Utility Trailer Tires

[MBAtarga]

What is the collective advice on utility trailer tire replacements? I've got a trailer that is about 8 years of age. Have used it periodically for Big Box store runs for lumber, landscape supply places for garden dirt, mulch, etc. Has a few apartment moves for each of the 2 kids, etc. Not any extended use or heavy weight hauling anyway. Tires are original and plenty of tread left.

So what measure should do use to replace the tires? And replace tires/wheels at the same time - or is it cheaper to replace the rubber only?

Replace after a blowout?

Replace when they are low on air?

Replace at 5 years? 10 years? Never?

[KFC911]

Never -1 day . .... for short distance, around town (no highways, etc) hauling.

But I sleep on a mattress older than 8 years too ...

[GH85Carrera]

It all depends on storage. If you keep the tires out of the sun, and clean and don't haul a heavy load, 10 years is fine. If you park in the back yard, in the dirt, and full sun exposure, much sooner.

Like many things, I wanted a trailer of my own. But with the bed of the El Camino, most loads are easy to get home without a trailer. When I need one. I just rent from U-haul and let them take care of the maintenance.

[asphaltgambler]

You can check closely for dry-rotting, other than that proper inflation of course. I would be concerned with servicing the wheel bearings which are either 1st or 2nd things to go bad with a load on. The wheel / tire wheel combos are cheap, but for a reason. If replacing, I'd look for name-brand tires.

[cabmandone]

I check for cracking in the tread and on the sidewalls. Any sign of cracking, I'd get new ones. I typically buy Carlisle but I stipulate Made in the USA when buying. Carlisle has Made in China as well as USA made tires

[Chocaholic]

Just replaced my trailer tires at 10 yrs. Not worth risking the immense hassle of a blowout on a full trailer to save a few bucks.

[Gogar]

Trailer tires are cheap. If you're asking yourself the question then maybe you know the answer!

[Seahawk]

I have four trailers, two utility, a horse trailer and a dump trailer.

Horse and dump trailer every five year regardless. They are both dual axle. I have had one flat on the loaded dump trailer and it was a gigantic pain. My fault, btw: "I'll replace them next week..."

One of the utility trailers is my wife's tool, plant and equipment hauler and never leaves the farm. Single axle and light. If a tires ever go flat, I'll replace them both at the same time.

The second utility is an 18ft dual axle and I replace the tires every seven years or so, depending on use. There was a time I was using it quite a bit and average a set every few years.

If you are moving furniture/stuff I'd replace them now as recommended, especially if the trailer is single axle. Again, huge pain to change and most folks don't carry a spare.

Have fun, grease everything.

[porsche930dude]

I replace mine when the cracks get alarmingly big or if they hold air less than a day from all the leaky dry rot. But I always use regular car tires because trailer tires are garbage and a scam.

[Tobra]

tires are a time sensitive commodity, old rubber is bad juju

Son in law has 8 year old tires on the truck he is driving from Sacramento to Reno for school, snowy weather when he started. I told them he needed to replace the tires, he says they have plenty of tread on them, which is not the problem. I turned to my daughter and asked her how much life insurance does she have on him. She thought I was joking. He is starting a new semester. HOT weather on old tires, with plenty of tread. Fortunately, he is driving the commuter utensil Honda that gets double the fuel economy of the truck for the summer.

I am calling my guy at Radial Tire Service next time I "borrow" his truck.

[john70t]

Trailers are used seldom.
In the meantime they should be stored on wood blocks in the air.

Add a sticker for when tires were replaced last.
Same for wheel bearings.

What is a breakdown worth in the middle of night, nowhere, tired, and a paid hotel is waiting...

[MBAtarga]

Here's a picture and why I posted originally. Plenty of tread left, but some cracking and no issue with holding air. These are original from the 2014 trailer purchase.




I've been shopping on-line. It's interesting how you can find what I suspect are "Chinese" tires and wheels cheaper than you can buy a name brand tire. I'm leaning towards buying name brand tires and have them mounted.

[fintstone]

I bought a very nice used Trailex (aluminum) that was a few years old. It had been stored outside in Colorado. Towed it home and my 911s around town a little without any problems. Started out moving cross country on the 4th of July Weekend (one of the hottest on record). Packed the bearings but the tires looked very good (no cracks. plenty tread) and the trailer was light as was the car ('74 911). One by one, each of the four tires blew out and the spare. It was hard to find any tires as it seems everyone was having the same issue (same tires and many campers/trailers). We had to spend the night in a WalMart parking lot twice waiting for a tire store to open the next day. Wife was not amused. Replaced all the tires and the spare. That was ten years ago. Tires still look like new as have not used it since. Next trip gets all new tires...no matter how they look.

[ted]

On my enclosed trailer I like the 10 ply trailer tires.
I keep the tires covered but still it seems just before a long trip I'll find one with a pulled belt or side bulge that I replace immediately.
Towing is inherently dangerous.
I don't loan out my trailer just to protect the tires and trailer condition.
I don't use tires older than 7 years based on the build date on the tire.
My spare is also replaced after 7 years even if it was always in the trailer and never used.
Knock on wood I've only had one trailer tire fail in 35 years of towing.


I'd use 8 ply on a lighter car trailer.
Car radials are not the best choice.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

I've been shopping on-line. It's interesting how you can find what I suspect are "Chinese" tires and wheels cheaper than you can buy a name brand tire. I'm leaning towards buying name brand tires and have them mounted.

Mark, I've had good luck with Goodyear Endurance tires. Avoid the "China bombs", they'll blow out and leave you stranded...

https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/endurance

[Scott Douglas]

Dad always had my brother and I pack the wheel bearings on the Boles Aero Zenith tandem axle trailer we had before every camping trip. He liked to run retreaded tires on the trailer. Looking back this was probably a cost savings as we only used it once maybe twice per year. We'd have blow outs every once in a while but the experience of packing the bearings meant we, my brother and I, were pretty quick at changing tires.
I guess my always having good tires on our cars comes from that experience, kind of like the experience my dad had of burning out a wheel bearing on a trailer up in Alaska out in the middle of nowhere influenced him.

[Superman]

Those tires are toast.

I'd be inclined to put regular automotive tires on it rather than the wimpy trailer tires, and I would not use something made in China. And....I'm just against single-axle trailers. If it were the size of a wheel barrow, maybe. And I would repack the bearings regularly.

The point is that trailers open up a whole new world of potential disasters.

[ted]

Originally Posted by Superman

Those tires are toast.
The point is that trailers open up a whole new world of potential disasters.

One disaster is if you loan out your trailer and something happens you are liable too as the trailer owner.