G614 Tire option

[bethandkevin]

After many phone calls to my dealer, Keystone and the Mfg. Rep., I have been told that where G614 tire were previously only available with the Big Sky option, Montana will now be able to offer them as an upgrade at the time of order. I was told two prices by the dealer-$1100.00 and $1200.00 (two salemen-my first quit before delivery!). The dealer will sell me G614's, but no credit for the Marathon's. I think they'll be on at least for the balance of the warranty period.

[DQDick]

If I understand what you're saying you're going to leave the Marathon's on for the life of the trailer warranty. If that's the case, one thing to consider is that Keystone doesn't warranty the tires and any damage caused by tire failure isn't a warranty issue either. All of that is between the tire owner and Goodyear. I called Goodyear and arranged a deal with them to trade out my Marathons at a Goodyear store for G614's. If you do more traveling than to a local lake and back you'll want to search threads on this and other forums for Marathons and then make a decision. Lots and lots of bad experience out there.

[bethandkevin]

I would be interested in hearing more about the arrangement you made Dick, I am at wits end regarding this issue, but won't let it stop my Montana purchase.

[seahunter]

At that price it sure doesn't seem like they're giving very much credit for the Marathons if it's still $1100-$1200??

[hunts800]

I worked through a Goodyear truck tire dealer the month I purchased my unit,and he gave me $125 each credit for the Marathon's. Brought the whole deal down to about $1100 installed and out the door. So, if your dealer will put G614's on at the factory for $1100 bucks, it works out about the same. I checked around quite a bit,and $1100 bucks for four G614's (I left the Marathon on for the spare) was the best I could do.

[bethandkevin]

seahunter, I priced them today locally with a dealer I use regularly. $1,650.00 for 5 G614's mounted. For comparison I priced Marathons-$850.00 for 5 mounted.

[seahunter]

I guess that's not too bad then. I was figuring more in line with what you said about $800 difference between the two especially if doing it at the factory level. I still have my quesion out with the dealer to see if Montana will do it for us and what the cost will be.

[tim43]

I just dropped over 1800 to have five G614s balanced and mounted using my own steel stems so anything under that for five tires sounds good to me. But, it is an individual decision and I sure have had a bunch of China bombs go bang in the night on previous rigs.

[DQDick]

Ok, what I did was call Goodyear customer service and asked for a supervisor. I didn't get the supervisor, but the rep asked me what I wanted and I told him: "You folks know and I know from reading the various forums that Marathons don't belong on a 15K rig (loaded weight). If we can't work something out, somewhere down the road I'm going to be calling you with blown tires and damage to the rig. Is there a way we can avoid that?" I was put on hold for a long time, then directed to the nearest Goodyear dealer who measured the wear on the Marathons. I ended up paying a little over $800 for 5 614's mounted and balanced. That was last year and tires have gone up, but I was given less for the Marathons because even though my rig was new, the tires were manufactured in 2009 so they gave me a 2009 Marathon trade in.

[Bigboomer]

Ok, so being new to the MOC, if Keystone/ Montana know how bad the Marathons are why do they continue to use them and replace them with 614's as standard?

I am sure that someone has answered already but would be interested to hear it, especially since Keystone/ Montana monitor the site.

Unfortunately our rig came with Marathons and now after reading all these events I guess we will be changing them out.

I think I may go the route of Dick's protocol for calling GY on the carpet.

[dieselguy]

I'd like to expand on what DQDick previously eluded to. I've no idea on what percentage of us on the MOC are full or long timers and what percentage are recreational RVers. I'd imagine out of all the Montana owners nationwide, full timers are less than 30% of the total. Those who have the larger rigs and who pull from coast to coast with considerably more "cargo" than say a recreational RVer may well need G614's. As for the alternate RVer who uses his/her fiver seasonally with considerably less "cargo" ... I feel G614's are a bit overkill. There are other tire alternatives out there that some of us have used whether they be LT's or ST's. We didn't spend near $1200 - $1500 for our tires and we seemingly have the same peace of mind not having to deal with the Marathons. Estimate what your actual axle weight might be minus pin weight plus how you intend on using your RV and select appropriately. I'm not kicking dust on anyones choice of tires here ... many variations of the tire topic come up and to new-comers it may seem by the responses that the ONLY WAY TO GO is Goodyear G614's ... this is simply not true. A search on the MOC of tire topics will detail different tire options others have been satisfied with. As for your spare ... it is after all a spare ... why have $350 worth of tire hanging back there seldom used. Stick with what Keystone provided for this one tire.

[mobilcastle]

The reason Keystone and other RV manufactures use the ST's is simple. I always say " it's not the money-IT"S THE MONEY!"

[richfaa]

Rv manufacturers use the ST tires because they have a higher tire load rating than the majority of LT tires. It is a cover your butt legal issue. Also as seen on this thread many folks would not pay the price IF the higher priced tires were OEM. No reason they can not be a option if we choose to pay the price.

[1retired06]

I agree with dieselguy. I have used E-Load Firestone Transforce LT tires for multiple trailers and three Montana fifth wheels and never had a blowout or tire issue. Six years fulltiming, and still spend 9 months out of the year in my rig. I check my air pressure and dont drive 70+ miles an hour. MobileCastle is also right, Keystone and others get a deal on Goodyear Marathons and money drives the decision. I dont necessarily think Marathons are a bad product, just undersized, not up to the weight of the heavier rigs, and therefore the wrong choice of tire. I would also mention that my first two Montana's both came new with LT not ST tires. I suspect Keystone switched to the Marathons because they got a deal, and because they could brag about a namebrand tire standard on their product.

[DQDick]

Marathons have no reserve capacity, everything they have goes into the numbers on the sidewall. With no reserve capacity failure is a probability and Keystone knows that even though they claim they don't.

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by DQDick

With no reserve capacity failure is a probability and Keystone knows that even though they claim they don't.

That says it all

[Clemson1881]

Offering the G rated tires as an option will probably be available on the Montana (not only Big Sky) line soon. Too much outcry for it not to be.

[richfaa]

Just my opinion but I don't think it is a matter of additonal cost for Montana to install them OEM but a matter of the consumer being willing to pay the extra cost. A couple of years ago we at the rally were asked if we would pay the extra price for the G6 14tires.Don't know waht the resuts of the poll were.
They are installed as OEM on the big sky models so the tires are there on the assembly line. They should try them as a Option and see what the consumer responce is.

[Clemson1881]

Problem is most folks like myself, prior to having a problem, or joining a forum like this see Good Year on the Marathons and assume they have a great tire. Going back to 2009 prior to my purchase of the Montana I had never had a rig this large, and didn't know anything about the tire problems of the China bombs. If the dealer said Marathons for $47,000 or G614s for $48,200 or whatever, being a vactioner user I would have said Marathon. And most if told by a salesman "you really need the G tires" would assume the sales person was simply trying to get them for some more money. And of course if the salesman sensed that price was the dealmaker/dealbreaker he would never even suggest it. So, Rich you are correct sir.

[Bigboomer]

It is absolutely frightening the stories of the blowouts I keep reading here and over the other forums....

Really disappointed that I have to now beg GY to take back the "Marabombs" that Keystone put on the rig but since they only have 65 miles on them I hope they offer a fair trade.

There is no way I am taking a chance with these things. We had 614's on the SOB and never had an issue. We replaced them after 7 years even though they had good tread as UV and age had taken it's toll and no sense waiting for dry rot from the inside out to take out a tire.

I enjoy "Chinese" food but certainly do not want to make chow mein out of the side of our new rig!!!!