By Jerry Purviance
Spring is almost here! Before we get too excited let’s take a look at those trailer tires. I’ve been towing boat trailers around for years and assumed that trailer tires were “just like car tires.” Boy, was I mistaken, and that’s why I’ve ended up changing tires too many times beside the interstate.
I’m not alone. Seems like many folks have paid the price for our lack of tire education. Boat U.S. reports that the majority of the calls for help to their Trailer Assist division come from boaters having tire problems.
Like most boat owners, we take pride in our nautical knowledge. We talk to our friends about the latest gear and scan catalogs and web sites to see what’s new. But tires for the trailer? How boring! Take a moment to read this, and I’ll deflate some trailer tire myths, and perhaps help you avoid some of the roadside messes and blown-out tires I’ve experienced.
Different tires for different jobs
Trailer tires aren’t like auto or light truck tires. They don’t steer, transmit power from an engine to the road or swerve to avoid obstacles. Automobile tires perform all of these functions, so they need flexible sidewalls to keep their tread anchored to the pavement. Car tires are mated to sophisticated suspension, steering and braking systems; free-spinning trailer tires, on the other hand, sit underneath stiff suspensions while smaller trailers don’t have brakes at all. Ultimately, using automobile tires on your trailer is a safety issue, which is why the experts at the tire companies do not advise their use.
Special trailer tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires are designed for your trailer’s requirements. Their stiff sidewalls help prevent your rig from swaying. Their heavy-duty load capacity is critical; ST tires have 10% more load capacity than equivalent light truck (LT) tires and 40% more than passenger car (P) tires. They’re designed for trailer wheels, typically narrower than those on a car, and have shallower treads so they wiggle less to help improve your tow vehicle’s fuel economy and run cooler.
Oxidation, not tread wear
According to rubber industry research, trailer tires need to be replaced after 3–5 years of use, even though they usually appear to have plenty of tread left. Unlike your car’s tires, it isn’t miles of driving but oxidation of the rubber that wears out the tire. Mostly, a trailer tire sits in one spot for days or weeks at a time and may travel only 10,000 miles (or sometimes a lot less) per year. UV radiation from sunlight and ozone from exhaust cause exterior damage to the sidewalls, and oxygen from pressurized air creates unseen damage deep inside.
Under and overinflation
Under-inflation is the prime cause of tire problems, and an under-inflated trailer tire won’t sag like your car’s tires because of its stiff sidewall construction. We recently pulled into a gas station with our 21′ boat and checked our pressure. Both tires looked perfectly normal, but our pressure gauge showed that one tire had only 15psi (instead of the rated 50psi), which would have quickly destroyed the tire. Don’t eyeball it! Check your tire pressure with a quality gauge.
Radial or bias ply tires?
Radial tires have plies that run perpendicularly across the tire and belts (often made of steel) running below the tread around the tire’s circumference. Bias ply tires have their plies running at 30° angles (like the stripes on a candy cane). Most motorists believe radials are better (and they are for your auto). Should you buy them for your trailer?
The answer depends on your trailer’s handling. Bias ply tires have stiffer sidewalls, so if your rig tends to sway, they may help reduce this problem. They also have advantages for carrying heavy loads. Radials, as most of us know, are vastly superior for tread wear. They’ll last an average of 40,000 miles vs. 12,000 for bias plies. However, oxidation, not tread wear, wears out trailer tires. Radial tires are also less prone to developing flat spots on one side when they are parked in the same position for weeks at a time, and tend to run cooler on long trips. Bottom line: consider your trailer’s handling and the manufacturer’s recommended tire type. If you travel long distances and/or put lots of miles on your tires every year, radials are worth the extra cost.
Each of your trailer’s tires should be the same type, size and construction—do not mix bias-belted and radial tires. In selecting tires for your trailer, buy the size, type and load range found on the trailer’s certification label or in the owner’s manual. Keep in mind that tires have a load rating that indicates the amount of weight they can carry safely. That includes toys, Igloo coolers and camping gear. Overloading can lead to a large heat buildup, causing accelerated wear or a blowout.
Trailer tire safety tips
- Maintain pressure at the maximum PSI recommended on the tire’s sidewall for cool running, load-carrying ability and lowest rolling resistance.
- Keep a cap on the valve stem to prevent contamination of its internal rubber valve.
- Always carry a spare and check its pressure along with your trailer’s other tires.
- Don’t overload trailer tires. The maximum load that a single tire can safely carry is listed on the sidewall. For a single-axle trailer with tires rated at 2,000 pounds, the maximum load should not exceed 4,000 pounds. For a double-axle trailer with the same tires, the maximum load should not exceed 8,000 pounds. To provide a margin of safety, we recommend that the actual load not exceed 90% of the rated load capacity. NOTE: Regardless of the load capacity of the tires, never exceed the trailer’s GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) provided by the manufacturer.
- Visually inspect your tires before each trip. Check the pressure before you use your trailer. On long trips, you should check your tires’ pressure every morning when the tires are cold.
- For long-term storage, cover your tires for UV protection or keep them in a cool, dry place.
- Replace every three to five years, regardless of tread wear.
Jerry’s Outdoors Show heard Friday mornings at 9 a.m. on KWPC am 860 and FM 95.1.
