Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum - View Single Post

Tom S. · 11-22-2009, 06:12 AM

This kind of balancing act: Through testing, a manufacture determines they need a tire with a rating of XXXX pounds. They put out a bid for a supplier. Typical supplier contract stipulates they must meet the criteria of the mfg, at a certain price. In return, the mfg agrees to a length of contract, either in time or quantity. In regards to Keystone, this was initially a contract with Mission tires. Since tire warranties are handled by the tire supplier, Keystone is out of the loop because they are not responsible for the warranty. However, as is apparently the case, Keystone recognized there was a problem, so it initiated the process again and found a different supplier. The fact that both suppliers are in China sucks, but the bottom line up until just a few months ago was that all ST tires were made in China. Of course then the economics comes into play. Economics #1 is the trailer mfg doesn't want to pay any more for the tires than they have to, and #2 is the end user doesn't want to pay any more than they have too either. If this was not the case, you wouldn't see all the Chinese stuff in stores we now see, but I digress. Keystone cannot offer LT tires because the Feds told them they have to use ST tires, but even if they could, in many cases "E" rated LT tires are not rated high enough for the trailer's maximum weight. "E" rated LT tires are rated at 3040 lbs per tire. Many of these trailers weigh 12,500 loaded (that figure is minus the pin weight). So Keystone (and ultimately us) is caught between a rock and a hard place. They have to offer a tire that is only made by a few companies, and they have to keep costs down, and the is the balancing act.

Let's say for the sake of discussion, Keystone starts offering an upgrade to Goodyear Marathons (the only trailer tire with the load capacity that is currently US made - but for how long?) for an additional cost of say, $500. While many of the people on this site would most likely opt for them, because of Mission/China's reputation, how many first time buyers would? This leaves Keystone with a guessing game - how many tires do they contract with from China, and how many from Goodyear? As I said, it's a balancing act.

I'm not even sure about the safety aspect. Vehicle tires are a known safety issue because the vehicle can lose control is one fails. On a towed vehicle it's a different world because the trailer doesn't steer. Yes, there is related material damages, but unless there is negligence, such as the driver ignoring the blowout, or over reacting (aka panic), what is the real chance there will be injury or loss of life?

11-22-2009, 06:12 AM	#24
Tom S. Montana Master Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Waterford Posts: 3,693 M.O.C. #7500	This kind of balancing act: Through testing, a manufacture determines they need a tire with a rating of XXXX pounds. They put out a bid for a supplier. Typical supplier contract stipulates they must meet the criteria of the mfg, at a certain price. In return, the mfg agrees to a length of contract, either in time or quantity. In regards to Keystone, this was initially a contract with Mission tires. Since tire warranties are handled by the tire supplier, Keystone is out of the loop because they are not responsible for the warranty. However, as is apparently the case, Keystone recognized there was a problem, so it initiated the process again and found a different supplier. The fact that both suppliers are in China sucks, but the bottom line up until just a few months ago was that all ST tires were made in China. Of course then the economics comes into play. Economics #1 is the trailer mfg doesn't want to pay any more for the tires than they have to, and #2 is the end user doesn't want to pay any more than they have too either. If this was not the case, you wouldn't see all the Chinese stuff in stores we now see, but I digress. Keystone cannot offer LT tires because the Feds told them they have to use ST tires, but even if they could, in many cases "E" rated LT tires are not rated high enough for the trailer's maximum weight. "E" rated LT tires are rated at 3040 lbs per tire. Many of these trailers weigh 12,500 loaded (that figure is minus the pin weight). So Keystone (and ultimately us) is caught between a rock and a hard place. They have to offer a tire that is only made by a few companies, and they have to keep costs down, and the is the balancing act. Let's say for the sake of discussion, Keystone starts offering an upgrade to Goodyear Marathons (the only trailer tire with the load capacity that is currently US made - but for how long?) for an additional cost of say, $500. While many of the people on this site would most likely opt for them, because of Mission/China's reputation, how many first time buyers would? This leaves Keystone with a guessing game - how many tires do they contract with from China, and how many from Goodyear? As I said, it's a balancing act. I'm not even sure about the safety aspect. Vehicle tires are a known safety issue because the vehicle can lose control is one fails. On a towed vehicle it's a different world because the trailer doesn't steer. Yes, there is related material damages, but unless there is negligence, such as the driver ignoring the blowout, or over reacting (aka panic), what is the real chance there will be injury or loss of life?