180,000 miles on my goodyear marathons! - Page 4

2airishuman · 11-20-2006, 11:08 PM

hi wingfoot321...

good tally on the wranglers 80k, most coming at the end...

i really think if the marathons are kept rolling it helps!

regularly checked temps all during the summer and seldom were the tires hotter than 85...and always cooler than the truck tires....

i'm ashamed to report that my trailer did sit idle for 10 weeks last winter.

weekly visits included a compressor and in the coldest time (5-15f) pressures were lower (as expected) so i topped 'em up to 65. my storage is newer asphalt so i also use wood under the tires to limit contact....

no covers however.

you're off to a great start, mileage wise....

and alaska next year? where do i sign up!

cheers
2air'

FreshAir · 11-20-2006, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

....... so i also use wood under the tires to limit contact...
2air'

When parked for an extended time is it a good idea and why to park the tires on wood? Mine are on gravel. Bad?
Neil.

2airishuman · 11-21-2006, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anholman

Mine are on gravel. Bad? Neil.

hi neil..

gravel is fine as i understand. if it drains well, no bugs and so on.

asphalt/tarmac is a petrol product and can interact with the rubber compound. seems i've read some cements do too...

so many rv'ers put their tires up on plastic or wood or other less reactive materials...

how many miles and years on your tires?

cheers
2air'

FreshAir · 11-21-2006, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

hi neil..

gravel is fine as i understand. if it drains well, no bugs and so on.

asphalt/tarmac is a petrol product and can interact with the rubber compound. seems i've read some cements do too...

so many rv'ers put their tires up on plastic or wood or other less reactive materials...

how many miles and years on your tires?

cheers
2air'

I don't know how old they are. We bought the trailer in April and the P.O. owned or ran a Les Schawb tire franshise if that is a good sign. The tires look quite good and have maintained their air pressure. I doubt that we will do the many miles that you do....most so far have been to places within a few hours of home. However, before any of the long distance trips we take next year the trailer will go in for brake, bearing and tire check-ups. Thanks for your reply.
Neil.

2airishuman · 11-21-2006, 08:41 AM

hi neil

i see you have a '66...

lets hope they aren't the originals...

there is a long string (11-12) of digits imprinted on sidewall....

read about it here...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=11

basically the last 4 digits are code for week/year of production...

example '1205' would be a tire made in the 12th week of 2005...

if produced before 2000 the code is 3 digits....129 is the 12th week of 1999.

see ya camping!

2air'

**overlander63** · 11-21-2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

if produced before 2000 the code is 3 digits....129 is the 12th week of 1999.

2air'

And I'll add that if your tires have three digits for a date code, it is time to replace them. They will be 6 years old at a minimum.

FreshAir · 11-22-2006, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

hi neil

i see you have a '66...

lets hope they aren't the originals...

there is a long string (11-12) of digits imprinted on sidewall....

read about it here...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=11

basically the last 4 digits are code for week/year of production...

example '1205' would be a tire made in the 12th week of 2005...

if produced before 2000 the code is 3 digits....129 is the 12th week of 1999.

see ya camping!

2air'

I had one opportunity today to check for the numbers. I guess I will go and look again in a few days as I saw no numbers that made sense. Lynn and I are off to our daughter's and family in Oakland for Thanksgiving which gives me this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.
Neil.

2airishuman · 12-01-2006, 09:00 PM

2nd hand mileage reports...

i've been contacted by 2 airstreamers off list....

they were made aware of this thread here,

and wanted their mileage noted but did not want to post or deal with replies.

one family of 3, full time; approaching 30k on a doulbe axle safari, under 2 years...

another full timer with 35k+ on a triple axle; 3+ years on the tires, his 2nd set on a 99 trailer...

i've met them both while traveling; and so have many of you... i believe their notes2me.

each is planning tire replacements early in 07, with the new/current marathons...

so it seems others are wearing 'em out too...

cheers
2air'

Silvertwinkie · 12-02-2006, 07:44 AM

Getting in late on this thread, having read most of it, my vote would have been to replace all as well.

Odd that one tire would wear in that manner.

Here is my use of my Goodyear Marathons since I took ownership of the trailer new:

2004 3329 miles

2005 1347 miles

2006 2262

Total 6938 miles, on all tires

I've had one bearing repack in 2005 and am interested in rotating them if I don't replace them. If I do this, do the streetside simply get moved to the curbside and the other way around?

2airishuman · 12-02-2006, 11:15 AM

hi twink...

the service manual suggests rotating front to back on the same side only.

early in the radial tire era cross rotation was not advised.
it was widely known that the belts would do funny things and many passenger tires failed.

this was pre-directional tires.
seems the early radials took a 'set' and cross rotation resulted in separation and other bad things.

current 'non directional' passenger car/truck radials can be cross rotated safely.

i don't know regarding ST tires, but a/s says 'same side'.
terry/others might know better.

if your tires show no abnormal wear patterns or cracking....

i'd give 'em one more season...
and keep them at max inflation over the winter....
indoor storage helps significantly imo.

sure you might stretch that to 5 seasons total, given the low miles.
i'd be thinking about them too much at that point...
so i'd rather replace them than worry....
and what IF you opt for a really long trip between years 4/5?

don't forget to upgrade to full metal valve stems with the new tires...

cheers
2air'

Ruebel · 12-02-2006, 06:00 PM

I just finished 5 years and 34,000 miles per tire on my original Goodyear Marathons on my 2002 Safari. One of the tires is showing a little more wear than the rest however I think they all have enough tread for several thousand more miles. Tire pressure always maintained at 65 psi and I try to keep my maximum speed 65-70 mph. I had planned on replacing the tires after five years. I am happy with the performance of the Goodyear Marathons and will be replacing all 5 (including spare) this spring with new Goodyear Marathons.

Larry Ruebel
Bismarck ND

2airishuman · 12-12-2006, 01:41 PM

hi larry

thanks for the tire report.

good mileage.

another satisfied marathon user…

rich luhr has posted recently in his weblog…

http://www.tour.airstreamlife.com/weblog/

about his goodyear marathons passing the 30k mark too…

of course he lost one to road debris/sidewall puncture…
and another to the lug nut fiasco…

but the remaining 2 held strong..

cheers
2air’

classic67 · 12-22-2006, 12:32 PM

2air, thanks for posting up your pics and sharing your experience with us all.

So far so good with our Marathons. Though they have been on the AS since July 2004 (trailer build date) that means they will be 3 years old this summer. Currently we have towed the trailer less than 500 miles since we bough it new late this past summer. Since they sat 2 years on the dealers lot, I am wondering if that would have any effect on the mileage we could expect out of them? I can't see any flat-spotting to speak of. I religiously keep these and my TV's tires at 65psi.

As for replacing, I always hedge on the side of safety with our vehicles, and will be even more attentive with the AS's tires.

2airishuman · 12-22-2006, 01:13 PM

hi '67...

glad the thread is useful.

regarding your tires and the build date...

back in post 48 and 47, terry and others mention the unique code printed on tires...

that gives the week/year the tire was made...

might be useful to find this on yours. the tires were made before the trailer...

of course i'm joking and you know this, but when were they made?

i follow the advise to keep 'em inflated to 65 psi; especially in dry dock...

and get antsy at the 4-5 year date.

yours could roll for 30k miles if you travel lots, starting right now...

but with only modest use, 1-2 years more would be my point for fresh rubber.

flat spotting from sitting, on such high profile tires, properly inflated...

may not matter as much as sidewall cracking and tread decay from asphalt/concret contact and uv exposure

lets get rolling!

2air'