goodyear monarch tires

[poloace]

Our new 2012 285ld came with goodyear monarch tires.
I ran into a fellow montana owner camping, and he said these tires are junk.
He had seperation within a few months. I had carlyle on my last unit, and they were great.
Anyone else have problems?

[bncinwv]

Assume you are talking about Goodyear Marathon tires? There have been problems reported with them but the problems have primarily been on the larger rigs (>15,000 lbs.). With a smaller rig, they may be suitable, but I can honestly say that when we bought our rig, the dealer was instructed that the Marathons had to go before we took the rig off of the lot. We worked out a deal to replace them with Goodyear G614's which have not presented us with any problems whatsoever.
Bingo

[Irlpguy]

I know I am in the minority on my opinion on the Goodyear Marathon tires, I think they are fine on the lighter RV's such as yours, provided you run them at the 80 psi cold air pressure.
I would bet most problems with this tire were due to overloading or under inflation, both of which cause heat and that is the killer on any tire.

9000 miles on mine on a heavy 3402RL but will replace them with "G" rated tires soon. The one thing I would do is check the DOT date code on your tires to see when they were manufactured. The code is 4 digits, the first 2 are the month and the last 2 are the year. ie: 3511 would tell you they were manufactured in the 35th month of 2011.

In the end you must do what you are comfortable with, that might mean changing out the Marathons, your choice.

[WaltBennett]

I'll second Irlpguy. We had Marathons on our 10k gvw TT with no problems for over five years and 30k miles. I'm positive the issues with them has to do with weight and age, and that's why we swapped the four year old ones off our 15.6k Montana for some less than 3 month old tires. Even Goodyear will tell you a tire's load bearing capability degrades with age, and you can't carry everything on the king pin.

[psomers]

quote:Originally posted by Irlpguy

I know I am in the minority on my opinion on the Goodyear Marathon tires, I think they are fine on the lighter RV's such as yours, provided you run them at the 80 psi cold air pressure.
I would bet most problems with this tire were due to overloading or under inflation, both of which cause heat and that is the killer on any tire.

9000 miles on mine on a heavy 3402RL but will replace them with "G" rated tires soon. The one thing I would do is check the DOT date code on your tires to see when they were manufactured. The code is 4 digits, the first 2 are the month and the last 2 are the year. ie: 3511 would tell you they were manufactured in the 35th month of 2011.

In the end you must do what you are comfortable with, that might mean changing out the Marathons, your choice.

What month is 35th? Just kidding, know you meant week.

[Art-n-Marge]

Yup, I know IRLP knows better. He meant week, not month. My first TT had Carlisle tires and I blew two of those up and almost lost a third but caught it in time and limped to a tire dealer do get them all replaced with Goodyear Marathons. A safe bet at the time since the TT had a GVWR of 9200lbs (a much lighter trailer than my current Monty). I also kept the TT in storage and didn't ensure the tires were kept inflated until we went on a trip about every six months.

After I traded up to the Monty and replaced the Missions (after almost losing one), I replaced those with Goodyear Marathons, too. Then I joined the MOC and learned that was probably a bad idea. Unfortunately, cost wise I had to stick with them. The Monty sits on my driveway and I religiously keep the tires inflated at 80psi and covered with wheel covers and after 5.5 years I will replace them even though they look great! There's no telling what they look like in the inside but I'm hoping my TLC means they are better off than not. I've done a couple of short trips with them just to stay close in case of a mishap.

[bigred715]

I have 3000RK which is one of the smaller Montanas with Marathon tires. The first one blew at about 15,000 mile going 60 mph and inflated to 80 psi. That was enough for me and ditched them for some Michelin tires. As far as I'm concerned the Goodyear is a inferior tire. Don't expect those tires to make it much past 15,000 miles before failure. No more Goodyear products for me.

[1retired06]

Will not run them on any trailer I own

[poloace]

Yes I meant marathon tires. I always check the air pressure.
But I will be more religious about it.
I will replace then next year, need them or not.

Thanks everyone for your input.

[DQDick]

One other thing that wasn't mentioned. Marathons have a speed limit (as do all tires) that many owners exceed. Do that on an extremely hot summer day and you may feel good that you got away with it, but the damage done can and will show up later.

[poloace]

Yes I meant marathon tires. I always check the air pressure.
But I will be more religious about it.
I will replace then next year, need them or not.

Thanks everyone for your input.

[Sky]

OK I HAVE A 2010 3455SA and just had flat after running over a piece of metal. What would you suggest I buy to replace the Goodyear
ST235-80R16 (Marathon)?

[bigred715]

5 NEW of some other brand which are proper weight rating. You might want the G14 possibly.

[Art-n-Marge]

I plan to stay with STs and I am planning on the Maxxis. The Goodyear G614 is a trailer tire but I don't think I need something that big since it might mean I change my wheels. The ratings for the wheels and tires suit the rig, it's just that the tire should meet the ratings too and I'm not so sure that some lesser quality tires meet their own ratings from some of the stories that have been posted.

Bigred said it right. Even the spare tire should be strongly considered for changing, too.

[Irlpguy]

The OP has had a flat tire due to something that can happen to "ANY" tire. He did not say he has had any other problems with his Marathon tires. I am just wondering why anyone would suggest he change all 5 tires to something other than more Marathons.

We know nothing of the mileage he has on his current tires, it could be lots or little, however they are approaching the time for replacement because of their age, not because they are one brand as opposed to another. If the OP intends to replace them, then my suggestion would be to replace them with a tire of equal or greater load carrying capacity compared to what he currently has. That of course rules out any of the LT tires. There are several "G" rated tires that would be candidates as replacement tires, if one insists on having a tire made in the US, then the Goodyear G614 would be the likely choice.. JMHO

[jimcol]

I thought the G614 was an LT tire. Did I miss something? Jim

[Irlpguy]

jimcol wrote:

quote:
I thought the G614 was an LT tire. Did I miss something? Jim

You did not miss anything the G614 is indeed a LT tire however, it is one of few that are recommended for trailer use and has a much higher carry capacity than most LT tires commonly being suggested as replacements at 3042 lbs. My point was to not reduce the carrying capacity of the unit by installing LT tires rated at less than the Marathons.

[mach111]

quote:Originally posted by DQDick

One other thing that wasn't mentioned. Marathons have a speed limit (as do all tires) that many owners exceed. Do that on an extremely hot summer day and you may feel good that you got away with it, but the damage done can and will show up later.

Amen, Dick. Are these drivers who travel in excess of 70mph+ thinking?
Just yesterday a driver passed me pulling a Catamaran boat with 12" tires running 80mph. I know because with my auto I got in behind him to see.

[fauch]

remember ST means 65mph speed rating
and it's not how fast you were traveling when the failure occurred, its what centrifugal force it has been subjected to during the life of the tire.
any belt shift, however slight, caused by overspeed/centrifugal force will not ever return to normal, the damage has been done.
My personal opinion about original factory installed tires is that they have been spun by a hot-shot delivery driver, pulling with a tuned truck, making fast trips for better pay. I once had a delivery driver brag to me about how fast he could run from Indiana to Baton Rouge, all the while bragging about his souped up cummins, with black soot all over the front of the fiver he was pulling. ... not once considering the limitations of the trailer he was yanking like a kite-tail streamer behind his race truck! I do not want ST tires that have been spun on a trailer running 85 mph on interstate pavement in 95 degree weather. I personally think any higher speed rated LT tire even in an E load rating is far more reliable than an ST tire that has been molested by a race-truck driver!

[poloace]

What tires would you all recommend?