Posted 2007-05-19 7:51 AM (#60983) Subject: trailer tires help please
Veteran
Posts: 148
Location: columbia tn
hello i know alot of you will know about this and i obvisouly dont... ok i need to replace my trailer tires not because of tread wear but age (4yrs old) and i had a flat the other day going down the interstate and yep that was the decision maker right there.. the trailer is 4yrs old and it has lt 235/85/r16 on it.. my question is this trailer weighs 8600 lbs unloaded than you add 3000 for horse and another 2000 for tack,water etc..these tires are E rated and they all have a 3042lbs rating on them.. i have been looking on tire rack and they all have this 3042 rating on them.. you multiply that by 4 and its 12148lbs.. my trailer loaded is around 13600 or maybe a little more so are these now under rated tires.... i know they put e rated radials on these all the time so please give me any info and tell me a good tire for this trailer.. i have been looking at bf goodrich commerical,firestone,geolander, etc all have 3042 load range e... thanks everyone
Posted 2007-05-19 8:16 AM (#60985 - in reply to #60983) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
Your trailer probably has 6000lb axles. So you can carry 12,000 on the axles. 4 tires at 3042 = 12168 which matches up with your axles.
When you hook up, approximately 25% of the trailer weight is on the Gooseneck ball. On your trailer 13600lbs * 25% = 3400lbs on ball leaving 10200lbs on tires and axles. So you are within your ratings.
If you upgraded to a "G" rated tire. Which is rated at 3750 lbs at 110 psi That gives you 15,000 lbs total on 4 tires. These are what are commonally used on trailers with 7000 lb axles. If you upgrade to "G" tires, make sure your rims will are also rated for the extra weight and will tolerate the higher air pressure.
Posted 2007-05-19 8:23 AM (#60986 - in reply to #60983) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Veteran
Posts: 148
Location: columbia tn
i think they are actually 7000lbs axles, its a 04 norstar cimmeron 10' shortwall full lq.. but the problem is it came with alum wheels and i doubt seriously the rims are rated for the g rated tire...any help out there would be appreciated greatly.. thanks
Posted 2007-05-19 8:26 AM (#60987 - in reply to #60983) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309
Location: MO
Four to Five years is definitely time to replace regardless of tread wear. The weather starts to rot the sidewalls. I put 14 ply tires on my trailer after a couple of tires blew (ripped the tread off. Gives them a G rating. My trailer GVWR is 17,000 lbs. The originals tires were 10 ply, E ratings that just didn't hold up. We had three of the original tires rip the treads off in only 18 months and about 10,000 miles. The moral of that story is negotiate for better tires when you buy a new trailer or trade them in right away.
Talk to several tire shops that deal with lots of trailers. Good 12 or 14 ply tires will cost about $125 each. They'll last nearly forever and you shouldn't worry about blowouts or flats on the highway. It's worth your time.
Posted 2007-05-19 8:37 PM (#61006 - in reply to #61002) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Location: Texas
Thanks, I'll call first thing Mon. I replaced one in Fallon, Nv. and it was $365. I paid $1200 and change for the set in San Antonio a few months ago. That was for Goodyear G614 in 235/85-16 load range G. Good tires but the price is ridiculous. At $125, I'll buy a truck load.
Posted 2007-05-19 10:42 PM (#61017 - in reply to #60983) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Veteran
Posts: 148
Location: columbia tn
the problem with getting g rated tires is the wheel rims being rated for them.. mine are rated for around 3500lbs.. so would i have to replace them also that would get expensive if this e rated tires are not holding up the trailer companys should not put them on them and sell the trailer...
Posted 2007-05-20 8:42 AM (#61024 - in reply to #60983) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
"E" rated tires work fine, IF you stay within your weight limits. If your trailer weighs more than the tires are rated for, Then they are not going to hold up.
Make sure you run them at the correct pressure. If the tire is rated at 3040 lbs at max pressure, You can't expect them to support that load at 60% air pressure.
5 year old tires are still 5 year old tires regardless of the rating and need to be replaced.
Your rims should be stamped for their working load. My new trailer came with "G" rated Goodyear tires and the rims are stamped for 3750lbs. at 110psi
I appreciate trailer makers putting a quality tire on a new trailer. My last two horse trailers have come with a Goodyear Trailer tire. (Load range "E" on one and Load range "G" on this new one) They seem to hold up so much better than the no-name tires made in China that came on my equipment trailers. I put almost as much weight on flat bed equipment trailer hauling a skid loader or mini hoe as I do a horsetrailer.
Posted 2007-05-20 4:07 PM (#61038 - in reply to #61001) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309
Location: MO
Originally written by Tx. Vaquero on 2007-05-19 6:01 PM
I still want to know where I can buy some 14 ply tires for about $125. I need several.
You can't get Goodyear for that price. But you can get Asian tires for that.
I April, I bought four 14 ply tires from Purcell tire in Viburnum, Mo, for 125 each. 7.50R16 Load Range "G". They're made in China, Beijing Tire Company.
Last year I bought four Hankook tires for my older trailer, 7.50R16 14 ply from North Missouri Tire in Milan, MO for $493.24. - $123.31 each. They're made in So. Korea
Last July, 2006, I bought an ST23580R16 TRANSMASTER12 ply for 122.38 at Great Western Tire in Spearfish, S.D.
The trailer came with Maxsis Load range E tires that just didn't hold up. I'm much happier with the load range G tires.
Posted 2007-05-20 4:11 PM (#61039 - in reply to #60983) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309
Location: MO
By the way, I always keep the tire inflated to the maximum. The new Chineese tires max is 100 psi. It's at that pressure that it is Load Range G. Painted Horse said it right.
Posted 2007-05-21 12:37 AM (#61053 - in reply to #60983) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Regular
Posts: 57
Location: Casa Grande Arizona
I've kind of had the same problem with tires with some different weights. I've got 4000lbs per tire on my horse trailer (sundowner 34 on the floor with a slideout.) Trailer weighs in at about 20K with 4K on the pin. That leaves 4K per tire. Needless to say my "speced" E rated tires are getting crushed.
I had two choices. G rated tires (3700lbs) or go to a 17.5 rim and J rated tires (6000 lbs). I'm going with the J rated tires since the G rated doesn't get me where I need to be anyways. At discount tire they have Kuhmo J rated tires for 210 a tire but the new wheels cost me a bit less than 200ea.
Moral of the story. $1600 later and I'll have a trailer that is finally where it needs to be. It's a bunch of money today but the piece of mind is worth every penny.
Posted 2007-05-21 5:29 AM (#61055 - in reply to #61024) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Expert
Posts: 2614
Our Goodyear dually tires had almost worn through on either side of the inside tire,both sides of each tire on both tires.The tire dealer where we had them rotated said it is a wonder they did not come apart.
Posted 2007-05-21 6:41 AM (#61057 - in reply to #60983) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 335
Location: Decatur, Texas
Ditto on the Goodyear tires. Our dually did the same thing with the original factory Goodyear tires needing replacement after only 20,000 miles. Always the inside dually tire going flat and feathering the tread. Switched to Michelins all around and alleviated the problem.
Posted 2007-05-21 7:28 AM (#61060 - in reply to #61044) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309
Location: MO
Originally written by Tx. Vaquero on 2007-05-20 5:52 PM
How are the asians holding up? Have you had any blowouts or problems with them? If they are safe, at that price I'll give them a try.
The Hankooks held up well on my old trailer. Probably only had about 8,000 miles on 'em when I sold the trailer. I've only had the new Chinese on for about 2 months. Been all over Missouri and made one long trip to eastern Kentucky and southern Ohio. They seem to be fine. Inflated to 100 lbs. hold the trailer fine.
Posted 2007-05-25 1:10 PM (#61264 - in reply to #60983) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Montana
I put 12 ply Kumho's on my Titan in '03. No flats or blowouts since. Not sure how many miles I've put on them...the trailer gets a fair amount of use and sees some ugly gravel roads fairly often. I'm usually pulling 3-5 horses.
Anyway, just wanted to share my good experience with these tires. Good luck!
Posted 2007-05-27 3:15 PM (#61310 - in reply to #60983) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
New User
Posts: 2
Anyone who may be interested, I am contemplating upgrading to H rated tires on my fiver and it will require my going to 17.5" wheels & tires.
I will have 5 Goodyear (G rated) G614 285/75/16's - four with nice Aluminum wheels and one on steel wheel. Four on Aluminum have less than 5000 miles, spare has never been on the ground. No flats on any. Pressure always maintained at 110 as factory prescribed.
These tires are in Texas near Ft Worth. Anyone interested may contact me to discuss price.
Posted 2007-05-27 10:29 PM (#61334 - in reply to #61264) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Veteran
Posts: 247
Location: NW
Originally written by ruggedchica on 2007-05-25 1:10 PM
I put 12 ply Kumho's on my Titan in '03. No flats or blowouts since. Not sure how many miles I've put on them...the trailer gets a fair amount of use and sees some ugly gravel roads fairly often. I'm usually pulling 3-5 horses.
Anyway, just wanted to share my good experience with these tires. Good luck!
Hey Rugged, did you get them in UT or up here? (guess who THIS is??? LOL) What dealership?
Posted 2007-05-29 8:34 AM (#61382 - in reply to #61053) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
Recurveman, I'm surprised that Sundowner would overload their tires so badly. If you change out to 17.5 inch wheels you get the tires up to spec. But what about the axles. Are they rated for the extra weight or are they also under rated?
Posted 2007-05-29 10:57 AM (#61392 - in reply to #60983) Subject: RE: trailer tires help please
Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
And ....The 17.5 wheels on my trailers are drilled for 5/8" studs rather than 9/16". 8000# and 10,000# axles have 5/8" studs holding the wheel to the hub using a flat, non-conical lug nuts. Just be sure everything matches before you start bolting up mis-match wheels and axles. Just because it's 8 lug don't mean it's going to work.