Yesterday, 50 miles east of Tallahassee, I looked back to see smoke on my left rear just as a truck driver drove up along side of me. Cap came off the tire and side blew out. I had just checked all 4 tires 30 miles previously and temp on each was 112 deg F on a 92 degree day. Tires have 7500 miles on them
I check pressure every morning and at all stops that do not exceed 2 hours on average. I never drive over 60. By the time I stopped, the tire was shot and my aluminum rim ruined. The tread was wrapped around the back of the brake drum. Luckily I had an 18v skilsaw that I was able to cut it away with. Tomorrow I will get an 18 V. reciprocating saw.
After spending the night at the camp ground I began calling around. Goodyear had more Marathons and when I asked where they were made they said U.S.A. I asked them to check and they were made in China.
Now here is the stupid part. When I bought my rig in Oct. 2006, I looked at all the tires, except the covered spare, and they were made in Canada. When I pulled the rig out of my yard to place on new concrete pad I had poured, I saw a nail protruding from the tread of the tires. Rig had never been camped in yet. I take it down to my local tire dealer, he dismounts and nail had not penetrated the carcass. I had the spare removed from the steel rim and placed on the aluminum rim and balanced as a precaution.
After installing the rim back on the rig at home, I find that my spare is made in China,. I decided to leave in on the ground.
Bent an aluminum brace to the skirt that I have repaired and cracked the folding power cord on a slide out that was easily repairable.
Spent 1/2 a day finding a 15 x 6" rim, Galvanized was the only one I could find and it is the spare and then bought a Denman at Tire Kingdom. When I get to Delaware next week, I will decide if I will replace the rest w/Denman's or Maxxis. Leaning to Denman.
From some of the previous postings, I have kept the tire and rim and upon returning home, will see if Goodyear will refund the money for the tire and rim.
As an added not, the Denmanm made in Mexico was $8, cheaper that the Chinese made Marathon. Another thing to look at if your are buying Denman, Tire Kingdom had Denman's made in Mexico AND China.
Discount tire just ordered 5 new "MADE IN THE USA" Marathons for me. I told them I didn't want any from China. They called the local Goodyear Dist. plant & they said they are sending US made Marathons. I don't believe it but we'll see.
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LFD2037 wrote: Discount tire just ordered 5 new "MADE IN THE USA" Marathons for me. I told them I didn't want any from China. They called the local Goodyear Dist. plant & they said they are sending US made Marathons. I don't believe it but we'll see.
Be sure to let us know when you receive them. Also check the build dates. The last Marathon's made in North America, that I am aware of, were made in Canada. To my knowledge, they are not made there anymore.
As I said in my post, 2 Goodyear dealers said Marathon's were not made in China so their statements are questionable.
coolbreeze01 wrote: I'd take the new Goodyears and if they crack again, I'd take another set. I don't know whats happened, but I never had a problem with Marathons when I had them on my boat trailer and TT. Good luck.
That's what I would do and since I've been running the GYs since the mid 1990s, I have gotten great mileage out of them with zero issues.
Each to their own and I will replace my Chinese GYs with GYs when the time comes.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974. TRAILER MODS
LFD2037 wrote: Discount tire just ordered 5 new "MADE IN THE USA" Marathons for me. I told them I didn't want any from China. They called the local Goodyear Dist. plant & they said they are sending US made Marathons. I don't believe it but we'll see.
Yes & no. When they came they were made in China so the guy from the tire store called Goodyear. Goodyear said, this time, 'of course they are from China, that's where ALL Marathons are made now!'. So, he is ordering me either Maxxis or Denman, whichever they can get faster & I'll keep the new Goodyears & sell them for $400 for 4 which is a savings, including tax, about $145 for the person that buys them. They do look and feel alot better than the ones I've had. It looks as if they may have completely redesigned them. Thanks for yall's input.
I bought a Denman in Tallahassee last week when I had a blow out on a Chinese Marathon. The other 3 were made in Canada.
The Denman looks like a good tire and are made in China (according to Tire Kingdom) or Mexico. I chose the Mexico. Using it as a spare and noticed after buying it that it is a 5 ply with an 8-ply rating. Thought I read on this forum that they were 8-ply tires. I wouldn't think that 8-ply rating is the same as an 8-ply when it is stated 5-ply on the side of the tire. Anyone got an explanation?
Still debating on buying 4 Denmans or Maxxis when I get to Delaware next week. The 4 down tires are made in Canada and running 60 mph on 90 weather from Augusta, Ga. to Selma, N.C. today they did not run over 112 deg F. Same temp as the pavement.
Radials aren't measured in 'plies', that is how they rated bias ply tires back in the day. Radials are sometimes measured with a PR which means 'ply rating'. So if you see a tire that is load range C, it is also usually 6 PR, not plies but ply rated. D's are usually 8 PR & E's are usually 10 PR. I think it is a scam by tire manufactures but you can make your own mind up on that one. I hope this clears it up a bit for you, Charlie D.
Nobody is going to give you someone else's product as a warranty settlement. It usually replacement with same. Offer of credit towards anything else of the same brand is an extremely generous warranty settlement.
The old system of measuring tire strength by number of plies is from the days of using cotton cord.
When tire manufacturers started using stronger synthetic materials (Nylon, polyester, steel, Kevlar, etc) they needed fewer plies to get the same strength, changed terminology to 'ply rating' so that ratings could be related to the old system. This has been since the 1950's.
Fewer actual plies, for the same strength, is better. Fewer plies mean cooler running, and heat is what kills tires. Too many plies, and a radial tire can't behave like a radial.
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