Car tires on trailers

[BLOWN HOWARD]

Having a hard time with trailer tires. How many people running car tires on the boat trailer?

 

[braindead]

Lots!

 

[pronstar]

I would venture to say that, sooner or later, nearly everyone with half a brain wises-up and goes to car or LT tires for their trailers.


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[Flying_Lavey]

My trailer collects VERY few miles due to not going anywhere besides Naci. But even when I was towing from Burbank to Naci several times a year I was running on car tires. They are about 6 years old now and no issues. No dry rot, very little wear, very little pressure loss, etc....

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[Joker]

Just blew out another car tire yesterday on the way to Havasu. I need to find another option as this has to be the 5th tire blown going there from bullhead over the last few years


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[RitcheyRch]

I had car tires on my boat trailer and that's what came on it from Competitive Trailers.

 

[pwerwagn]

I have car tires on both boat trailers.

 

[2FORCEFULL]

Just blew out another car tire yesterday on the way to Havasu. I need to find another option as this has to be the 5th tire blown going there from bullhead over the last few years


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is it the right rear?

 

[ToMorrow44]

I have car tires on mine. My old trailer had General Altimax car tires which were loaded to their max weight all the time, towing so cal and back, ran them 8 years per set, never one failure. Hell never even a flat tire.

 

[2FORCEFULL]

Having a hard time with trailer tires. How many people running car tires on the boat trailer?

it doesn't matter what tires, what matters is the load rating, trailer tires have a higher load rating and use more air pressure... so say you use a tire with a load rating of 1500 lbs,...running max air pressure, you are only at 6000 lb gross... most tandum trailers are at 7000 lb, so now you are at 1000 underrated tires....most trailer tires blow out the right rear...reason for this is the trailer is wider than the truck... going down the road you will run the trailer tires on the right off the driven path.... so the right front will throw nails and such right into the the right rear...boom... blow out...the next thing you "MUST" do... run the max air pressure...car tires will work good on trailers if they are load rated....I see people with 80 psi tires running at 50 psi... you cut the load rating in half ... so say it was 2500 lb rated ... now it's at 1250lbs..running low pressure causes heat... heat causes blow outs... if you have more than one blow out you have to stand back and look at what going on..watch the mirrors and see where the tires are traveling down the road... stop at 50 miles and see if the tires are getting hot... if they are, and you are at max airpressure... time to go to bigger tires..or higher load rating... tires are designed to roll down the road at rated load...

 

[2FORCEFULL]

Just blew out another car tire yesterday on the way to Havasu. I need to find another option as this has to be the 5th tire blown going there from bullhead over the last few years


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not try'n to rub you the wrong way...but UR doing some thing wrong...

 

[Joker]

is it the right rear?

It varies. Never really the same tire. Last year the spare exploded while hanging on the trailer. At first i thought it was the dips on the 40 east cutting the edges but the tires are just blowing apart. This is the tire size.

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[Joker]

it doesn't matter what tires, what matters is the load rating, trailer tires have a higher load rating and use more air pressure... so say you use a tire with a load rating of 1500 lbs,...running max air pressure, you are only at 6000 lb gross... most tandum trailers are at 7000 lb, so now you are at 1000 underrated tires....most trailer tires blow out the right rear...reason for this is the trailer is wider than the truck... going down the road you will run the trailer tires on the right off the driven path.... so the right front will throw nails and such right into the the right rear...boom... blow out...the next thing you "MUST" do... run the max air pressure...car tires will work good on trailers if they are load rated....I see people with 80 psi tires running at 50 psi... you cut the load rating in half ... so say it was 2500 lb rated ... now it's at 1250lbs..running low pressure causes heat... heat causes blow outs... if you have more than one blow out you have to stand back and look at what going on..watch the mirrors and see where the tires are traveling down the road... stop at 50 miles and see if the tires are getting hot... if they are, and you are at max airpressure... time to go to bigger tires..or higher load rating... tires are designed to roll down the road at rated load...

I’ll need to review my setup. I thought my entire setup with the 22 was maybe 4K lbs? I’m not sure. The current tires are rated 1600 lbs and i was running them at 40 max psi. Maybe I’m wrong on the trailer/boat weight?


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[BLOWN HOWARD]

What would a 26ft cat and triple axle trailer weigh? Ballpark 6k-7k

 

[Joker]

What would a 26ft cat and triple axle trailer weigh? Ballpark 6k-7k

I’d assume you’re heavier than that?


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[Joker]

My latest casualty


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[Singleton]

What would a 26ft cat and triple axle trailer weigh? Ballpark 6k-7k

More. My 26 deck, loaded is around 8

 

[TPC]

Run 14 ply steel trailer tires and don’t look back.
The cheap ones are as good as the expensive ones.
Cooper tire stores has them.
They look serious too.

 

[2FORCEFULL]

View attachment 646953

My latest casualty


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what brand is the tire,??? and what's the date code???

 

[Singleton]

what's the date code???

Check this. Purchased new trailer tires Feb 2015. Dates on tires were from 2012. Those tires never made it on trailer. Refused all tires until date codes were from 2014 or newer.

 

[pronstar]

It varies. Never really the same tire. Last year the spare exploded while hanging on the trailer. At first i thought it was the dips on the 40 east cutting the edges but the tires are just blowing apart. This is the tire size.
View attachment 646948


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You’re likely overloaded and don’t really have many options at that size.

An ST trailer tire is gonna be your only option. And if you’re at 8k lbs you’re still pushing it.


Here’s why trailer tires suck:
For any tire, load capacity decreases as speed increases.

Like all tires, trailer tires are load-rated at the tire’s speed rating.
And ST (trailer) tires carry a 65 mph rating.
There’s no headroom.

The shittiest car tire is going to have a speed rating of S (112 mph) or higher. Which means it can carry it’s rated load at this speed. And gives you considerable headroom at lower speeds.

You need to weigh your boat/trailer. Then choose the tire with proper load rating. And keep vehicle speed in mind.

Tire makers came up with trailer tires for literally one reason:
Profit.
There’s less liability because they aren’t carrying people.
The load rating is “inflated” by lowering the rated speed.

Here’s a good test:
Find a trailer tire, and a car or truck tire with a similar load rating. Or just compare specs online.
The car/truck tire will be a LOT heavier.
More rubber, more belts, more material.


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[Bpracing1127]

It’s all about managing heat! Keep the heat down they will do just fine.

Ways to keep the heat down

Keep Air pressure up
Don’t overload
Bearings spin and brakes don’t drag
Don’t go 80mph

 

[TPC]

Go to Cooper Tire and pick up a 14 ply steel, then pick up their best quality regular trailer tire.
You'll be instantly impressed and bust out the CC.
They run slightly smaller diameter/rollout so you can run them on triples with no clearance issues.
They don't dry out and they'll last longer too.

 

[PDQH20]

One other thing you should consider, as recommended to me by a friend: if the trailer is stored outside where the tires see even moderate sun, use wheel covers.

That, along with the tips and info offered above, has made a huge difference in the life of my trailer tires.

 

[nowski]

They just don't make tires like they use to. I've been using car tires on my trailer for over twenty five years. Other than that here are some of my opinions why the tires fail prematurely.

Heat will kill a tire quicker than one might think. If you have a blowout, was the blown tire mounted to where the disc brakes are located? These wheels run much hotter than the wheels with no brakes.

Tire pressure, tires will expand when more than you may think when they get hot. Run less tire pressure on the tires mounted where the disc brakes are located.

Wheel bearings will generate heat if the hubs are not adjusted properly. Properly greased bearings run cooler as well.

Sitting tires when boat is in storage. I jack up the trailer and turn the wheel 180, 90, and 180 degrees every couple of months so the tire isn't always sitting in the same place.

Tire Age, I try to get 3 seasons out of my trailer tires any more than that I'm taking my chances.

I also use a non-contact digital infrared thermometer gun to check wheel heat when I pull into a gas station or rest stop. This lets me know how everything is running and also lets me know if maintenance will need to be addressed after returning from a trip. I hope some of these tips help...

 

[BLOWN HOWARD]

Next problem tire size nothing available in a trailer tire only a car tire. Smallest trailer tire will not fit it rubs currently running 195-65-14 adjusted torsion axle to try and fit 205-75-14 and they are rubbing the fender on the front tire.

 

[4Waters]

Run 14 ply steel trailer tires and don’t look back.
The cheap ones are as good as the expensive ones.
Cooper tire stores has them.
They look serious too.

What size are you running? I can't find anything.

 

[bocco]

My trailer has P235/60R14. It's a 97 Extreme and it has very low mounted fenders. I can only find one trailer tire in that size and no LT tires at all. It still has the cooper cobra tires that were on it when I bought it. They have worked pretty well so I guess I'll just do another set which will probably be the beginning of next season.

I currently have about 38 lbs of air in them and I guess I should bump it to the max rating.

 

[Runs2rch]

My trailer has P235/60R14. It's a 97 Extreme and it has very low mounted fenders. I can only find one trailer tire in that size and no LT tires at all. It still has the cooper cobra tires that were on it when I bought it. They have worked pretty well so I guess I'll just do another set which will probably be the beginning of next season.

I currently have about 38 lbs of air in them and I guess I should bump it to the max rating.

Def up that psi.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I always ran LT (Light Truck) tires without incident. I had so many trailer tire casualties which sent me in a new direction. It wasn't so much losing the tires, but the replacement of the stainless steel fenders that ticked me off. I just picked up a new project and it will be getting LT's soon.

 

[Joker]

It’s all about managing heat! Keep the heat down they will do just fine.

Ways to keep the heat down

Keep Air pressure up
Don’t overload
Bearings spin and brakes don’t drag
Don’t go 80mph

I noticed while i had one side jacked up yesterday, the wheel would not spin freely. Normal?


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[Joker]

You’re likely overloaded and don’t really have many options at that size.

An ST trailer tire is gonna be your only option. And if you’re at 8k lbs you’re still pushing it.


Here’s why trailer tires suck:
For any tire, load capacity decreases as speed increases.

Like all tires, trailer tires are load-rated at the tire’s speed rating.
And ST (trailer) tires carry a 65 mph rating.
There’s no headroom.

The shittiest car tire is going to have a speed rating of S (112 mph) or higher. Which means it can carry it’s rated load at this speed. And gives you considerable headroom at lower speeds.

You need to weigh your boat/trailer. Then choose the tire with proper load rating. And keep vehicle speed in mind.

Tire makers came up with trailer tires for literally one reason:
Profit.
There’s less liability because they aren’t carrying people.
The load rating is “inflated” by lowering the rated speed.

Here’s a good test:
Find a trailer tire, and a car or truck tire with a similar load rating. Or just compare specs online.
The car/truck tire will be a LOT heavier.
More rubber, more belts, more material.


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I can’t adjust the size or it will rub. I only have 1” of clearance on the outside as it is.


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[NicPaus]

What size are you running? I can't find anything.

235/80/16 for the 14 ply but will not fit most boat trailers. They are overkill for most boat trailers. Better for toyhaulers and heavy dump trailers. I switched over and can tell when towing there is more drag cause they are so heavy. Samson is manufacturer buy them from Simpletire.com

 

[3queens]

TIRE TECH
Trailer Tires vs. Passenger Vehicle Tires
(Lea en español)

There are differences in the driving requirements between the tires on your trailer and those on the car or light truck you use to tow it. Therefore, there are distinct differences between the way trailer tires and tow vehicle tires are engineered.

Your tow vehicle is a leader, which means traction is a key focus in the design of its tires. Traction allows your tow vehicle to accelerate down the road, turn around the corner and brake to a stop. Another important consideration is tow vehicle tires are designed for ride comfort, which is achieved in part by allowing their sidewalls to flex.

Your trailer is a follower, which often makes tire sidewall flexing a negative. Sidewall flexing on trailers, especially those with a high center of gravity (enclosed/travel trailers) or that carry heavy loads, is a primary cause of trailer sway. Typical passenger radial tires with flexible sidewalls can accentuate trailer sway problems. The stiffer sidewalls and higher operating pressures common with Special Trailer (ST) designated tires help reduce trailer sway.

"Trailers will be more stable and pull better on tires designed specifically for trailer use. Since Special Trailer (ST) tires are constructed with heavier duty materials, they are tougher than typical passenger vehicle tires."

Also consider that Special Trailer (ST), as well as Light Truck (LT) tires are fully rated for trailer applications. This means ST- and LT-sized tires can carry the full weight rating branded on the sidewalls when used on a trailer.

However when P-metric or Euro-metric tires are used on a trailer, the load capacity branded on the sidewalls must be reduced by 9%. This means P-metric or Euro-metric tires with a maximum branded load rating of 1,874 lbs. for use on a car is only rated to carry 1,705 lbs. when used on a trailer.

Comparing the load capacities of a pair of tires of the same dimensions fitted to a single axle trailer, ST225/75R15 Load Range C-sized tires inflated to their maximum of 50 psi provide 4,300 lbs. of load capacity, where P225/75R15 Standard Load-sized tires inflated to their maximum of 35 psi would be limited to 3,410 lbs. of load capacity, a total reduction of 890 pounds.

Trailers will be more stable and pull better on tires designed specifically for trailer use. Since Special Trailer (ST) tires are constructed with heavier duty materials, they are tougher than typical passenger vehicle tires. This is a plus because trailer suspension systems are generally stiffer and less sophisticated than automotive suspension systems.

Special Trailer (ST) Tire Speed Ratings
Industry standards dictate tires with the ST designation are speed rated to 65 MPH (104 km/h) under normal inflation and load conditions.

However Goodyear Marathon and Power King Towmax STR tires featuring the ST size designation may be used at speeds between 66 and 75 mph (106 and 121 km/h) by increasing their cold inflation pressure by 10 psi (69 kPa) above the recommended pressure for the rated maximum load.

Do not exceed the wheel's maximum rated pressure. If the maximum pressure for the wheel prohibits the increase of air pressure, then maximum speed must be restricted to 65 mph (104 km/h).

The cold inflation pressure must not exceed 10 psi (69 kPa) beyond the inflation specified for the maximum load of the tire.

Increasing the inflation pressure by 10 psi (69 kPa) does not provide any additional load carrying capacity.

i stick with LT or ST for my trailer side wall and load capacity are key

 

[lbhsbz]

I noticed while i had one side jacked up yesterday, the wheel would not spin freely. Normal?


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No, not normal.

 

[Joker]

what brand is the tire,??? and what's the date code???

[emoji15] 2007
Roadmaster Rampage GT


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[TPC]

What size are you running? I can't find anything.

Some guys have had to change wheel size to run them.
There are combo wheel/tire packages avail if you Google it. Lost the link. I'll see if I can find it.
Goodyear makes them and Cooper also sells a generic line.
Our RV is in the shop now having a wheel well replaced from the new Carlisles grenading last fall.
$1700 in parts and paint alone to do it myself.
Got tired of that as did our friends.
They're putting them on their Boat, Horse and utility trailers too and reports are good.
Nothing like changing blowouts on hot asphalt on a 113F day.
You can run them at lower pressures with no issues goes the tale from the dealer.

Friends are also running the Hercules and loving them.
Here's a start:
http://www.yournexttire.com/new-tir...901-st-trailer-14-ply-st235-80r16-124l-atdst/

You can call them and give them your size:
1-888-513-8473 Very helpful people.


I'll try and find the link of the place that sends you complete wheels/tires.
Reasonable prices we felt.

 

[Joker]

No, not normal.

Causes or what i can do to help it?


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[NicPaus]

Causes or what i can do to help it?


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Brake dragging or a wheel bearing.

 

[Joker]

Brake dragging or a wheel bearing.

Oh lord. So i need to go to a trailer shop after it gets out of the boat shop[emoji34]


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[Ballyhoo]

Have run LT tires for 18 years without issue. In the desert they last about 4-5 years MAX, before they start coming apart on the inside. I always have them properly inflated. Never have had a blowout. I personally change them every 4 years.

Each time they are replaced, they look like new on the outside and mess on the inside. It sux replacing so often but I believe that it minimizes the chance of having issues.

Make sure the date codes are current when you buy new tires.

 

[bocco]

So it looks like I'm deciding between the Cooper Cobra and the Carlisle ultra sport which is a trailer tire.

https://www.americastire.com/fitmentresult/tires/size/235-60-14

Ultra sport has a higher load rating and a higher price.

Opinions?

 

[Rvrluvr]

Oh lord. So i need to go to a trailer shop after it gets out of the boat shop[emoji34]


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You want just a pinch of drag or you will smoke the bearings. But it should not be difficult. To turn

 

[pronstar]

Another thing to keep in mind about blowouts when you’re close to your tire weight limit:
If you have one, the other tire on that side is now severely overloaded.
Which means it’s now weaker and much more likely to fail.


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[RiverDave]

Having a hard time with trailer tires. How many people running car tires on the boat trailer?

That's all I will run on my Schiada.. If the boat isn't crazy heavy Car tires are the way to go. Better sizes / lower profile sidewalls etc.. Better tread patterns, and for some reason they don't blow out (unlike trailer tires which always seems to be blowing out?)

RD

 

[RiverDave]

Oh lord. So i need to go to a trailer shop after it gets out of the boat shop[emoji34]


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Four or five tires ago..

RD

 

[ToMorrow44]

Next problem tire size nothing available in a trailer tire only a car tire. Smallest trailer tire will not fit it rubs currently running 195-65-14 adjusted torsion axle to try and fit 205-75-14 and they are rubbing the fender on the front tire.

I had 195/65s on my previous trailer with my 27 Advantage. Boat and trailer together were right about 7k. I ran General Altimax tires, never a problem even though they’re at max load.

 

[BLOWN HOWARD]

I had 195/65s on my previous trailer with my 27 Advantage. Boat and trailer together were right about 7k. I ran General Altimax tires, never a problem even though they’re at max load.

How long ago was this I can't seem to find to find that size anymore

 

[2Driver]

So it looks like I'm deciding between the Cooper Cobra and the Carlisle ultra sport which is a trailer tire.

https://www.americastire.com/fitmentresult/tires/size/235-60-14

Ultra sport has a higher load rating and a higher price.

Opinions?

Discount tire stopped carrying Carlisle again. ( they stopped years ago due to issues then started again once Carlisle reworked the tire according to DT. The store by me said there were too many issues and they discontinued them again.

Not sure if that’s the case or they found a tire with better profit margins. The tires they were carrying in a 205 75 15 were mostly Chinese names I had not heard of.

 

[ToMorrow44]

How long ago was this I can't seem to find to find that size anymore

Just looked it up, must have been the 195/60/14 that I was running. I remember the 1168lb rating x 6 = 7008lb which was right at what my trailer weighed.