I've been looking for tires for my travel trailer, size 205/75R-15 load range c. I have had no luck finding any that are made in the US or even Canada. Tire Rack has Goodyears that are in Indiana warehouse for $82, but the shipping to me in NJ is about $55. These are made in New Zealand. The new stock on Goodyears, in the Delaware warehouse are $102 each and made in China. Perfect example of manufacturing problems in the United States.

Bob with M

I've been reading posts about trailer tires here and on various other forums for years now. Often the question/observation/complaint is the same - posters feel that tires manufactured in China are a guaranteed problem, yet they also want to make an issue about how much this tire or that tire costs. Ulitmately there is always some condemnation of "U.S. manufacturing".

As someone who has worked in and around the automotive/truck field for 20 some years I have to tell you I find this constant whining ridiculous. First off, under what misguided concept of safety do all you RV'ers (and yes, I have owned, maintained, and towed/driven many of them) decide that price is a guiding factor for RV tires? Just because you only use them 2 weeks out of the year doesn't mean that you should invest less in them. I have to tell you, I've seen plenty of aftermath from travel trailer tire blow-outs - the trailer swerves and drags the tow vehicle with it, or worst case the trailer goes so far out of control it rolls, dragging the tow vehcile right along - everything becomes a total loss, and often people are severely injured or killed.

Frankly, if you have such doubts about the quality or dependability of whatever brand, type, or manufacturer of whatever tire it is you're whining about, do what the professionals do - spend the money for top shelf tires and take care of them. Put 4 Michelins on it, and when you aren't using it, jack the SOB up off the ground, cover the tires, and keep them aired up.

Or just replace them every couple of years. Expensive - maybe, but if you budget for it (which you should be anyway) it will seem like an insignifigant cost - especially the next time you pass the shredded remains of an RV off the side of the road surrounded by police, fire, and EMS equipment.

Safety has one rule guys - if you do it, do it right.

Autotech
I'm not whining. All I want to do is find a tire made in the United States, from my local supplier.
Bob with M
ASE CERTIFIED A1-A8 & L1
Chevrolet MASTER TECH 3 times
40 Years Automotive history

Bob;
Such a simple task that isn't so simple any more if you are looking for a quality tire. I think most of the major tire manufacturer's (BF Goodrich, Cooper, Goodyear, Michelin, Uniroyal) still make some series and sizes here in the states, but some are imported. Michelin has a big plant in SC that produces some of the best tires anywhere, but certain sizes are not manufactured there. About all you can do is ask your tire dealer to have their supplier check the country of origin beforehand & if that doesn't yeild result's, try another dealer. Good luck on your search.
M-MAN

M-Man
The Goodyears seem to be all made in China now. I did a few searches and Michelin didn't show a trailer tire. My next move is the Coopers. I'll call my local Cooper Distributor tomorrow and see if he can get them for me. I was talking to my regular distributor on Thursday. I asked him what he stocked and his answer was "Whatever they can buy in bulk and get a deal on." Not much choice in that answer.
Bob with M

5198081 Carlisle radial . Rated for 2150lbs.

buickanddeere
Carlisle had a bad problem with tires coming apart a couple of years ago. I was working as a RV parts manager and we had a bunch if trailers come in with the bottoms and siding torn off. I was told that the problem is fixed by my tire distributor, he thinks?
Bob with M

The unfortunate truth Bob is that we now live, work, purchase,and sell in a global market. The concept of "Made in" no longer carries the meaning it did 30 years ago. The harsh truth is that buying US made does nothing to guarantee your dollars are supporting the econmy as directly as you believe. Rather than worry about where your tires are manufactured, perhaps you should be looking at where the manufacturing company, it's holding company, and the overall parent organization spend, invest, and donate their profit dollars. Michelien donates thousands of sets of tires to fire and EMS organizations in our counrty - does Goodyear? Not that I've seen. The problem is that you want to pick a single issue - where the tires are made - and try to hang your "feel good about the US economy" BS on that one factor. Can't do it Bob, not without pretending the global reality of economics doesn't exist.

I'm no economist, and I don't have time to do the research that would be needed to find the most "economically friendly" tire (or whatever) out there. So I do the next best thing - I spend my dollars on quality equipment to protect myself, my family, and those I share the roads with. Just as important I make as many of those purchases from my local vendors as possible. Frankly if it comes down to some tire mould polisher in South Carolina, or someone in my business or social community, I'll support the local guy first - and I do.

And I can piss ASE and other certifications all day long....

Pennsylvania State Safety Inspection and Emission Repair Technician
Pennsylvania Commercial Drivers License with T and N endorsements
BMW Master Technician with multiple recertifications
ASE certified Master Auto Technician with multiple recertifications
ASE certified Master Truck Technician with multiple recertifications
ASE certified Master Truck Equipment Technician recertified 3x
ASE certified Advanced Level L1 and L2 Technician recetified 3x
ASE certified Undercar Specialist recertified 2x
ASE certified Service Consultant
PA DOH Certified Emergency Medical Technician 8/1995 – 8/2001
PA and National Fire Board Certified Firefighter 1
PA DOH Certified Basic Vehicle Rescue Technician
EVOC w/fire apparatus

b ob with m;

Why don't you try calling the larger trailer dealers and ask them where they get there trailer tires from. Some may even stock them. They could give you better advise on the subject.

There is a large trailer dealer in McHenry, IL . They have FOUR people working the parts department. THREE full time sales persons. I'll try and find a phone # for them.


Like the old saying goes --- Let your fingers do the walking !


Murphy

bob with m;

Here is the website for the McHenry, IL trailer dealer.


http://www.raadams.com/



There are many more trailer dealers that might be of help. They deal with trailer tires everyday, where as a regular tire dealer may only have call for trailer tires occassionally.



Murphy

Murphy,
Thanks for the input about the tires. I was actually the parts manager for Escape RV in NJ for about two years, until last April when the bottom started to fall out of the RV business. The tires came from A distributor in Pa. They were Goodyears, now made in China. I'm putting this search on the back burner for now. The trailer is stuck in about 4" of ice.
Thanks again,
Bob with M

Bob

Maybe you could just consider bumping the load range up one letter if you are comfortable with your rims taking the extra pressure.

I went to E's to replace the marathon D's that I had constant tread separatin problems with. I only got a couple trips to SC and one to FL from central IL on them, but no probs yet with the bump up with load range on the original rims.

happy camping

Dave

Dave,
Good thought! Thanks
Bob with M

Bob, I was in your situation last year when I wanted to put some new tires on my gooseneck. I was getting frustrated when I came upon Cooper SRM II. Good looking tire. Only had them a year now but so far so good. I did a lot of reading on RV forums & it seems like no matter what brand you mention, somebody has a horror story about it. Didn't find anything negative about the SRM II. I did try to buy some Cooper Custom Trailer Plus but the dealer said they were all being shipped overseas. We send our stuff over here & the Chinese send their junk here.

JD Mark
Cooper Trailer tires are the only radial tires that I can find that are still made in the US. The Problem for me is the cost, I can buy Good Ride Tires, made in China for $65.00 or The Coopers for $108. In these tight economic times, I just can't afford the difference in price. Mastercraft (made by Cooper) still shows trailer tires on there website, but when I called my distributor, they said they were not available. I'm waiting for my rep from that supplier to come into the shop to find out for sure. Something I found that seemed strange were the Carlsile bias ply that were on the shelf of my local Tractor Supply, were made in the US, but when I Emailed Carlsile, they said that the radials were made in China. This follows suit with FIT's post about the Autolite spark plugs.
Thanks for the help
Bob with M

I'm reading this thread because:

I've got a problem with one of the tires on the used trailer I just bought. One has a flat spot. Probably a good idea to replace all of them Gulp!!!!

My question is can you put a radial tire on these rims?

Current tire is NANCO super Highway

7.50 X 16 LT
Laod range B
2755 lbs and 75 psi

Its a 10,000 lbs trailer.

Rav

ravgardner, it looks like your just barely getting the load range you need. i'd go up at least two. i just put load range e on my trailer. its weighs close to 13.000. the thing i've seen over the years is that the front tire always kicks up some debri and the rear tire catches it and goes flat and blows out and if you don't get stoped quick the front one will blow too. i have welded a piece of 1 inch angl to the fram between the tires o my trailer and am going to put a real stiff mud flap in between them that will nearly drag the ground. i hope that this will kick any nails or what ever away from the rear tires.

I miss read the load range on the tires, they are "E" not "B". I called the dealer that sold the trailer. They have the same tire on a the right rim, so I bought it. Needed a spare anyway. Its funny, through out all these threads on trailer tires, two different discussion forums and there are no clear recommendations about brand of tire. The reviews posted on the internet are real scary especially the Carlise brand and that is what my tire guy wanted to sell me. For now I'll have one new and three older Nanco's and hope they hold up this summer so I can get stuff to the Expo in July.

Thanks for the help guys!

Rav

After all is said and done I bought the "Made in China" brand "Goodride". The cost became the major factor in the purchase. I did get a load range D, instead of the C load, which should help. I just started a new job, so I don't know how much I'm going to get to use them. I still hope I can get some time off to go to the Expo in July. Maybe I'll see you there.
Bob with M