OT-Trailer Tires-Rant against Walmart

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: OT-Trailer Tires-Rant against Walmart
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 03:55 pm:

Yesterday, we trailered the '59 Harley 100 miles to go ride with my son and daughter-in-law. On the return trip, the trailer developed a terrible vibration. Upon inspection, I found a big bulge in the tread of one tire. We turned around and limped back into town looking for the closest place that sold tires at 6:00 PM on Saturday. Before we found a place, the tread completely separated which took out the tail light and bent the L out of the trailer fender, but I was able to pull the fender away from the tire and continue on to the closest tire retailer, which turned out to be Walmart. I asked the girl what kind of tires she recommended for a trailer. (It had used passenger car tires on it when I bought it, but figured light truck or trailer tires would be better) Well, she informed me in no uncertain terms that Walmart would only install trailer tires on a trailer. I said OK, what do you have in a 15" trailer tire. She had a guy go with me to look at their stock. They only had one. I really wanted a pair. I asked the guy if he would install a light truck tire if I just gave him the rims (Thinking I would remove the tires from the trailer myself. I just didn't realize how prophetic that thought was). He said No because he would know it was a trailer rim. I said What if I tell you it came off a truck? He still said No, so I told him to sell me the one single trailer tire they had. After a few minutes of waiting around doing paperwork and such, they then inform me that they are not allowed to remove tires from trailers and they will loan me a jack and I can do it myself. I asked if I could use their impact wrench and he said yes, if it would reach. So I go outside and wait around. I finally got tired of waiting and got my own lug wrench and loosened the log nuts. By then, he finally got the floor jack out there, and I got it jacked up and took it off. Then they come out there with a jack stand. I told him I didn't need it. A few minutes later, his boss came out and asked if the guy had brought me a jack stand. I said yes, but I didn't need it. He said it was dangerous to let it sit on the jack. He already had the tire in the shop. I wasn't going to get under the thing, so I really didn't consider it a safety hazard, especially since the tire was already off. To use the jackstand, I would have had to get under the thing, which would have been lot's more dangerous than letting the trailer sit on the floor jack. He didn't press the issue, but it made me start thinking. They will let ME use THEIR jack. They would have even let ME use THEIR impact wrench, probably without safety glasses, because I certainly didn't have any. They would let me do all this outside in THEIR parking lot in 90 something degree weather where I could have had a heart attack, but they are worried about the liability of removing tires from a trailer? That just doesn't make any sense to me. I also wonder what would have happened if they had not had that one trailer tire. Would they have forced me to drive on that tire with the entire tread missing when they could have sold me a light truck tire and I could have been on my way? Crazy!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Money - Braidwood, IL on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 04:20 pm:

I had the exact same thing happen at the Sears in Janesville WI with our boat on the way home from the dells.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A. Golden on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 04:27 pm:

I bought a set of car tires from Walmart. They come with free flat repairs. I took a flat one back with a nail in it that I had removed and put in the trunk of my other car. I parked right near the garage door entrance for convenience, but I had to take that wheel and tire all around the store to the front entrance and show my ID card to get in to the garage area service counter, as I could not walk in the garage or go out those doors to my car. The tire was repaired free, but then I had to go back to the service counter and pick it up and go all the way around the building again to my car. I folded up my membership card and tossed it in the trash can near the card check person and told him I would pay full price for any more tire repairs at any garage and not bother Walmart again about anything. I will be willing to pay a lot more for tires anyplace else that offers better service. Walmart will not be biggest forever with that kind of service.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 04:31 pm:

This just fortifies my opinion. When you need a tire at 6:00 PM on Saturday you gotta do what you gotta do. Having said that, I wouldn'g buy $5 bills for a nickel apiece at Walmart.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 05:06 pm:

I have that problem solved. I carry a spare!
I know it is next to impossible to get anyone to mount a tire on a trailer rim.
I always tell them the wheels are off an old Buick.
I've been through that one a few times just trying to put new or near new tires on my trailer.
NEVER, Never tell them, trailer.
All the tire stores I have ever gone to will spook when you say, "trailer". Even the little one-man shops.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 05:49 pm:

So what is it about a trailer that they are afraid of? I can't imagine how a properly installed wheel is going to come off of a trailer. They put them on cars all day long, but they are afraid one is going to fall off a trailer? Or am I more qualified to to install one than someone who does it all day for a living? You'd think the chances of me hurting myself with their tools would be greater than the chances a wheel they install is going to come off.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 05:53 pm:

My wife has a four wheel drive car and she got a flat with a nail in it. I put on the emergency spare and took it to a tire store. They measured all four tires and found 1/16" difference in the wear depth and told me I would have to buy four new tires. The car had 20,000 miles on it and the tires were only worn about 1/3rd. and had over 60 percent of the tread left. So I drove home, removed the wheel from the trunk and took it to a different tire store with the truck. They charged $20 to remove the tire and put a glue-on patch on the inside and remount the tire on the rim.

I believe that they are following orders but who wrote the orders ?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 06:01 pm:

The same guy who thinks it's safer to crawl under a trailer with no tire on it to install a jack stand than it is for it to sit on a jack.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A. Golden on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 06:11 pm:

The real problem is that they can not legally put a car or truck tire on a trailer in most states.

Trailer tires are somehow different and car tires on a trailer cause too much squiggle and often wreck the load and tow vehicle.

They could be legally liable, if another one of those truck tires blew out and caused an accident, even if their tire was still full of air.

Trailer tires are in an ST Class, whatever that means.

Car tires are mostly R Class now.

Then too, you can not mix bias ply and radial tires on the same vehicle in most states.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R.V. Anderson on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 06:12 pm:

Lawyers and insurance companies, in cahoots with the tire makers. The individual chain store managers are, as has been said, just following orders.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 06:23 pm:

In business these days the most rare of all items is "common sense". Company policy used to be rooted in common sense but those days are gone. Now we have government regulation instead. Just read that the Feds are gonna regulate chicken eggs and also have specs on the chicken's living quarters. I wondered if perhaps the next thing will be to specify government approved condoms for the roosters. I'm glad I am 68 and won't have to live in the craziness that is coming into focus every passing day.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allen E Tobin, Dolan Springs,Az. on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 06:38 pm:

I went into a walmart store to buy some tires for my motorhome, michlens 6 each and they had to order them and would call me when they came in, well i waited a week and no call, so I went to another tire shop and had them installed in a hour and a half, and a couple days later i was in town so i stopped a walmart to see if the tires were in, and low and behold they were laying in the shop area, and had been there for a week, but they didn't call me, and never did get a call, so they ate them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 07:39 pm:

You take a trailer out on a Holiday Weekend with no spare ...

You are lucky enough to find someplace open on a Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

They have a tire for sale

They are willing to lend you tools to help get you back on the road again ....

And you complain about it ?

Next time - carry a spare

Next time - carry a jack and a lug wrench
and a jack to install the spare if needed

Stop complaining,


Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bernard Paulsen, San Buenaventura, Calif on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 07:49 pm:

Two of two richest women in the world are two of Sam Walton's daughters (Alice and Christy). They are selling the worst crap on Earth and hurting the American economy. If you stop shopping at Walmart and stop buying tires made in China, you immediately can kill not two but three birds with one stone.

P.S.:
We have 3 trailers. We use trailer tires and LT tires. Makes no difference, really, aside from the price, of course.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A. Golden on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 07:52 pm:

Good luck on finding anything in any store not made in China.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 08:21 pm:

Welcome to the land of sue!

I cringe to think of what would have happened to me if I had continued in the same occupation of my grandfather and my father. They made baby furniture. In those days if a child was injured using their product, the parents would think or say "what an unfortunate accident" and that was about it. I went along with my dad when he delivered furniture to Edgar Bergan's home. Their newborn daughter was Candice Bergan. No lawsuits that I know of from those people who used their furniture. Some of the cribs even had two drop sides! Watch out today!

Back to tires. The tire companies are very concerned about selling the exact product for a specific vehicle. They also torque the lug nuts to a specific torque and inflate to the specified pressure. A trailer is unique, not the usual vehicle. It can also carry various loads of differing weights, so the tire sellers are very careful to do everything right so they don't get sued if something happens.

Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 08:23 pm:

My fix: 100% inspection of imports - paid by the importers. That would put Americans of all disciplines to work inspecting and adding to the cost of what should be made in USA, anyhow. It would also improve safety. I would start the program with food and drugs, and go from there.

The ChiComs could poison millions of us almost overnight with bad ingredients in vitamin C, etc. Yeh, they produce most of the vitamin C sold here.
That was a strategic takeover to control the market, and price.

Government isn't the problem; appointing incompetents and industry insiders through lobbying is a big part of the problem.

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rick Lawson Texas on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 08:34 pm:

This is a life saver if your trailer has duals. Most camper places have them. A lug wrench is all you need.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 08:58 pm:

Rick,

I've used a 4x4 for the same purpose on my car trailer. That does work very well.

All,

Yeah, I should have had a spare. I have a spare for my car trailer and it may fit this 5x8 utility trailer, but I'm not sure. I've not used the trailer much since new and just haven't gotten around to taking care of that. No excuse really. The new tire is a Goodyear. I don't know that that means it was made in the US though. Maybe, but given where I bought it, China wouldn't be a surprise to me.

Jim,

What? Do you hold tons of Walmart stock or something? I had all the tools to do the job myself, but quite frankly, I don't feel like I should have had to. I paid the same price a customer with a car or truck would have paid to have a tire mounted and balanced and they could have had it done while they sat inside in air conditioned comfort. All because of some BS rule? Yeah, I'm complaining. Don't like it? Move on to the next thread.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Michael Rogers on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 09:17 pm:

This is exactly why I carry 4 spares on my truck when I trailer anything. I can do all my repairs if I have a ratchet and socket or lug wrench which I carry in the front box. Seems like since I started this I haven't had any flats and this includes a trip to Rapid city SD and Rochester MN from Asheville NC


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Thomas on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 09:21 pm:

Everybody votes with their dollar. Everytime you walk in to Walmart of any other store and you buy something of inferior quality or made in China, you just gave them a "YES" vote. Do your part in this economy recovery.

You don't have to wait for the presidential election to vote. Vote tomorrow and every day thereafter.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Money - Braidwood, IL on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 10:00 pm:

We stopped shopping WalMart a while ago. We started shopping local and there really isn't much difference on most things. Didn't use to be that way.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roar Sand on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 10:56 pm:

Frank,
There have been cases where something in the AWD system blew because of mixing worn and new tires. I think the electronics read the speed difference and applied brakes or lock up or something, but it resulted in an expensive repair.
A lot of people do not know that ST tires are only rated for 65 MPH, and a lot of people with travel trailers "upgrade" to LT tires for that reason. An other reason is that it is very difficult to find ST tires that are not made in China.
Truck tires work just fine on a trailer as long as the weight rating is adequate for the application.
Roar


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 11:02 pm:

I'm fixing to buy a set of Michelins for the Monty later this summer. Please don't tell me they're made by the ChiComs. If they are, I'll buy used and take my chances.

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rick Goelz-Knoxville,TN on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 11:07 pm:

My made in the USA tires on my trailer are nylon cord, i had one explode two years ago in Topeka,Kansas so i went to the nearest tire shop and the only ST tires they had were made in China and they are steel belted.

Rick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Katy, Texas on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 02:41 am:

I'm going to post my feelings on this thread, expecting to get some negative feedback, but I'm entitled to my opinions and thoughts, just like those of you who have posted negative things against Walmart.

Some of you know that I am an automotive service writer for a Walmart store, and those of you who didn't know; know now. I don't work for Walmart to get rich, or even pay the bills. I work there for the benefits, mainly medical insurance. I retired from public school teaching in May 2008 on the advice of my Cardiologist who told me to reduce my stress level. I started working for Walmart in October 2008. In early 2009, it was determined that I needed a quadruple bypass if I wanted to continue living a while longer. I hadn't worked for Walmart the required six months to receive medical insurance benefits, so the operation was put off a month until I met the required six month period in April 2009. Walmart insurance could have called this a pre-existng condition, but didn't. Having the medical insurance from Walmart saved my life, saved me from financial bankruptcy, and saved my Model T's. In early 2011, I was having shortness of breath, again. This time, it was determined that I had experienced internal bleeding after the quad bypass and the blood had collected on and covered the bottom 60 per cent of my left lung and was collapsing the lung. I had to have major surgery, again, and about a quart of dried blood was scraped and removed from my left lung. Again, Walmart benefits saved me financially. Both times, I received disability pay and Walmart held my job position for me even though I was out for three months in 2009 and one month in 2011. Since I have to wait one more year until I am 65 to receive full Texas teacher retirement benefits and full Social Security, I'll work at Walmart one more year, if my health allows me to do so, until I can get on Medicare.

Now to get back to the subject of this thread, I don't agree with all of Walmart's policies, but I can't change them and must follow them, whether a customer likes it, or not. Without specifically covering every post that has been made on this thread, I'll state that I agree with Roar Sand, James Rodgers, Norman Kling, Jim, R.V. Anderson, James Golden, and Aaron Griffey.

As I stated, I agree with some of Walmart's rules and other things I don't agree on. This last Wednesday, I returned from my two days "off" to find Walmart had raised the price on every level of oil change, We already had the highest oil change prices in the area with the exception of auto dealers, and then Walmart went and raised the prices, higher. To eliminate the possibility of legal litigation, Walmart will only mount a tire on a vehicle if the tire size matches the original equipment tire size that came on a specific vehicle. If the tire size decal that the manufacturers place on the car is missing, a tire fitment guide book provided by certain tire manufacturers is consulted. If the original tire size can not be determined, Walmart would rather lose a sale than to make a mistake and set itself up for a potential law suit. On the subject of trailer tires, there is only so much that I can say on this forum, even though I'm off the clock from Walmart, as I value my benefits and employment with them. The Walmart auto department in Hal's case appeared to be following company rules. Our store, also is not supposed to change a tire on a trailer. It is up to the customer to do so and then we'll mount the tire as a "carry in". We will let a customer use the floor jack and a four way lug wrench. We do not loan impact tools or any hand tools except for the mentioned four way wrench. This very thing happened today. A fellow came in with a large boat on a four wheel trailer. We loaned him the floor jack and the four way lug wrench and he was very satisfied. If I remember right, he bought a tire from us. I saw him as I was returning from my lunch break.

As a driver of any automobile, and especially pulling a trailer, a person must use common sense. Inspect your tires regularly for proper inflation and damage, such as "age cracks". If you see any cracks in the tire, regardless of how deep the tread is, TRAVEL AT YOUR OWN RISK. Secondly, never drive or pull any vehicle without the correct spare. Driving without a spare is like gambling; sometimes you win; sometimes you lose, and if you lose, don't come whining to me that you don't have a spare. Always check and keep spares inflated to the correct pressure, especially if your vehicle has a smaller "space saver" spare. They are notorious for losing air in a trunk of a car if not used over time. Be prepared to change a flat tire. A young lady came in one day and wanted a tire changed on a four wheel horse trailer she was pulling but said she didn't know how to change the tire. What? She's pulling a horse trailer with expensive horses and she doesn't know how to change a tire or have someone with her to do it! Give me a break. What would she have done if she had the same flat on a long deserted stretch of highway which is common in West Texas instead of being near a Walmart? This must have been her first rodeo! She lived locally and a family member came to change it for her. I know women are the fairer sex, but I've seen women change tires and not complain about doing it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Katy, Texas on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 02:53 am:

I forgot to add that I wish that Walmart and other retailers, didn't have to sell imported goods, but ten dollars to one person may be worth a hundred to someone more needy and that is why we have retailers who sell imported merchandise. If you want better merchandise, you know where you need to shop.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George_Cherry Hill NJ on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 03:20 am:

Geez guys, right away the Chi-Coms on tires!

Chances are...they are NOT! Thank you Uncle Sam! (and that's not Sam Walton)

I figure none of you guys read the paper anymore...lol. The US wanted a 'gimme' on something else and also to see if they could jump start Akron again in the process, so they and China agreed to a huge import duty on tires into USA from China, of course something else went the other way in return....but did Akron ever get that jump start because with the new tariff there was new benchmark pricing?

What State Dept. apparently forgot is something called NAFTA. Effective immediately there was a new retail price for tires from Mexico, lots higher than before, American's now had a huge increase in tire prices while the administration blamed the price of rubber. This new retail price was set at a mark specifically set to keep Akron from pulling the trigger economically....and we still pay for blunders with our pocketbooks in a shrinking world where we seem to have less influence, and then can't even shoot straight when we get a chance! <sigh>

Not baloney, all facts, ask any tire guy!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep NZ on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 03:27 am:

In my country there is no competition so we have nowhere else to shop. Even the local rubbish dump lacks quality products nowdays (yes i actually expected and got better quality at the rubbish dump)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Van Evera on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 06:23 am:

Is my recollection clouded? Wasn't one of Walmarts biggest "battle cries" back when they first started springing up...."Made in America?" How could they have gone from that to what they are today in such a short time? As James Golden said, good luck finding anything not made in China... Not meant to be a slam to Walmart, but I wish those in charge would attempt to turn it around, and not place the almighty dollar first in everything.....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A. Golden on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 06:58 am:

What happened? Rumor has it that when Sam Walton died, his girls took over.

Michelins are made in North Carolina or that area. Except for my T's 5 Firestones, Made in Pennsylvania, they are the only tires I have bought for the last 40 years.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 07:02 am:

Since Sam Walton went to heaven, Walmart has gone to hell. We used to drive 20-25 miles to go to Walmart when we had a K-Mart in our hometown. It used to feel good to buy American at Walmart. The store used to be full of tags on the shelf stating how this product and that product was made in the USA. I can't help but think the swap to Chinese goods (and I use that term loosely) was a result of the post-Sam management out to make a buck. Sad thing is, once they started, everyone else has to do it too, just to be competitive. It's a downward spiral.

I generally try to avoid Walmart for the same reasons others have cited. I actually began boycotting Walamrt several years ago because of an incident that occurred in our local store. I found that there was very little I couldn't find somewhere else, although you may have to go more than one place to get it all. I finally wrote a letter to the manager and told him just that. He fell all over himself apologizing for the incident and sent me a gift card. I think it did him good to learn he was not the only show in town. It certainly did me good to tell him.:-) So now we do OCCASIONALLY go to Walamrt, but not NEARLY as often as before. I probably go in there once every 2-3 months and spend maybe $50 when we do. We used to spend $100 or more at least once a week.

As for their policy of not installing trailer wheels, I'm still baffled as to why and think the liabilities of NOT doing it could exceed the liabilities OF doing it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Money - Braidwood, IL on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 10:05 am:

I used to love the tire and battery warranty at Sam's because they did it right. Most of the battery and tire shops cheat on the warranty. I have quit buying tires at Sam's because I want to support local business (I have to drive 30 miles to any Sam's or WalMart). Last tire quote I got from Sam's was higher than the local tire guy.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred McDonald on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 11:45 am:

Everyone's experience with tires are different and mine may be the exception. I recently bought four new tires for our trailer which we use as a car hauler for our Model Ts. It was a national chain and the tires I selected were passenger tires I selected for the weight capacity matching the weight of the trailer capacity. The retailer (which shall remain nameless for their protection) had no problem jacking up our trailer and installing the tires. Very easy to work with as I had purchased most of my other car and truck tires from them previously. Good service and customer loyalty are important in today's world.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 01:47 pm:

Ho, Ho Ho! Wait a minute!

I just went out and looked at all the tires in my yard and driveway.
My Toyota pickup has four recent Walfart Douglas brand tires, MADE IN U.S.A.!
My '48 Nash, 4 tires, Douglas, MADE in USA!!!!!
My wife's '2002 Corolla has 4 Douglas tires made in USA!!!!!!
My daughter's Saturn has 2 Douglas tires from Walmart(made in USA) and two BF Goodrich tires that don't say where they were made. They were on the car when we got it. They came from Costco.

My '84 Volvo, 2 Douglas tires made in USA!!
and 2 Good Year tires MADE IN USA and bought from Walmart because Terry Woods told me he didn't care for the Douglas brand since the side walls are thinner.. So I started buying Good Year now.

We have a roomer that has a Toyota High Lander with Korean tires and my son's Caprice Classic is parked here with China made tires.

So the story of the moral is:
IF YOU WANT AMERICAN MADE TIRES, go to Walmart. They are cheaper to buy and they hold up well.

After the beating we put my wife's Corolla through some years ago driving around the US with 3 people and lots of luggage at 70 MPH, and 75 in states that permitted it, and have never had a blow-out with any Douglas tires I will keep buying them, or the Good Years, at Walmart.

I have been buying Walmart tires for the last 12 years. Maybe longer. Never a blow out, puntures yes, but never a blow out.

I can NOT afford to buy China made tires at the locally owned independant tire shops.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 01:55 pm:

I did not mention I have 2 Douglas (from, you guessed it, Walmart) tires plus a Douglas spare on my 2 wheeled car hauling trailer that I took off my Chrysler Town & Country that I had just bought before the tranny went out.
When I had my Astro van I hauled some god-awful loads of cement & other stuff with Douglas tires that were just regular car tires. I went slow and stayed on city streets or back roads though but I was overloaded.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 02:01 pm:

Sorry for the situation you were put in Hal, but I hope you learned one thing from all this--Carry a spare.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Voss on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 02:14 pm:

Most of the good at walmart are made for walmart at a lower quality than when made for other stores. They advertize to match prices because most of the goods they are only at walmart. The goods may look the same but have a differant number on the goods. Look at Rubbermaid goods at walmart and they are made in china, at all other stores Rubbermaid goods are made in the USA.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 02:15 pm:

Aaron you got it right in your earlier post. Carry a spare. Seen too many trailers without them and too many T's without them. Carrying a spare also means taking the stuff you'll need to change it too. Trailer tires are too weird as far as sizes and load capacities anyway so expecting to find one when you're stuck is a long shot. I consider a spare a must.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allen E Tobin, Dolan Springs,Az. on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 04:22 pm:

I have slways used lt 6ply truck tires on my trailers, no problem.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 04:32 pm:

Allen, try stopping in front of a tire store and getting them to sell and mount a new or used 6 ply truck tire on your trailer sometime.
It is not the tires that are the problem it is getting it done.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary H. White - Sheridan, MI on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 06:56 pm:

Wal Mart doesn't sell Michelon tires anymore. Reason anyone?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allen E Tobin, Dolan Springs,Az. on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 07:56 pm:

AAron, That is where i get my tires at a tire shop and they mount them for me no ? ask, you live in the wrong part of the country


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Borland. Bathurst. NSW. Australia. on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 10:18 pm:

You lot are lucky you still make tyres in your country. They shut the last tyre plant here not long ago. Tyres now come mainly from SE Asia, China and some from New Zealand and Europe. Don't have trouble getting them fitted though.


Peter


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 11:05 pm:

Allen, Yes, I know I live in the wrong part of the country. And for more reasons than that.

Check with your tire store now and see if they will mount a car or truck tire on your trailer.
And let us know.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Katy, Texas on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 11:14 pm:

I checked a Goodyear Marathon trailer tire as soon as I got to work this morning. Sure enough, in bold letters are the words Made In China. I already had my feelings about using Goodyear Marathon tires, even before this thread. I've seen too many of them fail and come in the shop in shredded condition. Now, I'm not a tire engineer for Goodyear, but I can only suspect that the failures are caused by one of the following conditions: poor manufacturer engineering, poor manufacturing quality control, road hazards, improper inflation by owner/user, or improper user habits (improper speed).

I have always used 7.00 X 15 light truck tires on my four wheel car/utility trailer and will continue to do so. Walmart doesn't sell such a tire, but there is a local independent tire dealer who does and I will buy them from him. They are less than half price of the Marathons, anyway. As Aaron Griffey has stated, the Douglas brand tires that Goodyear makes for Walmart all seem to be made in USA. I didn't take the time at work, today, to check each tire to see if any were made in other countries. I do know that Walmart experimented last year with a limited number of tires made in Mexico and they were only sold through selected stores. Our store never got any.

One more thing that I didn't mention in my post, last night was about Walmart's service and hours of operation. In the Fall of 2008, when I first went to work for them, Walmart was under different corporate leadership and the rules of operation were different. We have always been open, Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 7 PM and 9 AM to 6 PM on Sundays, but in my early Walmart days, we took service orders right up to 7 PM and we left when the last customer was out of the shop. I got paid lots of overtime in those days. When the corporate leadership of Walmart changed, the overtime came to an immediate halt. They don't want to pay overtime unless there is no way to avoid it. Therefore, we have to carefully gauge our service work load so we can have the last customer out by 7 PM. That means turning away late comers, or just shutting down tires and batteries and just doing oil changes. The scheduling of personnel by the powers that be is lacking too. We have even had to close the entire shop and go home early because we didn't have enough personnel scheduled to the closing hour to keep the shop open on a couple of occasions, and our store is a Super Center and our shop used to be number 1 in sales in the Houston area.

On the subject of Michelin tires, yes, some sizes used to be stocked at some Walmart stores, but the new corporate leadership and policy seems to be "let Walmart be the low price leader and cater to the lower income customer". Sam's Club, on the other hand, stocks Michelin and B F Goodrich in addition to Goodyear and tends to attract the higher income customer.

These musings are my own thoughts and I in no way am a spokesman for Walmart or Sam's Club. Dispite Walmart's shortcomings, I still feel indebted to them for me being able to post on this forum and enjoy my Model T's.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ted Dumas on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - 01:03 am:

I had four 700-15 8 ply tires installed on my stock trailer by the Goodyear Store in Greenville, Texas. They were Chinese made and cost $59 each installed with new stems. This trailer sees infrequent trips to the sale barn and to the vet, about 35-50 miles round trip. I think these should suffice and I carry a spare. I have USA made tires on my flatbed trailer which I haul on the road at highway speeds carrying my Model T. On my truck I run Michelins, the last set ran 90,000 miles.

I think Chinese tires have their place and represent a good value for some applications. There are only two American tire companies: Goodyear, and Cooper in Texarkana. All the other tire makers are foreign companies.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul Nicholson on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - 02:59 am:

As an Independent Repair Shop Owner, I did some checking with my tire supplier and he emailed me this list of American Made tires. He cautioned that each and everyone of these companies also have tires manufactured in China, so you have to check the sidewall either for "made in the USA" or check the codes on the DOT stamp. Some of the ones that are made in China are made specifically for a certain store like Sears or Wal Mart. For example, the Goodyear Viva 2 is made for Wal Mart by Goodyear, but only Wal Mart will warranty this tire. It is the bottom of the foodchain as far as goodyears go. I have taken several sets of these off for people complaining about vibration and run-out. I resell them for farm wagon tires. On the other hand, the douglas tire that Walmart sells is made by Goodyear and for the money are a great winter traction tire. They just don't last more than one season cycle.

So here is what he sent me. I am not bashing Wal Mart or anyone else. Personally I sell the most of Firestone/Bridgestone, BFG and Kumho. Just sharing some info. Now if walmart would start selling T tires, I bet most of us would be lined up at the door!! LOL

Stamped DOT BE XX XXX XXX
Almost all tires have on the side wall where they are made(made in USA).Not all so you need to look on the side wall for the DOT #.The BE after the DOT means this BF Goodrich tire owned by Michelin was made in Tuscaloosa,AL.
The last 4 xxxx of the DOT is the day and year that tire was made.Example:3210 would be the 32 week of 2010.Remember you do not want your tires too old when buying new.Below is a list of more American plants and their 2 letter code after DOT.

BE B.F. Goodrich (Michelin) Tuscaloosa,AL
BF B.F Goodrich (Michelin) Woodburn,IN
AN B.F. Goodrich (Michelin) Opelika,AL
VE/YE/YU/8B Bridgestone/Firestone (Bridgestone) Des Moines,IA
2M/3M Bridgestone/Firestone(Bridgestone) Bloomington,IL
D2/E3/W1/Y7 Bridgestone/Firestone(Bridgestone) Lavergne, TE
2C/4D//5D Bridgestone/Firestone(Bridgestone) Morrison, TE
UP Cooper Finlay,OH
UT Cooper Texarkana,AR
DY Denman, (Penslar Capital) Warren,OH
DA Dunlop (Goodyear) Buffalo N.Y. my home town that is always hurting for work!
JJ/MD/PU Goodyear Gadsden, AL
JN/MJ/PY Goodyear Topeka, KS
JE/MC/PT Goodyear Dansville, VA
JT/MK/TA Goodyear Union City , TN
JP/MP/PL Kelly-Springfield (Goodyear) Tyler, Texas
JF/MM/PJ Kelly-Springfield (Goodyear) Fayetteville, NC
CC Yokahama Tire Salem, VA (Good tire) nickname: "Chokeyourmama"


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