Near Miss (Almost A Marabomb)

[bobsals]

Well, we almost had a mishap with one our Marathon tires. Upon setting up at a campground, I noticed the right rear tire was crowned , Put the spare on and hoping to get home without any more problems. Anyway, my question is, I know many of you have switched to the Goodyear 614 tires, and was wondering what you have been paying for them? Also, anyone who have replaced your tires with something other than the 614's, cost, and how they have been performing. I am still looking on the net for pricing of the 614's but no luck yet. I did find Michelin's for about $316 at Wal-Mart, but looking for other and hopefully cheaper options.

[oldelmer1]

The most important factor in new tires is, how much does your camper weigh?

My camper weighs in at 10,700 with a pin weight of 2400. So I opted for the BF Goodrich Commercial TA's at a max weight of 3042 x 4 = 12,168.
so my 10,700 divided by 4 = 2675. So I'm 367 pounds per tire under weight.

[jlb27537]

I am paying $232 ea for Bridgestone Duravis 250. A all steel tire, weighs 58lbs, on sale now at Firestone stores.

Plus tax and mounting etc.

I am keeping my Marathon's with less than 1,000 miles on them to sell on Craig's List.

The G614's are great tires, but with only 10,340lbs on the axles, just do not need to spend that on a tire.

[ols1932]

Hang the cost! If a tire is worth the money, pay it. We have the Bridgestone Duravis 250s on the Montana and Michelins on the truck. I just go to my favorite tire store and say, "Give me new ones."

Orv

[bigskyjimmy]

Not all of us have a Wad of cash sitting around and are just looking for a heavier duty tire for our rigs than Marathons for a reasonable cost, Les schwab and other Tire Company's are selling Geostar G574 a G rated tire rated at 3700lb and cost about 200-235 ea and have been getting good reviews.. just a thought

[jimcol]

quote:Originally posted by oldelmer1

The most important factor in new tires is, how much does your camper weigh?

My camper weighs in at 10,700 with a pin weight of 2400. So I opted for the BF Goodrich Commercial TA's at a max weight of 3042 x 4 = 12,168.
so my 10,700 divided by 4 = 2675. So I'm 367 pounds per tire under weight.

I did the same thing as oldelmer1. They have worked good for me for about 26k miles. I know they had one recall which did not include mine. If memory serves me correct they just had one bad batch. When these need replaced I'll go with the same tire. Jim

[bobsals]

quote:
My camper weighs in at 10,700 with a pin weight of 2400. So I opted for the BF Goodrich Commercial TA's at a max weight of 3042 x 4 = 12,168.

Do you remember what the TA's cost? I would be about 600 lbs. under on each tire. TX

[1retired06]

I have been running Firestone TransForce LTs on all our Montanas with no problems. They run $165-180 each.

[bobsals]

Is this a misprint or am I seeing things?
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/tires...er=16&x=45&y=9
Speed rating = 43MPH

[bigskyjimmy]

43 MPH that's cool that's faster than I ever go, Nice and Easy does it

[DQDick]

Before you do anything else call Goodyear Customer service. A number of us have been able to trade in our Marathons for a reasonable amount against the purchase of G614's. If that doesn't work, many members have had excellent results using appropriate LT tires.

[bobsals]

quote:Originally posted by DQDick

Before you do anything else call Goodyear Customer service. A number of us have been able to trade in our Marathons for a reasonable amount against the purchase of G614's. If that doesn't work, many members have had excellent results using appropriate LT tires.

Well worth a try, I have a Good Year dealer near me.

[GreatWhite]

I had a suggestion to use Goodyear Wrangler LT w highway tread. The dealer after ordering them and then seeing the loaded weight, would not install them. He said the load rating of the Wranglers were less than the mbombs. He suggested I take them on the trip that I just started.and bring them back after he has had a chance.to research more. he thinks the G614's are the only ones that will fill the bill. Loaded, I'm only 14k+ a tad. The marathons are at the hairy edge of that rating. I don't know how Keystone can safely put those on heavier rv's unless they have 6 on the floor. So the dealer lost a sale..but, I respect the fact that he did it to protect both us and himself in case I had an accident with under rated tires on my rig.

[F3fifty]

quote:Originally posted by jlb27537

I am paying $232 ea for Bridgestone Duravis 250. A all steel tire, weighs 58lbs, on sale now at Firestone stores.

Plus tax and mounting etc.

I am keeping my Marathon's with less than 1,000 miles on them to sell on Craig's List.

The G614's are great tires, but with only 10,340lbs on the axles, just do not need to spend that on a tire.

That's very close to what I paid for my Bridgestone Duravais 250's. Plus I got $300 for my Marathon's that were posted on Craig's List.

[bobsals]

I know in some responses to our failed tires, overloading, over speed. under inflation has been mentioned in defense of the Marathon. I know in some cases this is probably true, but I do not believe that is the case with the Marathons. In my case of my crowned tire, inflation was right at 80 psi, The maximum speed I ever drive is 65, most of the time have cruise set at 62, and, according to the CAT scales, total weight on the rear axles is only 9740 lbs. loaded. That is a little over 70% of the tires maximum capacity. I really have to agree with most here, they are junk tires and should be replaced sooner rather than later. Someone here stated a good observation - "It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when".

[steelpony5555]

If you have Marabombs on now then most any LT E rated truck tire will do fine. If you want a little more beef the move up to the G 614's. But many many peoples are running everything from Michelin RIBS to Goodyear Wranglers and mos truck tires in between. If you do a search on most any RV forum for Lt tire failure you probably one find anything. Been running LT's for years and have had Goodyear Wranglers and BF Goodrich TA's and on the recall got Michelin LTX's. Mine run down the road here in Texas at 65-70 mph all day and have made several cross country trips with no problems. If you do a search of the Geostars there are some horror stories for them too so save the money. Just get a LT tire at average of $200 a piece or if you got the money bump up to G614's. I got my BF Goodrich TA's at Discount Tire and got them mounted and got a tire warranty all for $200 a wheel.

And Marathons are rated at 3400 lbs and LT tires are usually 3042 lbs....but what that dealer failed to say was even at 3042 you were probably still within the limits of the LT tire and he also failed to say is that passenger tires have a built in surplus to their ratings unlike trailer tires who will say it's rated to 3400 lbs but don't go a pound over. You have to figure to go over the rating for an LT tire you would have to weigh more the 14K lbs. And even then you still would have a cushion that they build into the specs for an LT tire. But if I weighed more then the 14K I would be buying the G rated tires....

[mlh]

What I don't understand is why they put 65 MPH rated tires on a camper that they know will be on roads with a 75 MPH speed limit and then don't bother to tell their customers that.
Lynwood

[bobsals]

WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ?????

Went to my local tire dealer and had them order a set of 4 Bridgestone Duravis 895's. Tires come in and I bring the wheels down to be changed out. In the waiting room till done, go out, bring the truck around to pick them up. The (kid)wheels out the tires for me to put in the back of the truck and I notice there were no wheel weights in them. I ask, did you balance them? He replies, no, it wasn't on the order! Duh, I thought that was automatic, was putting air in the tire on the order??? He takes them in for balancing and brings the first one out. LEAD WEIGHTS ON IT!. I ask, aren't these weights going to corrode my aluminum wheels? He said "YES, PROBABLY" I asked him if he had the stick on weights, he said Oh yea, do you want them? Yes, please rebalance them with the stick on weights. OK, all done and left to run some errands with my new set of tires in the back of the truck. , A thought came across my mind. For some reason, checking the manufacture date came across my mind so stopped on the side of the road to look at the date. 4808 . They were all between FOUR AND FIVE YEARS OLD!
Go back to the store and talk to the owner. He agreed that they were old and is now in the process of getting me NEW, NEW tires. OMG!

DOESN'T ANYONE CARE ANYMORE?

[Parts Ed]

Here's your sign!!!

[woodman]

Called Goodyear customer service. In short, they don't believe they have had any issues with the Marathon's since the year 2000. Goodyear, then, added another layer fiberglass to the sidewalls. They were unaware of any other issues with the, China made, "Marathon bombs" and hadn't heard of any complaints. They will not offer any trade and said if I would put on the G614's, I'd have to change the wheel rims as well. Total load capacity on the ST235/80R16 Marathons was 13,680 lbs., anything over that will void any warranty. I also called my local Goodyear dealer and they were clueless as they deal with automobiles, rarely any other tires, especially 5th wheel trailers. Also, the Montana dealer, Lakeshore RV, in MI, wasn't aware of any Marathon tire issues either and they have sold many over the years. We have a brand new 3625RE and have less than 1000 miles on it and are taking it on a 2000 mile plus journey in fall. Interesting situation, blogs are full of commentaries re: "Marabombs" and yet Goodyear and this Monty dealership seem unaware of any problems. It's perplexing.