Trailer tires
 

Check your trailer tires. The Super Car Reunion is coming up this Friday, and we always have a few guys show up who had a trailer tire blow out on the way. I was getting my trailer ready today and thank God I noticed this. If it had been on the back side I probably wouldn't have noticed until it blew out. $750 and a few hours later I've got a new set of GoodYears on it. This could have been bad. Theses tires were 6 years old.

Good reminder and catch, Freddie. The wear on the separated blocks indicates it was coming apart the last time you pulled the trailer too, lucky man.

Check air pressure !! and keep them at, or near max, as the load rating is based on that pressure. Running the air lower than max also reduces the load capacity, which allows more sidewall flex which builds heat in the tire and heat kills tires. I have load range E tires on my trailer. Way overboard for the gross weight of the trailer and load, but I've never had a tire fail either.

As an aside, I have a 2013 travel trailer that the spare had never been off the carrier and 2 years ago, it separated and was coming apart. The quality of tires has deteriorated dramatically with many of our tires now coming from china.

I was in the habit of replacing my tires every 5 years. Your post is making me reconsider that. I'll also add to the conversation, I can only suspect spread axles and tight maneuver's tax the side walls on the tires (to say nothing for the wheel bearings).

I'm assuming most trailers are sitting outside, thus UV is raising hell with them. I have the luxury of keeping my trailer inside. Considering the cost of these trailers, I'm treating them like the rest of my vehicles.

Trailer tires dont seem to be what they used to. We had a gooseneck farm trailer that in the first year blew 2 tires and my dads car enclosed car trailer blew 2 on the way to florida. Not much fun to fix along the side of the road

Trailer Tires....
 

Checking tires is a great idea...and also looking at the rest of the trailer. This past December I decided to repack the bearings on our snowmobile trailer...it sits around for 9-10 months without much use. Tires looked a little cracked so I ordered new wheels with tires already mounted.

When I went to swap them I noticed something strange with the axle mounting point onto the trailer frame. After a little inspection we found out the steel axle had corroded the aluminum frame and the axle was sucked up into the trailer frame, both sides :crazy:

The axle company called it 'galvanic corrosion'...mix steel with aluminum and add the salt...recipe for disaster. Fortunately I caught it in time...we installed a new axle and two new aluminum frame rails.

As an added precaution I took the new wheels and tires off and installed the old ones for summer storage. They will go back on when the snow flies...:cool2:

Trailer maintenance is greatly over looked by many. Following this experience I designed a client ad for the NYS Snowmobile Association magazine.

-wilma

Consider your truck tires also, especially if the trucks sole purpose is towing. I had an OEM Goodyear break belts on the way back from MCACN last year. Was scheduled for new Michelins anyway, should have done it one trip sooner.

Trailer tires. Went through a couple sets of Maxxis as research showed almost no negative reviews, good tire. When Goodyear came out with the Endurance I was sold on the 80 mph rating, on my second set now.
I replace at four years, the condition of some of these interstates is criminal! - Bill W

Great points Wilma!! Mindful that my trailer has rolled 115K miles, I roll around under it at least a couple times a year looking for any issues. I pack wheel bearings at 10K and carry a spare hub/brake assembly.

And steel against aluminum, :no: :no:
The steel axle support rails under mine are separated from the aluminum trailer frame by heavy sheet plastic, all bolts are stainless.

Yes, on the separation of dis-similar metals. All it takes is a layer of clear packaging tape. Hope you did something similar, Wilma.
In the early-mid 80's Peterbilt was done with their mild steel west coast mirror frames rusting prematurely in the salt states and went to stainless brackets. Several years later, they learned of their mistake when the paint around the brackets was failing under warranty and the corrosion issue was discovered. Cost them a bit to replace doors for a while. Even my '92 didn't have any insulation, which I added as soon as I bought it, in '95.
Bill, I don't use stainless bolts, as they will still react where they touch aluminum. I use grade 8 bolts with a zink coating and anti-seize on them. I install them in a manner that I never have to turn the bolt and scratch the zinc, only turn the nut...:wink:

You should be checking your trailer every 3 months if you don’t use it every 3months. You should also be checking the trailer at every time you stop while on the road. Also do a post trip inspection.

My trailer just did a 6000 mile trip from Vancouver to Morgantown for the Camaro Nationals. Equipped with brand new Goodyear Endurance tires and Dexter brakes and all went well. I did part of the return a trip with Lloyd Costley and we inspected the trailer,hitch,tires and lights at every fuel stop.
The 6000 miles and rough roads caused the front stone shield to shed some screws due to vibration so at Moses lake WA with 350 miles left in our journey we removed the shield.
Trailers need constant attention.

Trailer tires are the new pandemic and I won’t even leave the house without a spare. If you use your spare it’s great advice to buy another spare at the next large town to be ready again. Just as bad is pulling an empty trailer long distance because the bouncing will cause the tires to skip and scuff the tread right off!

Don't even get me started -

This tire was two years old. Properly inflated, properly loaded, 65 mph, 62 degrees ambient temp.

I carry two spares.

K

What brand of tire was that Keith?

I just replaced the tires on my dually and both the open and enclosed trailers. They all still had good tread depth and no weather cracks, have always been stored inside but they are approaching 10 years old. I used to get 10 years out of them but I agree the tires today just aren't as good and they were some of the most expensive tires I have ever bought.

Great thread gents. These are all things we know and actively look for but a reminder like this is always appreciated. We replace our trailer tires every 5 years regardless of mileage.

Very important - check and replace your spares too. I suggest rolling with 2 spares just to be safe!

I don't have a trailer but this would apply to tires used on any type of vehicle. A guy I know that worked at a local tire place told me that the reason modern tires run the risk of tread separation, blow outs, etc. and don't last as long as tires used to is because the manufacturers don't use real rubber from rubber trees so much anymore in their tires. There are too many "other ingredients".

That one was a "Mirage ST-900".

I am gradually working my way towards the Maxxis.

K

Any recommendation for the best replacement tires for my 20’ enclosed trailer? Size 205 75 15 on there now.

FWIW I've been using the Goodyear Endurance trailer tires (Load Range E) on our boat trailer - following advice here replacing them every 5 years. Knock on wood no issues to date. Last set I bought were still made in USA.

As an aside I think Rusty can get these too as I recall....

On my last trailer, I replaced them with Carlisle's. I was impressed with the lack of runout and how easily they balanced (yes I balance my trailer tires too):biggthumpup:

I too just replaced my 5 year old trailer tires with a set of Carlisles and am very happy.

Same here... the Goodyears have been great on our open and enclosed, as well as several friend's enclosed trailers. They are heavy.

And yes, Rusty can provide them.