Trailer tires

Discussion in 'Trailers' started by BadDog, Mar 17, 2005.

  1. BadDog

    BadDog TRC Staff Staff Member

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    What do you guys like for tires? Was was running radials, but didn't care for them due to heat and sway, plus I had 2 separate. Just put a full set of Cooper bias trailer tires on. Don't know much about trailer tires, but based on some research, these seem to be pretty good price/value trailer tires.
     
  2. FordCummins1

    FordCummins1 Well-Known Member

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    I've got Goodyear ST's on my trailer and have absolutely no complaints about them. Incredible wear, no sway and very stiff sidewalls.
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2005
  3. RJF's Red Cummins

    RJF's Red Cummins TRC Staff Moderator

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    We have Goodyear tires on the snowmobile trailer and they seem ok. I saved my old Michelin LTX A/S tires for our gooseneck that came off my Ram cummins.
     
  4. FordCummins1

    FordCummins1 Well-Known Member

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    Unless you only want to haul sacks of marshmellows around, I wouldnt use car/truck tires on a trailer application. Especially one that would seemingly be in alot of heavy weight uses (like a gooseneck trailer). The tires are constructed in a completely different manner, and truck tires on a trailer wont last very long and will tend to sway and flex alot. Trailer tires are built with a very still sidewall to prevent sway when going down the road. Do yourself a favor and sell the old Michelins and buy some proper trailer tires. It will make things alot easier and safer towing. Here is another good explanation of why not to run car tires on a trailer.

    http://www.easternmarine.com/em_store/trailertires/
     
  5. BadDog

    BadDog TRC Staff Staff Member

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    I agree. As someone who has run both, looking back on it, I was a fool to run the truck tires as long as I did. Big difference and well worth the cost of the trailer tires...
     
  6. INTERCEPTOR

    INTERCEPTOR Active Member

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    I have tryed both in the past on my other trailers. I would spend a little more and get true bias trailer tires. Less sway better on handling plus alot safer.
     
  7. Super Trucker

    Super Trucker Well-Known Member

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    I haven't looked into it yet. Do they make trailer spec radial LD trailer tires. I know in big rig tires you can get better fuel mileage just by running radial trailer tires. Also pulling a 7-8% grade I can run 1 to 2 gears faster with radials on my trailer over running "rag" tires. This is due to the lower rolling resistance. I would run "all postion" tires all around on the rig but need the added traction of "deep drive" tires for the type of work I do.
     
  8. jbear

    jbear Active Member

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    Anyone else got some input? I need to buy at least 2 soon. Anyone buy the tire/wheel packages most places want to sell? I'm looking at 16/16.5, 8 on 6.5". Going rate seems to be $100 for tires or $160 for the combo.
     
  9. SuperGewl

    SuperGewl Member

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    You need to replace ALL of your tires at one time. Yes the new ones may say they are the same size but when you stack them up next to one another you will be amazed that in most cases they are actually different sizes in true diameter. The other thing about trailer tires is if they are 5 yers old or more then replace them. Even though they look good replace them. Trailers don't get the same amount af attention as we give our daily drivers so the tires have alot of sitting time in one place and dry rot and loads of UV rays in one spot.
     
  10. jbear

    jbear Active Member

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    I know, all 4 tires are the same "size" but only 2 are the same dimentionally. I'm not going to sweat it as long as I've got 2 matching pairs.
    Back to my "?", anyone?
     
  11. MNorby

    MNorby Well-Known Member

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    I put some Akuret (sp?) 10 ply 7.00x15 on the 18" car hauler and they ran like $35 ea. On the work horse trailers run 7.50x16 and they are $110 ea but they are tons better than regular pickup tires on a trailer.
     

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