trailer tire options?

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Originally Posted By: CapriRacer
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
My tires are 205/75/R15 tires I believe. I mean the good news is tires can be found off amazon for like $50 bucks each, although I don't think they'll last long. I had a spare on for a couple day 50 miles maybe? You could visually see the wear.


To answer the first question you asked: As a general rule, you can NOT replace trailer tires with other types of tires. Passenger car tires don't have the load carrying capacity (1598# vs 1820# in ST205/75R15 LR C) - and light truck tires don't exist in the proper sizes.

If you are willing to take some time, you might be able to find something that works, but you'll need to examine the rim size (width in particular), load carrying capacity, and clearance on the vehicle (don't forget the tires are flexible and can eat up that 1/2" space you may think is plenty!)

Also, I wouldn't buy from Amazon. That is one way to guarantee that you'll get those awful Chinese tires. If you are going to do mail order, use Tire Rack or Discount Tire Direct. Better, order through a local dealer.

BTW, it isn't so much that Chinese tires are made badly, it's that the Chinese are still catching up as to what is needed to perform - that is, design! Carlisle, Maxxis, and Goodyear seem to be catching on much more rapidly in the ST market.

And trailer tires don't typically wear out. Age is the biggest reason for removal. Depending on where you live, 5 to 10 years is the limit.

So if you are seeing much wear on your trailer tires, you need to look at the alignment. (Yes!, Trailers can be out of alignment!)


I was told all the scrubbing is what wears them out. I do a lot of u turns and such. All four of mine are evenly worn out, so I don't think it's an alignment issue. I asked this question a while back and was told trailer tires especially tandem axle tires wear quickly due to scrubbing on every turn.
 
If you have the clearance, look into size 215/75-15. It's what my Jeep had on it when stock. They'll be 0.6" taller (0.3" on each side), and 0.4" wider (0.2" on each side)

But, only look into the Load Range D tires. They're rated for 2,095 pounds whereas a trailer tire in your current size is 1,820 pounds or 2,150 pounds depending on the tire (you'll have to look at your sidewall).
 
Trailer specific tires are follow tires and are engineered differently......tt sidewalls are built to be more rigid so there is less flex in a trailer tire sidewall than an automotive tire sidewall. The more the trailer tire sidewall flexes...the more your trailer will sway.
 
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: rubberchicken
I have put car tires on a boat trailer before, and it seemed to work fine although the shoulders did seem to get more scrub wear.


Wouldn't you get a bunch more scrub wear on a dual axle trailer than a single?


Yes they scrub, they're worn out after like 4000 miles. Whoever said to inflate them to the max is [censored]. All they will do is wear in the middle and you'll only be left with tread on the shoulder of the tire. Same thing with overinflating on your car.
No.You got it wrong. ST tires are properly inflated at the max pressure listed on the sidewall. Apparently you think all "Tars" r the same.
 
One thing I like about Tirerack- you can see exactly which country the tire is manufactured. The exact same tire but in different sizes can be made in different countries, so if you have any specific reason for country preference, it can help you make a decision.

I was looking for an extreme example- here is one-

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Grandtrek+Touring+A%2FS

Click on SPECs, and note the rightmost column is the country code: this particular tire is made in 3 different countries worldwide.
 
Discount tire balances my trailer tires/wheels. Trailers tow smoother with balanced wheels.
 
Originally Posted By: asand1
After working for a major tire chain here in the PNW, I would never run a trailer tire on a trailer. simply put, they are garbage. I have seen way too many blown out, thrown tread, completely shredded. You cant convince me that an LT tire wouldn't be better.



Did the owners of said trailers come in your store and say that he drove over the 65mph limit that most ST tires have? Did they tell you they turned short and did curb hopping? Did they tell you they backed in to a really tight space and really "scrubbed" the tires? Did they tell you they pulled their trailer out of storage and the tires were under inflated?

I didn't think so.....................I have towed with ST tires coast to coast and haven't had one issue.
 
Originally Posted By: asand1
After working for a major tire chain here in the PNW, I would never run a trailer tire on a trailer. simply put, they are garbage. I have seen way too many blown out, thrown tread, completely shredded. You cant convince me that an LT tire wouldn't be better.

Tires of any kind fail in that what when they are run under inflated or overloaded. Probably both with many travel trailers. I like 4WD's idea of increasing the size if there is room. Give you more wiggle room.
Just like with cars no one pays attention to tires. But its worse because ex someone might buy a travel trailer and use it twice a year. When does the pressure get checked? One would hope right before it goes on the road at least but that probably gets forgotten along with the SD card for the camera.
Tires also must be used for the protectants to work to the outside of the rubber. When they sit is when you see dry rotting issues, or just really old tires.
I work for a company that rents trailers among other things and the only problems is them picking up something and going flat. Otherwise they make it to the wear bars.
But they get air pressure checked regularly.
 
U-Haul runs bias plys, usually Marathons, and they seem to pick up as many nails as anything else (or maybe just on the trailers I've rented). I've had the best luck with Carlisle, & the bias ply ones actually seem to last the longest-much thicker sidewalls than the radials, seem less nail prone. The big thing, is inflate them according to the load you carry-if you're running empty with a 600 pound trailer, you don't need to go full pressure.
http://www.maxxis.com/trailer/trailer-tire-loadinflation-chart
 
I have three trailers but all 205/215 14" ST ... by all means if you have 15" or 16" wheels that makes LTE's a viable option ...
 
Originally Posted By: totegoat
I'd find out what U-Haul is running for trailer tires, and buy a set.


Most of their trailer tires are proprietary (actually have "PROPERTY OF UHAUL" molded in) and not available for sale. The exception being the MC trailers, which use weird 10" Carlisle tires.
 
Originally Posted By: CKN
Originally Posted By: asand1
After working for a major tire chain here in the PNW, I would never run a trailer tire on a trailer. simply put, they are garbage. I have seen way too many blown out, thrown tread, completely shredded. You cant convince me that an LT tire wouldn't be better.



Did the owners of said trailers come in your store and say that he drove over the 65mph limit that most ST tires have? Did they tell you they turned short and did curb hopping? Did they tell you they backed in to a really tight space and really "scrubbed" the tires? Did they tell you they pulled their trailer out of storage and the tires were under inflated?

I didn't think so.....................I have towed with ST tires coast to coast and haven't had one issue.


Yeah I've heard all the horror stories of how trailer tires frequently blow. I haven't had any problems with mine other than they like to pick up nails and poor tread life. I swear I have like 2 or 3 finishing nails in each tires on my tandem axle trailer. I leave them alone unless their is a leak.
 
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
How close to the rated capacity do you run them, and how often do you run highway speeds?


I just run around town so around 50mph? I've had maybe 5 long 70mph trips down the freeway. 50 miles plus each way. As far as capacity goes? Well I carry around probably 1,000 pounds, so the only time it's close to capacity is when I haul mulch. I'll put 4 yards of mulch on the trailer.
 
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Trailer tires usually rot-out before they wear-out. I only see the GY HMG 2020 in 14", so they won't work for you.
Only getting 4,000 miles out of a set of tires suggests something is wrong with your trailer. Good luck.
 
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