Trailer Tires, Need Help

I have a 2000 pro air on a 1999 Prestige trailer. Single axle. I would ask them, but apparently they've been out of business for some time. Not a great sign.

What load capacity tire should I have on there? They're 225 75R15, and the one's I have (which I replaced all 3 of them this summer already) are rated at 2500#, but I figure I'm probably close to 4500# with the boat on the trailer. Any time I hit a little bump in the road the sides of the tire bow out like crazy, and any time I hit something substantial I have visions of changing them on the side of the highway again.

I talked to the guy at the tire store and he was about worthless, told me I needed to know what kind of tire the trailer was rated for, cause if its C I can't go up to D, and not D to E...whatever. This means nothing to me. The manual was no help. The only intelligible markings on the trailer are these, and I get nothing from them.







I figure I got about 36 hours of road time I'm going to be doing with this trailer in the next month, and the last thing I want is to be on my way to Tim's, changing a tire, listening to "I told you you were going too fast"

Somebody with a similar trailer or boat help me out. And yes, I know, the obvious answer is to upgrade to a tandem axle. That's not happening before next weekend.

Load range D, but just make sure it's a trailer specific tire. Here is a good example. I just ordered 2 new tires and aluminum rims from this company for less than $400 shipped, mounted and balanced.

Trailer tire

I'd like to add that you also should have the tire PSI up to the max as indicated on the tire sidewall.

Avoid GY Marathons like the plague??? I don't know what you're basing that statement off of, but there are plenty here that have had great things to say about their Marathons, myself included.

If you want to want to find bad reviews on any brand, just search and you'll find them. It's usually the people who have bad experiences that write the reviews.

Was that the weight of just on the axle, or did you combine it with the tongue weight as well. Your tires don't see the tongue weight.

You'd probably never have an issue with the C's, but it's also not that much more to spring for the D's.

TRBenj wrote: . I do check my pressure and running temps religiously though. !!

I think Tim's advice above is key for good trailer tire life. Any brand tire building excess heat due to low psi, defect, or alignment will fail

C-Bass wrote: Was that the weight of just on the axle, or did you combine it with the tongue weight as well. Your tires don't see the tongue weight. You'd probably never have an issue with the C's, but it's also not that much more to spring for the D's.

Acutally, the way I weighed it was to pull the SUV/boat on to the sales, get a total weight, and then pulled the SUV back on by itself, and subtract the weight of the SUV. So, not sure if that makes any difference.

Thanks!

I'm with LilRichard -

I have a buddy who is head engineer for Toyo (North America) who commented on my GY Marathons: "They were the best trailer tire made, until manufacturing moved to China...Now there are many better tires."

FWIW................ My Marathons hardly get used for towing - they dry rot from disuse but they are easy to find at Wally World!!! ........

The all advice is good but Is it possible if yes so tell me how i also want to do this in my trailer and i also want to install other tank for my trailer...

Unfortunately China. Here's some interesting reading on trailer tires.

Trailer Tire Applications
•Trailer tires are designed for use on trailer axle positions only. They are not built to handle the loads applied to, or the traction required by, drive or steering axles.
Inflation
•Always inflate trailer tires to the maximum inflation indicated on the sidewall.
•Check inflation when the tires are cool and have not been exposed to the sun.
•If the tires are hot to the touch from operation, add three psi to the max inflation.
•Underinflation is the number one cause of trailer tire failure.
Load Carrying Capacity
•All tires must be identical in size for the tires to properly manage the weight of the trailer.
•The combined capacity of the tires must equal or exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of the axle.
•The combined capacity of all of the tires should exceed the loaded trailer weight by 20 percent.
•If the actual weight is not available, use the trailer GVW. If a tire fails on a tandem axle trailer, you should replace both tires on that side. The remaining tire is likely to have been subjected to excessive loading.
•If the tires are replaced with tires of larger diameter, the tongue height may need to be adjusted to maintain proper weight distribution.

Speed
•All "ST" tires have a maximum speed rating of 65 mph.
•As heat builds up, the tire's structure starts to disintegrate and weaken.
•The load carrying capacity gradually decreases as the heat and stresses generated by higher speed increases.

Time
•Time and the elements weaken a trailer tire.
•In approximately three years, roughly one-third of the tire's strength is gone.
•Three to five years is the projected life of a normal trailer tire.
•It is suggested that trailer tires be replaced after three to four years of service regardless of tread depth or tire appearance.

Mileage
•Trailer tires are not designed to wear out.
•The life of a trailer tire is limited by time and duty cycles.
•The mileage expectation of a trailer tire is 5,000 to 12,000 miles.

Why Use An "ST" Tire
•"ST" tires feature materials and construction to meet the higher load requirements and demands of trailering.
•The polyester cords are bigger than they would be for a comparable "P" or "LT" tire.
•The steel cords have a larger diameter and greater tensile strength to meet the additional load requirements.
•"ST" tire rubber compounds contain more chemicals to resist weather and ozone cracking.

Storage
•The ideal storage for trailer tires is in a cool, dark garage at maximum inflation.
•Use tire covers to protect the tires from direct sunlight.
•Use thin plywood sections between the tire and the pavement.
•For long term storage, put the trailer on blocks to take the weight off the tires. Then lower the air pressure and cover the tires to protect them from direct sunlight.

Maintenance
•Clean the tires using mild soap and water.
•Do not use tire-care products containing alcohol or petroleum distillates.
•Inspect the tires for any cuts, snags, bulges or punctures.
•Check the inflation before towing and again before the return trip.

Keys to Avoiding Trouble
•Make sure your rig is equipped with the proper tires.
•Maintain the tires meticulously.
•Replace trailer tires every three to five years, whether they look like they're worn out or not.
Trailer Tire Warranty
•The Carlisle trailer tire warranty applies to the original purchaser for three years from the date of purchase or until the tread depth reaches 3/32".
•The OE (original equipment) warranty goes into effect at the time of the trailer purchase

I guess he has had the best results with them. The GY has been having problems with belts separating (mine blew due to belt separation)
He gave me three of his top choices that he would recommend, Tow Master was the top pic.
He is a good friend and I didn't want to waste his time getting into why he thought they were the best. I took what he recommended because he's the expert and passed the info on to Adam. He was not getting a sale out of the deal he was just telling me what he would put on his trailer if it were his.

BTW: should trailer tires be rotated?

I noticed that the tires on my front axle have worn a bit more than the rear axle. I'm thinking about swapping them front to back. I'll probably be replacing them in a couple years anyway just because of age.

Looking good Adam! Glad you could get your rig in tip top shape before leaving it with me next week.. wouldn't want it to give me any problems! It might not be quite as pretty as Jackie's.. but it ain't bad.

Good information and tell me is it possible if yes so tell me how i also want to do this in my trailer and i also want to install other tank for my trailer...

SNobsessed wrote: My GY dealer also steered me away from Marathons & towards Tow Master.    I have had no problems with the Towmasters. From what I remember (from research 2 yrs ago) there are no trailer tires mfg'd in US anymore.

Chris.....I just put Carlisle's on my trailer. I bought them at Farm & Fleet, and they told me they were still made in the US. They indicated they had bad experience with some other tires they used to carry that were made in China, so they went with Carlile.