Not just the trailer tires

[Canonman]

Just posted a reply regarding Carlisle HD tires which prompted me to "really" inspect my HD's. While crawling around on my hands and knees I thought it a good time to thoroughly check the truck tires as well.
:eek::eek:Found a large bulge and major deformation in the tread of one rear tire.
These are Wrangler LR Es with about 35k miles on them. Tires have been well maintained, and rotated. Been watching them pretty close lately since they are not wearing as well as I had hoped so I know the problem hasn't been there long. But now, replacement is imperative.
I bring this up only as a reminder, since we pay so much attention to our trailer tires, to inspect the truck tires with the same passion. I feel pretty lucky I wasn't half way to Grand Junction, CO next week and found this problem the hard way.

[busterbrown]

Good catch. Attention needs to be on the TV rubber too. A between tire rotations, oil changes, and pre-trip walk-a-arounds, my vehicle tires are always scrutinized. It's a good habit to get into.

[flybouy]

I often think when reading all the tire stories "how many people will ignore the spare".

[JRTJH]

I often think when reading all the tire stories "how many people will ignore the spare".

Timidly raising my hand..... I always check the spare on the truck and trailer. In fact, I've turned them so they face down and the valve stem is accessible without having to remove the spare, just crawl underneath with a pressure gauge and check..... HOWEVER: We just sold the DW's Escape and as a part of getting it ready to sell, I pulled the spare tire out (It's never been on the ground) to clean under it and decided to check the pressure. It's one of those "high pressure mini-spares" that's inflated to 60PSI. When I checked, it was less than 10PSI. Good thing she never needed to use her spare. I'll check her spare now, like I check the truck and trailers, tractor, ATV's, UTV and all my power equipment..... GAWD, now I'm going to wear out a pressure gauge with all this "checking spares" LOL

[Tbos]

Ditto on checking the truck tires too. I found a very large washer molded into the side of a Uniroyal years ago.

[flybouy]

About 2 years ago less than 1/4 mile from home heard the dreaded hiss, quite, hiss. Got home and found an object imbedded between the tread of the 20" Pirelli Scorpion on the 150 King Ranch. We live just over a mile from a marina and public Park with boat ramp. Apparently someone didn't get their hitch pin locked and lost it. I guess he made it to his destination as I didn't hear of any trailer accidents.

[German Shepherd Guy]

Canonman, You have obviously been doing something right. I will be inspecting my tires on the TV before I set out next week across the mountains.
Thanks for the heads up!

[5J's]

I wonder how many put their spare on the ground during tire rotations. I made it a habit years ago to rotate my spare in. But, as John mentioned I've failed to check the spare for DW. [emoji17]

[JRTJH]

I wonder how many put their spare on the ground during tire rotations. I made it a habit years ago to rotate my spare in. But, as John mentioned I've failed to check the spare for DW. [emoji17]

Most manufacturers have made rotating the spare to the ground "nearly impossible".... With the advent of the "mini-spare" it's not an option on most cars or SUV's, and with the advent of aluminum or specialty chrome wheels and a "black steel wheel for the spare" it's not an option on most trucks.... My F250 Lariat has "raised white letter Michilens" on cast aluminum wheels (or did) and a blackwall spare on a black steel wheel. Then, even with "changing out the spare to a road wheel", on many trucks with 20" wheels, the spare is still an 18" wheel/tire assembly, making rotating the spare to the ground even more difficult.

[flybouy]

Most manufacturers have made rotating the spare to the ground "nearly impossible".... With the advent of the "mini-spare" it's not an option on most cars or SUV's, and with the advent of aluminum or specialty chrome wheels and a "black steel wheel for the spare" it's not an option on most trucks.... My F250 Lariat has "raised white letter Michilens" on cast aluminum wheels (or did) and a blackwall spare on a black steel wheel. Then, even with "changing out the spare to a road wheel", on many trucks with 20" wheels, the spare is still an 18" wheel/tire assembly, making rotating the spare to the ground even more difficult.

Both trucks in the driveway here are that way. I remember some posts popping up a while back about trailer spares (which are typically steel wheels) that the lug nuts from the aluminum wheels would not work on. I'm ashamed to say I don't know if that's the case with my trucks.

[kksfish]

Most manufacturers have made rotating the spare to the ground "nearly impossible".... With the advent of the "mini-spare" it's not an option on most cars or SUV's, and with the advent of aluminum or specialty chrome wheels and a "black steel wheel for the spare" it's not an option on most trucks.... My F250 Lariat has "raised white letter Michilens" on cast aluminum wheels (or did) and a blackwall spare on a black steel wheel. Then, even with "changing out the spare to a road wheel", on many trucks with 20" wheels, the spare is still an 18" wheel/tire assembly, making rotating the spare to the ground even more difficult.

John

If I recall correctly you were getting ready to put new rubber on the TV....I think you were looking at Salien? Did you get them hey and if so how do you like them so far?

[Canonman]

:USA:Just got back from Sam's tire department with a new set of Goodyear Wranglers.
Sam's stood behind the Goodyear mileage warranty and a set of LR E tires for the Ram were $89 each.
OUTSTANDING!!

[JRTJH]

John

If I recall correctly you were getting ready to put new rubber on the TV....I think you were looking at Salien? Did you get them hey and if so how do you like them so far?

Yes, I installed the Sailun Terramax AT4S 275 70R18's on the truck the middle of August. I also installed Bilstein 5100's at the same time. So far, after about 2,000 miles, I'm satisfied and have no complaints. The ride is as quiet and smooth as the Michelins, fuel mileage is about the same. Towing the trailer feels no different, although we haven't towed for any extended trips, just locally and up to about 65MPH. I usually tow on the interstate at about 70MPH, so I haven't done that yet.

So far, I'm thinking I made the right choice as the Sailun's were $644 with tax and Michelin's were $1182 with tax. Install/balance/road hazard was $100 for the 4 tires and was the same with either Sailun or Michelin.

[kksfish]

Yes, I installed the Sailun Terramax AT4S 275 70R18's on the truck the middle of August. I also installed Bilstein 5100's at the same time. So far, after about 2,000 miles, I'm satisfied and have no complaints. The ride is as quiet and smooth as the Michelins, fuel mileage is about the same. Towing the trailer feels no different, although we haven't towed for any extended trips, just locally and up to about 65MPH. I usually tow on the interstate at about 70MPH, so I haven't done that yet.

So far, I'm thinking I made the right choice as the Sailun's were $644 with tax and Michelin's were $1182 with tax. Install/balance/road hazard was $100 for the 4 tires and was the same with either Sailun or Michelin.

Sounds like a good tire so far...... I think in the spring I will be looking at new tires and will definitely think about these!

[5J's]

Most manufacturers have made rotating the spare to the ground "nearly impossible".... With the advent of the "mini-spare" it's not an option on most cars or SUV's, and with the advent of aluminum or specialty chrome wheels and a "black steel wheel for the spare" it's not an option on most trucks.... My F250 Lariat has "raised white letter Michilens" on cast aluminum wheels (or did) and a blackwall spare on a black steel wheel. Then, even with "changing out the spare to a road wheel", on many trucks with 20" wheels, the spare is still an 18" wheel/tire assembly, making rotating the spare to the ground even more difficult.Hmmm........I would've not thought about a different size spare on a truck. I guess I'll find out soon if I'll continue thus practice on my 6.0. I've not had it long enough to do a rotation yet but, it's on the list to do. Thanks for the heads up.

[JRTJH]

Hmmm........I would've not thought about a different size spare on a truck. I guess I'll find out soon if I'll continue thus practice on my 6.0. I've not had it long enough to do a rotation yet but, it's on the list to do. Thanks for the heads up.

On a 2006 model, chances are very, VERY slim that you have the OEM tires on that truck, but, when it was new, the info I posted "should be accurate".

If you have 18" wheels on your truck, the spare is a BSW 18" tire on a steel wheel. If you have 20" wheels on your truck, the spare is a BSW of the appropriate "diameter" also mounted on a black steel wheel. When I bought my 1993 F250, all the wheels were 16" but the tires were OWL mounted on aluminum wheels on the ground and BSW on the spare which was on a steel wheel.

It was the same with my BIL's 2009 and with my 2013 and 2015. Ford "cheaps out" by using a "full size spare" without the OWL and by installing it on a black steel wheel, not a matching "pretty wheel" like you see on the ground.

I'd advise you to crawl under your truck and read the size on your spare and compare it to what's on the ground. While under there, you can also see whether it's a "high priced cast wheel" or a "XL priced steel wheel"... My bet's on the XL priced 18" wheel and tire.....

[travelin texans]

Don't know about Ford or Ram trucks, but my dually GMCs had aluminum wheels that the inside duals & the spare were silver steel wheels. In order to rotate at least 5, always rotated in the spare, of them had to be dismounted/remounted, fortunately Discount Tires had a package deal that was affordable to get this done annually.
Nowadays a lot of the compact vehicles don't have a spare due to no place to store them, which would bother me greatly to be at the mercy of some else to change a flat for me.

[5J's]

Yep, I always had my wheels broke down to rotate the spare. I'll have to check the spare size on this truck. I guess the manufacturers cut corners where they can to save costs all the while raising prices.

[atkinsb3]

[QUOTE=JRTJH;361460]Timidly raising my hand..... I always check the spare on the truck and trailer. In fact, I've turned them so they face down and the valve stem is accessible without having to remove the spare, just crawl underneath with a pressure gauge and check..... HOWEVER: We just sold the DW's Escape and as a part of getting it ready to sell, I pulled the spare tire out (It's never been on the ground) to clean under it and decided to check the pressure. It's one of those "high pressure mini-spares" that's inflated to 60PSI. When I checked, it was less than 10PSI. Good thing she never needed to use her spare. I'll check her spare now, like I check the truck and trailers, tractor, ATV's, UTV and all my power equipment..... GAWD, now I'm going to wear out a pressure gauge with all this "checking spares" LOL[/QUOTE

I have always dreaded checking the pressure of the spare (now I feel a slight tinge of stupidity for over looking the obvious solution!?!? :banghead:). I see a simple modification in my TV's near future.

[mjeronimo]

My buddy has a 1951 Chevy can’t remember The model but it has a Schrader valve mounted just under the trunk lid and a hose runs from there to the spare inside the trunk. I guess they thought about things like that back in the day. You could run an extension hose back to the hitch just remember to unhook it before you crank down the spare.

[atkinsb3]

Wow! for a mere $30 and an order to etrailer, my life is just about to get so much easier (ok, maybe just a little easier). :bow:

[Fishsizzle]

Just about ready to start a thread asking about boat trailer tires. 5 years next spring. Carlies, maybe 6k on them. Have a trip to Havasu in Feb planed.

Thinking of jumping to 8 ply when I buy.

[JRTJH]

Just about ready to start a thread asking about boat trailer tires. 5 years next spring. Carlies, maybe 6k on them. Have a trip to Havasu in Feb planed.

Thinking of jumping to 8 ply when I buy.

I replaced the "TRACKER" tires on my Tracker Marine trailer 3 years after I bought it new. They were already 1 year old when I bought the rig, so 4 years total. I installed Carlisle Radial Trail HD tires. They have performed without problems and when it comes time to replace them again, I'll stick with the Carlisle's unless something else is cheaper. At $75 each (WalMart special order) they are the cheapest "quality tire" I could find.

[Fishsizzle]

I replaced the "TRACKER" tires on my Tracker Marine trailer 3 years after I bought it new. They were already 1 year old when I bought the rig, so 4 years total. I installed Carlisle Radial Trail HD tires. They have performed without problems and when it comes time to replace them again, I'll stick with the Carlisle's unless something else is cheaper. At $75 each (WalMart special order) they are the cheapest "quality tire" I could find.

Thanks! And thanks for spelling Carlisle! I like the HD as well and will pick up 4 before we head out. Anxious to get into some striped bass

[skids]

Wow! for a mere $30 and an order to etrailer, my life is just about to get so much easier (ok, maybe just a little easier). :bow:

How quick can you unscrew that hose from the spare before your tire loses too much air?

[JRTJH]

How quick can you unscrew that hose from the spare before your tire loses too much air?

How quick can you get under the truck? Will you get wet if it's muddy? How about removing gloves (if it's cold) vs using "touch screen gloves" that have more tactile sensation? How about the visor on my baseball cap: Will it block my vision while laying in the mud, on the ground (or should I always carry a blanket) looking up? Maybe if I roll on my side, take off one glove, roll under the truck (calculations on how and where to start so I end up in the right position under the truck, not looking up so the cap visor won't block my vision) and maybe, since DW is smaller, I can get her to do it for me? Or, should I call 911 and wait for the emergency team and tell them to bring a compressor with them ????

Sheesh..... Now I'm tired just from answering your "what if" in yet another thread......