Radial vs Bias Ply for 175 Sport trailer

[BrandonUK]

Does it really matter? I just replaced with goodyear marathon radial ST tires load range C and max weight per tire is 1480lbs. Also, does anyone think you should mount a spare to the trailer (mine doesn't have a spare). Thanks for the advice!

 

[ZZ13]

My trailer has bias ply. Carlisle ST 185/D13. Pulled it 550 miles on I-95 the day I bought it. Rolled just find. I highly recommend a spare whether its attached to the trailer or kept in your tow vehicle.

 

[Dave 205]

The spare is a great thing to have. I'm not even sure my truck jack will lift my trailer, but at least I have a properly fitted tire and wheel assembly if I have to call for help. If you are in the middle of nowhere without a spare late on a Sunday night, you will be screwed

 

[skb0203]

We travel with our boat alot. Some trips 700 miles or more one way. We have learned to carry just about anything needed to repair the rolling gear on the trailer. I have a spare mounted on the trailer. We keep a cover on it to prevent dryrot from uv rays. I carry a small floor jack came from sears I think, its in a small molded case, 4 way lug wrench, spare hub assembly with bearings its also in a molded case, grease gun, small air compressor..... if the trip is long enough I carry an extra spare tire in the truck. Breaking down on A1A at 2 in the morning teaches you to be a trailering boyscout...be prepaired. If you have everything you need nothing will ever happen....dont have it.....it all falls apart! Every time we stop I check the hubs and feel the tires for heat. Number 1 cause of tire failure is under inflation. Number 2 is dry rot...most rv and boat trailer tires never wear out the tread but after time they begin to dry rot sometimes even from the inside. Check your tire mfg dates on the sidewall after 7 yrs max get new tires if your gonna be on the road very much.

I have Good Year Marathons and love them. Bias plys you can look at and see if their under inflated....my marathons always look low so keep a TPS guage with you;

 

[dutchman]

mine came with Duro bias ply with a D rating of 1660. These tires fell apart in the first month. Without any hassles, Shorelander sent me 2 new tires (c/w rims). They are Carlisle Sure Trail ST bias ply 185D13 with a load rating of 1710#.
These have worked great.
I checked into radials but could only find one with a max of 1480#. I believe our 175's have dry weight of around 2600 including the trailer. Once full of fuel and gear, you'll be right on your max tire rating. Not sure if that is an issue, but something to watch.
As for the spare, definitely should have one, and there are several options to attach to the trailer

 

[BrandonUK]

I checked into radials but could only find one with a max of 1480#. I believe our 175's have dry weight of around 2600 including the trailer. Once full of fuel and gear, you'll be right on your max tire rating. Not sure if that is an issue, but something to watch.

Mine had the Duro as well and they were dry-rotting. I replaced with Marathon radials because goodyear said they would work and I didn't question them, but upon further review after putting them on, I noticed the 1480 lb/tire rating. It puts me a little close the max weight rating, but I figure about 200 lbs is on the tongue too. If we do the math 1480x2 = 2960 max weight - 2660 weight of boat = 300 lbs to give. Add in 200 lb tongue weight and we're left with about 500 lbs of equipment/fuel. I rarely put more than half a tank (10 gallons) when towing. Equipment and I'm at maybe 150 lbs so maybe 200 lbs of fuel + equipment.

I am still thinking about switching back to bias ply maybe Load Star to get the higher weight rating for safety. Thoughts?

 

[BrandonUK]

Also, anyone know anywhere I could sell the radials I just bought and paid $200 for if I decide to put bias ply back on?

 

[dutchman]

Hey I'm no tire expert, just using my common sense. So for peace of mind, go to you local tire store and see what they say. It may not even be an issue.

One more thing, just noticed your pic, and I'd have to say ..............that red 175 is a great looking boat. :smt043:smt038

 

[blaster]

Goodyear marathon radials came stock on my 180 br trailer back in 01. In 06 I replaced them with the same tires because they were wearing and a little dry rotted. I had read some complaints about tread seperation with the marathons but the original ones served me well so I got them again. Big mistake. They were fine for 2 years but on a 400 mile trip in 98 degree weather one suffered a catastrophic tread seperation with the tread whipping the fender off my trailer and bending the fender mounts on th PA turnpike. I stopped and put on the spare which was a carlisle and continued on. 50 miles later it happened on the other side. Again taking the fender with it and scaring the crap out of my daughter. At this point I was in trouble rolling on with no tread on one side. I stopped in Cranberry and went to a goodyear and a merchants but niether had any tires and had to order them. A kind customer suggested I go to tractor supply and I found what I needed ready to go with rims. I changed out both tires in the blazing heat and was soon on my way but the sides of the boat were black from tire streaks and my trailer looked ghetto. When I got home I contacted goodyear and their response was they have no record of this type of failure and I must have done something wrong such as underinflation. I do not buy ANY goodyear tires anymore. The repair bill for the trailer not including new tires was $550 insurance covered $450 of it.

Mine had the Duro as well and they were dry-rotting. I replaced with Marathon radials because goodyear said they would work and I didn't question them, but upon further review after putting them on, I noticed the 1480 lb/tire rating. It puts me a little close the max weight rating, but I figure about 200 lbs is on the tongue too. If we do the math 1480x2 = 2960 max weight - 2660 weight of boat = 300 lbs to give. Add in 200 lb tongue weight and we're left with about 500 lbs of equipment/fuel. I rarely put more than half a tank (10 gallons) when towing. Equipment and I'm at maybe 150 lbs so maybe 200 lbs of fuel + equipment.

I am still thinking about switching back to bias ply maybe Load Star to get the higher weight rating for safety. Thoughts?

 

[spfortjohn]

Have heard a lot of problems with the Goodyears. I changed them out to Maxis tires on my old trailer and they were 5 years old when I sold it. Just put a new set on my new used trailer.

 

[minty fresh]

I think any tire with the appropriate weight rating is gonna get the job done. On a single axle trailer I think having tires with a pretty good extra margin are a good idea. I like bias ply tires on a trailer that will never wear out the tread. Radial tires don't like age nearly as much as bias plies do. I have had 2 sets of bias plies on my tandem axle car trailer in the last 19 years after the original radials had one catastrophic failure. The first set was 10 years old when I finally started to feel uncomfortable with them due to cracking. The current set is 7 years old and going strong. I have no issues or worries hooking this trailer up and towing cross country on short notice. I just used it to take my old truck from California to Idaho on July 4th. No problems or worries.
Travis..

 

[bigblockcutlass]

Goodyear marathon radials came stock on my 180 br trailer back in 01. In 06 I replaced them with the same tires because they were wearing and a little dry rotted. I had read some complaints about tread seperation with the marathons but the original ones served me well so I got them again. Big mistake. They were fine for 2 years but on a 400 mile trip in 98 degree weather one suffered a catastrophic tread seperation with the tread whipping the fender off my trailer and bending the fender mounts on th PA turnpike. I stopped and put on the spare which was a carlisle and continued on. 50 miles later it happened on the other side. Again taking the fender with it and scaring the crap out of my daughter. At this point I was in trouble rolling on with no tread on one side. I stopped in Cranberry and went to a goodyear and a merchants but niether had any tires and had to order them. A kind customer suggested I go to tractor supply and I found what I needed ready to go with rims. I changed out both tires in the blazing heat and was soon on my way but the sides of the boat were black from tire streaks and my trailer looked ghetto. When I got home I contacted goodyear and their response was they have no record of this type of failure and I must have done something wrong such as underinflation. I do not buy ANY goodyear tires anymore. The repair bill for the trailer not including new tires was $550 insurance covered $450 of it.

When I got home I contacted goodyear and their response was they have no record of this type of failure
This is bull crap. the just haven't be keeping record of this failure. I don't understand why these companys have to lye about stuff.