New Tires

[badib-yazdi]

I'm new to the forum and Airstream. Just purchased a 2002 22' International CCD. IT HAS THE ORIGINAL GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES! Looking for new tires and finding that the replacement Goodyear Marathons have mixed reviews on the forums and are roughly $120 each. Other non-GY tires are roughly $80-85 each. Are the GY tires that much better despite the negative reviews?

[CapriRacer]

I don't think we have enough information to determine how good a particular brand of tires is. The Goodyear Marathons represent a HUGE portion of the market - so all things being equal, you'd expect those to be complained about more often.

What we do know is that travel trailers tend to have tires that are too small. The way to tell is to weigh the trailer - tire by tire - then size the tire to be loaded to 85% of its rated capacity.

For many, this is 2 steps higher - and sometimes that means exchanging 15" wheels for 16", and making the switch from an ST tire to an LT.

[daymonjones]

Replace those tires, even new Goodyear's are better.

My Dad had two blow outs on GYM. Heavily damaging his bass boat, and the other totaling his vintage Shasta.

I would have anything other than a Goodyear. IMO.

[nrgtrakr]

My father grew up on a farm before tractors was a chemical engineer who worked for Gates Rubber product improvement and an avid RVer. On his towables he used STs, any ST that was cheap since he'd replace them every 3-4 years. Never had any tire problems.
We do similarly and also have had no problems, cheapos for ~$55 each.
Do what you will with that.

[badib-yazdi]

Thanks for the feedback! I agree with as many Marathon sets on the market it would have more complaints. I also figure many are not checking their pressure often enough. Definitely getting new tires. And replacing them every 5 years seems prudent.

[badib-yazdi]

Yeah I did not mention the wheels are 14R which is a limiting factor in tire selection. And the GVWR is 5300 lbs tandem axle.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by CapriRacer

I don't think we have enough information to determine how good a particular brand of tires is. The Goodyear Marathons represent a HUGE portion of the market - so all things being equal, you'd expect those to be complained about more often.

What we do know is that travel trailers tend to have tires that are too small. The way to tell is to weigh the trailer - tire by tire - then size the tire to be loaded to 85% of its rated capacity.

For many, this is 2 steps higher - and sometimes that means exchanging 15" wheels for 16", and making the switch from an ST tire to an LT.

What Capri said x2