Trailer Tires

[Dick W.]

Re: Trailer Tires

John, I have had good luck out of Firestone Destination LE, Bridgestone, Yokohama's, and Hankook tires. Nothing against Michleins but they are priced way to high for what you get. Ever which tire you get, the straighter the tread, the less dipping and cupping the tire will express.

I am assuming that you either run 215/85/R16 LT or 235's.

[John D.]

Re: Trailer Tires

Low air pressure causes most of the blow outs. Trailer tires life span = maximum of 6 yrs. My vendor trailer had a set of Marathons with a ton of tread on them. But they were all cracked so I gave them to a farmer (not Whittington) for his hay wagon. My vendor trailer was bought in fall of 97. On 3rd set of Marathons. No blowouts-not even a flat.
Before I go to a show, etc I always inflat the tires to 48-50 lbs. Travel at 60-70 with zero problems.
How many of you keep the wheel bearings greased regularly. I have mine repacked every two years by the shop that inspects my trailer. Dexter axles have a grease fitting on the hub but we ignore that and grease the wheel bearings the old fashion way.
Check your break away switch too. In PA we have a state inspection of trailers. If the break/brake away switch doesn' work you fail the inspection.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Trailer Tires

John,

As tires get hot the air pressure grows as I am sure you know. Low air pressure can cause heat and friction as well as higher air pressure. On my Mack truck in the hot summer we had problems with to high air pressure, that's a ride with a loaded tandem dump and have a tire blow.

Radial tires are much better than the old bias but excessive air pressure is also a problem, when it got real hot in Md. we kept them to the lower side of spec. on the tire sidewall. You would not believe the steel in these truck tires and to see one blow one can easily realize the forces at play here. I always tell my wife when on the expressway not to drive next to any truck and to look (glance) at the tires for under inflation and condition if you are put in any close situation.

[Patrick S.]

Re: Trailer Tires

Does anyone have a recomendation for 15" trailer tires? My GY Marathones look good (new in 2007) but I plan to replace them soon.

[Tom K.]

Re: Trailer Tires

If you upgrade your tires to a heavier load range be sure to check the rating of the wheel. Putting a LR-D tire on a LR-C wheel does not get any extra weight capacity. Also don't overload the axles/bearings.
Tom

[Kurt G.]

Re: Trailer Tires

Dana,

Since 1984 when Goodyear introduced the Mararthon tire it has been the standard bearer for trailer tires. I used to bass fish professionally and would put upwards od 25,000 miles a year on a set of Marathons, two tires under a 1000 pound trailer and a 3000 pound boat. Not one problem. The key is making sure the tire pressure is right. It needs to be at least 50 lbs. I ran mine at 55 and. He med them before I left home and before I left the lake for home. My bet is your tires were under inflated. Don't k ow exactly how many bass boats are out there riding on a set of Marathons, but would bet it's close to 50,000. Don't be afraid of them. I just bought a new trailer and am puttin Marathons on it

[Dick W.]

Re: Trailer Tires

If you upgrade your tires to a heavier load range be sure to check the rating of the wheel. Putting a LR-D tire on a LR-C wheel does not get any extra weight capacity. Also don't overload the axles/bearings.
Tom

I watched a trailer with 3,500# axles maneuver a tight turn and it is amazing how much wheel deflection there is. Almost scary.

[Dana B.]

Re: Trailer Tires

Thanks for everyones input.
The trailer was pulling level.
Yes, the G Y marithons were over 5 years old . I bought them new in 2005.
They were made in Australia.
Yes, I checked the pressure often to maintain 50 PSI.
The size is 205 75r 15 load range C.
I learned ALL TRAILER tires are sold with NO warrenty.
There WAS damage to my trailer.
I like the idea,to go to LT (light truck tires).
If I up size to 225 75r 15 (should have enough clearance) I can go to load range D in LT.
With LT... I WILL Get a Warrenty.
Any recomadation on brand ?
Dana

[Dick W.]

Re: Trailer Tires

Thanks for everyones input.
The trailer was pulling level.
Yes, the G Y marithons were over 5 years old . I bought them new in 2005.
They were made in Australia.
Yes, I checked the pressure often to maintain 50 PSI.
The size is 205 75r 15 load range C.
I learned ALL TRAILER tires are sold with NO warrenty.
There WAS damage to my trailer.
I like the idea,to go to LT (light truck tires).
If I up size to 225 75r 15 (should have enough clearance) I can go to load range D in LT.
With LT... I WILL Get a Warrenty.
Any recomadation on brand ?
Dana

Did a quick check and it seems that the Continental Vanco is the only D rated tire that I find readily available.

[Peter G.]

Re: Trailer Tires

Dana..we have a member (a retired B747 Captain) who doesn't like surprises and has one of the more expensive enclosed trailers and he went all the way to the top on the LT tires and purchased MICHELIN LTX M/S. He says he has not had a flat since and he does a lot of trailering.

[Don G.]

Re: Trailer Tires

The only way to be sure what your loaded trailer weighs is to go to a weigh station and have it weighed. It is my understanding that some trailer manufacturers may have established tare weights prior to completing the trailer resulting in an understated weight. Although this practice may have stopped, you may find gross weights well over 7000 lbs. on trailers with 3500 lb. axles due to added cabinets, winches, spare parts, etc.

[Ronald C.]

Re: Trailer Tires

You are absolutely correct most 7000# trailers (3500# axles) are under sized. The weigth with fuel of a small block 65 winch , tie downs etc willl easily puit you at 3500# and then the enclsode trialer will add another 3100 - 3500#. i recentyl suffered a catastrophic blow out on the wat back form the Ohio chapter event 3/30. ended up loosing both tires, bending both wheels and destroying both axles. Firtunately teh triler stayed on the on the truck and the car staryed secured.

the post mortem found that the TS tire (less than 9 monts old) blew out. when teh trailer went sideways off the road teh second tire could not hold the weight and side load and also blew out. this allowed boht steel wheels to dig into the shoulder bending them like a potatoe chip. I was able to keep my foot in ti long wnough to regain control and pull the trailer straight before stoppping.

Morale of teh story is echoed above. use LT tires rated for D or E. and where possible over sized axles. 5200# to provide you with a safery margin for when things dont go as planned. any trailer and tire will work in a straight line. but when they go wrong they go wrong bad.

By the way thank you to those who stopped and came out to help get my trailer and car abck to chicago. 18 hours to go 175 miles. but no damage to the car, and some great pictures and stories to share.

[Dick W.]

Re: Trailer Tires

If you have 16" tires, by all means go with LT rated tires. SR tire carcasses are junk when new, especially if you are traveling interstate speeds in hot weather. Make sure they have proper inflation before you start on a trip.

I bought a trailer with the Mickey Mouse 3,500# axles under it (was a REAL bargain). I am debating as to whether to change axles or to buy a set of 7:00RX15 tires for it. I still do not like the light weight wheels and small brakes though. Yokohama makes a 7R15 tire, the RY215 series

[Wes S.]

Re: Trailer Tires

I would recommend buying a wireless tire pressure monitor for the trailer tires.
HawksHead Systems makes one that will moitor up to 22 tires. I am under alot less stress when pulling my
trailer when I can check the tire pressure and temperature anytime I want.
The monitor also has alarm levels to alert you to trouble.
The only draw back is the batteries on the tires do not have a long life.
Wes

[John D.]

Re: Trailer Tires

Update on trailer tires, etc.
PA requires all trailers to have a state inspection once a year. Thanks be to God for that requirement I say.
My Haulmark Custom Vender Trailer had Goodyear Marathon 8 ply rated tires (4). I bought them in August 2007 right before Corvette Carlisle as the old Marathons were cracked all over.
Today I took my vendor Trailer to have it inspected. The owner of the shop said everything passed except for the tires. I said the tires are only 5 years old!!!!
To the point: The tread area of the tires was deeply cracked. I mean big time cracked which was shocking seeing that I only had a few thousand miles on them and they were but 5 years old.
So I flunked the inspection and was told to come back when I replaced the tires. Seeing that Fall Carlisle is next week I was in a panic as two FAll CArlisle ago I got stopped by our efficient PA State Police for an expired sticker. Fine was at least $135 Whew!!!!
Got a set of 8 ply rated trailer tires made by Akurit??? Never heard of them. ST20575R15 Akurit 8 ply. Total bill 402.52.
The owner of Spinos Tire told me that one company makes all of the trailer tires with different labels. I don't know about that b ut I do know that you all better check your trailer tires with a bright light as basically they are crappy tires that have a short life span. True story. Old JD

P.S. I rushed back to the inspection shop and the owner said how did you get the tires on so fast??? He then put a new inspection sticker on.
Tires are inflated to 60#'s. I am going to reset them to 50#s.