Power King tires that worked!

buzzcop63 · 10-31-2016, 01:23 PM

Power King Towmax STR ST225/75R15LRD, tires DOT dated 4911 (Dec 2011) and trailer purchased new 3/12/2012, tires will be 5 years old this December with approximately 4,000 miles of use, all in Oregon. Tires have preformed beautifully with absolutely no problems caused by tires. Tires rated for 2,540 Lb at 65PSI, when trailer is attached to truck and fully loaded weight on trailer is 5,500Lb per scale giving a per tire load weight of 1,375Lb which means each tire is supporting approximately 54% of its rated load giving 46% safety margin. Tires were kept covered when stored in outside RV storage facility, PSI was kept at 65, traveling speed was set at 55 Mph and Tire Minder was used to monitor temperature and pressure, this is the type with sending unit attached on rubber stem, no problems to date or marks on rim from rubbing. Towmax states that at 100C or 212F that tires rubber will suffer degradation and adhesive force can drop, delaminating the tire and going flat. My tires on the hottest days would reach only half of the maximum.

Having read many complaints about tire failures, researched what tire manufactures have to say as well as talked to several tire dealers my conclusion why I have not had trouble running Power King tires is that my tires have a large safety margin in weight they can carry, they have been run at 55mph and kept covered during storage, their PSI has been constantly watched. Scale weight of trailer compared to weight rating of tires is critical as is keeping the speed and thus heat down should increase your odds of reaching 5 years of use without tire failure. New tires in Spring, its time.

Desert185 · 10-31-2016, 01:35 PM

Which brand will the replacement tires be?

buzzcop63 · 10-31-2016, 03:06 PM

Same brand, recommended by Tire Distributor Les Schwab, gave them the option to upgrade my tires or use another brand, their reply, stick with the same brand and take care of them. The tires they see coming in that have failed, all brands, they feel is due to speed, too much weight, too old and not keeping up with recommended PSI. But I will be watching them on every trip with my Tire Minder and checking them at every stop as I have done with the current tires.

My wish would be Trailer Life to set up a scientific test of the major brands fitted as OEM tires and beat them until they fail as well as a few of the top competitors so that we would have answers that are not just our own experience.

**JRTJH** · 10-31-2016, 03:23 PM

Robert,

When you do replace your tires, if you would, please examine the inside (under the tread) and see if you can identify any separation. It will look like small bubbles or round "inflated" spots. Hopefully you won't find any, but that is exactly what I saw on two of the tires I replaced this spring. Here's a picture of one of the tires.

I'd be interested in knowing if the tires that "do make it to the end" have any of the same characteristics as those that, at least in my situation, got caught before they self destructed.

Thanks,

buzzcop63 · 10-31-2016, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Robert,

When you do replace your tires, if you would, please examine the inside (under the tread) and see if you can identify any separation. It will look like small bubbles or round "inflated" spots. Hopefully you won't find any, but that is exactly what I saw on two of the tires I replaced this spring. Here's a picture of one of the tires.

I'd be interested in knowing if the tires that "do make it to the end" have any of the same characteristics as those that, at least in my situation, got caught before they self destructed.

Thanks,

When I put on the new set in Spring I will ask to see the tires that they have taken off!

**sourdough** · 10-31-2016, 03:25 PM

I think I can see the reason so many (China bombs) fail on so many trailers. Your trailer scaled at 5500 lbs. Mine is 9600 - 9800 lbs depending on trip. Mine came with the same size and rated tires as your trailer leaving me with almost zero weight margin (load vs tire capacity). Yours have performed well, mine blew the first trip of the 3rd summer. And yes, I drive less than 65, filled daily to correct psi etc. Probably needs to be something we all need to consider when buying a new trailer instead of just assuming the manufacturer has given us a safety margin.

**JRTJH** · 10-31-2016, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

I think I can see the reason so many (China bombs) fail on so many trailers. Your trailer scaled at 5500 lbs. Mine is 9600 - 9800 lbs depending on trip. Mine came with the same size and rated tires as your trailer leaving me with almost zero weight margin (load vs tire capacity). Yours have performed well, mine blew the first trip of the 3rd summer. And yes, I drive less than 65, filled daily to correct psi etc. Probably needs to be something we all need to consider when buying a new trailer instead of just assuming the manufacturer has given us a safety margin.

Sourdough, I've been thinking, (I know a dangerous thing for me to do) but...

Here's something to consider: Thinking back to the descriptions on Carlisle, Maxxis and several other tire manufacturer sites, many of them say that their ST tires "degrade" about 10% per year. So 4 tires rated at 2540 each would support about 10160 pounds the first year, about 9144 the second, about 8128 the third, 7112 the fourth and 6096 the fifth year. Factoring in 15% tongue weight on a travel trailer, that would be a trailer with about 7000 pounds in the fifth year without "overloading the aged tires". Quite a significant difference between buzzcop's trailer and yours or mine. We'd be overloaded the second year or the third for sure.

Robert,

Thanks, if you can remember, it will be an interesting comparison of the inside of your tires and of mine.

Ken / Claudia · 10-31-2016, 06:33 PM

John, I am going to replace tries also this spring or sooner and will check them as you pointed out. I will post what I find. I might go to Carlisle trail HD same size as current ones, ST225/75R15 8ply with 2540 lbs max wt. Unsure where they are made. Their web says many of their tires are US made but, not all tires and they do not list which tire is US and which is not.
,

**sourdough** · 10-31-2016, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Sourdough, I've been thinking, (I know a dangerous thing for me to do) but...

Here's something to consider: Thinking back to the descriptions on Carlisle, Maxxis and several other tire manufacturer sites, many of them say that their ST tires "degrade" about 10% per year. So 4 tires rated at 2540 each would support about 10160 pounds the first year, about 9144 the second, about 8128 the third, 7112 the fourth and 6096 the fifth year. Factoring in 15% tongue weight on a travel trailer, that would be a trailer with about 7000 pounds in the fifth year without "overloading the aged tires". Quite a significant difference between buzzcop's trailer and yours or mine. We'd be overloaded the second year or the third for sure.

Robert,

Thanks, if you can remember, it will be an interesting comparison of the inside of your tires and of mine.

John,

You're exactly right and make the point I was alluding to. I don't think most folks think about scrutinizing the new tires on a new trailer to determine exactly what kind of weight margin they have. In this case they used the same type of tire on a 5500 lb trailer and a 10,000 lb trailer. That doesn't really make sense to me and really puts the owner of the heavier trailer in a bit of a quandary.

You and I both had experiences with tire degradation/destruction early on. Mine went on the 1st trip of the 3rd summer (trailer was 2 yrs 1 month old) leading to the observation that those tires (if I had kept the same type/rating) would have to be replaced every other summer. Something that folks need to keep in mind even when purchasing a brand new trailer.

Danny

CaptnJohn · 10-31-2016, 08:20 PM

Another factor in your favor is only 4000 miles in 5 years. I usually put twice that or more every year. For that reason I sold my nearly new Trailer King tires to the dealer where I bought 5 Carlisle 235/85/R16 LRF TH tires ~ up from LRE ~~which gives me more cushion.

xrated · 11-02-2016, 10:19 AM

This might be apples vs oranges, but I've had good service out of the Maxxis 8008 trailer tires. Now, the apples and oranges thing....that has been on a 7 x 16 foot enclosed trailer which is rated at 7000 lbs GVW and I'm usually going down the road at a little over 5k lbs. What are your thoughts on the Maxxis brand for heavier towing? I now have a 9000 lb (empty weight) toy hauler with CCC of almost 4K lbs.

**JRTJH** · 11-02-2016, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xrated

This might be apples vs oranges, but I've had good service out of the Maxxis 8008 trailer tires. Now, the apples and oranges thing....that has been on a 7 x 16 foot enclosed trailer which is rated at 7000 lbs GVW and I'm usually going down the road at a little over 5k lbs. What are your thoughts on the Maxxis brand for heavier towing? I now have a 9000 lb (empty weight) toy hauler with CCC of almost 4K lbs.

The only two brands of ST tires I'd consider are Carlisle and Maxxis. Any others are "off brands" and subject to significant criticism on this and many other forums. Of course, you'll find the occasional poster who will "swear by" most any brand, but the vast majority will "swear at" those same brands, with the exception of Carlisle and Maxxis. In order or preference, most would suggest that Maxxis is the better tire probably because Carlisle had a "not too good" reputation some years ago, mainly in their bias ply ST tire brands. The new Carlisle Radial Trail HD and Radial Trail RH have, for the most part, come as close to Maxxis M8808's reputation as any tire can get. I'd say, from what I've read, that the two, Carlisle and Maxxis are pretty much equal.

xrated · 11-02-2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

The only two brands of ST tires I'd consider are Carlisle and Maxxis. Any others are "off brands" and subject to significant criticism on this and many other forums. Of course, you'll find the occasional poster who will "swear by" most any brand, but the vast majority will "swear at" those same brands, with the exception of Carlisle and Maxxis. In order or preference, most would suggest that Maxxis is the better tire probably because Carlisle had a "not too good" reputation some years ago, mainly in their bias ply ST tire brands. The new Carlisle Radial Trail HD and Radial Trail RH have, for the most part, come as close to Maxxis M8808's reputation as any tire can get. I'd say, from what I've read, that the two, Carlisle and Maxxis are pretty much equal.

Good to know. I had a set of Maxxis tires on another enclosed trailer that I had, but sold the trailer before the tires had more than 4-5K miles. Then, I put them on my present enclosed and they are holding up really well....I just didn't know how well the brand would do on heavier trailers like the Toy Hauler I just bought......which has the Power Kings on it.

Desert185 · 11-02-2016, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xrated

This might be apples vs oranges, but I've had good service out of the Maxxis 8008 trailer tires. Now, the apples and oranges thing....that has been on a 7 x 16 foot enclosed trailer which is rated at 7000 lbs GVW and I'm usually going down the road at a little over 5k lbs. What are your thoughts on the Maxxis brand for heavier towing? I now have a 9000 lb (empty weight) toy hauler with CCC of almost 4K lbs.

I have the Maxxis M8008 235/80R-16 LRE on the SRX toy hauler and Carlisle RH on the utility trailers. No problems with either. The Maxxis have ~7000 miles on them with no abnormal or even discernable wear. Unless there is a big ST tire development between now the the time arrives for replacement, I won't change a thing.

EVMIII · 11-02-2016, 05:45 PM

I would just suggest you compare the tires you are considering side by side. I am putting the Sailun 235 80 R16's ST tires on next spring before my long trip. I was able to compare this tire to the Towmaster currently on my trailer and it was like comparing men and boys. I like to save money as much as the next guy, but I also believe that you get what you pay for. I can replace the Towmasters for about $80 a piece, every other reputable tire Maxxis, Carlisle or the Sailun are more than twice that each. Best of luck, safe travels.

CaptnJohn · 11-03-2016, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EVMIII

I would just suggest you compare the tires you are considering side by side. I am putting the Sailun 235 80 R16's ST tires on next spring before my long trip. I was able to compare this tire to the Towmaster currently on my trailer and it was like comparing men and boys. I like to save money as much as the next guy, but I also believe that you get what you pay for. I can replace the Towmasters for about $80 a piece, every other reputable tire Maxxis, Carlisle or the Sailun are more than twice that each. Best of luck, safe travels.

Not sure where you get your prices but I had 5 Carlisle 235/85/R16 LR F mounted balanced and installed for $97 each. The 235/80 in LR E are the same price. My Trailer King OEM tires were nearly new and the dealer bought them for $75 which knocked the cost down even more. The tires were 3 months from the factory so they were fresh as well. OOHHhhh the LR E series max psi is 85# and LR F is 95#.

buzzcop63 · 05-03-2017, 02:27 PM

As of this morning my Power King tires were going on 6 years old, 3,009 miles, date code August 2011 as in my original post spring replacement time is at hand. Had went to Discount Tire first of year and got prices on Carlisle "E" rated tires and now that the sun has finally come out in our area I visited Discount Tire again to set up an appointment. Seems they have dropped Carlisle and replaced it with Goodyear Endurance, the new US made Tire. Tire dealer sold me on this tire and I had four of them mounted ST225/75/R15, 117N. Tire cost $121 each. They oldest date code was 3rd week of 2017. I have Tire Minder, keep tires covered when trailer is in storage, sitting on asphalt, travel at 55 MPH and monitor pressure very closely. Will post again when have had some miles on these tires. No problems reported by dealer on old Power King tires but also stated that separation inside tire may not be evident until it lets loose.

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