Tires

[baydog55]

I have a 2019 27SAB. I am going to take a few long trips next year. The trailer has Trailer King tires (215-75-15 load range E)
Are these the china bombs people post about and should they be replaced?
If so what is a quality replacement?

[JRTJH]

Your trailer should have 225 75R15 LRE tires (not 215 75R15).

Trailer King is one of the brands that is "affectionately" referred to as China Bombs. There are others, typically "off brand ST tires"

Most have relied on Maxxis, Carlisle Radial Trail HD and Goodyear Endurance.

Right now, WalMart has the best price I've seen on Carlisle ST tires, $82.19 each. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Carlisle-...-tire/55012166

Goodyear Endurance is the "new kid on the block" with about a 3 year history since introduction. So far, it seems to be an excellent choice, although it is about $50-75 more (per tire) than Carlisle.

Maxxis, from what I've seen, hasn't "kept up with the competition" with their M8808 tire line. The speed rating remains at 65MPH while Carlisle and Goodyear are 75 or 81 MPH rated.

ALL (regardless of brand) ST tires should be replaced at abour 5 years of age, no matter how much tread is remaining. ST tires typically "age out" before they "wear out"....

There are some people who have reported good service from Trailer King tires, some that have reported damage in the $5000-$10000 range from "self destructing TK tires"... It's up to you whether you decide to keep them or replace them. I'd suppose the biggest concern is "previous use conditions" ranging from towing with low air pressure, sitting for months on a dealership lot and stress from "jockeying trailers in tight turns on the dealership lot. With OEM tires, you have no way of knowing how they were handled before you bought the trailer. With tires installed "while you watch" and that "remain in your custody" will have been cared for by you, so you'll "know for sure" what condition they are in....

[baydog55]

Thanks, I will replace.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by baydog55

Thanks, I will replace.

I know it seems like wasted money but I think you've made a wise decision. John made great points about the "china bombs" with Trailer King being at the top of the list these days as far as I know. I owned them and I'm one of the ones John referenced with the 5-10k in damages...7k to be exact.

Some have had some good luck with those tires, far more have not from my count. If you are going to be taking a few long trips next year, on the 2nd year with the Trailer Kings, going to Carlisle (which I did) or one of the other preferred brands, should make your trip much more enjoyable and event free (hopefully). If you don't have one, I would highly recommend a TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) for the tires. GREAT addition, gives you instant readouts of your tire pressures and is a great stress reliever. Happy travels.

[buzzcop63]

Good idea! I had Power Kings. lasted 6 years with no problems, had only about 4,000 miles so tires sat for long periods which does not help. Reason I think tries gave me no problem is my trailer was at the bottom for weight for the larger models that used the same tire. They were D rated tires and at scale weight of my trailer I had a lot of extra room for the rated weight rate of the tires. Changed to Goodyear Endurance E rating and have been quite happy, took a load of worry of my shoulders! I trust these tires!

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by baydog55

I have a 2019 27SAB. I am going to take a few long trips next year. The trailer has Trailer King tires (215-75-15 load range E)
Are these the china bombs people post about and should they be replaced?
If so what is a quality replacement?

The tires John pointed out at $82.19 each (Carlisle Radial Trail HD) are excellent. I bought four this past November and that price is over $20 less than I paid after searching for the best price I could find (I am cheap). Delivery will also be free or to a store for free. Many Walmarts will mount them for you as well (at least the one in Castroville near where I live will).

[Kylemcmahon1]

I replaced the China bombs on my new camper within 6 months in 2018. With Goodyear endurance. Then sold the full set of 4 tires on Facebook market place for $300.00 to someone who would put them on a utility trailer. There is a dumb guy for every sale so for me the good year endurance only cost me about $100 to $150 installed.

[Customer1]

The "China Bomb" crap is just that, crap.

Fact: Most trailer tire failures are China made tires.
Reason; Most trailer tires are made in China.

If most trailers used USA made tires, guess what, most tire failures would be USA made tires.

Keep them inflated, don't hit curbs, don't overload them and all should be well.

http://www.rvtiresafety.net/2019/02/...omb-tires.html

[Kylemcmahon1]

Originally Posted by Customer1

The "China Bomb" crap is just that, crap.

Fact: Most trailer tire failures are China made tires.
Reason; Most trailer tires are made in China.

If most trailers used USA made tires, guess what, most tire failures would be USA made tires.

Keep them inflated, don't hit curbs, don't overload them and all should be well.

http://www.rvtiresafety.net/2019/02/...omb-tires.html

I will have to disagree with you. While I do agree that most are made in China and because of that most failures are from China. There are some very good tires that are made in China.

But I put a Goodyear endurance next to a trailer king tire when they were new. Standing with no air and no Rimini could push the trailer king tread down almost a foot flexing the side walls and tread. The good year endurance I could only push down an inch with almost no side wall flex. A lot of the China tires a cheaply made thin flexible side walls. Good year endurance as well as maxxis I did this same thing and got same result. Saluin tires are a great tire from China and they flex like a good year endurance. My point is while I agree with your thought I have proven that for travel trailer people the good year endurance and others are a much better tire.

Most China tires are crap. But not all.

[Logan X]

For what it’s worth, I upgraded to Goodyear Endurance and I have been happy with them.

[CWtheMan]

Originally Posted by Kylemcmahon1

But I put a Goodyear endurance next to a trailer king tire when they were new. Standing with no air and no Rimini could push the trailer king tread down almost a foot flexing the side walls and tread. The good year endurance I could only push down an inch with almost no side wall flex.

That's a very unfair analogy. The Goodyear has some added durability features that do not increase it's strength. The one that adds weight and mimics stiffer sidewalls is the addition of sidewall scuff guard materials. As their name implies, they help to prevent sidewall scuffing from causing a tire failure, nothing else.

[Kylemcmahon1]

Originally Posted by CWtheMan

That's a very unfair analogy. The Goodyear has some added durability features that do not increase it's strength. The one that adds weight and mimics stiffer sidewalls is the addition of sidewall scuff guard materials. As their name implies, they help to prevent sidewall scuffing from causing a tire failure, nothing else.

Yes true. But less flex. Means less movement of the tire. The more a tire flexes the quicker it will generate heat. The hotter a tire runs it can degrade faster. Not saying anyone is wrong or I am right. To an extent I think we are both right. It comes down to whatever we feel is the way to go. You feel safe with off brand tires go for it. I will stick with stiffer less flexing tires. In my experience with everything from rvs to over the rd trucks to driving oversize 150000 lbs cranes for over 100000 miles I will stick with my name brand stiffer tire.

[Customer1]

Originally Posted by Kylemcmahon1

...I put a Goodyear endurance next to a trailer king tire when they were new. Standing with no air and no Rimini could push the trailer king tread down almost a foot flexing the side walls and tread. The good year endurance I could only push down an inch with almost no side wall flex...

That is interesting but meaningless without much more info.
Were they the same size?
Were they the same load rating?
Were they the same age?
Were they both new or used?
Were they both treated exactly the same since they came out of the mold?

[Kylemcmahon1]

Originally Posted by Customer1

That is interesting but meaningless without much more info. Were they the same size? Were they the same load rating? Were they the same age? Were they both new or used? Were they both treated exactly the same since they came out of the mold?

Yes they were the same size load rating and all. Like I said this is my opinion all from my experience you can do what you wish and I did agree with part of what you said. No need to be rude and disrespect my opinion.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Customer1

The "China Bomb" crap is just that, crap.

Fact: Most trailer tire failures are China made tires.
Reason; Most trailer tires are made in China.

If most trailers used USA made tires, guess what, most tire failures would be USA made tires.

Keep them inflated, don't hit curbs, don't overload them and all should be well.

http://www.rvtiresafety.net/2019/02/...omb-tires.html

Well...….I suspect I, and millions more, would disagree with you. Yes, most trailer tires are made in China. Yes, there are lots of failures....and yes, most come from certain brands....that's just a fact. Evidence? Take a Trailer King tire and place it beside a Carlisle, Maxxis or Endurance. Pick them up. Whoops! That Trailer King will weigh a 1/3 less or so (guesstimation). Squash them. The Trailer King will literally push down like a marshmallow...not so with the other premium brands. When, in the past on this forum, we have ran the failures back to the same plant in the same province (Shandong) I'm thinking categorizing "Chinese" tires as "Chinese" tires is "just crap". So, IMO, saying that the term "china bomb" is "crap, just crap" is refuted by most anything anyone sees, reads or experiences....unless you just like them due to really cheap prices....and then, it's your business, your trailer and your life. Good luck. JMO

[owen4it]

Originally Posted by Customer1

The "China Bomb" crap is just that, crap.

Fact: Most trailer tire failures are China made tires.
Reason; Most trailer tires are made in China.

If most trailers used USA made tires, guess what, most tire failures would be USA made tires.

Keep them inflated, don't hit curbs, don't overload them and all should be well.

http://www.rvtiresafety.net/2019/02/...omb-tires.html

I would agree only from personal experience. I pot on over 20,000 miles on my new camper towing to Alaska and out west then home again. Checking tire pressure, keeping with in the speed marked on the tires and within five years is the key!

[CWtheMan]

Originally Posted by baydog55

I have a 2019 27SAB. I am going to take a few long trips next year. The trailer has Trailer King tires (215-75-15 load range E)
Are these the china bombs people post about and should they be replaced?
If so what is a quality replacement?

According to your trailer's specs it came with ST225/75R15 LRE tires. Inflated to 80 psi those tires provide more than 34% in load capacity reserves above vehicle certified 4000# axles. IMO it's a waste of time & money to change them-out unless they have been misused or damaged in some way.

Before the implementation of the RVIA load capacity recommendation for RV trailer tires there was nothing to prevent the RV trailer manufacturer's from providing OEM tires with zero, to very little, load capacity reserves. Many of those OEM tires got very bad early failure reputations because of that. Some of those names are Goodyear, Towmax, Trailer, King and Castle Rock, just to name a few. And the term, "China Bomb" was born.

[wiredgeorge]

OK, I am NOT a tire expert but here is what I do know. Tires called China BOMBS are made in China and owned by Chinese and managed by Chinese with NO oversight from a USA based company. Carlisle tires are made in China BUT their parent company located in Tennessee oversees quality and production. I feel better about buying a product manufactured under US oversight than buying a China BOMB because it is a couple bucks cheaper.

Second, I am guessing with all the trade issues with China, more US tire manufacturers will likely locate back home. Why did they go overseas in the first place? Chinese manufacturing facilities pay their laborers 23 cents an hour so production costs are less but pay tariffs and ocean freight. With the situation between China and the USA in a flux with regard to tariffs, the reasons for producing in China may be shifting back to the USA. I hope so.

[CedarCreekWoody]

No matter which tire you decide to run be aware that a close and frequent physical inspection can head off many tire failures. There is often (not always) signs of belt slippage before they actually blow out. These signs would be bulges in the tread or sidewalls, wires beginning to protrude, etc. Look for more signs than just air pressure.

[ctbruce]

Geez, another tire thread that has denigrated into a "my tires are better than your tires" disagreement. Imagine that.

Let it go, people. No one knows these things for sure on here. We don't make the tires. We buy the tires. We can speak to which tires have worked for us and which ones haven't.

In the long run, you are not better or worse based on which tires make you happy and feel good about your purchase. Let's get back to the OP's original post.

Are TK's the infamous China Bombs?-yes.
What would you recommend?-anyhing not made in Shandong Province.

And be sure to get fresh tires by checking the manufacture date stamped on the tire.