Posted 2006-02-28 8:56 AM (#37965) Subject: When to replace trailer tires
Member
Posts: 28 Location: Illinois
I've heard that you should replace your horse trailer tires every five years whether the tread is worn or not. Can anyone offer their advice on this? My Brenderup is now 5 yrs old and I'm wondering...Usually it gets used every week or two for 6 months of good weather, maybe once a month in the winter--so it's not just sitting around for months on end.
Or do you all use your trailers so much the tires wear out by 5 years?
Posted 2006-02-28 9:21 AM (#37968 - in reply to #37965) Subject: RE: When to replace trailer tires
Regular
Posts: 57 Location: Casa Grande Arizona
I personally wouldn't go more than about 3 years but I live in AZ where they dry out really, really fast. I've seen tires with plenty of tread blow out on guys more than once.
For the peace of mind I would get a new set and plan on keeping them for another 5 years. I think you got your moneys worth out of them. I only wish I could get 5 years on a set of tires. I've get 2 years on my travel trailer right now and they are almost worn out.
Posted 2006-03-01 9:39 AM (#38020 - in reply to #37965) Subject: RE: When to replace trailer tires
Elite Veteran
Posts: 648 Location: Coconut Creek, FL
People rarely wear the tire tread out on trailer tires - they dry rot from the sun beating down on them and can split when you least expect it. Once you replace them to help them last longer, spray them with a special coating they now sell, and cover them. It's also helps to park the trailer on asphalt, concrete, or matts - a hard surface other than just the ground.
Check them out to see what kind of shape they are in, but I agree that 5 years is a pretty long time for trailer tires.
Posted 2006-03-01 4:07 PM (#38054 - in reply to #37965) Subject: RE: When to replace trailer tires
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
You sure don't want to ask me. I took my trailer to be serviced yesterday and my service guy had me look at and feel my tire. Weirdest thing I've ever seen. The outer 1 1/2 inches were absolutely scalloped; you could see the wave in it. So obviously I'm not smart enough to figure it out on my own! Good think I have it serviced regularly.
Posted 2006-03-03 1:36 PM (#38201 - in reply to #38054) Subject: RE: When to replace trailer tires
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by terri s on 2006-03-01 5:07 PM
You sure don't want to ask me. I took my trailer to be serviced yesterday and my service guy had me look at and feel my tire. Weirdest thing I've ever seen. The outer 1 1/2 inches were absolutely scalloped; you could see the wave in it. So obviously I'm not smart enough to figure it out on my own! Good think I have it serviced regularly.
I'm guessing bearings or brakes - I'd be interested to know.
You're obviously smart enough to entrust what you can't do yourself to the pros, thats worth a coupla points.
Posted 2006-03-03 3:47 PM (#38209 - in reply to #37965) Subject: RE: When to replace trailer tires
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Thanks, Reg-I value your opinion. I did have a period of time when my trailer brakes were shorting out from a loose wire, hope that was the cause. I'd better have my service man look at that too. The bearings are packed every spring and he found no problems there. I'll have him drive the truck and see what he thinks. Thanks for the tip!
Posted 2006-03-03 4:15 PM (#38211 - in reply to #38209) Subject: RE: When to replace trailer tires
Expert
Posts: 2689
I probably should have said the 3 Bs, bearings, balance and brakes (-:
A bearing can have a LOT of fresh grease in it, but if it is loose it can set up a wobble that will destroy the tire. Balance is a maybe, it used to be that trailers would sit on bias tires for several months and take a long distance to iron out the flats, vibrating all the way. Brakes can still get grabby at one or two points, but that leads to flat spots.
In any case DO get to the root cause, or you'll be back there for a_NOTHER separation agreement from your money.
Posted 2006-03-03 11:07 PM (#38235 - in reply to #37965) Subject: RE: When to replace trailer tires
Member
Posts: 40
There is tire treatments that parts stores or wall-mart sells like STP tire treatment there is other brands this does seem to help or in my mind I think it does, I not only do the trailers I do the trucks and car also. I only loaned out a trailer once in my life and after that I had one tire that would go bald in a short time then I started having bearing problems with that same wheel come to find out the person I loaned it to I was told run my trailer off into a ditch and the axle was bent. Once was enough never again.
Now every other year or 12,000 miles I have the bearings pulled inxpected and new inter seal replaced and brakes wires etc. inspected, when I stop I walk around the trailer and just lay my hand on the bearing dust cap this will tell if you are getting a hotter bearing or brakes compared to the other wheels. If the rubber insert on the dust cover is popped out like a baloon and not the other's the brakes may be dragging or a bearing hotter. I can't pack my own bearings I make them to tight and they get hot I hire it done. If you have a good nose you can smell axle grease if the inter seals blows out. After 3-5 years it is nice to buy new tires, you can also lay your hand on the side wall of the tires after stopping and if one tire is hotter than the other's it may have a lower tire pressure or is fixing to blow soon. This is only my experience.
Posted 2006-03-06 6:22 AM (#38313 - in reply to #38229) Subject: RE: When to replace trailer tires
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by classygirl98 on 2006-03-03 9:29 PM
Dunoir,what is that special spray called for the tires and where can you buy it? Debbie
I'm not endorsing this or recommending it as a way of prolonging tire life, but I picked up a spray bottle of "Tire Wet" at a Target store last year and I've been using it on weather stripping to prevent freezing.
Around here we get far too much moisture that condenses on metal and freezes overnight. It is possible to be either frozen out of your car/truck/trailer or to pull the weather stripping off trying to get in.
SOMEONE once told me the propane torch in the bed of her truck was there for exactly that reason. I'm not sure if I really believed that she'd only ever used it on the trailer (-:
BTW, how would you spray the side walls on the hub side of the tire, or is the assumption that protection from sunlight (uv) is the goal ?
Posted 2006-03-06 7:41 AM (#38315 - in reply to #37965) Subject: RE: When to replace trailer tires
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
Like said, dry rot is a huge indicator that you need new tires but also make sure you never have any bubbles on the walls of the tires. That is a sign that your tire will blow soon.
Posted 2006-03-06 9:41 AM (#38320 - in reply to #37965) Subject: RE: When to replace trailer tires
Elite Veteran
Posts: 648 Location: Coconut Creek, FL
I was told to use products such as "Tire wet" -spray the sidewalls and it's supposed to provide protection from UV rays. I bought some and have used it, but you have to keep reapplying it and I tend to be lazy about that. I prefer to cover them with tarps as I feel that provides better protection and I remember to keep them covered.
When to replace trailer tires
