Westlake problems.

[BigSam]

Less than 2,000 miles and Westlake had a small leak develop in sidewall near the thread. Never hit anything. Tire shop could not believe how thin the sidewalls were. Decided to just get four made in the USA goodyears. If not for the TMS I would have been in a heap of trouble.

Grand Design Imagine needs to offer a premium package that comes with Goodyear tires, lithium battery, TMS and sewer hose carrier.

 

[BigSam]

By the way, the Westlakes that came on the trailer do not come balanced. I had the Goodyear tires balanced. Do trailer tires need to be balanced?

 

[NB Canada]

Never hit anything?

Okay


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[Calbar]

Less than 2,000 miles and Westlake had a small leak develop in sidewall near the thread. Never hit anything. Tire shop could not believe how thin the sidewalls were. Decided to just get four made in the USA goodyears. If not for the TMS I would have been in a heap of trouble.

Grand Design Imagine needs to offer a premium package that comes with Goodyear tires, lithium battery, TMS and sewer hose carrier.

Glad your TPMS caught the leak. Not sure how you can be sure you never hit anything. I didn't think I hit anything years back either and had a leaking tire. When I took it off, sure enough there was a big spike in the tread. Happened on the truck a few times over the last 20 years as well with a nail or something causing a leak and never notice hitting anything. It is possible you had a defective tire though as well but so far my Westlakes have given me good performance for the last 3 years and 24,000 km or 15,000 miles. I do plan to change them out this year though as they are nearly 5 years old now.

Rob

 

[NB Canada]

You had a post from back in January that you were replacing them

You didn’t?


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[Wicked ace]

Less than 2,000 miles and Westlake had a small leak develop in sidewall near the thread. Never hit anything. Tire shop could not believe how thin the sidewalls were. Decided to just get four made in the USA goodyears. If not for the TMS I would have been in a heap of trouble.

Grand Design Imagine needs to offer a premium package that comes with Goodyear tires, lithium battery, TMS and sewer hose carrier.

Check and see if you are covered by the Lionshead tire warranty The information would be in your folder. If it is a leak not due to puncture it is a tire failure. Lionshead will issue a check for their cost of the tire since you have already found replacements. It's probably not what you paid to replace the tire but every bit helps.

 

[Calbar]

You had a post from back in January that you were replacing them

You didn’t?


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

Trailer has been in hibernation all winter here in Ontario, Canada so the plan is still to replace them in the spring, probably May or June. Might wait if I can't travel with COVID though. I don't want the clock starting to tick on new tires just having the trailer sitting in storage. I think timing will depend on travel ban lifting.

Rob

 

[MN-Mark]

By the way, the Westlakes that came on the trailer do not come balanced. I had the Goodyear tires balanced. Do trailer tires need to be balanced?

I had the tires on my old TT balanced and I had the tires on the 303 balanced before we started traveling with it. I don’t know if it helps but I figure it sure can’t hurt.

I also had the shop do an alignment on our last trailer when I put new tires on it.

Mark

 

[NB Canada]

Trailer has been in hibernation all winter here in Ontario, Canada so the plan is still to replace them in the spring, probably May or June. Might wait if I can't travel with COVID though. I don't want the clock starting to tick on new tires just having the trailer sitting in storage. I think timing will depend on travel ban lifting.

Rob

My comment was to the OP


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[Calbar]

My comment was to the OP


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

Thanks. NP.
Rob

 

[AZMike]

By the way, the Westlakes that came on the trailer do not come balanced. I had the Goodyear tires balanced. Do trailer tires need to be balanced?

Most defiantly all tires should be balanced. You may not feel it in the trailer tires but the constant vibration will cause premature wear on all of the suspension components.

 

[Buckskin]

Had blow out on Westlake tire and when I was switching to Goodyear Endurance tires guys at Goodyear store made same comment, "Can't believe how weak sidewalls are on Westlake". My camping buddy made same comment when he recently switched from Westlake to Goodyear Endurance on his Reflection. They now put Goodyear Endurance on Reflections; his was built just before they made change to Goodyear tires. He had blowout on another brand China made tires and luckily only had to replace 1 rim on his previous camper a Kodak. He saw tire coming apart and pulled over immediately. He switched all tires to Goodyear Endurance when he got home from that trip.

We learned from his misfortune and we both bought TPMS from TireTraker as soon as we got home from trip. If I had not pulled over immediately when TPMS warning sounded with Westlake tire blowout, I would have had much more damage. Only lost fender skirt; if I had went much further would have lost rim also.

http://www.tiretraker.com/

 

[BobLandry]

My tires get balanced on 5th wheel and both boat trailers. I don't bother with the spare because it's not going to be on the ground that much.

 

[bobter3]

My tires get balanced on 5th wheel and both boat trailers. I don't bother with the spare because it's not going to be on the ground that much.

Did you get them balanced with the Lug-centric adapter or did they do like any other car wheel? From what I understand, TT wheels need to be balance with the adapter.

 

[AZMike]

Did you get them balanced with the Lug-centric adapter or did they do like any other car wheel? From what I understand, TT wheels need to be balance with the adapter.

I'm pretty sure mine were balanced with a hub centric adapter. Hopefully the hubs are true. One additional thing I requested from the tire shop was to balance mine with the TPMS sensor attached to the valve stem. I watched them the entire time, these guys were great, they even cleaned the wheels after mounting them on the trailer!. A few bucks for beer money goes a long way, and they appreciated it.

 

[bobter3]

I'm pretty sure mine were balanced with a hub centric adapter. Hopefully the hubs are true. One additional thing I requested from the tire shop was to balance mine with the TPMS sensor attached to the valve stem. I watched them the entire time, these guys were great, they even cleaned the wheels after mounting them on the trailer!. A few bucks for beer money goes a long way, and they appreciated it.

Next question, did you notice a difference in ride quality at all? or is it really for tire wear/runs cooler?

 

[BobLandry]

On mine, they use the same balancing machine used on autos. The centering of the wheel on the hub is going to be achieved by the mating of the bevels on the lug nuts and the wheels. If that is good enough for autos and trucks, it's good enough for my trailer.
If you have TPMS, then the tires do need to be balanced with the sensors installed.

 

[bobter3]

On mine, they use the same balancing machine used on autos. The centering of the wheel on the hub is going to be achieved by the mating of the bevels on the lug nuts and the wheels. If that is good enough for autos and trucks, it's good enough for my trailer.
If you have TPMS, then the tires do need to be balanced with the sensors installed.

The biggest reason I asked it because most newer autos and trucks are hub centric, not lug centric.

 

[AZMike]

Next question, did you notice a difference in ride quality at all? or is it really for tire wear/runs cooler?

I did it because it's the right thing to do, less wear and tear on suspension. I was a tire guy/mechanic in a prior life and have seen the results of out of balance and worn suspension parts. I did notice a difference in ride quality, but it was probably due to the new tires that were installed at the same time. But to be more specific, I did not experience any vibration before or after.

 

[BobinICT]

I would say, yes. Get them balanced.