Tire blowouts

[Bassbuster]

I had another blowout on my single axle trailer. It was a Goodyear Marathon again. I am starting to suspect that the trailer might be overloaded for the tires. I could weight it and know for sure. However with all of the problems that I have had I am ready to go up from a load rating of C to D.

Is there any reason that I cannot go from a 14" tire to a 15" tire? I would get new rims to match the tires.

In other words can I go from a 21575R14 to a 22575R15 tire and not have clearance problems with the fenders?

[hathead unlogged]

Hmm, putting heavier tires on may sound like a good idea but...

Here's what I'd do. Find out what your trailer is rated for (GVWR), if you don't already know, then go weigh the boat + trailer combo + whatever else you carry in there on an accurate scale. If you are even close to the GVWR then you need a more substantial trailer. In my experience trailer manufacturers are usually pretty good about putting the appropriate tires on a trailer as far as weight ratings are concerned.

You can put tires that are rated for a higher weight rating on there but then you are still putting considerable stress on the bearings, axle and frame itself for more than it was designed. Unfortunately, some dealers are willing to put a lesser trailer under a boat to compete in the price category rather than doing it right and explaining why their product isn't the cheapest on the market.

Try this before you go spend several hundred on tires + wheels.

hathead

[Hot Runr Guy]

the 215/75/14 tire is 26.6" in diameter, the 225/75/15 is 28.3", or nearly an inch per side larger. plus, the 15" tire is slightly wider (6.2 vs 6.0). So, unless you've got way more than an inch of clearance between the existing tires, and anywhere on the fenders, they may not fit. Keep in mind, most single axle trailers top out at about 3500# capacity, so the 215/75/14's, at 1870# each, already may be able to handle whatever the springs are also capable of. Just increasing the capacity of the tires, while taking care of the tire issue, may very well lead to the next problem of spring overloading. Get the rig weighed so you have an accurate baseline to work with.
HRG
http://www.goodyear.com/rv/products/marathon.html

[teamlund]

Do you maintain the tire pressure. If the tire pressure is low the side walls will heat up like hending a thin peice of metal back and forth causing blowout...Just a thought if everything else is rated correcty for what you are hauling...:grin:

[Bassbuster]

Yes I do check the tire pressure every time. With this being the 3rd I am rather superstitious about tire pressure.

[Bassbuster]

I looked up the dry weight of the boat. It is about 2500 lbs. I would guess that I have an additional 500 lbs in there. I doubt that I have an additional 1000 lbs. It does not sound like the 15" trailer tires will fit. I was just looking for some extra insurance.

My boat trailer was not perfectly level. The front was a little high. Could this be causing the problem? Does my trailer have to be perfectly level? Do I need to get an adjustable hitch and level it to the closest setting?

I was also going 65 MPH on the dot. Perhaps I need to slow it down to 55 MPH?

[Mike W1]

I'm really not trying to sound like a wise guy but I noticed you didn't mention the weight of the motor!

[Bassbuster]

I'm really not trying to sound like a wise guy but I noticed you didn't mention the weight of the motor!

It is an inboard. Does the dry weight include the inboard and outdrive?

[GBS]

I would definately do as the others suggested - verify your trailer's capacity, weigh your loaded rig, etc. And in my case...my trailer had 15% margin for the load, according to the plate. But my tires had 2% (yikes!), so yes, I went up to the next larger size. Note that just because you change tires/wheels, you are not increasing loads on any other part of the system more than is already there. So even if you just want the added comfort margin that bigger tires give you, go for it. But, of course, if the rest of the items are also just as over stressed, then bigger tires won't relieve any of the stress on the other parts, either.
But, don't go extreme, either - there is more load on the axels from the bigger tires, so smallest size up is the best.

Anyway - no my fenders did not fit after the swap. So I bought a piece of recycled milk jug 1x6 decking from Home Depot (no rot), cut to fit, and used it as a shim under the fender ends. A little recentering and drilling of holes in the "board", and all looks better than original. Fender bolts to board, board bolts to frame.

[TomP.]

Just curios my Marathons say #50 air pressure.

[Bassbuster]

That is what I had in mine. 50#s

[Bassbuster]

I would definately do as the others suggested - verify your trailer's capacity, weigh your loaded rig, etc. And in my case...my trailer had 15% margin for the load, according to the plate. But my tires had 2% (yikes!), so yes, I went up to the next larger size. Note that just because you change tires/wheels, you are not increasing loads on any other part of the system more than is already there. So even if you just want the added comfort margin that bigger tires give you, go for it. But, of course, if the rest of the items are also just as over stressed, then bigger tires won't relieve any of the stress on the other parts, either.
But, don't go extreme, either - there is more load on the axels from the bigger tires, so smallest size up is the best.

Anyway - no my fenders did not fit after the swap. So I bought a piece of recycled milk jug 1x6 decking from Home Depot (no rot), cut to fit, and used it as a shim under the fender ends. A little recentering and drilling of holes in the "board", and all looks better than original. Fender bolts to board, board bolts to frame.

I guess that there is only one way to know for sure. I am just going to have to weight it.

[Bassbuster]

I had another blowout on my single axle trailer. It was a Goodyear Marathon again. I am starting to suspect that the trailer might be overloaded for the tires. I could weight it and know for sure. However with all of the problems that I have had I am ready to go up from a load rating of C to D.

Is there any reason that I cannot go from a 14" tire to a 15" tire? I would get new rims to match the tires.

In other words can I go from a 21575R14 to a 22575R15 tire and not have clearance problems with the fenders?

I found out that my fenders will move up a notch. I should be able to get the larger tires in there.

[Hot Runr Guy]

That is what I had in mine. 50#s
Not sure if you ever saw this bulletin from Goodyear: http://www.goodyear.com/rv/pdf/marathon_gen_info_032806.pdf

I realize that you weren't traveling that fast, but they are OK'ing an extra 10# of pressure.
HRG

[Bunzey Unlogged]

Regarding weight, you're likely to be very surprised what the scale tells you... my 1800lb dry weight hull came in at 4400lbs on the scale including trailer, motor, fuel, gear etc.

[Bassbuster]

Not sure if you ever saw this bulletin from Goodyear: http://www.goodyear.com/rv/pdf/marathon_gen_info_032806.pdf

I realize that you weren't traveling that fast, but they are OK'ing an extra 10# of pressure.
HRG

So I could inflate them to 60#s without a problem. That might be the ticket.

[Bassbuster]

Not sure if you ever saw this bulletin from Goodyear: http://www.goodyear.com/rv/pdf/marathon_gen_info_032806.pdf

I realize that you weren't traveling that fast, but they are OK'ing an extra 10# of pressure.
HRG

I also found this.

http://www.goodyear.com/rv/pdf/rvbrochure.pdf

The interesting thing here is that they recommend that you overinflate your tires by 25% during storage. I have not been doing that. They also recommend that you have your tires inspected if they get a little low. I think that I am going to try driving 55 mph and get my tires inspected. I think that I will get an adjustable hitch that will allow me to level the trailer to gnats *** level.

[ffishman]

When I bought my boat, it came as a package deal, boat , motor, trailer. I assumed the trailer was good for it. After I blew a tire, I sat down and figured out the weight. Boat, motor, trailer, gear, batteries, etc. Wound up that I was about 100 pounds over weight. And that did not include stuff I threw in there when I took it on vacation. I sold that trailer, and went up to one bigger. Tandem axel, and I now have 1000lb leeway.

[Bassbuster]

Not sure if you ever saw this bulletin from Goodyear: http://www.goodyear.com/rv/pdf/marathon_gen_info_032806.pdf

I realize that you weren't traveling that fast, but they are OK'ing an extra 10# of pressure.
HRG

It sounds like an extra 10#s is the way to go all around. During storage and while on the road.

[Bill Krejca]

Just to stir the pot a little:

Disregarding bad tires and over weight, I have a feeling that some tires will "blow" due to things like a nail puncture. It seems like sometimes when the tire goes flat while driving, by the time the driver is aware of it, the tire is ripped to shreds and the fender is damaged. This could be in a matter of seconds.

I don't know if this is the case, but do suspect it. In an attempt to counter this possible scenario, I insert liquid sealant into my tires. I feel better in so doing, but honestly don't know if I am helping myself any, kinda like taking vitamins.. maybe.

I've heard that some service tech's don't like to deal with the sealant when changing out the tires, but I have not experienced this; I don't like dealing with ruined fenders, either.


Bill Krejca

[rockpt]

I've had blowouts on Marathons on my last two trips to LOTW and I'm one of those guys who goes upward of 65 mph, although I made 5 prior trips (10,000 miles) without any problems.

How do check your wheel for max pressure?

Thanks for the tip, HRG. This just might save me from another blowout when I head back up in a few weeks.

[walleyewillie]

I also had marathons on the trailer when I got It new three years ago.The first tire went after about four months,I took it to the local goodyear dealer where I was told the specific model # on the trailer had been recalled and that this new of a trailer should not have had these tires on it.They could tell the year of the tires by a # on them and the tires were three years older than the trailer.

After calling the trailer company and being told thats to bad for you, I changed both tires for a diffrent brand and these are still running good for almost three years .Needless to say my next trailer will not be a ###########.

[Dacotah Eye]

I think I remember reading a thread on here previously where tires were discussed. It seems that Goodyear Marathons are now being made in China. Some folks were having problems with them and were changing to other brands with good results. I have always had good luck with Marathons, but haven't bought any new tires lately. I could have read this information an another forum also.

[mdoehling]

The other thing to be considering is the trailer weight itself... If you have 2500 lb. boat plus 1000 lbs. of gear you will be over capacity for the trailer, It is my beliefe that you are getting bad tires.

I pull 5,000 - 10,000 lb trailers ever day in my business and commonly have them at or over capacity, (not recommmending it) and have never had any of the tires blow.

[Bassbuster]

The other thing to be considering is the trailer weight itself... If you have 2500 lb. boat plus 1000 lbs. of gear you will be over capacity for the trailer, It is my beliefe that you are getting bad tires.

I pull 5,000 - 10,000 lb trailers ever day in my business and commonly have them at or over capacity, (not recommmending it) and have never had any of the tires blow.


I looked up the trailer capacity and it is 3700#s. The tires are 1870 * 2 = 3740#s. I am going to go weigh it just so that I know for sure. My guess is that I am close to capacity and that trailer tires get weaker as they age. Why does nothing else go except for the tires? What brand of tires are you using? I have never had a new tire blow. Do you overinflate by 10 psi? How far do you go and at what speeds? At what temperatures?

[mnxd9]

I wonder.... http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4988518 check out the video too....

[Bassbuster]

I wonder.... http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4988518 check out the video too....

Bingo! You rock! While my tires were not twenty years old they were 3 years old when I bought them! I do feel ripped off! I will check the date on my tires on the next purchase. Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! I am going to check the tires on the rest of my vehicles tomorrow.

[reels ul]

I hads the same issue and loaded up the boat and took it to the scale with all the fishing gear, full tank of gas, etc. I was 400lbs over the tire ratings.

Got bigger tires and havent blown one yet, but I am over the trailer rating so I ordered a two axle trailer.