. It was something we overlooked. Simple physics. Larger tire give more leverage and more rolling mass which equals less braking.

I would just stick with the stock size, get a good tire, watch the air pressure every time you tow it, and keep it on blocks for long periods of idle use. Plan on replacing them every 4-5 years for normal use.

Chris

 

[Renze]

popular sizes in Holland are the 195/50 R13 or 225/55 B12 Both will carry 1800kg (3968 pounds) per axle and are about 22 inch high.

 

[BOBBYROGERS]

i think your right most all small trailer tires are made in china but i think the goodyear is the best i just put them on my pop up camper and have not had any blowouts yet i did tri 2 otheir brands in the last 2 years and wow i did not now that their was so many junk tires out their 1 set blew out at 45 mph the other set had a blow out at 58mph long story short when i changed them and put my spare on the belts in them were completly rusted. now the goodyear modle is also made in china now but my dealer garinteed that they are built to a higher standard and i have been able to pull my camper down the road at 65mph all last summer with no problems

 

[Diamondpilot]

I just ordered a 4 205/75/14 load range "c" for this boat yesterday. It need new ones last year but I wanted to wait till spring. Got them through Tire Barn. Mounted and balanced with new valve steams the total is $238. That includes tax. I shopped around 5 local stores and looked at 8 or 9 brands and went with Kona. They are a radial tire. The seem to have a good rep around here. Got to be better than the Carlisle that are coming off.

Chris

 

[OKnewguy]

It is funny you mention the rusted belts. The last outing of the year we had a blowout on the way home, and the metal in the belts seemed to be rusted. Chris, I agree exactly with waiting all winter to put tires on, I was definitely thinking the same thing. I got the carport installed now, and will probably be buying the tires in the next month or so. I have to take the boat to the upholstery guy, and leave it with him for a while, so I need the tires before that trip (it is around 70 miles or so).
I will let everyone know how it goes with the purchase.
Thanks for all the input!
Dave