bigdisneydaddy 9 Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 While cleaning the wheels and armor all'ing the tires on the trailer last week I found 3 of the 4 tires with long cracks in the sidewalls. It looked more like they had been run flat and the sidewall was cracking about 1" from the bead, the cracking was very small in most spots and really hard to see until I put the armor all on them, the 2 that were the worst are the ones that are next to the garage wall and get zero direct sunlight. Of course we were pulling out to go to the dunes for the weekend and I wasnt going to chance peeling the side off the trailer so.... a trip to Discount tire and 4 tires and 24 new lugnuts later (the cheap lugs had covers on them that were already deforming making it hard to get the socket on them) I am lighter by $600 and on my way. I had a sneaking suspicion that these tires were P.O.S. cheapies but I had hope to get more than 3 1/2 yrs out of them. Date code showed they were made in late 07 just before the trailer was built. I hate China and really try hard to not buy goods from there. this is the perfect example of why. these were the stock MISSION tires from the Outback factory. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 I hate Chinese tires too. I just dropped a little over $1200 for a set of G rated Goodyear's for our toyhauler. There is no way I would run a Chinese tire on any heavy camper. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ftwildernessguy 778 Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 I hate Chinese tires too. I just dropped a little over $1200 for a set of G rated Goodyear's for our toyhauler. There is no way I would run a Chinese tire on any heavy camper.Goodyear makes tires all over the world, including China. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigdisneydaddy 9 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Goodyear makes tires all over the world, including China.I am not 100% sure if they are made domestically now but I do know the Marathons were made in China for a while. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 My G rated tires are US made.I could write a book on Chinese ST failures. We used to run them on our 14K gooseneck work trailer. Our tires were never run over 65 MPH, overloaded, or underinflated, and we experienced a high rate of failures. One or two failures a month during high mileage times were not uncommon. I finally invested in some all steel commercial Goodyear G614, and the failures stopped. We have had the same set now for a little over 2 years. I don't think there could be a better example of how Chinese ST tires are just not up to the task of hauling at or near their max load rating, especially in hot weather. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigdisneydaddy 9 Posted July 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 just put 6 new Goodyears on a trailer at work and they were made in China. Very disappointed. I did read that Goodyear is making large investments in their US plants, hopefully that will mean jobs and production stay in the U.S. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sensei 18 Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 It seems like all trailers (RV and utility) are coming with ST Chinese bombs on them these days. Unfortunate as all I've heard is bad things about them. I'm in the process of getting a tow dolly and the first thing I intend to do is remove the Carlisle tires that come on them and replace them with better LT tires from a domestic manufacturer.One note, however, Armor All is one of the worst things you can put on a tire. It contains petroleum products which hastens the drying out of the rubber compounds. I never use it for anything. Instead, the best product I've found is 303 Aerospace Protectant. It is good for tires, dash, slide gaskets, anything plastic or rubber, and it can also be used to prevent UV damage to the fiberglass exterior of your RV. I buy it by the gallon at Camping World, or whoever has the best price when I need some. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stacktester 78 Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 It seems like all trailers (RV and utility) are coming with ST Chinese bombs on them these days. Unfortunate as all I've heard is bad things about them. I'm in the process of getting a tow dolly and the first thing I intend to do is remove the Carlisle tires that come on them and replace them with better LT tires from a domestic manufacturer.One note, however, Armor All is one of the worst things you can put on a tire. It contains petroleum products which hastens the drying out of the rubber compounds. I never use it for anything. Instead, the best product I've found is 303 Aerospace Protectant. It is good for tires, dash, slide gaskets, anything plastic or rubber, and it can also be used to prevent UV damage to the fiberglass exterior of your RV. I buy it by the gallon at Camping World, or whoever has the best price when I need some.I've used the 303 as well and like it. It turns plastic trim into like new. One thing I noticed though is it does dry out. Not sure if that's good or not.I think from previous posts everyone knows my feelings on chinese junk. Write your congressman and tell him to cut taxes on manufacturers so they can make products and jobs at home. The manufacturers also need to quit looking at big profits as well and make the product where it's used and the employees work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sensei 18 Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 When 303 dries, it leaves a film that acts like a sunscreen and contamination deterrent. It also helps prevent outgassing from plastics and extends their life. I use it all over my coach instead of wax. Makes dirt and bugs a lot easier to remove. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stacktester 78 Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 I hear it's made by Rotella. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 I hear it's made by Rotella.Rotella is crap :rofl2: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Well, I'm tire poor today. Got new Michelins on the truck. Got a great deal through believe it or not the Ford dealer. Between Ford Owner's Advantage and Michelin and Ford rebates, dropped it down from 1100 to 850.Those Chrome 18 wheels seemed like a good idea when I bought the truck :-), but BOY do they add to the price of the tires Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stacktester 78 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Rotella is crap :rofl2:I know 300k miles of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigdisneydaddy 9 Posted July 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Well, I'm tire poor today. Got new Michelins on the truck. Got a great deal through believe it or not the Ford dealer. Between Ford Owner's Advantage and Michelin and Ford rebates, dropped it down from 1100 to 850.Those Chrome 18 wheels seemed like a good idea when I bought the truck :-), but BOY do they add to the price of the tiresI have often wondered if people who buy the vehicles with the big wheels actually realize the cost whent hey go to replace them. Dodge did that for a while on their 1500 Rams with a 20" wheel, they are crazy expensive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 I know 300k miles of it.Yup, 300k of crap :rofl2: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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