Dual Marathon Tread Separation - AGAIN

[gklott]

Replaced all 4 Marathons Feb 2005 after dual blow out. See http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...day-15566.html .

Driving Saturday, 09/27/2008 from Chula Vista CA KOA to Kingman AZ KOA. Before pulling out, manually checked tire pressure - 65 or 64 all around. We do this each drive morning.

Max driving speed 65 using cruise control. We have been religious on this max speed since previous incident.

Had bearings repacked when we had Dometic frig recall work done at Camper Clinic II, Buda, TX, July 29, 2008.

Had been driving all day monitoring pressure via Doran Pressure Pro system. Running pressures via Doran 70-72. Came across Mohave on I-10, CA-177, CA-62, AZ-95. Outside air temps 103-107.

Stopped in Lake Havasu City for milkshake at In-n-Out. Heard Doran chiming when we returned to truck. Using kitchen soap sprayer, we found air coming from multiple spots on outside edge of street front tire. The outer most tread grove looked funny, just like the time before.

Went to Dicount Tire in Lake havasu City at 4:15 pm. Replaced all 4 tires with Greenball Towmaster V ST225/75R-15 E1 B tires. $560.78 out the door with replacement and repair warrranty, balanced, etc. They mounted same tires on a horse trailer and BIG boat trailer while we were there.

Upon removing, the tire guy noticed two other Marathons looked funny. They were holding pressure, but one was a funny shape and another didn't look right at the outside tread grove. Wear looked normal, and we had plenty of tread. No sign of misalignment wear. Old Marathon manufacture dates were Oct/Nov 2004.

Discount Tire was super. They closed at 5:00, but they stayed working on all vehicles until finished. We departed at 7:30 pm.

As a friend said "Yall were about 46 minutes from a most interesting Saturday."

Will not use Marathons again - EVER. We've replaced 10 Marathons since July 2003. Total mileage about 85,000 on trailer.

New tires feel good. 80 psi cold.

73/gus

[richinny]

the heat seems to be a common topic in these threads. i'm glad this had a happier ending.

[SteveH]

I need new tires for my trailer also. The ones on there look good, but were manufactured in '04 (Towmaster), and age seems to be an issue with these trailer tires as much as anything else, and my local Discount Tire people have confirmed this. Or, are they just trying to make a sale?

The thing is, if you read these forums long enough, you will find someone unhappy with almost every brand of trailer tires, so what to do????????

[gklott]

Our new Greenball tires were manufacturer the 13th week of 2008. I agree with the 4 to 5 year life of trailer tires.

Yes, seems everyone has had problems with one tire or another. After owning 15 Marathons in 5 years (5 original plus 10 replacements), we're going to something else.

I will probably switch to the Michelin 16" replacements next time. Hard to do that when you're out traveling.

73/gus

[doorgunner]

Observations;

Out here in wine/farm/equestrian country--

I always make a point of checking out the tires/TV/and hitches used at the riding events held here at the vinyard.
Last week I was speaking with a gentleman in his 70's, I asked him how he chose his tires.
He says- Well I been using the same tire guy for 40 years.I haul a lotta nice horses around ain't got time for junk rubber. Told my tire guy that if he ever sold me junk I would choke the living breath out of him. Well -like I said we been doing business for 40 years, and we're both alive.

Something about country livin..

[handn]

If it is over 100 degrees and you are going to spend the day on the Interstate towing your Airstream, check for tire stores because your D rated Marathons (and other ST tires) will fail.
I rented a 6000 double axle car carrier from U Haul. It has load range C LT tires. That's where I am going if and when my load range E ST tires fail. Marathons on my Airstream (and Good Year products on my other vehicles) are history.

[Silvertwinkie]

I dunno, I've towed at about 98 degrees...not 100 with my Maxxis tires. I am not suggesting these are far better....yet, only from the standpoint I haven't really broken them in yet.

Now I didn't have any issues with my Marathons, but there have been just too many issues for me not to pay attention to these threads both here and on many other forums.

[gklott]

Am reporting all my tire failures to NHTSA. Using: IVOQ - File a Complaint

There were 63 Goodyear Marathon tire reports listed when I checked this morning. I will add 4 more - two from 2005 a d two from Saturday.

[COArgosy78]

I reported on another post re: tire separation that I had received an e-mail w/a very good report done by 20/20 on this issue. Had to find it - and now I am posting it here for anyone else to review. It basically says that many tire dealers keep tires on their shelved way beyond a tires "safe" life. There is a number related to the tires life on the back side of the tire, but most customers (regular guys/gals) are not aware, nor can they decifer the code. This video talks about that. Hope it is useful. Was to me!

ABC News

[cammur]

OK, so Towmasters stink. So do Marathon. And the record isn't complete on Max xis, but they are hard to find. Only Michelin seems to survive judgment, but that takes 16 inch wheels and a bunch of bucks.

So...I have probably 15,000 on Marathons but in the last couple thousand miles one went flat mysteriously (no trouble found, held air on refill), one took a puncture in the side and was unrepairable, and one developed a leak and early signs of tread separation. The first two flats I didn't know I had until pointed out to me at the next stop; driving on the tires without much air certainly likely weakened them making them unreliable. I caught the third tire thanks to Pressure Pro and limped the last 100 miles home with half pressure - probably should have stopped and changed or re-inflated. (I had PressurePro on the earlier tires but unit was faulty and I couldn't get it replaced while traveling. The replacement unit on a subsequent trip identified the third tire problem.)

So...there being no clear winner in the trailer tire category I bought the four Towmasters at America's (aka Discount) Tire Store out-the-door for $542 in California. They reused the original metal stems with new rubber grommets.

Logic in purchase: (1) all 15" tires have logged complaints; (2) dealer is nationwide and I'll be doing a lot of traveling next year (unfortunately dealer is not in Canada, part of our travels); and (3) the price included 14.50 per tire for a "free replacement" warranty which I may well need.

So, I swear before all forum members that I will check tire pressure daily (previously once per trip), I'll keep speeds at 62 or lower (my practice, but sometimes it got away from me), I'll keep my tires on plastic over the winter, I'll keep my tires covered when stored, and I'll pay attention and react to PressurePro readings. So help me...

[gklott]

So why do the Greenball Towmaster V ST225/75R-15 E1 B tires stink?

[cammur]

You will find negative comments on Greenball Towmaster by searching the Forum and/or the full internet - whether significant hard to judge because we don't know the relative sales of Greenball and other brands. The negative comments on almost all brands is what makes choosing difficult.

Are E1's Load Range E? I avoided this choice because of suggestions the harder ride would be tougher on my running gear and trailer, not to mention uncertain that my airpump could get pressures to 80 psi. At 25' more tire load capacity would be nice but in theory not necessary; at much over 25' I would want LRE.

[jerrypeterma]

that was some very good info. I will be buying tires soon and the Marathons have been moved from my list
Thanks
Jerry