180,000 miles on my goodyear marathons!

[marinanc]

Okay, thanks for the opinions. This was a very helpful forum for me because I am replacing my GY Marathon tires with the same. I researched other brands and found that the other brands had more questionable reputations, ie Carlisle and Kenda/Loadstar. 2001 Classic 28' we'll be hitting the road in MI soon and don't need problems.
Mariananc

[Aage]

Well, it's springtime in Appalachia. Jeepers, I guess it's springtime in most of the US and Canada. In any event, it's said that in springtime, "a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love", while an Airstreamer's fancy often turns to tires around about this time!

I need to replace the four 10-year old crumpled black lumps that pass for tires on my new-to-me silver draggin' wagon, and was wondering who else has had average to better results with the Goodyear Marathons over the past year?

I posed the question as I did because I've read all the stories on the negative threads, but for various reasons I have pretty much decided to buy the Marathons. So let's not waste the time of those who haven't used them, or those who claim to have had bad experiences. You folks need a rest

So, any ideas, maintenance tips, or just plain comments? Love to hear from you...

[ZoominC6]

No problem with our Marathons once I learned how to use them. I suffered a few problems initially until I learned what contributed to failures. Some things we can control while others we cannot such as road hazzards i.e. potholes and expansion heaves in our terrible interstate highway system, alligators (retread spinoffs with wire protrusions), rough rr crossings etc etc. The main thing I learned for Summer travel with these tires was this; keep the weight of the trailer down to below maximum; keep the running gear balanced (Centramatics help); keep the tire pressure between 60 & 65psi & keep it monitored (Pressure Pros help); Keep the darned speed to 65mph or less period, especially in the heat of Summer and especially South of the Mason-Dixon Line. After graduation from The School of Hard Knocks we've had ZERO problems with our Goodyear Marathons. Good luck.

[Aage]

All good info and advice, Zoomins, thnaks.

Regarding he Centramatics, did you notice any difference at all when you installed them? I know we don't travel IN the TT, so I don't really know what you might have remarked...

[ZoominC6]

Good question. First, I assume that the Centramatics work based soley on years of use on 18-wheelers and then, assuming that we don't pull our wheels and balance them as regularly as we do our passenger vehicles I have every confidence that they will protect the running gear of our Aistreams. I thought it an inexpensive investment and an easy installation process based on the aforementioned assumptions. Of course, we all know what happens when we assume anything; however, that's my story and I'm sticking with it . Best regards and good luck.

[Aage]

Thanks again.

So, you are a heavy user of tires through your experience with 18-wheelers. In fact, your experience must envelope many millions of miles.

As one with intimate knowledge of tire performance, why did you choose the Marathons for your Airstream?

[ZoominC6]

Hahahaha. Millions of miles...NOT. The Centramatics manufacturing plant just happened to be close to my Texas home when I discovered what they were all about through my local Airstream dealer. I made the trip to the plant and found the tractor-trailer drivers lined up for installations. As for the Good Year Marathons, mine came on my trailer from the Airstream plant. Hope all is well up north and that Spring has sprung as they say.

[Aage]

Aaaaah! That IS funny! I made an assumptive leap into the abyss of dumb, there. But thanks all the same for your comments.

Yes, spring is here, we're already cut the lawn a couple of times. The trailer is getting set up to live in again in another week! Summer will be here in a blink of the eye...!

[2airishuman]

time 4 a rubber update.

the last set of gyms were mounted less than 4 years ago.

((see post #22/24 above and #69/70/71 also in this thread.

and have ~45,000 miles PER tire now.

early on 1 tire tread vanished quickly and was changed

and there have been 2 nail/screw episodes (one patched/plugged the other replaced)

but otherwise NO PROBLEMS with the CHINESE made gyms.

here's a pic of 1 of the oldest tires which still looks good.




and a close up of another one, MEASURED there is 3-4 mm tread remaining....



not bad and especially with the usage.

(zoom in for closer looks)

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

since a couple of the tires were UPdated later, out of sequence they have a tad MORE tread left...

here's a shot of one, maybe a bit more wear on the INNER side,





but really pretty evenly used.

a closer look shows the wear/depth bar, (zoom for hi'R def)



and measured, these 2 tires have 5-6 mm of tread remaining all around.

these tires could continue IN service, probably another 10-15k

i keep 2 spares mounted on identical wheels, so once ALL 8 are off the 2 best/youngest will be used as spares...
_____________

so that's 15 gyms over the last 5 years...

7 canadian made (famous for failures) at over 180,000 miles

8 chinese made (excellent tires imo) at over 270,000 miles

so ~450,000 cumulative miles of PROBLEM FREE duty at the typical towing speed...

72mph+ and occasionally faster...

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

with such great service from these imported gyms

and the RECENT move of gym production BACK 2 the usa...

the choice for NEW tires was easy.

so 6 fresh rollers were delivered mid week...

with a production date of 25-30 weeks ago.

here's a tread shot of one...

(note the slightly diagonal wear bar)



and herez t2o more...



nothing like DEEP FRESH tread for the SPRING ROLLers...

or the smell of vulcanized rubber rising from the morning dew...

(again ZOOM for a closer peak and to compare TREAD patterns to the last set)


cheers
2air'

[BigAl]

Hi Joe,
I also have had no issues with the Marathons. My old set were seven years old with tread left when I changed them. Made in Canada. Picked up a 4 inch bolt in one so I changed them all.
That was last spring and I got one week old tires made in USA. Near Nashville they said.
Al

[2airishuman]

ok with new rubber in the truck bed and trailer in tow...

it was off to the local tire shop for wheel mounting, balance and trailer install x6.

so following the factory recommended and a/s service center USED jacking points ...

and SAME approach to lifting note here (see post #42) ...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f457...tml#post428907

the mightty stream was LEVITATED.

after raising the tongue jack a bit...

1 street side jack was placed under the rear JACK plate/point...



1 curb side jack was placed under the rear JACK plate/point...



and lifting began

the shop then added 2 more jacks under the axle mounting plates between axles 2 n 3...

so once the stream was FLOATING, all 6 wheels were removed.

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

here's a couple of shots of the 34 airborn...

streetside



curbside



i would have preferred jack stands 4 back up of the jacks,

but since yours truly wasn't UNDER the stream, this was ok.

(zoom for closer peaks)

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by BigAl

...I also have had no issues with the Marathons...

hiya big al, hope it's thawin' out up yonder and life is good.

imo and in practice,

the keys to living with rv tires are proper inflation, NOT overloading, regular rotation, balance and USAGE.

checking TEMPS and a tpms ADD to the feedback and seem to be useful for monitoring changes...

NEVER roll on an UNDER inflated tire, even for a few miles.

and always MAX out inflation if the units gonna be idle/parked for weeks.

and have some respect for curbs, holes, HEAT and other assaults that trailer tires are subject 2.
_________

as mentioned above the CHOICE for replacements was easy,

and for those NOT well versed in the subtle tread pattern differences in the pics above...

here's a score card for the new tires...





cheers
2air'

[handn]

Those of us who tow a lot in hot weather have long ago switched to LT or E rated tires.
As for 2air and others who love their Marathons here is an open invitation to tour southern Arizona in July and see how long they last.

[2airishuman]

the new tires were "match mounted" to the alcoa wheels...

and road force balanced.

using this approach, they required very little lead at the wheel lip...

these 2 pics show the outcomes...






and here's another one ON the trailer with hubcap and tpms on...



cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

handn

i've been to az in heat, and nevada and texas and the midwest and so on.

80,000 miles in the last 5 years towing in all weather and on/off roads.
___________

NO place in this thread is the term 'love' used in reference to tires, ANY tires.

it's about providing details related their performance only.

and this is NOT the bitchin' about st tire thread.

there are 100s of threads for that, try using ANY 1 of those.

there are also threads on going to ALTERNATE wheel/tire setups.

use 1 of those threads if there's a need to promote alternatives.

while SOME folks have switched, CLEARLY most haven't.

and even those selecting alternatives have had issues...

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

so the lifting/mounting/lowering and torquin' completed...

here's a couple of shots.

curbside



streetside



cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

and a pic 2 remind about choosing air pressures and lug nut/bolt specs.



cheers
2air'