Gums' Editorial Section

OK...IT'S TIME FOR SOMETHING NEW HERE

By Gums

Let's start off with a WARNING for any of you out there that have any type of trailer. I don't care if it is a utility , lawn or cycle trailer. Check your tires. I have been using a brand called "DENMAN EXPRESS" for several years now. During the last eight to ten months, I have had at least ten of these tires come appart and loose a good part of their tread or just blow appart completely. Let me state right off that the tires that I used were "load range C" 6 ply rated tires. They have a maximum load of 1360 pounds at 50 psi per tire. After contacting the "Denman" tire company in Ohio, their answer was that I must be overloading my trailers. To this I say they are full of shit! Here is an example of what they call "overloading". I have a state certified weigh station slip stating that my single rail trailers weigh 520 pounds empty. The last tires that I had blow appart had less then 5000 miles on them. The single rail trailer that I am talking about here went to Atlanta Ga. and back with a Harley Sporster on it. So if the trailer weighs 520 pounds and a Sportster weighs 550 that's a total of 1070 pounds. So if the tires are rated at 2720 pounds (per pair) how is the trailer over loaded? The two rail trailers in my fleet have a weigh station slip stating that they weigh 660 pounds empty. A Harley "Ultra Classic's" weigh's in at 776 pounds. So if ya do the math, two full sizs dressers weigh 1552 pounds and the two rail trailer weighs 660 pounds. The total weight for two bikes and the trailer is 2212 pounds. This is 508 pounds under the tire rating! OVER LOADED MY OLD ASS!!! The people at Denman just don't care about what happens to their tires once they have your money in their pocket. I have taken these tires to two dealers and they both said that there "SEEM'S" to be a problem with the way Denman vulcanizes the tread to the core of the tire. You may also want to note that their tires are made in good ole "Mexico". That should say something right there.

When I talked to the customer service dept. at Denman, They didn't even want to work with me. All I wanted was to replace all Denman tires that I had in service with a different brand. I didn't want any money or anything like that. I told them I was in the long run only going to save them a lot of money. Should some "YUPPIE" with two $25,000.00 motorcycles on a trailer with their tires have two tires blow and cause their bikes to be totaled, guess who they are going to sue. What if one of the tires lost part of the tread and the piece of tire flew up and killed someone? They didn't even want to hear about it. I have since removed all of Denman's tires and replaced them with a six ply "Goodyear" trailer tire. All I can say is that if your trailer has any of these tires on them, either get rid of them or keep a very close watch on them. If your friends have a trailer, tell them about these tires also. Remember the mess this country had with Firestone tires a while back. No company ever will admit they may have a problem till someone is killed or a big law suite is started, then it is to late for someone!