I would look, but I am not at home and trying to do some shopping before I get home...need to get tires today.

Thanks in advance,

Mexico

215 75r 14

Thanks...it appears Marathons are no longer the preferred tire...any suggestions?

"it appears Marathons are no longer the preferred tire..."

Really? Sure is news to me. I'll be interested to see what you suggest as an alternative to the Marathons I run on all 3 of my trailers.

Planocat

I've had great luck with the set of Marathons I have on my 2006 RangerTrail...but I did a search and read some horror stories about the newer Chinese made Marathons.

The Maxxis 8008 seems to be a highly ranked trailer tire and there are a couple others I have read about across the net TowMax and a Towmaster...both great for the money.

My concern is not cost but a realiable tire. I've had trouble with off brands and my first set of Marathons were a nightmare...the set that I am running now probably have at least 50,000 miles on them and have been great.

I recently replaced one of my Marathons. I asked the Goodyear dealer, with whom I have dealt for years, about the chatter over the China tires. "That's why I don't carry them (the tires made in China)," he said. Apparently, the individual dealers have a choice as to whether to handle the Chinese tires. (I bought another Marathon.)

Bill Krejca

How can you tell the difference between the imported Marathons and the States made version? I am getting close to new tire time with my '03 Marathons (should finish the year around 55,000 total trailer miles) and had planned on putting the same thing on based on the life these have yielded.
Are the tires marked by their country of manufacturing origin? If not, how would one know what you were getting? Thanks for the insight on this issue. I know this is becomming quite common to see state side companies jobbing out manufacturing work to oversea's and still being able to import it here and sell it at a savings to their own manufactured products. I have a vendor I buy from right now that will sell me the parts I have been buying for the last 8 years from their plant for the current going price/M or I can get their imported material (same die #, same profile, same specs, same color) but different price...about 2/3's the price. In a time of rapidly increasing material prices and rapidly shrinking margins, its hard not to take a look at these materials when you start running numbers. Haven't bought any yet but I haven't opened most of THIS MONTHS price increase letters from my good current state side vendors..

Rob,

I think the China made Marathons say Made in China...but here is a way to tell for sure.

I copied this from another site while searching for an answer:

If you want to know where your tire was made, look at the first two number/letters that are on your DOT for the tire. Then, check this website and it will tell you which plant your tire was made in.

http://www.harriger.com/tires.htm (http://www.harriger.com/tires.htm)
For example, if the frst two numbers/letters are 7L, then your tire was made in Goodyear's Shaheku District Plant in China. Or, if your first two are 4D, then your tire was made by BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC., in their MORRISON, TENNESSEE plant.

Hope that helps...now I need to go install the new 36 volt Maxxum... ;)

Thanks Brian, thats great info!! I won't be needing to do anything til next spring at the earliest so if you go with an other brand than the GY Marathons, please let us know what you choose and how they work for you. I am not dead set on GY, I've just had great results with this set over the last 6 seasons and would be very comfortable putting them on again if I could get the same quality tire.

Thanks again, RJ

I was extremely happy with my Marathons and I have put a ton of miles on that trailer...and hard miles.

The Maxxis 8008 are the tires I am going with...found them for $75 a piece through my local dealer so they were a great price. He is putting them on all his stuff.

Don't worry...if they don't work out well...I'll let everyone know. ;)

Rob,

I think the China made Marathons say Made in China...but here is a way to tell for sure.

I copied this from another site while searching for an answer:

If you want to know where your tire was made, look at the first two number/letters that are on your DOT for the tire. Then, check this website and it will tell you which plant your tire was made in.

http://www.harriger.com/tires.htm (http://www.harriger.com/tires.htm)
For example, if the frst two numbers/letters are 7L, then your tire was made in Goodyear's Shaheku District Plant in China. Or, if your first two are 4D, then your tire was made by BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC., in their MORRISON, TENNESSEE plant.

Hope that helps...now I need to go install the new 36 volt Maxxum... ;)


Mex:

Any news on the Marathons that are built in New Zealand or Canada? It seems like they are building them all over the place! BTW the one that lost tread for me was made in New Zealand.

I found out late about adding another 10 PSI to the Marathons. That should give it another 200 lbs of capacity though not officially listed that way. Can you overinflate the Maxxis?

No clue...didn't know about the over inflation thing either...guess I wouldn't do it.

No clue...didn't know about the over inflation thing either...guess I wouldn't do it.

Mex:

The overinflation by 10 PSI comes from the Goodyear technical memos. Is is recommended by them when storing a trailer or when going over 65 MPH>

I've had great luck and duration with my Marathons at the 50 psi (cold) level and I have been strict about checking them on every trip...my mechanic is amazed at how evenly they have worn.

I'm on my third season with my Marathons. They are clearly marked 'Made in China'.

I tow the trailer 380 miles per week from April to October, and make a 520 mile round trip to Lake Ontario each season.

I average 75 miles per hour. The tires look new. They have worn evenly, for what little wear there is on them.

I haven't had a single problem with them.