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Old 01-13-2021, 02:15 PM   #1
Scran
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Time for New Tires! Recommendations?

I know there's been a LOT of discussion about tires on all forums. Not looking for any huge amount of discussion, but certainly am looking for some recommendations if you like what you're running and have had great luck with them!

I'm sure I'll take a hit from some.... but I have been running Samson GL285T (235/85R16's) for the last 5 years - and LOVE THEM! Picked up at least 1mpg and a better ride from the day I bought them, and have had NO issues with them. Just time to replace them. Yep.....they're China bombs, but given my experience with them, are better than almost anything else I've looked at. While I have looked at the GY Endurance (10ply), and the GY G614 (14ply), they would be a good American made alternative, but are just 'WAY' overpriced, in my opinion, at more than 2x the cost of the Samson's (and others).

The Samson's are not so easy to find locally, but I can find them on eBay. I have also found a similar tire at Amazon, with the same ply and load rating and look nearly exactly as Samson's - ST 235/85R16 G 14 Ply Transeagle ASC All Steel Radial Trailer Tire - but have no experience with them.

SO............looking for some of your ideas! If you have experience with anything 'like' the Samson's (steel belted, 14 ply sidewalls, 4,400lb load rating) - or something else that might meet these specifications - I'm interested! Hoping to get the tires swapped out before we hit the road this spring!

BTW.........for those of you disparaging to China bombs... We put on 7-10,000 miles every summer, with a lot of that in the southern US during the summer (May-Oct). I have been delighted with the Samson's. Just time to replace as they will have 5 years on them this spring.
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Old 01-13-2021, 02:40 PM   #2
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Scran - No need to keep beating people up for making negative remarks about "china bombs". Many, if not most tires are made in China but only a select few get the "china bomb" label. My Carlisle tires (15 inch) were made in China I believe and no one refers to Carlisle tires as china bombs. The moniker is usually reserved mainly for Trailer King brand tires which appear to have a horrible number of blow outs and are one of the main OEM tires on many Keystones. I can't give you any advice on your current brand or 16" tires in general but many folks on this board do have that experience.
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Old 01-14-2021, 04:27 AM   #3
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I have had very good service out of Sailun, and it probably comes to the top of most lists like you are after. Price/service/availability will usually yield these three brands: Carlisle, Maxxis, and Sailun.
But as defensive as you seem to be with your Samson brand I can't help but wonder why you would change.
And pay attention to what George said about the 'China bomb' term.
Walmart has Samson @ $156.00 and Sailun @ $165.
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Old 01-14-2021, 06:36 AM   #4
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The "argument" about which ST tires are best has taken on the same "cloak" as which truck is best.....

People will "argue till the cows come home" that "their choice" is best, typically based on nothing more than a "1 set history of no blowouts" and ironically, will argue "FOR" the same tire that another "1 set buyer" is arguing "AGAINST"....

When will it end ??? When the cows come home .....
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Old 01-14-2021, 07:18 AM   #5
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John you hit the nail on the head. The only thing I would differ on is "when the cows come home". I'd say it's when the cows sprout wings and fly home.
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Old 01-14-2021, 07:30 AM   #6
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As stated, Sailun is a good brand. None were available at the time and a friend in commercial trucking suggested Super Cargo. A very heavy duty tire (weighs about 75 pounds each). Very stiff sidewall.

As a side note, I had Carlisle's on a 20 foot equipment trailer some years ago and blew out each one TWICE over a summer. Discount tire replaced each one, apologizing for the failures. Apparently a belt separation issue. No more Carlisle's for me.

But these Super Cargo's are such overkill, why would anyone want anything less?

https://simpletire.com/paid?v=1&tire...a0487465d9f5e0
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Old 01-14-2021, 08:06 AM   #7
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I installed a set of TransEagle all steel G rated tires in January. We've only put on 1,000 miles because of limited travel as a result of Covid.

Simple Tire told me the construction was exactly the same as Sailun except the TransEagle had a higher speed rating. The tires are very heavy. So far very happy with them. Time will tell how they age. At this pointI would recommend them as a lower cost option to Sailun. Look them up at simpletire.com.
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Old 01-14-2021, 08:52 AM   #8
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Just a quick comment about "the tire construction is exactly the same as..."

If you can imagine a cake made with "typical ingredients" and a cake made with laundry soap (in place of flour) and Comet (in place of sugar) and Plumber's Putty in place of the eggs.....

Both cakes may have 2 layers, icing between the layers and on top, with the same "sugar sprinkles"... I'd suspect that they may "look the same" but I assure you they won't "taste the same"...

In tire manufacturing, the "rubber formula" is almost always a company secret. The amount of carbon black in the tires, the formula for the polyester/nylon reinforcement cords, the thickness of those cords, even the amount of carbon in the steel used in the "steel belts" can vary enough to make one tire "junk" and the other tire (that looks just like it in the cut-away diagram on the dealership wall) as different as the two cakes above.....

Being "built the same as a Michelin doesn't make a SuperMax TM perform like a Michelin. There's a reason one sells for $54.36 and the other sells for $254.36..... YMMV
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Old 01-14-2021, 09:26 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
Just a quick comment about "the tire construction is exactly the same as..."

If you can imagine a cake made with "typical ingredients" and a cake made with laundry soap (in place of flour) and Comet (in place of sugar) and Plumber's Putty in place of the eggs.....

Both cakes may have 2 layers, icing between the layers and on top, with the same "sugar sprinkles"... I'd suspect that they may "look the same" but I assure you they won't "taste the same"...

In tire manufacturing, the "rubber formula" is almost always a company secret. The amount of carbon black in the tires, the formula for the polyester/nylon reinforcement cords, the thickness of those cords, even the amount of carbon in the steel used in the "steel belts" can vary enough to make one tire "junk" and the other tire (that looks just like it in the cut-away diagram on the dealership wall) as different as the two cakes above.....

Being "built the same as a Michelin doesn't make a SuperMax TM perform like a Michelin. There's a reason one sells for $54.36 and the other sells for $254.36..... YMMV
Gee...I didn't make my post to be scolded by others!

By same construction I meant same ply material, number of plies, weight rating, speed rating, etc. Every tire formula is different. If someone hadn't tried Sailun when they first came out, none of us would have known how good they are. TransEagle is trying to try to steal market share from Sailun because I would suspect that they are the market leader in that category.

I would guess that TransEagle purchased Sailun tires, de-constructed, analyzed, and engineered their own tire to compete. Time will tell how they perform. I am willing to give them a try to find out, just like those early adaptors of Sailun.
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Old 01-14-2021, 10:08 AM   #10
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I guess my question to the OP is why in the world ask the question when you have stated you LOVE THEM when referring to the Samson tires. If the cost is right for you, you've had great experience with them, and you truly LOVE THEM why go through this exercise? I wouldn't have them if for no other reason than I've only seen that brand name in a store or on a store sign maybe twice in traveling around. I want to be able to get a tire within a reasonable time so it needs to be somewhat popular. Other than that, if they check all the boxes for you, why worry about change?
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Old 01-14-2021, 11:34 AM   #11
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hee hee hee must be crusty codger Thursday
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Old 01-14-2021, 01:05 PM   #12
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I just don’t do brands. Here in this Keystone trailer model forum Trailer King Tires take a mouth beating. Another large builder of RV trailers uses Castle Rock as one of their most used OEM tires. Same thing, the mouth beating is equal for the Castle Rocks. About 10 years ago Carlisle was taking the heat along with the GY marathon brand. Go to the airforum and do a history check on their OEM marathons. It didn’t make a difference where they were made, USA or China, they were just getting that bad name.

In my research I found that your trailer most likely has vehicle certified 6000# axles. It probably came with ST235/80R16 LRE tires. Any of those tires will work, from LRE to LRG. Select your overkill above LRE and be happy.
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Old 01-14-2021, 01:39 PM   #13
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I finally got off the fence about tires. Told the neighborhood tire man to order me 4 Hercules Strong Guard 215 75R 17.5's LR H. Be here tomorrow, maybe. So I'll step out and be y'all's trailblazer.
Don't be bad mouthing those Carlisle's too bad. They redesigned them and I own 8 of them. Love them. Had them on the previous 5th, no issues. Same as the Maxxis' before them.
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Old 01-14-2021, 01:42 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Northofu1 View Post
hee hee hee must be crusty codger Thursday
The OP posted his thread starter and appears to have departed shortly afterwards yesterday.

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Old 01-14-2021, 01:44 PM   #15
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I suppose he went to buy tires...
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Old 01-14-2021, 01:53 PM   #16
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The nearest Walmart is probably a three day trip for the OP since we pointed out they carry the Samson line?
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Old 01-14-2021, 01:53 PM   #17
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Curmudgeon is a little harsh.
I like codger and the crusty sets the tone of this post.
CODGER:
an elderly man, especially one who is old-fashioned or eccentric.
"old codgers always harp on about yesteryear"
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Old 01-14-2021, 01:59 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Northofu1 View Post
Curmudgeon is a little harsh.
I like codger and the crusty sets the tone of this post.
CODGER:
an elderly man, especially one who is old-fashioned or eccentric.
"old codgers always harp on about yesteryear"
You make a valid argument. We do have a few erstwhile RV experts who fall into one or both categories. Now when I was a lad... errr.... caught myself!
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Old 01-14-2021, 02:08 PM   #19
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In another post the OP said he put his 5 year old Samson's on in 2018?
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Old 01-14-2021, 02:13 PM   #20
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WTH we can talk to ourselves.
I do it frequently.
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