Stirring the Trailer Tire Pot

[t2daniel]

Just wanted to ask some questions.

What do you think about the Greenball tires carried by Costco right now? They are Speed range L rated! That means 75 mph!! I've read on this forum and other tire sites that ALL trailer tires are only rated to 65 mph. This is for sure a conflict of statements or ratings.

The tires at Costco are the Greenball Towmaster SS Special Trailer Radial Tire and if you look them up on the Greenball website they are clearly listed as speed range L. Is there a special speed range for trailer tires?

What are the thoughts... experiences. Do these tires with a similar load rating give you more safety margin if swapping 1 for 1 on tire size and load range for another brand of tire?

I now have almost 10,000 miles on my 2 year old tow max tires with no appreciable sign of wear or degradation. But keeping in mind I will have to replace in a year or two. I do think I have a lot of margin on my load ratings with my particular trailer setup as well...about 3000 lbs if I did my math correctly.

[need-a-vacation]

Can't say I have read much about the Greenball tires, but the little I have has been mixed....

It seems some manufactures are producing st tires that are rated above 65mph now. Recently read (think it was here) that Maxxis are rated higher per an email from Maxxis (can't remember the actual speed). Carlisle is also rated higher, depending on the size tire. 16"-75mph, 15"-81mph, was 87mph but due to a gov't tarrif Carlisle changed the rating, 14"- I think were either 81mph or 87mph.

I have the same thought concerning the higher rated speed vs the old 65mph rating. The more margin there is, the better. Same as buying the next higher load range tire for more of a cushion for the max weight rating.

Have you weighed your tt? If so, how much does it weigh, and what tires do you currently have? Are you using the total trailer weight, or just the actual axle weight when hooked up when you figured the margin?

[Grumpy]

The Goodyear G 614 which JAYCO is now offering as an option, on at least the PINNACLES, is rated at 75. I have seen the info on Greenballs, but what I question is how they can claim that their "F" rated 12 ply tire can carry 3800 + at 90 psi when the Goodyear "G" rated 14 ply is only 3750 at 110 psi. One reason why both have the higher speed rating is they are "Steel belted" compared to the "Nylon belts" in standard trailer tires.

[Dirkdaddy]

I saw them but it would take a week to get them I needed to go Labor day. I went with Hercules D range tires, on recommendation of sales guy who used them on his racing trailer he used 2 years regularly w/o issues, they are made by cooper tire in GA (another reason). I got Hercules for a great price too, balanced as well by the shop. Look around you may find a good deal. I am not sure on quality of Greenball, might be great tire but you don't know.

[Seann45]

I have never heard of Greenball tires but Costco is very good about standing behind what they carry..
Speed rating.. you are towing how many tons of trailer? Do you really need to go 75 with your loved ones on board? Sure you can do it 1000 times but when something goes wrong that extra speed can be a killer...

[VicS1950]

Originally Posted by t2daniel

... I've read on this forum and other tire sites that ALL trailer tires are only rated to 65 mph. This is for sure a conflict of statements or ratings.

...

You are correct. The 65 mph is a minimum DOT standard as far as I know. Those that are rated higher also meet the 65 mph minimum though.

vic

[Subaru297]

Originally Posted by Seann45

I have never heard of Greenball tires but Costco is very good about standing behind what they carry..
Speed rating.. you are towing how many tons of trailer? Do you really need to go 75 with your loved ones on board? Sure you can do it 1000 times but when something goes wrong that extra speed can be a killer...

My car tires are rated at over 200km/h. Doesn't mean I drive that fast. I would rather drive 65mph on a tire rated for 75 than one rated for 65......

Cheers

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by VicS1950

You are correct. The 65 mph is a minimum DOT standard as far as I know. Those that are rated higher also meet the 65 mph minimum though.

vic

It is also the maximum speed on those tires. Just like the Michelin XZE MH tires are rated at a maximum of 75. GMC actually governed the KODIAKS that were used for MH to 75 mph.

[VicS1950]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

It is also the maximum speed on those tires. Just like the Michelin XZE MH tires are rated at a maximum of 75. GMC actually governed the KODIAKS that were used for MH to 75 mph.

65 mph max is apparently not the case for Goodyear Marathon ST tires.

As was pointed out, note that in the PDF they refer 10 psi above vehicle recommended tire pressure (and not above max sidewall pressure as I misinterpreted) for speeds above 65 mph.

https://www.tirerack.com/images/tire...plications.pdf

DOT speed rating is not necessarily speed limited.

As I watch other people towing pass me on the interstate I must believe that regular trailer tires are good for above 65 mph or there'd be a bunch more blowouts. My bet is that more people pull trailers above 65 mph than like I do at around 60 mph. (Now that I'm older.)

vic

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by VicS1950

65 mph max is apparently not the case for Goodyear Marathon ST tires.

As was pointed out, note that in the PDF they refer 10 psi above vehicle recommended tire pressure (and not above max sidewall pressure as I misinterpreted) for speeds above 65 mph.

https://www.tirerack.com/images/tire...plications.pdf

DOT speed rating is not necessarily speed limited.

As I watch other people towing pass me on the interstate I must believe that regular trailer tires are good for above 65 mph or there'd be a bunch more blowouts. My bet is that more people pull trailers above 65 mph than like I do at around 60 mph. (Now that I'm older.)

vic

That is true but only for the Marathon which, if you follow all the threads on various sites, have also had their share of problems.

However the industry standard is 65.

To quote Goodyear, "Industry standards dictate that ST tires are restricted to a speed of 65 mph unless a different speed restriction is indicated on the tire sidewall. If speeds from 66 to 75 mph are used, the tire cold inflation pressure can be increased by 10 psi without any increase in load. — Goodyear Tire Company"

The GOODYEAR G 614 is also rated at 75, and can be used safely on a TT/FW.

I, like you, stay at 60-62 and just hope that I don't find the person who "FLEW" by me at 75 +/- off the road or in the median since they blew a tire and lost control.

Safe travels.

[Edd505]

Carlisle Site: Trailer Tire Tips & Best Practice
http://www.carlisletransportationpro..._Practices.pdf

[t2daniel]

Originally Posted by need-a-vacation

I have the same thought concerning the higher rated speed vs the old 65mph rating. The more margin there is, the better. Same as buying the next higher load range tire for more of a cushion for the max weight rating.

Have you weighed your tt? If so, how much does it weigh, and what tires do you currently have? Are you using the total trailer weight, or just the actual axle weight when hooked up when you figured the margin?

Yes I have weighed the rig, but that was 1 year or so ago and I know our loading habits have changed.

I was at 16,040 lbs total with 7060 lbs on the trailer axles.

Trailer GVWR = 8500 lb
Axle GAWR = 4400 lbs x 2 - 8800 lb
Tires are Tow Max ST225/75R15's LR? (2530 lb @ 65 psi)....The picture I took of my tires cut off the LR rating I think they are D's

Total Tire load = 2530 x 4 = 10,120 lbs
8500 lb GVWR with 12% on the tongue
8500 lb - 1020 lb = 7480 lb
10,120 lb - 7480 lb = 2640 lb Margin

So I am assuming the margin is while towing with some weight on the tongue.

When I weighted the trailer last year, I had even more margin with the Trailer axles only taking 7000 lb. I did not take the other 2 measurements to see what the tongue weight was....never to seem to get off in time to afford a stop at the CAT scales!

I try to keep the trailer at about 62, but don't mind too much if I gain some gas mileage freewheeling down hills at a little higher speed as long as there are no curves and I don't gain too much speed (the higher gear lockout button on my F250 works great for downshifting and maintaining speeds on hills)

Driving 4300 miles out west it would have been nice to push the speed up a little on the long flat drives on the plains, but agree to keeping things safe with the Family on board.

[Rock]

You guys are right about speeding. My 30 ft TT I drove 65-68 max and could not believe how many Big FW blew by on my last 3k trip. Plan on 60 with my new FE
Rock