Gooseneck Tires

DScott

Member
After six years the tires on my 14k gooseneck trailer finally gave up. They were Chinese bias belt ST tires and they never failed me but I had to air them up once a month as they always had a slow leak. Took them off, sealed the beads, still had that slow leak. All 5 of them always did this.
I found a set of Bridgestone radial LT E rated tires that are like new (came off a 3/4 ton GMC truck) and I am thinking about using them. I have been reading on several of the tire sites and they say that the ST tires are better as they have bigger cords and other characteristics that make them better for trailer use. Most of the ST tires I see are Chinese which I do not want. So if I go the ST tire route I would want a US made set.
I load my trailer down pretty good sometimes and I don't want tire problems on the road.
What's been your experience on gooseneck trailer tires?
 
I have personally not seen any tire trouble coming from using an LT tire on a trailer...we have even done it before. However, I do prefer using ST tires. Whether it makes a difference or not, I like to believe it is safer as that is what they are made for. As for the ST tires, almost every on of them is made in China. Just stay away from the really really cheap ones and you should be fine. I always like to go up a ply rating when I replace tires too; not so I can overload the trailer but so the tires dont have soo much stress on them.

We have a car trailer and a stock trailer the both currently have 225/75R15 8-ply Akuret brand tires with no trouble (about $60each). On the gooseneck we have 235/85R16 14-ply Carlisle with no trouble either (about $250 each but we are not running tandem duals, just singles).
 
I'm just a (retired) poor ole dirt farmer; never ran anything but used truck tires ( 16 inch 10 ply rated) on the 2 larger goosenecks. I usually had enough take-offs to supply my needs, but if not, the local tire shop always had some for 15 or 20 bucks.
 
They've got the heavy load rating, run them. If you are airing them up monthly I surmise you are using it often enough that the outer layers of rubber won't dry out. The main feature of an ST tire is a compound that won't dry out/dryrot as fast when it sets.

We've got three stock trailers and a round bale trailer at work that are running at least 6 truck tires, with truck tires exclusively on the bale trailer, and it sees from 12,000- 13,000 pounds of hay when we run it.
 
24' deck over 7 ton gooseneck came new in Sept 2005 with LT235/85 R 16 load range G. Still in good shape, and never had a flat!
HTH, Dave

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Use the truck tires. ST trailer tires are all garbage if you actually use them for anything, even the USA-made ones.
 
I have a 20+5 goose-neck 15000 gvw. 2005 model. Have forgot the brand of the tires. but last year, 2010 they started going off like time bombs. on one trip two of them blew out before we got it loaded. Another blew on the way home. 250 mile trip, hauling hog slats. I put the old tires from my pickup on the trailer. 265X16 load range E= 10 ply. I have pulled the trailer more this year, than it has been pulled since new. No tire trouble. I am going to put the old tires from the truck on the trailer again. Though will just wear them less than 1/2 out.
 
Vic, Those will prolly work fine, but might give the trailer cops heartburn, as the tire weight carrying rating will be less than your GVWR or GAWR.
Just saying, Dave

Edit: Ooops! i missed the part about the tires being 265's instead of 235's, 10 ply 265's might make the WR, I'm not sure without looking!
Sorry 'bout that! Dave
 
Before you drop some $$ o tires, I'd stop by the local D.O.T. office and find out for sure if there are laws on tire types for your trailer. Just because your trailer may have had ordinary car/light truck tires when you bought it new does not mean it is/was legal. I've heard there are states and Canada that require ST tires on trailers and you will be required to put the ST tires on before you can continue. Is it fact? Since the ST tires were about the same as the car tires my trailer had, I put ST's on. Might be more $$, but all it takes is one a-hole cop to ruin an otherwise non eventful trip.
 

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