Are Goodyear Marathons still the ‘tire of choice’ by most? I know Carlisle tires have gotten a bad rap in the past, have they gotten any better? Sams Club is selling a TowMaster tire (I believe thats the name), anyone use these? I’ve also read good things about the Kumho 857 tire, thoughts?
I don’t need tires now but will need them in the future and figured I’d start doing my homework 
I believe Goodyear Maratons are still a good choice. However, make sure and get a set made in the USA or even Canada. Avoid the Made in China version. Google – Goodyear Marathon China for more info.
I’d be interested in other “Proven” brands out there. My GYM are original on a 2003 rig. Read a lot of recommendations to replace after 6 or 7 years. Funny thing, my tires look almost new!!!
-J.
i bought Goodyear Marathons last year and according to the goodyear website at that time, the only tires still made in the USA were the raised white letter tires. My tire dealer thinks I’m nuts, but he ordered them in and put them on.
I have had very good luck with Goodyear and not so good with other brands. I do not have any experience with foreign made Goodyear tires.
Only Goodyear marathons for this guy… Lots of trust in these tires 
I get about 2,000 miles per Carlisle tire before I blow them. I’m averaging about 3-4 new tires/season. 
Guess I finally found what tire I should switch to!
Goodyear Marathons are very good tires, however I don’t think you can go wrong with the Towmasters. Being in the auto repair business, we have access to lots of suppliers and Towmasters are the leading choice followed by the Marathons.
Goodyears are a very good choice and wear very well. There is a import on the market by Voma that looks and wears just as well as Goodyears. I have had no warranty issue come in yet with the import. We have been selling them for few years now.
I did not have the best luck with my Goodyear Marathons
Went to the towmasters last year
So can not say much yet about them
Hope 2 down the road lol 
4 blown tires a season on 2000 miles ?
Dude – Alignment or weight issues. Wow.
I have towed my trailer 5000 miles in a summer and hardly show any wear. Goodyear Marathons.
Dog
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I get about 2,000 miles per Carlisle tire before I blow them. I’m averaging about 3-4 new tires/season.
Guess I finally found what tire I should switch to!
I’d be checking the weight (Load it the way you would for a trip) of your rig on a certified scale as well as checking the Axle Alignment and make sure they properly spin balance the wheels.
Just soounds like something is not right and you’re probably risking injury to yourself and others if you are blowing out that many tires. 
PS: Goodyear Marathans have my Vote, put some on last spring and run like the tops, no vibration even up to 80mph as I tested them out.
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4 blown tires a season on 2000 miles ?
Dude – Alignment or weight issues. Wow.
I have towed my trailer 5000 miles in a summer and hardly show any wear. Goodyear Marathons.
Dog
Actually I’ve had similar results on multiple new trailers with those tires. They’re not a product I personally have any faith in.
Are the towmaster tires a radial tire also??
I had a Carlisle trailer tire come apart last year, and posted here on IDO. Lots of good advice here! Just a note to say THANKS for the tire input I recived here on IDO. Bought Tow Max at Pump’s tire in Savage.
I also need new tires and was researching trailer tires at many websites and the Maxxis seem to get good reviews most of the time. I have older USA Goodyears now but there have been so many poor reviews on the China ones that I am thinking of switching brands. Maybe Goodyear gets more bad reviews because there are a lot more on them on the road. Has anyone had experience with the Maxxis?
I hope the Goodyear Marathons are good tires because I ordered 2 today. I went thru 2 carlisle tires in 2 years. Needless to say but I wont buy carlisle tires again 
Kumho tires on mine and they are great
Great responses guys!
Geeze, Now I’m not sure what to get
Looks like the consensus is stay away from carlisle, however TowMaster may be a wise choice or solid alternative to Marathons?
Where do you guy’s typically go to get trailer tires? Most places I’ve called would have to order them. Not that it’s a problem getting them ordered, but when I ask if it’s a USA made Marathon tire they just shrug
I just ordered a new trailer, tandem, with 2 mounted spares, that is 6 new Marathon tires. 
I looked at another option in another trailer that had Carlisle on them as standard equip. I was seeing the weight caring ability (some what to my surprise) and at the same time thinking they were bias ply. Just curious? 
I have Marathons on my tandem trailer now and they were all my Dad would use on his travel trailer touring the country while he and mom was still living.
OK, just asking do you I think I made a wrong choice?? 
I would highly recomend having them balenced. You balence car tires right? I hope you do, my last boat I had an odd vibration in my truck when I towed my trailer, balenced the trailer tires, no vibration
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I just ordered a new trailer, tandem, with 2 mounted spares, that is 6 new Marathon tires.
I looked at another option in another trailer that had Carlisle on them as standard equip. I was seeing the weight caring ability (some what to my surprise) and at the same time thinking they were bias ply. Just curious?
I have Marathons on my tandem trailer now and they were all my Dad would use on his travel trailer touring the country while he and mom was still living.
OK, just asking do you I think I made a wrong choice??
Dennyo
so what trailer did you decide on?
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Are the towmaster tires a radial tire also??
YES
Heritage tandom leaf springs (tortion was even money option), alum diamond plate on fenders and extenders,all led lighting, 4 disc brakes, 2 spares (welded brackets), Marithon tires on polished aluminum rims vertical load guides, hunter green base color and tan striping matching my boat. Oh well thats close probably fergett’in som’tun. 
http://heritagetrailers.com/tandem.htm
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Goodyear Marathons are very good tires, however I don’t think you can go wrong with the Towmasters. Being in the auto repair business, we have access to lots of suppliers and Towmasters are the leading choice followed by the Marathons.
x2
Pete,
Do the towmasters need to be ordered from Sam’s Club? I checked their website and they don’t even come up. I’ll have to stopp in the Apple Valley store in the next few days.
Where would a guy price the Tow Masters in the TC metro area?
-J.
I had Towmaster on my old utility trailer and they came from Tires Plus.
Jon – Sams Club is where I heard about them.
And yep, TowMasters would have to be special ordered into Sam’s. However that’s same with the Marathons, at least at the Woodbury store.
I run Marathons on my horsetrailer and my boat I have gotten very good mileage out of them but then I overinflate them by 10lbs. Never an issue since I started doing that. I have hardly ever seen a tire that was over inflated blow, unless old and cracked or the thread or something come loose.
New tires have just moved up a notch or two on the To-Do list. My GYM are stock on a 2003 trailer! That going on year 9 !!! Like I said, still look good to go. (Made in Canada by the way….)
The more I read the more confused I’m getting. But I think the bottom line is this. If you have any overweight trailer, bent axel, out of alignment or unbalanced tire, it can blow or wear out in short order. The key for me will be 1 – made in the USA and 2 – Fresh. Don’t want a tire that has been sitting on a rack for 3 years!
I’m going shopping. Any tire salesmen out there? Feel free to shoot me a PM!
-J.
Maybe someone here in the tire biz can confirm??? Talked to several tire chain stores here in the metro. Yes, all will need to order in any trailer tire from “The Warehouse”. I’m wondering if there is one regional tire repository where everyone gets their tires?? I quizzed each store about the country of origin on GoodYear Marathons. All came back saying the GYM trailer tires were made in China. I suppose it’s possible that there are no more made in usa GoodYear trailer tires out there. ???
All of the Tow Master tires are made in the USA. I have not found any substantial criticism of the TM. No glaring warranty problems and generally good comments searching other forums on the net. The TM are about $15 less than the GYM from all of the price quotes I received. The cost of mounting and balancing vary. The best price on the TM tire was from Sam’s Club. We are a member, so it’s looking like we will go that route.
-J.
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