tire recommendations

[msshene]

Well I blew a tire this weekend - Titan 215/75r15, only had about 3500 miles on it, came factory on my 2002 26X. I have followed the dicussion in the past about going to 15" tires to up the load capacity but would rather not have to go through the fender moving and shackle lengthening.
Sooo looking to hear you all have had good luck with as replacements in the 14" size. I see tirerack.com has Goodyear Marathons rated the same as the Titans at 159 for 2 delivered. Thanks for your input.

[trapeze]

I replaced my tires and rusted rims for just over $220.00 at Boaters world. I think if you check
http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/wcs/ ... at2=343698

you can get free delivery and pay not tax!

If you need, want rims too, this is a great deal.

The rims are galvanized, the tires are 6 ply with a load rating D I have put a few 1000 miles on mine and am happy with them.

I am off to sail out of Fort Desoto today.

TODAY: EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. BAY AND INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.

[Moe]

On the way back from picking up our new to us 2002 X, we had two failures of the Titan radials, one that was the spare and had never been used. The spare was the one which lost the whole tread and trashed the trailer fender. The spare had previously never been used and catastophically failed after only 50 miles at 60 mph.

I ordered three new Marathons from TireRack when we got home, and had them installed and balanced at the local BP service center. Airstream has used Marathons for years, although they don't load them as close to the limit as MacGregor does.

After our experience, I wouldn't use one of the older Titans, even as a spare.
--
Moe

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Trapeze, hi neighbor!

Are you launching at Ft Desoto? If so, please let me know how it goes because I am trying to compile a DB of local boat ramps, etc. (to be put on the Macsailing Yahoo Group). I have only launched there once, very many years ago, with a powerboat...but if I remember right, the ramp and ramp area was extremely shallow. I would be interested to find out what you think of it.

Dimitri

[Chip Hindes]

msshene:

I assume you meant the original tire was a ST215-75R-14 not -15 as you stated, otherwise the question makes no sense.

Are you sure the tires are radials? My 01X came standard with ST215-75-D14, which are load range D bias ply tires, not radials. This may have been one of those Mac running improvements, though I had heard that it didn't happen until the M.

Based on my own research on the subject, this is the highest capacity 14" available, bias or radial, so in any case the best you can do is change manufacturers. If the Titans were overloaded, so will be the Marathons.

Despite the anecdotes provided by others, I'm not of the school which says "Titans are crap, Marathons are great", not through any personal experience, but only because I have a hard time believing Titan could get away with making tires which fail routinely, for no reason. I have failed two bias ply tires. One I know was an original Titan with which I managed to hit a curb less than ten miles from picking my new boat up from the dealer. The second was on the road from NY to FL where I lost about a 3"x3" chunk of tread on a tire which had perhaps 2000 miles on it. It was on the passenger side and I'm not willing to swear I didn't hit something. I'll check, but I believe this was the original spare, which was not a Titan. Of course this anecdoote applies to bias tires, not radials if you have them.

So anyway, I don't think you'll be accomplishing much by switching to Marathons. If you really want an improvement, go to bigger tires or add an axle.

[Moe]

I saw a 26X trailer this weekend that had the second axle, and that's the way we'd go if we were doing a lot of long-distance trailering. The owner said he thought the PO had it done at Power Sailing Center in Cleveland.

--
Moe

[msshene]

Chip,

Yeah they are the original and are st215/75r14 radials in 14" in the Titan brand. I think you have it right and any other brand is just a lateral move. The fact is the trailer is overloaded. I can see the logic in a second axle but not on the factory trailer- in my opinion the ungalvanized light trailer is not worth a bunch of work or money. IF I was to do anything that drastic it would be to replace the trailer with a galvanized or aluminum tandem axle version. But at this point I've been three full years and blown one tire. I'm a number guy - at this point a tire here or there untill the trailer is in a failing condition is going to be the most cost effective approach. My local tire guy is telling me to put on some Maxis? anybody heard of them? He is a boater and knows of the overload situation. I just had it over to his shop to balance the tires a month ago- I kidded with him- see what your balancer did to my tire He just laughed. Isn't the list great to find out if a problem is a one time occurance or a regular issue. The whole list is a large reason for not moving up to a larger boat in my case. I monitor other lists besides this one and nobody has the volume of this board. of course the sales number of the Macgregors plays a large role in that very issue. But hats off the Heath for a wonderful job non the less.

[Chip Hindes]

I can see the logic in a second axle but not on the factory trailer- in my opinion the ungalvanized light trailer is not worth a bunch of work or money. IF I was to do anything that drastic it would be to replace the trailer with a galvanized or aluminum tandem axle version.

I put about $1200 in my second axle, including full tandem setup, radials on the new axle, relocating the original axle to fix the unsatisfactory tongue weight, upgrading to disc brakes on all four wheels, solenoid backing lockout. By my calculation a custom galvanized or aluminum tandem axle trailer will come in at least twice that, and the chances that it will fit the Mac as well as the original trailer are slim.

My use since I took delivery Sept '00 has been 95% fresh water, so except for a few surface rust spots, my trailer was pretty much as new. I repainted it after the upgrade, I'll retouch it every year and I figure it's good for another 6-8 years at least.

I misstated in my earlier post. The tire that failed on the road was one of the originial Titans, so now the original axle on my tandem has the original spare, a Carlisle, and the replacement for the Titan that had the encounter with the curb, which is a Load Star. Talk about an off brand...

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I can see the logic in a second axle but not on the factory trailer- in my opinion the ungalvanized light trailer is not worth a bunch of work or money.

Although I somewhat agree with you about the second axle part, I don't agree that a little work isn't worth the effort on the stock trailer. If you start painting it before the rust gets too bad, I'm sure that you can at least triple the life of it....for a few hours worth of work. Also, there are several repairs (broken off things) that could be done inexpensively by any welder...so, its not always worth spending 3 grand on a new trailer when you could do a welding repair job for 30-60 bucks.

I understand that there is a point of diminishing returns, but my trailer is 5 years old now, used in salt water, and is in decent condition. It would also be extremely difficult to launch at my "dockless" ramp without that ladder up front.

[BK]

I am moving up to the 15" tires since I tow long distances. 2 trips on the 14" to the N/W was enough. Can anyone tell me the procedure for doing this? How much more weight does that give you? What kind of 15" tire is best for towing? Thanks

[trapeze]

Trapeze, hi neighbor!

Are you launching at Ft Desoto? If so, please let me know how it goes because I am trying to compile a DB of local boat ramps, etc.

Dimitri

Ft Desoto ramp is my favorite ramp. An 800-foot-long boat launching facility with eleven aluminum floating docks that have well protected rubber bumpers, triple wide ramps, loads of parking.

The ramp grade for me is just right. Offloading, at low tide, the rear tires of my Xtera did not touch the water. Loading up, the rubber of my rear tires was just in the water, but not the rims. The ramps are very deep with no chance of dropping off.

Leave your mast down to duck under one bridge and you are 1/4 mile to Tampa bay.

Less then a mile to the Gulf of Mexico.

Near the channel opening to the Gulf, easy access to secluded beaches are to your port and starboard.

Be careful when heading in or out of the channel to the Gulf. You will be tempted to head off right or left to check out the beautiful beach. Be aware that the channel is narrow for another mile or so. I suggest heading straight out for 3/4 of a mile past the beach, before making a turn. I have marked my GPS to show the start of this channel. Coming back in, it is very tempting to cut this corner of the channel. Just about every time I pass through this channel at low tide, a motor boat is stuck, waiting for the tide to change or a pull out.

Fort Desoto is ranked as the #1 beach in the USA.

They charge $5.00 per launch, or you can get a year pass for $100.00

Check it out online at: http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Thanks for the info. I hope you don't mind if I add it to the Macsailing group launch-ramp database..or you can add it yourself if you like. After receiving some Spam on the group, I added a restriction yesterday so that memberships have to be approved. Anyone who is not a spammer is welcome to join.

Thinking back, it seems like it may be 20 years ago now that I launched a 17 foot powerboat there...perhaps they have made renovations since then as I don't remember it as grand as you describe. Back in May, we motored 80 miles in one day (our day record) to go from North Tampa Bay, out to the Gulf and all around Mullet Key (island of Ft Desoto) and then back again...it is no doubt beautiful as all those barrier islands are around there. My kids' preschool has an outing at Ft Desoto Beach every year in May, so not only did we make a long cruise, but the kids got to play on the beach with their friends for a few hours...can't beat a Mac!

I'm trying to help organize local events in this thread if you are interested.