China Bombs - The cheapest tire the trailer manufacturer could possibly find.

Three year old tire, always stored inside, and less than 400 miles on it including only 200 today. Should have been in Tennessee by now, but I just put the spare on, turned around and went home. Tomorrow, I have an 8:00am appointment at Discount Tires for two USA made Goodyears.

This is my sixth China bomb on now a fourth trailer. This time my single axle boat trailer. My fault and reason 448 I am not a pilot. I know better and should have replaced the tires beforehand, but just decided to go for it.

On a positive note, the new impact wrench, jack, and jack stands all worked well. The Road Ranger guy stopped asked if we needed help, then looked at the new jack, jack stands, impact wrench, and old torque wrench, got a little surprised look on his face and said, “You’re prepared”. He then offered water, I said sure, and he gave us three bottles of water.

We’ll try the 1,600 mile trip again tomorrow.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: trapper189,

Dumb question: was the tire like that (no tread left) when you started the trip? Or is the tread gone because of the blow out (dragged the tire moving over to the side of the road or something)?

Not that dumb a question. Chicken or egg first?

Somewhat obviously I hope, I certainly didn’t leave my house this morning on a 1,600 mile trip with a tire that had the entire tread and associated radial plies missing. What you see in the picture is the two plies, layers of cords, that make up the tire’s carcass from bead to bead. What is missing is the two or three radial plies that go around the circumference of the tire under the tread but above the carcass. As I said in my OP, the tire didn’t have 400 miles on it when this happened. It looked new when we left this morning.

Now the chicken-egg, did the tire blow and then the tread separate or did the tread separate and the tire blow? I think the tire blew then the tread came off. When I heard it, I immediately pulled off the road. My son and his buddy were following me in another vehicle and pulled over as well. The tread was in the emergency lane and not the road when my son dragged it into the grass.

Of the six China bombs I’ve had, the is the first where the tread and radial plies separated.

It just happened without warning, BOOM! I didn’t hit anything. My son and his buddy didn’t see anything until they heard the explosion and saw the tire come apart. At the rest area we stopped at 10 minutes before, the tire looked normal, didn’t feel hot, really felt the same temperature wise as the other tire. I suppose I could have broke out my infrared thermometer, but I normally just use the back of my hand. Since we aired them up before we left and hadn’t gone even 200 miles before the first rest stop, I didn’t check the tire pressure.

In the millions of miles I’ve drive, I’ve never had any other tires blowout, just the 6 China bomb trailer tires. I’ve put tens of thousands of miles on the tires I’ve replaced the China bombs with and had not a single problem. The longest I’ve had a new trailer go before a China bomb is 1,500 miles.

Goodyear G614 trailer tires. Holy crap, they are expensive! But they'll outlast 10 sets of Chicom tires.

Thanks. Good to know. I’ve always been very uncomfortable with the chicom tires on my trailer; this makes me even more so since I currently don’t have a spare either. And the tires are getting old. That they still have almost zero miles on them (less then 1000?) is little comfort given your info.

The only positive is that it is on a dedicated kayak trailer so low load. Trying to decide is I still want to kayak or not. If yes, maybe I’ll replace the tires.

quote:

Originally posted by 64dodge:
Goodyear G614 trailer tires. Holy crap, they are expensive! But they'll outlast 10 sets of Chicom tires.

Great example. My 5th wheel came with China Bombs. Made it 1,500 miles before one blew up. It was our last camping trip in Florida before we’re going to take it to Michigan and an had planned on replacing the tire before that trip.

At the time, the same tires it came with were $60 and weighed 33 pounds. A name brand Chinese tire was $100 and weighed 39 pounds. The G614s were $300 and weighed 61 pounds. I went with the G614s

Goodyear only makes those in one size, but they come out with a USA made trailer tire, the Endurance, that they make in a variety of sizes. These are what went on my tandem axle boat trailer and what I’ll be having installed this morning. The tires being replaced can be had for $50, a Maxxis, Kenda, Carlisle for $120, or the Goodyear Endurance for $207.

I haven’t had a problem with Kenda or Carlisle tires on our PWC trailers or small boat trailers. I’ve towed the two PWC trailers to Michigan and back three times each. These trailers have oddball sizes.

The China Bombs work for people that tow short distances and lower speeds. For example, towing a few miles to the boat ramp and back on weekends. Or on my utility trailer where the tires will age out before they blow up.

For towing on the freeway, I’d step up to a name brand like Carlisle, Kenda, or Maxxis for the or sizes or the Goodyear Endurance for the long haul.

Went to use my 3 yr old harbour freight hand truck yesterday…a 3/4” sq. patch of the tire had blown out sitting in my garage.

It was fine when I used it last. A little flap of tire, right in the middle of the tread, like it was surgically put there.

I sold thousands of Chinese trailer tires over the years. We never had issues, sold premium brands, not second tier. I've been retired 7 years and don't follow tires, not sure what works today. Two years ago a friend asked about the best trailer tires, I called a good friend in the business and he told me Carlisle were the best, better than Goodyear at the time.

Had a similar experience trailering motorcycles 20 years ago to NC, the tires were older and started delaminating. Couldn't tell you what I replaced them with while on the road.

Got the new Goodyear Endurance installed this morning and we made it to Tennessee without incident.

On a side note, I can in fact make it to Buc-ee's in Perry, GA from my house non-stop in my truck while towing the boat. It's 460 miles.

I’m a slight tire snob, I admit it. Back in college I bought the cheapest tires at the shop, lasted one year.

They don’t have to be Michelin today, but I look before buying. For trailers the Maxxes or ST rated tires seem to be a step up. I think etrailer has options. Trailer tires get reduced respect.

I was going to say shame on you but three years sitting around doesn’t seem too long.

It’s OK, it really is a shame on me situation. I know better.

On a positive note we left 7am and got here at 9pm without any tire issues.

After 14 of driving today, I’m a bit . . . .