On Apr 1, 5:22*am, W1TEF wrote:
On Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:43:24 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:



On Mar 31, 9:42 pm, "Bill McKee" wrote:
"W1TEF" wrote in message

. ..

On Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:06:32 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

My local mechanic guy also sells tires, and he's good with a wrench.
I've put it off for so long, but now it's time to do something about
the tires. they're B78x13 and when I called him to tell him the size
number he imediatly said that size is hard to come by. Not necessarily
saying they are super rare, but they're not a popular size. So he did
some calling and shopping around and said he could get them for about
59.00 a piece x 4. But he told me the brand name which happens to be
"Carlisle" , and I remember from past discussions that Carlisle's had
mixed reviews, Some say they wear like indeffinately, some say they're
prone to blow outs.

These are a 6 ply tire that my mechanic was talking about and I'm not
sure if they're a radial or a bias-ply , but Now I'm a bit hesitant
about using that brand.

Any thoughts?

The direct replacement tire is ST175/80R13 and they are available in
Goodyear Marathons for $65 out of Sam's Club. Don't know about any
other tire distributor.

I'd only use Marathons - I've used them for years on various trailers
and have never had any problems with them at all.

I had Carlisle's and I join the rant. 5 blowouts in 2 years and one ready
to blowout when the other tire on that side blowout. 2nd tire is separating
as I look at it. If you can fit 14" go with those. Lots more load carrying
capacity.

I'll see if I can go with 14's. raising the trailer fenders *gets
close to the hull of the boat but I'll look into it, and also check
the axle spacing to see if it can be done. *That's where stuff might
become critical. And if anything else I'll check into the Marathons.
It sounds to me like Carlisle's aren't doing it.

Carlisle tires are ok for lawn tractor trailer tires and wheel
barrows. *I wouldn't use them on anything. The ones on Don's trailer
were brand new when I bought the trailer - five years later, he's got
to replace them. *Not good.

The Marathons are the superior tire. *Even in the thirteen inch size,
they have more than sufficient load carrying capacity to handle your
cuddy safely - going to fourteens would be better naturally, but I
wouldn't go all icky balooky about the thirteens.

I brought the 3,800lb Halman home from Wisconsin, at highway speed, on
Marathons - single axle trailer and no problems - they were almost ten
years old and still looked new. The Marathons on my Ranger trailer are
eleven years old and still look new.

The only problem I see is load capacity - I don't know how heavy your
trailer/boat combination is. *The *ST175/80R13 is rated at 1,360/lbs -
which would be fine on a tandem trailer, but a single axle could be a
little problematic.

How heavy is the boat/trailer combination?

U don't know the stock weight of either but will find out, though. .