Check those tires!

[txarsoncop]

When I upgraded the OEM equalizers (Dexter EZ-Flex) and plastic suspension bushings (Never Fails) I noticed one tire's tread was rounded/ballooned when looking across the tread. This and knowing that we had driven an unknown number of miles before we noticed a blow out so the other tire carried all of the weight on one side and the spare I put on only had 45PSI and my air compressor crapped out made it easy to decide on 4 new tires. Yes, I use TPMS and the two left side tires were never run low, the right rear was run overloaded when the front tire blew out and the spare was run underinflated for 100 miles at 50 mph.

So I jacked the trailer up one day and removed all 4 tires the next day, so they were 'unloaded' for 24 hours. As I rolled each tire to my truck I noticed all 4 were 'not quite right'. I checked the pressures and all were at 65PSI


This tire was the underinflated spare. I couldn't get a good pic of what I could see, but the left half of the tread is bulged the most but the whole tread is rounded. It was not uniform around the entire tread.


This tire was the overloaded tire and has a slight bulge on left tread but then dips in the center, another section would be flat/normal and another section would be concave, etc. It was not uniform around the entire tread.


This tire's tread dips in the center like the above tire, it was also not uniform around the entire tread.


This tire's tread is bulged on the right half and also had sections that were concave like the above two tires.

The first tire's irregularity I could see while mounted and on the ground, the other three tires looked ok when mounted and loaded.

I'm going with Carlisle CSL 16 tires FWIW..

[Hoopy Frood]

What size, rating, and brand were these tires? Just curious.

[txarsoncop]

What size, rating, and brand were these tires? Just curious.

Thought I had included that and can't edit my post. They were D rated Westlake 205/75 15s. They were date coded from 2020, the year our 261BH was built.

Three of the tires had 6398 miles on them, the spare only had around 1000 miles.

[Hoopy Frood]

That sounds about right, the "D" and "E" rated Westlakes do seem to have some issues. The "G" rated Westlakes would appear to be better.

[WhittleBurner]

Being a 4 yr old Westlake with a D rating I would replace them regardless of amou nt of tread left.

[NB Canada]

That sounds about right, the "D" and "E" rated Westlakes do seem to have some issues. The "G" rated Westlakes would appear to be better.

Imo the d rated Westlakes are not having issues any more than any other
Mine on my 2021 are wearing perfectly
Even tread. I believe most of these issues are not the fault of the tires

[dbarks]

Thanks for posting this. I doubt many folks would take the time to look at the tire this way (me included). I'm on the 4th season using D rated Westlakes and they have been fine so far. I am going to inspect them from a similar angle and see how they look.

[txarsoncop]

Imo the d rated Westlakes are not having issues any more than any other
Mine on my 2021 are wearing perfectly
Even tread. I believe most of these issues are not the fault of the tires

Had I not run one tire overloaded for an unknown number of miles and the spare underinflated I wouldn't be replacing them already either. But the 'rounded' tire did concern me. If that had been the only tire with an issue I would have just swapped it for the spare and replaced that one tire.

I am not a fan or member of the "replace them at 3 or 4 years" club.

[BlewgrsTrvls]

We have G-rated Westlakes with about 25k miles on them (2019 stamp). They haven’t wore evenly even though I’m pretty consistent with checking TP before the start of a drive day. I’m assuming that’s largely due to tight turns and rubbing edges.

Now that we’re back from a spring trip will be going to Goodyears.

[Hoopy Frood]

We have G-rated Westlakes with about 25k miles on them (2019 stamp). They haven’t wore evenly even though I’m pretty consistent with checking TP before the start of a drive day. I’m assuming that’s largely due to tight turns and rubbing edges.

Now that we’re back from a spring trip will be going to Goodyears.

Just an FWIW, the Sailun, yep made in China, have a better track record than Goodyear, and are much cheaper. Just an FYI.