trailer tires

i am going to need new trailer tires in the near future and i am wondering what would keep me from puting car tires on my enclosed trailer? thoughts?

I think it is because they will make your trailer wander all over the road instead of following your truck like it is supposed to!

Trailers don't have much (if any) suspension, and trailer tires are constructed with that fact in mind. Obviously, the safest thing to do is just pay up and use trailer tires. That said, if you are going to use car tires, at least make sure that they are rated for the weight they will have to bear. Also, buy a spare. It's no fun when a trailer tire blows and you've got no spare (been there, done that, won't do it again).

LT Truck tires are far safer than most trailer tires. Trailer tires are rated for 65mph max and are designed with far less critical safety requirements than truck tires.

Here's my opinion:

Trailer tires are crap. It is my understanding that there are no longer any trailer tires made in USA. Several years ago Goodyear brought the Marathon back to the USA due to a very high failure rate of the Chinese made one's. Now Goodyear has sent those back overseas again.

Trailer Tires have a far lower set of DOT standards to pass. Why? Simple -- Not designed for passenger use. A bad trailer tire does not risk killing people therefore they have really crappy standards. No trailer tire is tested and designed for over 65mph. None. They have crappy heat ratings and will rot away before you ever wear them out.

My recommendation: Find the strongest LT tire that will fit your rim. Heck -- even the weakest will beat the best trailer tire in my opinion. Pick a good Michelin, Cooper (Made in USA), or other big brand and you will be set. Just avoid a trailer tire -- the ST stands for "super terrible".

Now with that said many big-box places like Discount Tire or Sam's Club will not install a passenger tire on a trailer. You have to take them the wheels. It's their policy. Stupid in my opinion. They will generally install an LT tire in place of a trailer tire. I get my Tire's at Sonny's on University so I don't have those issues anyway. Small shop with fast service. He order's what you want.

That's My $.02.

also:

Comparing load ratings on a passenger tire and ST tire is really not fair. The safety built into the passenger tire is far more than the trailer tire. Again -- DOT standards are FAR more tough on passenger tires. The passenger tire has to be able to support that weight at 85+ mph without building up heat. No comparison to a crappy ST tire rated at 65mph max.

65 MPH represents 100% of the ST tires speed rating.
55 MPH represents 84.6% of the ST tire Speed rating.
I personally like a safety margin of a higher speed tire. Higher Speed tires require a better/more expensive rubber compound.

For a picture (in words) of a blowout here's what happens ( I copied this):
The loss of integrity of the rubber that holds the tire together is what causes blowouts.
Actually the tires don’t "blow out", they start losing air. This causes the side walls to flex more and create more heat.
This heat causes the rubber to melt (lose integrity) and the belts start to slip.
The air leaks out faster because the slipping belts cause a faster leak.
The rubber lets go faster and the tire eventually comes apart.
This is the delamination.



Anyway -- to each there own. I visit RV forums regular and the one common thing is blow-outs on trailer tires. It is very rare to hear of a blow-out on a LT tire.

thanks for all the info! will look at all the options! rich

Lots of good info/recommendations from Randy R and GMG.

Another aspect I think about is intended use. For example I would NEVER change tire rating for my boat OEM trailer. It was designed for load it carries. On the other hand, if I know my car/utility trailers will never be overloaded with respect to my intentions, I'll go for the best price on matched tires (with an appropriate load rating) that fit the wheel. I have never seen a tire come apart from anything other than overloading, under inflation or mfg. defect.

That being said, I carry a spare and run a tire pressure high in the recommended range (to reduce heat buildup). My trailer tires usually dry-rot or prematurely wear out from poorly designed toe setting.

Higher ply tires are more resistant to road hazards. If you use an un-sprung trailer and want to run lower pressures, buy a larger/better tire.

Note that trailer tires dry rot really fast. Cheaper rubber will crack sooner....

Why is it that nobody balances trailer tires??

Randy R wrote:

LT Truck tires are far safer than most trailer tires. Trailer tires are rated for 65mph max and are designed with far less critical safety requirements than truck tires.

Here's my opinion:

Trailer tires are crap. It is my understanding that there are no longer any trailer tires made in USA. Several years ago Goodyear brought the Marathon back to the USA due to a very high failure rate of the Chinese made one's. Now Goodyear has sent those back overseas again.

Trailer Tires have a far lower set of DOT standards to pass. Why? Simple -- Not designed for passenger use. A bad trailer tire does not risk killing people therefore they have really crappy standards. No trailer tire is tested and designed for over 65mph. None. They have crappy heat ratings and will rot away before you ever wear them out.

My recommendation: Find the strongest LT tire that will fit your rim. Heck -- even the weakest will beat the best trailer tire in my opinion. Pick a good Michelin, Cooper (Made in USA), or other big brand and you will be set. Just avoid a trailer tire -- the ST stands for "super terrible".

Now with that said many big-box places like Discount Tire or Sam's Club will not install a passenger tire on a trailer. You have to take them the wheels. It's their policy. Stupid in my opinion. They will generally install an LT tire in place of a trailer tire. I get my Tire's at Sonny's on University so I don't have those issues anyway. Small shop with fast service. He order's what you want.

That's My $.02.

also:

Comparing load ratings on a passenger tire and ST tire is really not fair. The safety built into the passenger tire is far more than the trailer tire. Again -- DOT standards are FAR more tough on passenger tires. The passenger tire has to be able to support that weight at 85+ mph without building up heat. No comparison to a crappy ST tire rated at 65mph max.

65 MPH represents 100% of the ST tires speed rating.
55 MPH represents 84.6% of the ST tire Speed rating.
I personally like a safety margin of a higher speed tire. Higher Speed tires require a better/more expensive rubber compound.

For a picture (in words) of a blowout here's what happens ( I copied this):
The loss of integrity of the rubber that holds the tire together is what causes blowouts.
Actually the tires don’t "blow out", they start losing air. This causes the side walls to flex more and create more heat.
This heat causes the rubber to melt (lose integrity) and the belts start to slip.
The air leaks out faster because the slipping belts cause a faster leak.
The rubber lets go faster and the tire eventually comes apart.
This is the delamination.



Anyway -- to each there own. I visit RV forums regular and the one common thing is blow-outs on trailer tires. It is very rare to hear of a blow-out on a LT tire.

Good Post Randy!!

Moved this thread

MUST BE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME 41 YRS. AGO MY BOY IS 41 CHEAP RUBBER .

i have the original load star tires from 2004 on it but i do not overload my trailer.i keep my pressures high as well. the treads are starting to get chewed up so i am looking and shopping because it will be soon.thanks again! rich

I have the maxxis 8ply trailer tires and they perform well....one set lasted 7 years before they started to come apart....I walk around and inspect mine often...they cost about 108.00 ea.

JimBob wrote:

MUST BE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME 41 YRS. AGO MY BOY IS 41 CHEAP RUBBER .

yeah...when I was growing up in the 60's the term rubber baby was a everyday word....

Several of my heavy trailers (boat trailer for 10k + boat and 36 Haulmark enclosed) came with Goodyear Wrangler LT load range D tires on them. They lasted well.

I have a 16' open trailer with a cheap set of LT tires on it. I bought them used and think I gave $100 for 4 of them. They have done very well, even when hauling a load as large as 9000lb mini escavator.

I have a set of trailer tires and wheels on 15 inch 6 lug rims for sale if you're interested

Very good info. Wish I would have seen this thread before ordering tires the other day. I may have been able to buy a load range D LT tire cheaper than what I paid for trailer tires.

I got 2 Carlisle Radials for $200 and free shipping. They are supposed to wear longer, resist cracking and dry rot longer than most other trailer tires.

Whatever came on my trailer is 4 yrs old and completely bald. I ran the max 50 psi the whole time, and used it on avg, every three weeks. Never had any trouble, but most of the time I was not going over 65.

these are e rated and I have 5