I am looking at replacing the tires on my trailer.  It is a 96 Stratos Trail and has Goodyear Marathon 205/70R14s.  I have read on numerous boards that these tires are garbage.  I haven't had any issues with them so far (knock on wood) but they are getting a little worn.  

What brands do you all recommend?  i haven't seen a whole lot of trailer tires from the usual brands. My longest trail has been about 400 miles round trip and most are less than 100 miles RT.

Take a look at Carlisle.

Yeah I have had great luck with Carlisle as well.

I have just bought and installed two carlisles on my trailer in august.  Great luck with them.

I just had to replace my trailer tires.  I was going to get the same Marathons as were on it, but the local tire dealer didn't carry them.  He recommended the Carlisles so I got two ST215/75R14's mounted and balanced for $180.  They're 6-ply radials and good looking tires.

You've had these since 96?  

Trailer tires should be replaced every 6-7 years, regardless of how they look.  They break down over time without ever showing any signs of wear.  Then one day, boom!  Blowout.

Sorry Glenn

The trailer is a 96.  The tires were replaced in 02 I believe by the previous owner.  

I looked on the Carlisles website and at Discount tire they install, mount, balance, etc. out the door for $184.  Not bad

Another carlisle user here. My original tires were marathons... got a whopping 3 years from them.

Trailer tires should be replaced every 6-7 years, regardless of how they look. They break down over time without ever showing any signs of wear. Then one day, boom! Blowout.

I agree.

But,  my last set of carlisles lasted almost 9 years.  I replaced them with another set.  They wear like iron, but ride nice.

Not to get too far off topic but Glenn's comment made me think of another question.  Do you recommend a regular tire jack for your trailer or what about those rounded trailer jacks I have seen advertised?

Not to get too far off topic but Glenn's comment made me think of another question. Do you recommend a regular tire jack for your trailer or what about those rounded trailer jacks I have seen advertised?

I picked up a hydraulic 10-ton jack on sale for about 12 bucks brand new.  I made a "V" out of 3/8" steel and welded it on top so the axle snugs down inside it.  Make sure you have enough clearance to get the jack under the axle though!

Make sure you have enough clearance to get the jack under the axle though!

...with a flat or missing tire. I checked my truck jack long ago to a flat but when I blew a tire and lost it, the jack was too tall to fit under with the trailer on a bare rim.   :-/ With a little luck and some quick thinking we made a spacer and used the truck to pull the trailer's bare rim up and onto it, creating those last few needed inches of height.  ...lol

Make sure you have enough clearance to get the jack under the axle though!

...with a flat or missing tire. I checked my truck jack long ago to a flat but when I blew a tire and lost it, the jack was too tall to fit under with the trailer on a bare rim. :-/ With a little luck and some quick thinking we made a spacer and used the truck to pull the trailer's bare rim up and onto it, creating those last few needed inches of height. ...lol

ive got a tote that has a small 2 ton floor jack, a real breaker bar, extra lug nuts, a loaded hub. ive only had to change 2 flats on the side of the road and after the first one i swore id be ready for the second.

youd be suprised how many boaters have no way to remove the lugnuts on their boat trailer because the tire iron to their truck/car/suv doesnt fit.

14" and up use car tires. They are better than trailer tires. I've been using them 40 plus years and while I've worn some out I've yet to blow one.

14" and up use car tires. They are better than trailer tires. I've been using them 40 plus years and while I've worn some out I've yet to blow one.

There's quite a difference between P-rated tires and ST-rated tires.

Yeah, go ahead and put a car tire on that trailer and see how long it takes that sidewall to blow.