Repeat after me....

[scattershot]

There is a new thread or two every day about blowouts, tire mishaps and the like, so...

Repeat after me.

Chinese tires are JUNK. Do not buy them, and do not accept them on a new vehicle.

Repeat as necessary until it sinks in.

Just another public service anouncement.... No charge.

[DQDick]

The problem is that first time buyers expect decent tires on their rigs and don't know any better.

[K0LCB]

Amen on that. I never heard of Montana Owner Club before I bought mine.

[mamestra]

When I saw the name Goodyear on the tires I never thought of China.

[gkidsdlite]

I live by a former goodyear plant and for the last 20 yrs or so they have been cutting jobs "downsizing" and moving production to cut costs "wages" because of competition from china. Finally they sold the plant and guess where a lot of the tires are made now? No goodyears for me of any kind, " The old Grey mare, she ain't what she used to be"!!!

[1retired06]

Sad part is that Keystone has known about this for years.

[richfaa]

I certainly would not have the Chinese tires that the manufacturers install on these heavy 5th wheels. We had Chinese tires on some of our previous TT's and had no problem. The Chinese can produce good tires but the RV manufacturers choose not to use them. The lighter rv's do not seem to have the problems the heavier one do.

The Goodyear G6 14 says made in USA.

[WaltBennett]

We had these exact same tires on our old TT, but it's gross weight was 10,500, well within the E rating. They lasted fine for over six years and somewhere around 25k miles. I don't believe it's the tires as much as how loaded they are vs. their age. I replaced those on our new/old Monty with 6 month or less old Firestone E rated tires, but will be putting higher rated ones on next time.

[steelpony5555]

True, even on 5ers that are under the 10K limit don't seem to have the same problems. But once you break the 10k limit and start getting up around 12k is where the fun begins. Plus 5ers are taller and one side is usually heavier then the other cause of the slides. Plus since they tow a lot nicer then TT's people don't pay as much attention to making sure they are close to level which puts more weight on one axle then the other. Regular ST tires are just not made to carry that kind of weight at hwy speeds.

[bigskyjimmy]

This Subject comes up SOOOOOOO much IMHO Newer Marathons are NOT crappy tires just not the right tool for the job for the heavier rigs and Keystone should quit screwing around and put G614's STANDARD on the big boys

[wiley75]

I'll play devil's advocate:
I have a 1 year old set of Michelin tires on my car, made in USA, that have tons of cracks in the sidewalls and inbetween the tread blocks. They are due to be replaced even though they have 70% tread left. Yet my other car has a 3 year old set of Chinese made Toyo's on it and they are holding up fine. Exact same driving conditions.

We've switched to Hankooks and Double Coins (both Chinese) on our service trucks at work because they hold up better and last longer than the Goodyears and Continentals (USA made)

China isn't the problem in my opinion. Cheap tires are cheap tires, regardless of where they are manufactured.

From what I hear there are some good quality Chinese made tires available for 5th wheels. Do your research.

[bigred715]

I have Michelins on my trailer, truck and car. Never another Goodyear after putting their name on the Marathons. Thats just me. We'll see in the long run how the Michelins hold up.

[Bigsky3625RE]

quote:Originally posted by bigred715

I have Michelins on my trailer, truck and car. Never another Goodyear after putting their name on the Marathons. Thats just me. We'll see in the long run how the Michelins hold up.

Michelins on our truck (atx2) and wife's Subaru. Upgraded to 17.5" wheel and GY G114's made in the USA!!!

[Irlpguy]

I have to agree with BigSkyJimmy, the current Goodyear Marathons are not the problem. The problem is putting them on an already heavy trailer that many overload and then insist on traveling over the speed rating of the tire.
I believe it was Fauch that mentioned in another thread the speed factor on any tire and in particular ST tires rated for 65 mph. Overload it, heat it up on a hot day and then drive at 70 - 75 mph and you can expect problems.

Keep in mind also, China did not build a tire and then come to the US looking for a brand to put on it. Goodyear went offshore to have these tires made to save money as do other US tire manufacturers.

As Wiley75 says, there are some very good tires made offshore, I have used Toyo and Hankooks and would not hesitate to put them on any of my vehicles. I just don't want LT tires on my heavy Monty and would only look at a G rated tire to replace my Marathons.

I am completely amazed that no one seems to ever blow any other brand of tire, perhaps because this is a Montana forum, but let me tell you I see them every day of the summer and they are not all Marathons nor are they all Chinese made.

[fauch]

OK, i'll join in again here also::

i'll always weigh-in on these threads when i think the dialogue is incomplete.
we get opinionated about CHINA-bombs, MARA-bombs, etc...goodyear..
i do not feel that we share enough information about:
1. Speed Rating
2. How fast we drive
3. Speed Rating
4. How fast we drive
5 Weight rating vs speed rating

the centrifugal force exerted on a tire has no respect for and pays no attention to weight rating, and is a stand alone factor in the destruction of tires.
If you free-spin a 65mph speed rated tire with no load, the centrifugal force will always want to "sling:" the tire apart at the same threshold speed.

I'm all for finding USA tires. But for me a 106mph rated tire made in CHEENA will go on my trailer long before a 65mph rated tire made in the USA
and you can repeat that after ME!

[Flymutt]

I thought Hankooks were made in Korea...I assume that would be SOUTH Korea

[K0LCB]

Over the years I have seen almost every brand tire on the road. I saw an ad for airless tires, I hope they become available for our rigs

[wiley75]

quote:Originally posted by Flymutt

I thought Hankooks were made in Korea...I assume that would be SOUTH Korea

The Hankook DH01s on my tow vehicle are made in China.