Trailer tire wear.

[captengine44]

My trailer tire treads wear and cup on the inside and out side treads. The middle two treads are fine. I even over inflated the tires by 5- 10 psi. to try and stop the wear. I called the trailer manufacturer and they said it could be from the way the road surface is formed. (Ha right!! ) The tires are 1 1/2 years old and I will have to buy new tires next season. Anyone have any possible solutions?

[BigWillJ]

Took one of my tires, which were in the same shape, to several different tire dealers. To a person, they looked at it and immediately guessed it came off a boat trailer. They all suggested radials over bias ply might help.

[baylinercuddy]

Yep, switch to Radials. I had the same problem with Bias Ply.

--Mark

[captengine44]

Thanks for the replys. I will try radials. Should you balance the tires on trailers?

[Lone Ranger]

ce44..Bet you they are Load Star...K 550's......They SUCK.I balanced mine as soon as I bought the trailer,kept them to max. inflation[50 psi.] and even rotated them.STILL they wear as you described!!

I think the Belt they use in the tread area does NOT go all the way across the tread area IMHO.

As for Balancing your Trailer tires...ABSOLUTLEY!!!!!

[Bob H.]

If the trailer has torsion suspension make sure that both sides are adjusted the same. Unequal adjustment will wear out the tire on the softer side.

[Tom Kidwell]

I had the same problem with bias tires. Switched to premium radials and have not had a moment's problem since. It should be unlawful for trailer manufactures to put bias tires on a boat trailer. Good luck!

[POLECAT]

To answer your question about should the tires be balanced.....

Absolutely yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If if turns, it should be balanced.


Do not listen to the "mechanics" that tell you it does not matter. It matters a lot.

[BigWillJ]

POLECAT originally wrote:
To answer your question about should the tires be balanced.....

Absolutely yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If if turns, it should be balanced.

Do not listen to the "mechanics" that tell you it does not matter. It matters a lot.

Ditto that for sure....

[captengine44]

Thanks again for the replys! Now, which radials should I buy? I know that they should have a ST rating, but what brand ? Goodyear marathon or another brand??

[BigWillJ]

captengine44 originally wrote:
Thanks again for the replys! Now, which radials should I buy? I know that they should have a ST rating, but what brand ? Goodyear marathon or another brand??

Unless I hear something really convincing about other tires, those are going on our tandem trailer before next year's "season".

[fixit]

I have the same problem, I'm going with Radial tires....

[SamC]

Goodyear Marathon Radials the only way to fly. I will never own
Bias tires again.

[Bob G]

Just FYI, if changing to radials don't work it may be an axel problem. I had similar wear and maintained my tires well, until 2 separate sources told me it was likely a bent spindle. I got the axel replaced, and no problems since.

[Bob H.]

I've never had a problem with bias tires in 15 years of trailering. I've never worn out a set but replace them every few years as sidewall cracks develop from the brutal sun exposure they get in my yard. I also balance my trailer tires. I just switched to radials yesterday as the result of an accident (trailer got hit) that tore up one of tires. I'm curious to see if there's difference. Radials were actually a few buck cheaper than bias.

[BigWillJ]

I've often asked myself why do (boat) trailer tires develop those cracks after a few years, and our vehicle tires don't? Probably also includes other trailer types (camping, horse, etc.).

Perhaps due to changing out vehicle tires sooner because of mileage? Though we've had vehicles with same tires for more than two years at a time. And they get the same environmental exposures.

Thoughts on that?

[Fishfirst]

I am no expert and this is just a guess...

Saltwater, sunlight, and they tend to just sit there most of the time... unless pulling the boat to go fishing.

Like I said I dunno, just a guess.

[POLECAT]

My guess is that the rubber compounds used in car and trailer tires are different and are affected differently by the environment. I have a utility trailer that I installed automotive style radial tires on over 14 years ago. These tires look brand new compared to the tires on my boat trailer. My guess is the boat trailer tires have less than 5ooo miles on them since new in 1997. The boat trailer is always parked under a carport where the sunshine, rain and snow never gets to the tires. The utility trailer is always kept in the open in direct exposure to the elements 24/7/365. The utility trailer has been on three round trips to Colorado and used extensively around home. My best guess is that the tires on the utility trailer have in excess of 10,ooo miles on them. The boat trailer tires have probably 85% tread left on them and have cracks in the sidewalls. When I replace them it will be with radial truck tires, definitely not trailer tires. This is what I will do and am not advising the public that it is what they should do. To each his own.

[Togger]

I agree with Polecat. My boat is on a homemade dual axle trailer with regular car tires. This was used equipment when I bought it 10 years ago. I sits out in the sun through the entire summer season. The tires remain in great shape, hardly any cracking visible.

I have a camper that had brand new trailer tires put on 6 years ago, and these have much more cracking by now than my boat trailer car tires which are at least twice as old.

They do caution against using car tires on boat trailers due to the danger of overloading, but my boat is 19' and is on a dual axle trailer, so there is not much weight on each tire.