Sailuns

Big 417 · 04-14-2021, 11:34 AM

Hi guys, I need some advice. Recently had one of my tires shred on my. 2018 fuzion 417. Running stock sailums, 235/80/16, 14 ply. Checked pressures, all at 110 psi. I don't know if I had a flat and it shredded, or if it "bombed". Tires are 4 years old, 2 years of service. 2 sitting from new. They of course look great on the outside. All wearing good, back set a little more scrubbed of course (triples). After considering pin weight, the 6 tires rated at 24000# carry on average 14500#

I'm tempted to replace all 6, the potential damage from another blowout could cost more than the 6 new tires I'm looking at($1600 can). Which brings up my question, anyone have any real world experience with Hercules brand? More money than sailums. I'm not looking for cheap tires, I'd rather spend the money on decent stuff.

bobbecky · 04-14-2021, 12:18 PM

I’ve read that the SailuNs are supposed to be good for six years, and I’m sure any brand at any price will see an occasional failure, but I think the Sailuns are about as good as you are going to get. At four years, you might be good to replace the one, but how old is it really? Can you see the date code on the tires? For the money, I would just put six new Sailuns on the rig. Anymore, Sailuns are getting much easier to find, and not sure about the Hercules.

**JRTJH** · 04-14-2021, 12:31 PM

You say, "The tires are 4 years old, two just sitting and two in use"...

I take it you mean that the trailer sat on the dealer's lot for 2 years before you bought it ??? If so, those are two years of "questionable tire care"... I've walked through dealership lots where every trailer had visibly low/flat tires and I know those trailers are moved around the lot regularly, either to get a trailer out that was sold or to make it appear trailers are moving from the dealership as well as towing them across town or across the county to an RV show...

So, those two years may have caused irreparable damage to the tires, even before you ever laid eyes on it. That doesn't include transportation from the Keystone factory to your dealer's lot.... There's no telling how fast the delivery driver towed the trailer, whether he checked tire pressure along the route, whether he "hit the curb on every corner" or whether he was "super careful and the tires were never damaged during deilvery"....

There's a "boatload" of things that could go wrong with tires while sitting on a dealer's lot for 2 years.....

If it were me and I was "unsure" of my tire condition, I'd opt for a "go from the unknown to the known" and can the unknown tires, opting for 7 new ones (yes, replace the spare as well) so that going forward, you'll know EXACTLY how your tires have been cared for and what they have been exposed to along the way.....

As for tires, to me, like with everything else, I'd stick with a "known brand"... Sailun has earned an excellent reputation among heavy RV'ers. As for the Hercules brand, from the little I've heard or read, there's no "warm fuzzy feeling" associated with the brand..... YMMV

gearhead · 04-14-2021, 12:41 PM

We bought our Landmark slightly used so I have no idea how the previous owner treated the tires. It had Sailun 215 75 17.5 LR H on it when we bought it. The spare still had a sticker so I assume they never had a flat.
We had a blowout on the rear curb side in the middle of nowhere New Mexico. The only tire I could find to replace was Hercules.
I got home and replaced the 4 year old Sailuns with Hercules. I had issues finding Sailuns locally. I have a Hercules dealer within walking distance and another 15 miles away.
We are about 1400 miles into a trip and I am very happy with the Hercules.
Same construction as Sailuns....all steel belts. Good warranty.
I think you could be happy with either brand.

Big 417 · 04-14-2021, 01:01 PM

Exactly, 2 years on the lot. So who knows. And I agree, I'd rather know what I got. I highly suspect I lost air in the tire and then it shredded. With the triples, and passenger side, I had no idea.

Big 417 · 04-14-2021, 01:04 PM

Yeah, sailuns are out of stock every where. The Hercules are about $60cnd a tire more. I realize that doesn't always reflect on quality of course. We out Hercules brand on our SUV. Really happy with those.

**JRTJH** · 04-14-2021, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big 417

Exactly, 2 years on the lot. So who knows. And I agree, I'd rather know what I got. I highly suspect I lost air in the tire and then it shredded. With the triples, and passenger side, I had no idea.

You might consider a TPMS so you can monitor tire pressure and temperature or just set the alarms and let the system tell you when you're getting close to a problem... The TPMS can't tell you that a tire is 5 seconds from exploding, but it can tell you that you've got a tire losing air or it can warn you that you have a tire that's lost air and you need to stop to see what's going on.....

With that much money invested in tires, a good TPMS is almost a "no brainer".....

NevadaRich · 04-14-2021, 08:52 PM

Big, I have a 43ft Toy Hauler, 6 wheel, I have Sailuns and have had them on for 5years now, No trouble so far, will be changing them next year......I carry over 20k As stated above, get a TPMS System, On my old tires, I had a slow leak on one tire and as I started to pull over, the tire let go.... by the way we travel 3 times a year around 10 to 15k a year...

Fuzion1278 · 04-22-2021, 11:18 AM

I'm in the Sailun blowout club along with you. Did 3K worth of damage to our unit, ('18 Fuzion 359), last year. One thing I did do when I replaced all 4 tires, was go up to an "H" rated tire. It is the heaviest rating I could find for a 17" wheel. So far so good.

Transeagle ST Radial All Steel Premium Trailer Tire-ST235/85R16 133/128L LRH 16- Ply

Big 417 · 04-22-2021, 11:25 AM

Well ****, I just order 6 new sailuns like 20 minutes ago lol. Just couldn't find enough bad on them to justify not getting them. And also not enough good on the Hercules to go that route.

Fuzion1278 · 04-22-2021, 12:03 PM

Another preventative measure, besides the TPMS, is to get a product called "Flat Out" put into the new tires. It is a Kevlar sealing agent that will seal up to a 3/8" hole instantly if you run over something without losing air pressure and blowing out the tire.

Research it and see what you think.

**JRTJH** · 04-22-2021, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big 417

Well ****, I just order 6 new sailuns like 20 minutes ago lol. Just couldn't find enough bad on them to justify not getting them. And also not enough good on the Hercules to go that route.

LOL Seems that's always the way it works.... Procrastinate for weeks and can't find anything to change thinking, then make a decision and in 10 minutes, WHAM !!!!!

**sourdough** · 04-22-2021, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big 417

Well ****, I just order 6 new sailuns like 20 minutes ago lol. Just couldn't find enough bad on them to justify not getting them. And also not enough good on the Hercules to go that route.

I wouldn't worry about it. All of them can't be unbreakable but there are enough happy owners vs unhappy to make me feel comfortable.

twvette · 05-10-2021, 05:13 PM

We have 3 people with 5ers in our camping group running Hercules H-901 ST's now with up to three years on them and zero issues so far. I switched to these from original Sailuns as they have had very good luck with them. My Sailuns started getting some strange wear on them that is typically due to the sidewall not being strong enough, but otherwise I got four trouble free years out of them. They also use these Hercules on their big gooseneck work trailers after having issues with many tires and now no issues. Mine is the heaviest rig of them by far and mine have a year on them now and so far no issues.

roadglide · 05-10-2021, 06:00 PM

I ordered 2 Sailun from Amazon the tires are 235/85/16 dated 48-20 not bad . I did notice there made in Vietnam . The 2 tires I’m replacing are 5 years old and a lot of miles . I’m hopeful the Vietnam sailun tires hold up as good as the China sailun.

Big 417 · 05-10-2021, 06:31 PM

I'm hoping so too, my 6 new ones are also Vietnamese...maybe that's a good thing lol

VitoJCongineJr · 06-20-2021, 12:52 PM

The age is what happened here. In truth I have only been Pulling a 5th wheel for just over a year. I immediately put the same Sailuns on that you have. My first trip was to Sturgis SD from Naples, FL. Not one issue. The standing rule by most I speak and write to is 3 years should be the max a set of tires is on. Don't forget to look at the born on dates when purchasing, make sure they have not been sitting on a shelf for a year already. I had them remove all the new tires installed in 2020 that showed 2019 born on dates. Huge expense I expect what I am paying for. There left over inventory is not my issue, unless I accept it and blow out at 65mph.

mcomeaux · 09-03-2021, 03:41 PM

Just put a new set of Sailun's on the trailer. Instead of producing in China as my last set was these are produced in Viet Nam. Just FYI...

gearhead · 09-03-2021, 04:19 PM

I just put another 2,000+ miles on the Hercules, in addition to the 2,400 miles earlier this spring. So far, so good.
But, I wouldn't have an issue buying Sailun for the next set.

Jack1938 · 09-04-2021, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big 417

Hi guys, I need some advice. Recently had one of my tires shred on my. 2018 fuzion 417. Running stock sailums, 235/80/16, 14 ply. Checked pressures, all at 110 psi. I don't know if I had a flat and it shredded, or if it "bombed". Tires are 4 years old, 2 years of service. 2 sitting from new. They of course look great on the outside. All wearing good, back set a little more scrubbed of course (triples). After considering pin weight, the 6 tires rated at 24000# carry on average 14500#

I'm tempted to replace all 6, the potential damage from another blowout could cost more than the 6 new tires I'm looking at($1600 can). Which brings up my question, anyone have any real world experience with Hercules brand? More money than sailums. I'm not looking for cheap tires, I'd rather spend the money on decent stuff.

Michelin builds an all steel tire that size and I believe they are rated at 14 ply. They aren't the price of a sailun but a lot better.....They are pricey but trouble free or so a friend of mine says so.....

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