Tired of tires

[FloraFauna]

While camping this week I noticed a slight sidewall bulge on my streetside rear tire.  I just replaced all my tow vehicle tires so was not excited about buying more tires right now, but a sidewall bulge is never a good thing.  I have the Goodyear Endurance ST tires on my Oliver and with the trailer only 3 years old and less than 10,000 total miles on the trailer, I was disappointed in the tire longevity/durability.  I have been running about 55 psi in the tires as a compromise on ride quality vs tread wear/mileage.  I know some of you run even less pressure to save the springs, but lower pressures do stress the sidewalls more. I then looked closer and the date stamps on the tires are late 2021 so the tires are actually about 5 years old, not 3 and 5 years is about the life of a trailer tire.  So despite low miles and inside storage, I am leaning toward replacing all 5 tires (including the spare) and increasing my running tire pressure some.  I abhor the idea of changing a streetside tire along the road on a trip after a blow out.

What would you do?  And don't assume your tires are the same age as your trailer.     

[BackofBeyond]

I would replace the one, put the spare on opposite side of the same axle. Put the other two best on the other axle. The most visible worn tire in as spare. Unless the tires have been in full sun, in the desert (say Phoenix), generally good until 6 - just inspect them regularly. Now the caveat - if I was headed out on a long-term trip - months, and headed up to AK, and beyond, different story. Do you run tire pressure monitors?

[FloraFauna]

1 hour ago, BackofBeyond said:

Do you run tire pressure monitors?

I don't but I do check them regularly.  Thanks for your suggestions - they make sense to me.  Love your tag line by the way "die young - as late as possible".

Edited Friday at 01:33 PM by FloraFauna

[jd1923]

On 10/9/2026 at 4:24 AM, FloraFauna said:

I noticed a slight sidewall bulge on my streetside rear tire... What would you do?

Bummer!

I have seen brand new tires with a "slight sidewall bulge" due to the lesser manufacturing process of some brands. Though I just looked at my flat bed trailer that has the same Goodyear Endurance ST tires, just a size smaller. No bulges on mine and they look to be rather well made tires. They are 7 years old now with likely only 2500 miles on them! I'm not changing them yet since lately we only use the trailer to go dirt-biking once or twice a year. A 12 ft 7K dual axle trailer with 650 LBS of cargo a few miles at 35 MPH, I'll take my chances!

Now the Oliver is a different story! Our LT tires are near 5 years old. I never heard 5 years for ST, always seen 7 years. We have 19K miles on the Oliver in 3 years, prior owner had 2 years on the same tires with who knows how many miles, and there is no real treadwear.

Every time I talk maintenance, I recommend removing the wheels for inspection when doing anything else! Grease Zerks, torque bolts and spend a few minutes inspecting each tire. I always remove all the gravel, and often while doing so, I have found a screw or some kind of metal in the treads. Wash the tires on both sides. It's easier to see a defect or new damage on a clean tire!

Bulge just on one tire, make it the spare for now. Running at 55 PSI is a very good number for low sidewall stress.

Could you have any prorated warranty left? (3 years 10K miles) Or if it's truly a defect, Goodyear might cover it anyway. You could drive by a Discount Tire or other Goodyear dealer when you get a chance. They should help to communicate with Goodyear for coverage.

It's a shame that OTT installed tires already 1-2 years old, 6-8 months is more usual, less time with the large manufacturing volume of these ST tires. Why did OTT change to ST tires on 15" wheels? Do they make a 15" LT tire?

I'm not a TPMS guy either and our vehicles are all too old to have OEM TPMS. I check every time I take a break from driving. Do a full walk around and eyeball all 8 tires before going. I do it with all vehicles, whether towing or not.

Edited yesterday at 01:08 AM by jd1923

[rideandfly]

Checked online for other Goodyear Endurance ST sidewall bulge discussions:

Discussion 2026:

https://www.airforums.com/threads/sidewall-bulge-on-new-goodyear-endurance-tire.2207120/

Discussion 2025:

https://www.mygrandrv.com/threads/goodyear-endurance-tire-bulge-on-2025-2500rl-safety-risk-and-warranty-options.1200094/

 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 11:01 AM by rideandfly

[rideandfly]

10 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Why did OTT change to ST tires on 15" wheels? Do they make a 15" LT tire?

 

Here's a 2022 thread about Oliver changing to Goodyear Endurance ST tires:

 

 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 11:30 AM by rideandfly

[BackofBeyond]

As I read through the replies my memory fades back to several tire foibles of the past. The Michelin's on my 2004 truck had similar bulges. and yet I got 45k out of them, my newer 2018, had one with a "dip" in it, and had no problems. The real issue for me has usually been nails, bolts, or some such road trash trespassing into my tire causing ruin and destruction - a flat.  I had great experience with the rubber on my former Ollie, no problems. Ran tire monitors, which actually resulted in more stress overall - "why is that left rear hotter than the left front, oh look, the left front is 2 psi diff, and on".  I know they are good for sudden blow out, otherwise, well, not so for me.  I don't recall what brand or size is on the 2027 LEII and I'm sure it will be just fine until that screwdriver jettisoned from the electrician's truck bed finds its way into the right front tire sidewall, ending the short life of a full tread left tire. My luck in a nutshell.

[FloraFauna]

23 hours ago, jd1923 said:

I'm not a TPMS guy either

TPMS are nice but the batteries do die and then it one more thing to replace.  I have them on my tow vehicle and premptively replaced them because they are pain when they die. Been there with a different vehicle. Like you, a good, frequent visual check plus putting a pressure gage on once in awhile is my prefered method.  Like Russell explained, having 4 pressures in your face all the time can be an unwelcome mental distraction for many of us.

[ScubaRx]

22 hours ago, FloraFauna said:

...having 4 pressures in your face all the time can be an unwelcome mental distraction for many of us.

Almost as bad as having a catastrophic blowout in the middle lanes of six on an interstate at 60mph. Use your own judgement. Your mileage may vary...