Posted 2012-04-18 10:29 PM (#143204) Subject: Car Tires on 2 Horse Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Alabama
I need four new tires for my two horse bumper pull trailer. I've always used car tires instead of trailer tires. Is there something so much better about trailer tires that I should use them instead of car tires? The size I need is P215/75R15.
Posted 2012-04-18 11:26 PM (#143206 - in reply to #143204) Subject: RE: Car Tires on 2 Horse Trailer
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Pass on the car tires...Car tires have soft sidewalls for a smooth ride. Trailer tires are built with stiffer sidewalls even in the lower load ranges. These days in Load Range E and above there is no difference between ST (special trailer) and E's typically found on 3/4 and 1 ton trucks.
Posted 2012-04-18 11:55 PM (#143208 - in reply to #143206) Subject: RE: Car Tires on 2 Horse Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Alabama
Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2012-04-18 11:26 PM
Pass on the car tires...Car tires have soft sidewalls for a smooth ride. Trailer tires are built with stiffer sidewalls even in the lower load ranges. These days in Load Range E and above there is no difference between ST (special trailer) and E's typically found on 3/4 and 1 ton trucks.
Thanks for answering so quickly. Do you know any brand that carries Load Range E tires in 15 inch?
Posted 2012-04-19 8:16 AM (#143213 - in reply to #143204) Subject: RE: Car Tires on 2 Horse Trailer
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
Just my opinion, but I've run a P225/75R15 for years on my small trailers and been very happy. Yes, I have also run a ST225/75R15 (Load Range D), but it was probably overkill on the weight rating.
Posted 2012-04-19 9:24 AM (#143214 - in reply to #143204) Subject: RE: Car Tires on 2 Horse Trailer
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Williamsburg VA
We have run P metric tires on our 2 horse steel trailer with no dressing room. We get a smooth ride without the stiffer sidewalls of ST or LT tires and been very happy with the handling.
Posted 2012-04-19 11:08 AM (#143215 - in reply to #143204) Subject: RE: Car Tires on 2 Horse Trailer
Regular
Posts: 72 Location: New Mexico
My 14' x 5' stock combo CM trailer came w/ 225(or 215; never can remember, and, it's not sitting here in the room w/ me!)/75R 15 M&S(?) Firestone? tires. They are still on it, though near needing replacement, after @ 16-17 years of ownership...most of the time outside, though 'usually' covered or oriented to take advantage of the 'least' exposure to sun(via direction the trailer is parked.)To be fair, I should add that I never hauled more than two 15 H. 'fullsized' horses in it, and that,only seldom...using it almost entirely to haul either one fullsized or several minis, plus my carriage(s) or carts--so never 'fullly' loaded, weightwise. Always keep these tires at 'max' air pressure, rotate myself, bearings lubed, etc., at recommended intervals by nearby trailer dealership. I pull w/ a '99 F-250 SD 4 WD ext. cab, and usually don't go over 65 when pulling the trailer. I can't complain....