Goodyear Marathon Failures

[Minnie's Mate]

This thread has my head spinning! And for someone who suffers migraines that's not good!!! Maxxus or is it Maxxis or what is it? Goodyear vs. Goodrich. Lt, I thought that meant Light Truck and someone's talking about putting them on an F-350 and loading it up and and taking curves at 60 MPH! And now we're getting into Martian landings and who shot JFK!

I lost my trailer's brochure so I don't remember what size rims I have...I just know they're aluminum. I don't remember the tire size either, but I now know how to check the made date thanks to the ABC video. And yes, I will be checking that out.

I had planned on replacing my trailer's tires at the end of the next camping season but maybe I shouldn't wait.

I keep 65 PSI in them, but maybe that's too much. I haven't weighed the trailer, but maybe I should and air up the tires based on the weight per tire and not the fact that I routinely travel on interstates at interstate speeds.

I use an infrared thermometer to check the sidewall temperature every two-three hours while towing, but admit I don't know what temperature I should be looking for. I just compare it to the tow vehicle's tire temp (it's always about 20 degrees less than the TV's).

As Scarlet would say, all this is making my head hurt. I'll think about this tomorrow.

[HowieE]

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

I keep 65 PSI in them, but maybe that's too much. I haven't weighed the trailer, but maybe I should and air up the tires based on the weight per tire and not the fact that I routinely travel on interstates at interstate speeds.

I use an infrared thermometer to check the sidewall temperature every two-three hours while towing, but admit I don't know what temperature I should be looking for. I just compare it to the tow vehicle's tire temp (it's always about 20 degrees less than the TV's).

.

Looks like you have too much air in the trailer and or not enough in the truck tires. Get your trailer and truck weighted while hitched. If you go to a truck scale you should be able to get the truck axles weighed individually while the trailer axles are on the third pad. Once you know the weights refer to a manufactures inflation chart for the correct pressure per axle.

As far as the infer red thermometer. 20 degrees difference between the truck and trailer is what causes me to question the tire pressures. My tires run about 105 on the cool side and 110 on the sunny side. Yes black makes a difference in the sun.

[jcanavera]

Well there is a lot to contend with and with the size of this forum, you are going to get a lot of opinions and options. I've been towing for many many years and up until last fall, never lost a tire. Personally I'm not a knee jerk person but I have attended tire safety training sessions and feel that I'm up on it a little more than the average person.

Do I have the answer regarding the perfect solution. No. There are factors at work that cause tires to fail that we don't know about. I cared for my tires and did everything possible to insure they would roll until I made the choice to change them out. Yet with all my carefulness, I still had a Marathon throw tread on me. Bad tire, bad luck, previous damage? I'll really never know. So I did what I considered reasonable and tried to minimize my risk factor.

Personally I'm not ready to jump the wheel size or go to LT tires, but I did move forward with going to a different tire manufacturer who builds their ST tires differently (at the time) from Goodyear. I also moved up to an E rated tire which I feel is completely justified by my heavy 31' slide out unit.

Was it the right move? Time will only tell me that. So there is no answer. You need to review the data, consider the risks and make your choice. Will it be a better choice than someone else? Maybe. All we can do is report our findings and maybe in two years or so, we will sit down and see if the move from Marathon's was truly wise.

Good Luck.

Jack

[Minnie's Mate]

Thanks for the responses guys. I usually run 80 psi in the front tires and 75 psi in the rear tires of my F-250 and 65 psi in the trailer tires. I do often carry a 1,000 # golf cart in the bed while towing.

I, too, experience cooler tires on the shaded side of the rig. My temp reading is usually about 115 in the shade and 120-125 on the sunny side of the trailer and 130-135 and 140-145 respectively on the truck. This is interstate speeds on the interstate. Non-interstate I stick with the posted speed limit there, too. I usually only check the tire temps at rest stops on the interstates.

I'll have the tires inspected closely in the spring while they're off when I have the bearings packed and the brakes adjusted. If there is any doubt, I'll have them replaced because I'm seriously planning a trip up the east coast depending on work schedule, fuel prices, and whether we more or not.

[Gene]

I just got an infrared thermometer recently. I did check all the tires before I left for a 100 mile tow. The truck tires were about 20˚ more than the trailer tires and that's with not going anywhere. In fact, 2 of the truck tires hadn't been on the sunny side at all, but maybe they picked up some radiant energy anyway. It is because they are bigger (18" vs. 15" wheels) and have more surface area? The sunny side of all tires was hotter, but I can't remember what the difference was. It may have been around 5˚. I noticed the sidewalls were hotter than the tread, but I figured the tread is pretty much in the shade.

Of course, when we got to the campground, I forgot to check the temps and kept forgetting when we left.

I do remember last week I noticed my laptop was feeling pretty hot. I discovered the F7 and F8 keys were 108˚ although when I stopped using the keyboard, the temp went down in the 90's. Now I know the CPU is under those keys. I never noticed this thing could get that hot and I wasn't even looking at porn. The tech guy I know told me not to worry about it and turn the laptop off when the room got over 75˚. He didn't explain how to use it when it's off.

Whoops, I highjacked myself.

But Tom, you seem to have a lot of air in the TV tires. Here's what Lew wrote when I asked about tire pressure: "The PSI should be matched to your tire load, not the max inflation pressure of the tire." I inflated my truck tires to the max and the center of the tread started wearing much faster, so I've been reducing the pressure in the TV tires looking for the sweet spot. Get a tread depth gauge and keep records of the tread across the tire. I measure it one two different places on the tires and on the inside, center and outside treads. Then keep records of that. You'll find out if you have too much (or too little) air from tire wear and it'll also tell you when you need to rotate the tires.

My A/S tire pressure starts out around 64-67 lbs. depending on time of day, sun, temp, and go into the low to mid-70's when towing. I don't think I've been in temps higher than the mid 90's since I got the TPMS last Spring.

Gene

[SRW]

The disastrous consequence of selling out of date tires is scary and holding the executives of the companies that do so directly responsible IMO is more then appropriate.

Oh, wait we don't have a law that defines an "out of date" tire.

This is one scary video:

ABC News

I feel very fortunate that I read this forum.

Thanks guys,

SRW

PS. You may have to watch an advertisement, but hang in there, its worth it.

[Minnie's Mate]

These tv air pressures were actually in my '05 F-250 that I had up until December. I put the max PSI in the tv's tires because I often carry the golf cart when I tow the Airstream and I was also initially getting some sway when passed by semi's. When I increased the air in the tires I eliminated all of the sway without any adjustments to the hitch system. I had noticed that all of the sway was occurring when the semi was adjacent to the truck and already passed the Airstream. I am running, 50 and 45 I believe, in the '08 and haven't noticed the same sway problems.

BTW, I checked the Airstream tires when I got home this evening and the date code on two was 4605 and two was 4705. If I understand correctly, that means the tires on my trailer that was manufactured in January of '06 were made in the 46th and 47th week of 05. That is comforting.

[scarylarry]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

hey thanks for taking the time and effort to post these pix larry...

naturally i'd be tempted to PULL on the threads...

is that really steel cords or nylon threads or some other material?

before returning the tire (have U tried returning it?) i'd snip a piece find out what it really is!

this tire would be 1 that should get the attention and response from a gy company spokesperson...

keep us posted!

cheers
2air'

My finger said it is steel...Ouch!! I actually had this tire mounted while on the road as a spare, so I never really had to look at it when purchased. I was shifting things around when I realized the situation. I never had a chance to not have the right pressure in the tire on the road being a spare. I called the local Goodyear dealer today and he said it should be no problem getting it exchanged (I will look at the new tire before I leave!) said I should call Goodyear first, then come see them for a new one. We'll see if it goes that smoothly.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by scarylarry

...My finger said it is steel...Ouch!!

amazing and good info too!

Originally Posted by scarylarry

...I called the local Goodyear dealer today and he said it should be no problem getting it exchanged...

well larry, i think some of the gy dealerships must be franchise based,

with owner/managers that make the decisions about approving replacement tires.

i was given a new replacement for a 3 yr old lumpy tire for pocket change...

while a 2nd tire of the with the same issues and age and tread depth,

but exchanged at a different local gy dealer cost much more, about 40$ as i recall.

you can read about it here is posts 79 and 80...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438...ons-27999.html

cheers
2air'

[thecatsandi]

The 07' F-250s are 75/75. I run them at 80/80. Hard ride when not towing. great when towing.

[thecatsandi]

That looks like the tire was not made properly. the steel belt did not stay coherent while the rubber was aplied.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

...But Tom, you seem to have a lot of air in the TV tires. Here's what Lew wrote when I asked about tire pressure: "The PSI should be matched to your tire load, not the max inflation pressure of the tire."

as i recall m'mate was having significant issues with tv stability and a less than ideal reaction to trucks, bow waves and so on...

this is covered well in another thread.

this was towing at the 45-55 psi in e rated tires in a 8500 lb truck towing a 30 ft trailer...

while there is some validity in the quote from lew the rv tech...

the BEST general advice is to run the tires at the pressures recommended by the vehicle manufacturer...

this is often posted on the door jam or b pillar or glove box or owners manual,

TWO pressure ranges are often recommended by the vehicle manufacture (partially and FULLY loaded vehicles).

most e rated LT tires have a load capacity of ~3400 lbs at 80 (max) psi.

and the figures provided by ford (in this example) are 60-75 psi depending on specifics of the truck.

an f250 loaded with gear and towing a 30ft + trailer will have axle loads of 4800-5800 lbs...

or up to nearly 3000 lbs per tire...

and THAT static load increases during braking, turning and other driving dynamics.

so running e rated tires at 70 psi, up to 80 psi is not only prudent and recommended by ford, it is also correct.

i typically tow (f250/34ftstream) at 75-78 psi in the truck tires; the driving experience is MUCH BETTER than at lower pressures.

when NOT towing i sometimes (rarely) lower pressures to 65 rear but keep the fronts at 70-75 since the diesel IS front heavy.

using a tire tread depth gauge is a great way to check for irregular wear,

but of the big truck tire wear has been very even at the higher psi and with 60k + towing on the odo...

cheers
2air'

[bhayden]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

well larry, i think some of the gy dealerships must be franchise based,
... a 2nd tire of the with the same issues and age and tread depth,
but exchanged at a different local gy dealer cost much more,
2air'

All of the "Goodyear" dealers around here are franchise based. I don't know if there is such a thing as a "company" store and Goodyear doesn't seem to be much at enforcing any sort of company policy or ethics. With Les Schwab there is still a difference from one dealer to the next but on the whole they are much more reputable. After being charged for a front end alignment at one Goodyear dealer in Woodinville and then crawling under the car to see none of the bolts had been touched in 20 years I quit dealing with them all together. If I want a Goodyear tire I'll buy it somewhere else.

As far as the steel sticking out of the Marathon I don't see how it could be from the belts in the tire. Looks to me like they were molded with recycled "rubber" and the steel is leftovers from grinding up the old tires they were made from. After they were pulled from the mold the steel went "spronge" and the bit that was flat against the mold started to stick out. I think using partially recycled rubber is standard procedure for most tires but in this case the quality control over the step where they separate out the steel with magnets was a bit slack.

-Bernie

[richinny]

that idea would be easy to test with a pair of pliers.

[Minnie's Mate]

2air has a good memory and is correct about the issues with the truck and semi bow waves. Apparently, the dealer had lowered the tire pressure to around 40-45 PSI to make the firm suspension of the F-250 feel softer while on the lot for test drives. Michelle is also correct, the daily commute was a bit hard on the kidneys, but the towing experience was a pleasure after I aired up the tires to the max air pressure. When fully loaded, I typically rested my elbow on the console arm rest and held the steering wheel between my thumb and fore finger for the most part on the interstate where I did most of my towing.

My new truck still has the lower air pressure in it. I haven't towed quite as much with it as I did the '05. I took the strategy of picking a central location for our camping trips for the first half of this year and found a storage facility I was comfortable with and stored the Airstream in that area and did all our camping near by. I brought the Airstream back home after the 4th so we could attend some rallies near home and do some other monthly camping trips within 100 miles of home for the rest of the year.

This saved over $100/trip in fuel and shaved at least an hour of travel time off each leg of the trip by being able to make better time on the interstate. Not to mention that I'm wasn't as tired when I got home from a 450 mile trip home by saving that hour of travel time. I did notice on the trip home after the 4th that I was experiencing some sway in the truck, not the trailer, so I will increase the PSI in the truck tires before doing much more towing and decrease the pressure when I return from each trip. Just one more to-do item as part of the getting ready for camping.

[bhayden]

Originally Posted by richinny

that idea would be easy to test with a pair of pliers.

Could ya, would ya, should ya

[richinny]

i could, i probably would and (if it were me) i'd send it to an independent test lab. i'd call it the proverbial "smoking gun".

[safari 28]

Hello all. Getting ready for the 2 cross country tours like last year. Boating coming to a sad end. My concern is the Marathons. Original tires from the factory, no issues ever and they still look brand new. Side walls are almost perfect. No cracks, just some fading from the sun. My question is should I replace and with what? Or, should I believe in my motto, dont fix it if aint broke. Tires are 15 inch marathons on a 2004 28 foot safari. Empty weight is 5700 lbs and I trave light.Date codes look to be 03 mfg date. Most of my towing is in cooler months and I never go over 65mph. I will be looking at 15k miles of towing like last year starting in september through end of march.

I dont mind the cost, but getting new from this forum is not always the best decision. Your input wil be appreciated.

[SRW]

Maybe my over inflated ego needs changing, and I can't take the pressure, but its all getting just a bit tiresome, so tread on me no more.

SRW

[RossFam05BH]

Hey SRW,

Dream on - the big wheels on this forum will take a bead on your post, hit below the belts, and lug this thread back onto the Portal quicker than a Marathon can spring a leak!