Goodyear Endurance Tires

RemoLyn

We need to replace our Rainier Apex ST235/75r15 C tires on our 2022 Tab400 Boondock; however, they are no longer available. I've never had a problem with them but they are 5 years old and showing a slight bit of very fine cracking so they've got to go. Has anyone had experience with using the Goodyear Endurance ST 225/75r15 tire on your Tab400? They have great reviews but they ae not the size NUCamp recommends for the Tab400. I've been told that NuCamp was using recently the Goodyear Trailrunner AT in size 235/75r15 on new production units but now no longer recommends that tire. Tredit who makes Rainier Apex told me they no longer make the 235/75r15 size yet NuCamp told me they are using it on the new units they produce. What gives here?

Grumpy_G

Don't overthink it, it's not that Nucamp does extensive driving tests on a track like a sports car manufacturer would. 225/75-15 is only a tad smaller and narrower than OE and the non-Boondock models had even smaller 205/75-15 tires. If you want a more aggressive tread pattern like the Rainier Apex, Kenda makes an off-road trailer tire in 235/75-15.

qhumberd

We replaced our Rainer tires with Goodyear Endurance on our 2019 400 and have no concerns. Load rating and psi max are more but the trailer tows fine.

pthomas745

Lots of owners of 400's have switched over to the Endurance in the 225/15 size.

Other owners, looking for more of the "off road" sort of look, have found some XT/AT tires that do come in the 235/15 size, such as Falken, etc. The thread below is from 2018, so it is a bit out of date, but there is a good conversation of what to look for if you want to go with the XT/AT tires.

400 Tires

Here is another search of the Forums for "XT Tires" that has a couple of relevant threads.

XT Tires

SavvyNurseCamper

Hi @RemoLyn ! Found these tires on etrailer.com https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Tires-and-Wheels/Kenda/KE68JR.html These have equal to better specks then the Rainier tires.😉

JDRotz

Interesting. I'm having the original LT flavor tires on my '21 TAB 400 replaced on Monday with the 235/75/15 Rainier Apex ST at a Les Schwab store in Colorado. I just double checked to make sure they do have those specific tires.

JDRotz

Pretty pricey, but I tow on a lot of rough dirt roads.

RemoLyn

JDRotz, that's amazing, you found a set! 😀 …. I'm gonna check all the Les Schwab's in the country! Thanks for the heads up. I'll happily $600 for a pair just to be done with this search for the right tire for my Tab400 Boondock.

JDRotz

RemoLyn, gotta say that I'm rethinking the Rainier tires. Made in China, and overall reviews are just ok. I'm going to go check out the Goodyear Endurance at Discount before having Schwab install the Rainier's. (They're $100 cheaper, too.)

I like the idea of thicker, heavier tread for rough gravel roads, but I don't do any serious dispersed site boondocking, and most of the miles are highway.

.Checked the DOT date, and my current factory LT tires are 7 years old, so it's time.

I'm with you about being tired of the search.

RemoLyn

I don't think Rainier's fro Les Schwab is gonna work for me; the nearest store is close to 1000 miles away and they don't sell online or ship. I'd have to find a Schwab store that has the tires and would be willing ship them FedEx. Not all Schwab stores ship. Then there is the added cost of shipping Not $600 …. more like $750.

I like the Endurance however I don't like the Load range E @80psi. For the Tab400 I read that level of pressure on a 3500 lbs trailer (loaded) would rattle loose many of the innards to pieces over time. Running them at a lower pressure i.e. 50psi like the Stock tires leads to other issues that counter act the benefits of the tires design and could lead to other handling problems. I think I've read to much information about tires!!

Bayliss

@RemoLyn, take a look at the tire pressure guide published by Goodyear online, or give them a call. You definitely would not run the Endurance at the max 80 psi. I use 50 psi (range of 45-50 psi) on my T@B 320 S Boondock Lite and they have been great tires. They run smooth and are wearing nicely.

JDRotz

Good input, thanks! I didn't realize the Endurance E range was at 80psi. They would be like rocks! Can't imagine the traction on muddy roads would be very good, either. Considering the original tires are Light Truck, and I've not had any issues in 20k miles, maybe another set of good LT tires is an option. I feel like the tire shops are just going to try and sell me whatever they happen to carry, but I'll go talk to Discount on Monday.

Bayliss

@JDRotz, did you see my post above (re the 80 psi)?

JDRotz

@Bayliss, I did, thanks. Posts getting overlapped...

The Goodyear chart for the Endurance shows that for the ST225/75r15 (E load range), 50psi has a rating of 2150lbs. x2 = 4300lbs, which gives a pretty comfortable safety factor for our trailers. That goes up to 2830 lbs at 80psi. @RemoLyn, what 'other issues' were you referring to for running lower than max pressure?

Question for @Bayliss, since you're experienced with the Endurance tires - how do they work on muddy roads? I've had a couple of instances on steep downhill grades that got ... interesting.

JDRotz

Ok, I've officially got "paralysis by analysis" going on regarding which tires to get! Here's the AI response when I input my specifics… (overall a great, but long, summary, although I disagree with the implication that because nobody rides in the trailer, ride doesn't matter...)

For a 3,900 lb GVWR travel trailer traveling 70% highway and 30% gravel, your primary challenge in the 235/75R15 size is balancing off-road puncture resistance with highway tracking and heat dissipation. Because your trailer is single-axle (or lightweight multi-axle) with a 3,900 lb gross limit, a pair of tires needs a combined capacity safely exceeding 3,900 lbs (at least 1,950 lbs per tire).You have two distinct paths: a dedicated off-road Special Trailer (ST) tire with aggressive tread, or a heavy-duty Light Truck (LT) All-Terrain tire.

Best Off-Road ST Trailer Tires (True Trailer Construction)

ST tires feature stiffer sidewalls designed to resist trailer sway and handle heavy vertical loads, but pure off-road tread variants are rare in this specific size.

• Kenda Loadstar ST235/75R15 (Load Range D): This is a specialized, radial off-road trailer tire. It is built specifically to handle highway heat dissipation while providing deep, rugged tread blocks that excel on loose gravel and mud.
  • Load Capacity: 2,470 lbs at 65 PSI (4,940 lbs total capacity across two tires, offering an excellent safety margin for your 3,900 lb trailer).
  • Speed Rating: Q (99 mph), which is exceptionally high for a trailer tire and keeps it running cool on the 70% highway portions of your trips.
  • Available at etrailer.com. [1]
• Rainier Apex ST235/75R15 (Load Range C): Another rare purpose-built ST tire featuring an aggressive, chunky off-road tread pattern.
  • Load Capacity: 2,420 lbs at 50 PSI (4,840 lbs combined).
  • Speed Rating: M (81 mph), which safely accommodates standard highway speeds.
  • It features a heavy-duty casing designed to protect against jagged gravel punctures. Available on Trailer Set Go. [2, 3]

Best LT All-Terrain Tires (Premium Gravel Trailing)

Many travel trailer owners switch to Light Truck (LT) All-Terrain tires in the 235/75R15 size. Because people do not ride inside the trailer, the rougher riding characteristics of an LT tire do not matter. LT tires offer superior cut, chip, and puncture resistance on gravel compared to standard highway trailer tires. [4, 5]

• BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 (Load Range D): The gold standard for mixed highway and gravel driving.
  • Justification: Built with CoreGard technology, it features ultra-thick sidewalls designed to resist tire splits from sharp gravel rocks. Its interlocking tread blocks track completely straight on the highway while multiple stone ejectors stop gravel from drilling into the casing.
  • Load Capacity: Supports up to 2,470 lbs per tire. Available to order at Discount Tire or Priority Tire.
• Falken Wildpeak A/T4w (Load Range D): Renowned for heavy-duty towing stability and exceptional wet/loose surface grip.
  • Justification: Features 3-ply DURASPEC sidewall technology, providing extreme defense against puncture flats on remote gravel roads. It uses heat-diffuser technology in the lower sidewall to keep the tire cool during extended high-speed highway towing.
  • Available online at Off Road Warehouse.

Performance Comparison

Tire Model [2, 4, 6]	Tire Type	Load Capacity (Per Tire)	Max Speed Rating	Key Advantage for 70/30 Driving
Kenda Loadstar ST235/75R15	Special Trailer (ST)	2,470 lbs @ 65 PSI	99 mph (Q)	Highest speed rating; true anti-sway trailer sidewalls.
BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO3	Light Truck (LT)	2,470 lbs @ 65 PSI	112 mph (S)	Ultimate stone ejection and chip resistance on gravel.
Falken Wildpeak A/T4w	Light Truck (LT)	2,680 lbs @ 65 PSI	106 mph (T)	3-ply sidewall puncture protection and built-in heat diffusers.
Rainier Apex ST235/75R15	Special Trailer (ST)	2,420 lbs @ 50 PSI	81 mph (M)	Aggressive mud/gravel tread pattern in a dedicated trailer build.

Important Note on Goodyear Endurance

While the Goodyear Endurance is highly regarded as one of the best overall trailer tires on the market, it is not manufactured in the 235/75R15 size. If you chose to downsize to an ST225/75R15, the Endurance Load Range E provides 2,830 lbs of capacity but features a shallow, closed-shoulder highway rib tread that performs poorly on loose 30% gravel terrain. [7, 8, 9, 10] To help narrow down the selection, do you know your trailer's current wheel rim width or if it is a single-axle or dual-axle setup? Knowing if you ever tow in freezing/winter conditions would also help pinpoint the perfect compound.
[1] https://www.etrailer.com[2] https://trailersetgo.com[3] https://www.forestriverforums.com[4] https://www.etrailer.com[5] https://www.airforums.com[6] https://www.goodyear.com[7] https://www.forestriverforums.com[8] https://simpletire.com[9] https://www.irv2.com[10] https://www.youtube.com

Bayliss

@JDRotz , I do not have an answer for you. I do recall having to drive in mud.

RemoLyn

JDRotz, here what AI had to say regarding reducing PSI on Goodyear Endurance w/load range E on my Tab 400:

Question: Are there legitimate safety concerns for running a goodyear endurance st225/75r15 e at 55psi rather than 80psi on my nucamp tab400 boondock usually carries 3000 lbs on the trailer axle and 400lbs on the tongue?

Running your Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R15 (Load Range E) tires at 55 psi for a 3,000-lb axle load is technically safe according to Goodyear's load/inflation standards, but it carries a higher risk of heat-related failure compared to the maximum 80 psi. [1, 2]Safety and Performance Trade-offs

• Load Capacity: At 55 psi, a single ST225/75R15 tire is rated to support 2,150 lbs. With two tires, your total capacity is 4,300 lbs, which comfortably exceeds your 3,000-lb axle weight. [1]
• Heat Buildup: Underinflation is the leading cause of trailer tire blowouts because lower pressure allows the sidewalls to flex more, generating excessive heat at highway speeds. Many experts recommend maintaining 80 psi regardless of the load to keep the tires running as cool as possible and to maintain the stiffest sidewall for towing stability. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• Ride Quality vs. Durability: While 55 psi provides a softer ride that can protect your trailer's interior (e.g., preventing popped rivets or broken hinges), it may lead to faster, uneven tread wear. [1, 2]

RemoLyn

Recommendations for your NuCamp TAB 400

• Compromise Pressure: Many RVers find a "sweet spot" between 60 and 65 psi for lighter loads to balance ride comfort with a safer cooling margin. [1, 2]
• Monitor Heat: If you choose to run at 55 psi, using a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is highly recommended to track temperature spikes, especially when traveling at 65+ mph. [1, 2]
• Manufacturer Compliance: Always check the tire placard on your trailer's door jamb; if it specifies 80 psi, straying from that recommendation could impact your warranty or safety profile. [1, 2]

Are you planning to travel primarily on highways at high speeds, or will you be spending more time on unpaved roads where a lower PSI might be preferred?AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses Try without personalization

JDRotz

Thanks for the follow up.

I've decided to go ahead with the Rainier Apex ST tires (now only made in load rating D), in spite of some mixed reviews. I'll give feedback once I've got some miles on them.

Appreciate all the help!