Very helpful reminders. Since you asked, I pull an 11,000 lb 5th wheel, and a dual 3500 lb axle utility trailer. I check the tire pressure & lug nut torque before each trip. I write the torque & PSI on all equipment w/ a paint marker so I won’t forget. Thanks for helping us be smarted about our trailers.
I recently bought a small 2003 boat and trailer. When I got it home I checked the DOT date code. 2002. Twenty-two years. Previous owner used the boat and trailer every year. Tires looked great, but a new set was the first upgrade I did to my new boat!
Same here, 2012 boat/trailer, on the ride home I thought I was being followed by a low flying plane; 4ply cheesy tires, new tires are 8ply, effortless and quiet now..
The trailer I just bought has Goodyear Marathons that are 23 years old. The guy that sold it to me drove it from Alabama to Maine freighted with tools. The tires have great tread but are dry rotted and covered in cracks. Thats why im here, looking to buy some good tires. Great vid! Thank you
So mention that the speed rating is based on 30 minutes not all day driving. If a tire has a speed rating of 80mph that means yes you could speed up to 80mph to pass another vehicle but not drive for 8 hours at 80mph. Most of us RVer's believe that 65mph is fast enough for a safe speed. It's not about you it's also about other people on the road that could be killed.
I do have a pace, trailer with one axle size 15 two weeks ago went to craft show with my wife on highway 401 in Canada for 200 kilometres and what you said at 12 minutes around an old 20 years tire should got in a museum . I should’ve look at your video before so what happened the tire did blowout on the highway I gotta tell you. It’s not a nice experience made it back home, but I changed those two tires for a Goodyear Endura and I think they are made in USA did not want any China bomb on the trailer after this experience. Thank you very much for all the explanation.
I keep my trailer tires at 80 psi and replace them every 4-6 years I check the psi before hooking up during my trip when I fuel up never had a blow out or flat in morning starting out on the road again... Enjoyed your comments about trailer tires good job.. thank you 👍👍,
Same here. I check the pressure before a trip and verify at each fuel stop. My last trip with the RV, I stopped for fuel and had 1 tire about 20 psi below what it was only 2-3 hours earlier. Sure enough I had picked up a nail. Had the tire repaired about a mile from the fuel station and was back on the road in less than 20 minutes. Unfortunately I then picked up a bolt in the tire next to the previously mentioned tire. I found that 40 miles down the road when I stopped just to verify that the repaired tire was still holding. No open tire shop close by and a fast leak required that I change it immediately. It was a Sunday and the local Courthouse parking lot was empty. I was able to pull into the lot and position the RV to provide shade while I changed the tire. Another 20 minutes and we were back on the road. When we got home the E rated OEM tires were replaced with G Rated tires. OEMs were 3 years old and were not very high quality. I let them run longer than I should have. I am over tired now and completely happy with it.
There's not a single tire that doesn't last at least 10 years per DOT requirements. The lifespan after that is considered questionable only because you have to account for the worst case scenario. If it was left in direct sunlight in Arizona, it will last 10 years. That would be the worst case scenario and I would likely change it then for sure. If it was stored in a pitch black garage it will last way longer but you have to use the 10-year worst case scenario.
I pull an RV trailer and I check the tire pressure at least once a week while travelling or at the beginning of a trip. I also carry an extra spare tire just in case when travelling afar in some cases. In over 25 years of pulling an RV I only had one flat on my trailer and luckily it was not a blow out but just a nail. After replacing the flat with the spare, I stopped at the next town to replace my spare. It's harder than you think to find a ST tire [in the size required] in some locations. That is why I carry an extra spare.
We have a saying in our family. “It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.” I’d say in the case of having a spare tire for your rv or trailer, this saying fits perfectly. Good job on being prepared and proactive. It’s what I do, too. I never haul a trailer without a spare tire.
I have definitely gone over 55 with U-Haul trailers on a number of occasions. I thought it was just a suggestion because in most places the speed limit back then was 55, so I figured it was to keep me legal😅
🤣 I always took it as a suggestion myself! “Drive it like a rental”. But in all seriousness, yes there’s a specific reason for that recommendation. Thanks for watching!
When looking for new tires don't forget to look for the tread depth. Some new tires are 7/32 some are 10/32 which is a 30% difference.Some are 4mm or 5mm. Many companies make the depth hard to find in their ads. If your buying tires with 20% less tread they should be 20% cheaper if the tires are comparable in quality.
Generally, the more premium tires have less tread, and the reason is tread depth contributes to sway. Especially when loaded.. Cheaper tires have more tread to look better. Goodyear Endurance and Hankook Vantra ( another premium tire ) are both lower tread tires. Even the well loved Maxxis 8008 and Kenda Loadstars are lower tread tires
5 psi over cold. I used to heavy haul and that saved many tires. Especially in the high temperatures in the summer. I check tire pressure every trip. And sometimes during a trip. Excessive? Maybe. I have never had to change a tire on a trip. Carry spares for truck and trailer anyway. Y'never know. Pull a 48' 18K tri axle gooseneck & a 42' 13K dual axle fifth wheel. Inspect/service bearings often. Beginning and midseason.
Good advice. I ran a small business in which we had to infrequently use trailers with inexperienced drivers. Three rules we had. 1) Check the load 30 minutes out and at every stop. 2) Check the tire and bearing temperature using an infrared temperature gun (they are about $20) 3) we got some cheap remote tire pressure monitors that went on top of the normal valves.
Bought a new toy hauler. It came with chrome modular wheels. Pulled it 1,500 miles. Checked the lugs and TP at almost every gas stop. At least felt the hubs and tires… got ready to head out and heard a clicking sound. One of the wheels was LOOSE!😮 The chrome had broken off the wheel seat so wheel was wobbling. Had to replace the studs and put standard steel lug nuts on it. Later went from 14 to 15 inch aluminum wheel wheels. Never had problems after that.
I used to work in a tire store and I was trained. I'm not a tire expert, but I have been trained. The speed rating is for 4 hour sustained speed, not for a minute or two. It doesn't mean that the tire is going to fly apart if you exceed that by 1 mph. The load, speed and tire pressure all work together to determine how long the tire is going to last. If your load speed and tire pressure is near the max that the tire can handle, you're more likely to have a failure. This is a problem because so many RV trailers are designed to operate at or even over the tire and axle max weight. Reduced load and/or speed reduces the risk of failure. I have pulled a lightly loaded U-Haul trailer at highway speeds with no problems. I have a 1,000 pound popup trailer that I've pulled for many thousands of miles at highway speed on the 5.30-12 tires that it was designed to use, inflated to about 40 PSI. You don't need the listed MAX pressure in a tire if the load on that tire is significantly less than the max load.
I have a : horse horse trailer with living quarters. I use it as a toy hauler, just one small Honda . I don’t run my tires at full pressure because it bounces around. I normally don’t run with more than 30 gallons of water. But I check the air pressure before every trip and make sure all 4 are the same. I also carry a digital thermometer and check all the tires every time I stop. Trailer stays under cover when not in use . This last trip I knew they were getting old and so I slowed down to 70 max. Coming out of Ok. Hit a really bad stretch on 40 slowed down to 60 . Stopped for the night and within 1 hour of starting the next day both of the front tires came apart. First one than about 30 miles the other one. Stay vigilant. Check tire temperature and check mirrors. And always take note of how it feels . Mine told me and I caught them before they tore anything up.
Good job on taking all those factors into consideration. Not everyone does. It really does boil down to a safety hazard on the roadways to ignore the key things to keeping trailer hauling safe. So glad you caught it before it caused damage to your or you trailer/vehicle!
I check my tire pressure every time I start to use my trailer. Check it in the cool of the morning and have a TMS to watch the pressures and temp of my tire down the road.
check or change? the tire pressure on a trailer should be adjusted depending on the weight its carrying, there are no shocks most can be safely pumped up to around 60PSI refer to the TIRE LABEL NOT THE DOOR STICKER OR MANUAL the door sticker pertains to the original equipment only and is usually not even correct just a good guess
My trailers are used intermittently so I check the tire pressures before each use. If used on a trip, I use the "thump" method each morning and when doing rest stops.
I've noticed more and more guys running LT tires on their trailer. I run continental LT one ton van tires (Think like off of a Mercedes Sprinter) because the load index and speed rating are significantly better than that of a conventional trailer tire. I also believe that the rubber compound they use is far superior to that of ANY Chinese made tire I have found yet. They are quite expensive to buy new in comparison to a trailer tire, but I have found brand new sets that people simply wanted to replace for a larger offroad type tire for their "van camper" build. I do enjoy watching your videos, keep them coming!
I just replaced the ‘18 Castle Rocks on my 19 foot Camper. (March 2024) They looked fine, but I plan to travel longer distances this year. Once the tech removed the tires, they were warped and extremely dry cracks in area I didn’t see. I bought the GY Endurance ST225/75/R15 at Belle for $640. (3 tires) my camper weighs 3600 dry, never been over 4200 on the scales. 👏👏 great info!
Great video as always! When buying tires, check the manufacture date, it's on the tire sidewall as well. You could be buying tires that sat around the dealer for four years, now you have one to three years on those tires.
I do landscape/Hardscape/tree brush/dig graves in rural East Tennessee, in the mountains .I run a 7 x 12, 10,000lbs. dump trailer with a Bobcat E 20 /MT 100 most job sites. It's a lot of miles on crazy roads/trails sometimes at awkward speed and traction.😂 I was sitting outside of the tire place waiting on the tires to get done and was just curious about what else was out there. That hasn't been said anybody who comes across this video found in gem. Y'all should probably listen to this man. Also, if you don't check your air pressure every time you're about to pull that trailer out and double check your connections,before you load it up you're doing wrong.
Thanks for watching! I've been in those hills & mountains of East Tennessee. Beautiful country! Those winding roads are something else. We appreciate the feedback! Keep on keeping on!
I’ve pulled a U-Haul trailer at 70-80mph for most of a 13 hour trip when I moved. The trailer was packed with my stuff and my CBR600RR. Smooth the whole way. (Don’t be like me lol) I was unaware of the possibilities at the time
I pulled an max loaded 5' x 8' cargo trailer with 12" wheels and 21" wide tires at 80 MPH in wyoming on the freeway (at speed limit) ! darn thing never missed a beat!
I check the pressure every time we go out, and use a pressure monitor. The monitor shows pressure and temperature. The pressure monitor also showed 77psi when the tire was in shreds and the rim sparking on the pavement too. So much for monitors.
I have a travel trailer, so not used every day. But I do always check the pressure before a trip. I also have TPMS sensors in my trailer tires and can continuously monitor tire pressure and temperature on my infotainment screen.
Great video, you hit all the imp info, esp putting 110 psi tires on lighter duty cast wheels, ive seen friends crack rims twice from doing this thinking they were doing the right thing by putting a heavy duty tire on their trailer without realizing you have to change out the rim as well.
I was waiting for you to talk about Carlile. You mentioned about 20 years old. My Carlisle are about 22 years old, and like you said believe it or not they still in good shape.
I have a small utility trailer, it came with Carlisle tires and they are 12 years old and still show 0 cracks or dry rot. I don't travel far with it but still feel uncomfortable using the trailer with those tires.
I'll be the first to admit, I don't know trailer tires, that's why I am watching video. Car tires I know. High performance Summers and High Performance Winters I know. Three decades of instructing Advanced Driving Schools, I've seen and driven a lot at the limits. Those car tires work phenomenally in the right season. However after four years I replace them. Sure they might look like they have more tread, but the rubber compound is much harder than new. That means less grip. Try to stick your finger nail in a 4 or 5 yr tire. Then stick your nail into brand new. Nuf said? It's yours and my life. Yup, just a few inches per tire is holding the trailer, car or truck on the road.
Just bought a new to me 1448 Jon boat, 1988 Evinrude 9.9hp tiller, and a trailer. The hour plus drive home was sketchy at best, dirt roads and slow. Trailer rehab time. At a minimum, the trailer tires are shot, dry rot. I don't know squat about trailer tires which is why I am here. Thanks for the extremely informative/educational video. Knowledge is pretty cool when passed along by someone who nails the delivery spot on.
Tire pressure checks EVERY TIME before moving the trailer!!! So important before you hit the road! Every time folks. Be safe, stay safe. ((Topic Idea: how to properly inspect your frame and suspension system---how to properly look under a trailer for damage and wear. Another important safety consideration. Thanks TrailerSmith!))
I got a trailer with original bias ply tires I just retired and they were made in 87 or something like that. Still held air and drove great down the highway at 80 mph with a load.
I check them every time, because I use my trailer for about 3 - 4 times a year..... I also do the 1 mile stop and check hitch and chains and lights. I am a little paranoid
Good to hear from others who are safety minded! Great job! I'm a little paranoid when it comes to safely driving a vehicle or hauling a trailer. I just couldn't live with myself if my actions caused harm to my family or anyone else. Thanks for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment. Keep up the good work!
Federal regulation on commercial motor vehicles requires stopping within the first 50 mi and every 3hrs or 150 miles on any trip and checking load securement. I believe doing such a check on any trailer is a good idea.
I run my tires with a TPMS, so I know exactly what pressure and temperature my tires have. And before I take my trailer anywhere, I make sure the pressure is right, but I also check the torque on the lugnuts.
I check pressure about every other time I pull. I pull a 34ft toy hauler bumper pull. I don’t need any issues. I also kick and finger check lug nuts when we stop for food or fuel.
I'm getting ready to replace my trailer tires. A lot of great info. I didn't know there were speed ratings for trailer tires. Great to know since I travel roads where there is a 70mph speed limit.
Just got a new 16' Utility trailer and pulled it home i did look at the weight it was good for but i didn't know all this so when i get off work tonight i will be checking all this out . Thank you for the info thats why i was here i was curious to know these things
Great Video! Just a thought - Do you have a "checklist" that you would recommend for using a trailer? Someone in the comments mentioned CDL pre-inspection checklist - something like that?
I check my tire psi before I pull out. In tire care I would suggest that if your trailer is parked outside and it’s not used very much to either pour a cement pad just for your tires and the second is to buy tire covers. I had a box trailer that sat outside and the drivers side of the trailer was basically facing east to west with no shade on it. One day I got to move it and while checking the tire psi I noticed that the tire was starting to dry rot. The outside of the tire had small splits all the way around it. The other tire facing away from the sun was fine. A cheap set of covers would have saved me $150 bucks. I also had heavy duty inner tubes installed when I put the first set of tires on it.
I rotate the tires on my trailers. I start at the right front putting the spare on and then go clockwise around the trailer. The last tire off becomes the spare. Also I have seen the inside edge will usually wear quicker. I will get the tire flipped on the rim giving more tire life. I also check air pressure regularly. Lube lug nuts and retorque once after roughly 100K. This has worked well for me.
I had a toy hauler with 7000 pound axles and it came with 16 inch load range G tires that failed frequently. I switched to 17.5 inch rims and 4400 pound rated tires and had no more problems. The new tires were the same diameter as the original tires.
Most definitely,. every pull with a load. On long hauls I Always walk around at every fuel stop and even check the temp of the tires and hubs with my hand. Doesn't every one?.
No. Absolutely not. It would probably surprise you at how many people barely give a second’s thought to checking the tires on their trailers. I’m glad to hear there this that do. Gives me hope!
Loved the video. You provided a wealth of solid, useful information. I take my tire age and condition very seriously as I pull a 30 foot RV from Colorado to Canada each Summer. My tires are currently the originals from the 2018 trailer I pull. Although they look great, I will be replacing them in a few weeks as you suggested, because of the age-factor. Thanks again for the great video.
Thanks for the feedback! We truly do appreciate it. I'm glad the tire video was helpful to you, especially as you get ready for a big trip! Thank you for watching and may you have safe travels!
What I know about tire age, tires will go bad just sitting around. The factory spare on my pickup looked really bad at eight years old which is why I replaced it. I had only ever used the spare once, and it spent the rest of its life under the pickup. That tire saw direct sun for like 2 days its entire life. Definitely important to identify the date code on tires. Good tidbit on the wheel being able to match the rating of the tire. I didn't even think about the wheel's capacity when thinking about what the tire can handle. That was completely new info to me.
I have used 10 ply truck tires on every RV I have owned. I have never had a tire failure with them. The only tire failure I have had was with an original Goodyear ST tire.
I was just about to say the same thing. I have much better luck with using 10 ply lt tires. I also use tires that match my dually. Once my 4 rear tires wear on my truck I will put my camper tires on the truck to wear them off and put 4 new tires on my camper. Keeps my tires from dry rotting.
I have two living quarter horse trailers that came with Goodyear g rated 235/85R16a and I kepp them aired to sidewall max and I lost a bunch of them and only had GY stand behind two that lost tread but held air. I thought that maybe I was getting punctures like GY store said. I switched to Michelin XPS Ribs on advice of other horse haulers with the same experience. Those are 80 psi truck all steel plies tires. I aired them to 90 to have little squat and never had a failure. I got nail punctures and thebtire survived and it got plug patched and ran it to the wear bars. I learned no GY tires and LT is not a disqualifier for a sturdy made tire.
As I said in the video, I’m not a fan of Goodyear tires for truck or trailer, EXCEPT for the Goodyear Endurance, specifically. If you want to run a tire designed for steering like a truck tire is on your trailer, instead of equipping your trailer with tires designed for the function of being pulled that’s okay. That’s your business. I’m just getting the info out there from a shop/mechanic standpoint. Trailer tires is one of the most confused topics relying to trailers. The comments section is proof of that.
Had a Goodyear endurance with around 5000 miles on it and 4 years old fail recently on an 15:45 RV trailer. Checked the other 3 and were all cracked. Checked air pressure before trip but never imagined the tires would be cracked so didn’t even cross my mind to check them since they were hardly 4 years old. Original tires were changed at 6 yrs due to age and I thought GY endurance would be an upgrade. I will not use GY endurance again.
I use 215r70/19.5 full tilt commercial truck tire. Can be good for steer, drive, trailer or all position rated. Does not need to be ST, as long as it is trailer position rated- almost all are drive and trailer position rated.
Also when folks add TPMS snesors to their rubber valve stem they take the risk of the valve stem wobble and fail. Always replace all rubber valve stems with steel valve stems when using TMPS sensors.
Hoping my luck holds!! While towing a camper I can't think of anything more important than the tires and wheels that support my investment and keep us from a road side disaster. As soon as we bring a new camper home the tires get changed out for the highest load rated Tow-Max tire for that size tire. The new tires will be balanced and spend the rest of there lives at or close the max pressure. Tire pressures are monitored electronically but double checked prior to leaving any camp. (that pays off!!)
I do check tire pressure everytime I hook up to the trailers. Then again every morning along the way of our trip. But then again at every pit stop the first I do is go and touch all the hubs to see if anything is getting warm...
This is really good to hear! Preventative practices go a long way in avoiding break downs & emergencies. Nothing is ever 100% guaranteed, but it sounds like you have a good routine for checking things!
we have 30+ enclosed 10K capacity utility trailers in our fleet. when i switched up from buying cheap trailer tires to Goodyear trailer tires, our tread wear life went way up, and issues with tires went WAY down. more than pays for the difference in cost. you can feel the weight difference in the tires also, the same size tire in a Goodyear VS. the cheap tires is a several pound difference, with the Goodyear being much heavier, and the sidewall feels much thicker and stiffer. the Goodyears also seem less likely to get damaged from when the drivers take a corner too sharp pulling into a parking lot and 'hop the curb' with a fully loaded trailer.
I pull a gooseneck one horse trailer with living quarters. I'm a freak about tires, but struggle to know all the details I should know. I love watching your videos even though I struggle trying to understand it all! Thanks, atleast I know know NOT to believe to sales guy at the tire store.
I ran Chinese tires on my lowbed and truck for years hauling heavy equipment on the highway and in the bush, never had a blowout or lost any treads. They’re just as good as any other manufacturers tires in my opinion.
LT tires are fine for trailer use if they meet the weight rating for the axle. They are built better. LT tires are actually designed for shifting weight loads vs static weight loads. The entire reason ST tires exist is that they are not designed to be used on an axle that can self propel. LT tires can be used on an axle that is self propelled.
Yes, LT is designed & structured to be on a vehicle. ST is designed specifically with trailers in mind. A QUALITY ST is the preferred tire for trailers while a QUALITY LT is preferred for light trucks.
Some RV company's (Air Stream) put LT tires on their trailers. The tire categories overlap with each other so if your going from a ST tire to a LT tire better make sure you are getting all the weight number correct.
Thanks for the info. I have had my small utility trailer for over 10 years and have only checked the tire pressure twice. Maybe use it about 8 times a year. 😖
I check my trailer tires for cracking, bumps, unusual ware and pressure before every tow. I also have an active pressure and heat monitoring system that reports information during towing.
Question for the group. I have a 13 foot skiff. Total weight Boat, motor, trailer and fishing stuff is aprox 1100 lbs. The trailer currently has 8” rims. The specs on the tires meet the load and speed requirements. However, I plan to tow the trailer 500 miles each way when traveling from Georgia to Florida multiple times per year. I want to put larger wheels on the trailer as I believe the trailer would ride better and be safer. My question is what size wheel should I put on the trailer? 12”, 14” or 15”. Thanks in advance for any opinions.
I just changed the tires on my old trailer. They were bias ply Uniroyal brand I believe. I know they were on the trailer when my dad bought it in 1983! One still holds air and it's my spare now. The new/used tire I put on it blew out in less than a month just sitting in the yard. Those old Boss put tires had been in the weather for 40+years
Timely info as I'm looking to replace the tires on my travel trailer. I check the air pressure every time I take it out of the barn. It drives me crazy when I'm traveling the interstate at 70 mi an hour and a little utility trailer passes me and those 12" to 14" tires are just a singing. Check your lug nuts! 😄
Yes! Check your lug nuts! And your air pressure! It's crazy to me how many people are pulling trailers down the road that are in really awful condition or they are severely overloaded, or they are going too fast for the wheel/axle. It seems they always get to where they are going. I wouldn't make it 3 feet in those same conditions! LOL Thanks for watching the channel!
I run GY endurance on my TT and I check PSI every trip and I run a TPMS. I've found living in South FL if I run them at 80psi they get hot and over pressured and set off the TPMS during the summer. I run them at 75psi and they will stay below the alarm point on the TPMS. Once I hit the mountains and cooler temps I can air up to the 80psi and no alarm.
My trailer came from the manufacturer with "LT" tires on it....Guess I'll buy those cause I can get USA made tires for it with 2X the load range it needs....Intech Explorer Flyer....Great trailer👍
As always, lots of good info.. Thanks. I noticed wheel weights on the tires in the video. What are your thoughts on balancing trailer vs. not balancing trailer tires?
I always check the tire pressure along with checking the lights. We just purchased new tires and the replacement tires have a higher load rating, we are not hauling any more weight on the trailer.
I bought new tires for my small trailer when they were about 15+years old. Not much tread was left and there was cracks. I got nervous so I replaced them. They were made back when tires were made a bit better.
Awesome video. Two years ago, I installed the Goodyear Endurance ST 235/80R 16 on my fifth wheel. The tires have ~20,000 miles on them. The tread depth is 4/32 to 5/32 on all tires. I don't see any cracking or bulging on the tires. When the trailer is stored, it is under cover not in the sun. Preparing for an upcoming 6,000-mile trip. Would you install new tires prior to the trip or do one more trip on the existing tires? Just your thought. Also, I have a TPMS on the tires and mostly travel at 65 mph on the interstate.
Love your videos keep it up. You’re very helpful. I own a 34 foot toy hauler Recommended tire pressure my manufacture, 65 pounds Goodyear recommended 80 pounds What would you recommend?
So FOR ME a automotive mechanic over 50 years, i know how tire pressures change with , temperature, age, and neglect! For me every 2 months i fire up my portable compressor and air up my fleet, trucks, motorhome, trailer, car dolly, side by side, ones on the ground and the spares for them all, not all of them need alot but they all need some, so if you figure at the 2 month mark there loss is “X” then just imagine over a longer time what they will lose! I was ALWAYS amazed just when trucks came to my shop, not just the ones that contractors used but also the ones with 2 or more child seats in them, that would have10 to 20 psi less pressure from the stated pressure on the door sticker. Often we were accused of “just trying to SELL some tires” yet a blind man could have seen how bad of tires some people had on there vehicles! The concept of the TPMS systems is awsome, however with time many people still drive with the system telling them “tire pressure” LOW… they will tell you things like oh im just driving around town, or i dont carry any heavy weight, or my favorite, i thought i had a bad sensor cause the tire looks ok!!!
It would be interesting to see what the actual towed speed numbers are encountered with rental UHaul trailers. My observation is about 8 out of 10 trailers are towed at 60 to 75 mph. With an outlier pushing 80 from time to time. Some of the smaller UHaul trailers I have rented even had 45 mph max speed stickers on them. Most of my use has been local around town use so speed limits were usually not an issue.
Always ask for a 12 ply 8 14 5 LT tire for your trailer it can be Goodyear High miler tire or a firestone low Boy tire or Hucules or Remington high miler
good video for the common sense things or things you should know if you want to run a trailer and they all apply to your car tires the same way i love to see a bmw or benz go rolling buy with some noisy tires and then at the stop light the cheap tires they bought for the car
Bought a 2012 jayco 18’ camper. Single axle 3500 GVWR 2600 dry weight. Tires look great but deciding to purchase brand new for Family sake. Anything else I should look into? Appreciate it
Very helpful reminders. Since you asked, I pull an 11,000 lb 5th wheel, and a dual 3500 lb axle utility trailer. I check the tire pressure & lug nut torque before each trip. I write the torque & PSI on all equipment w/ a paint marker so I won’t forget. Thanks for helping us be smarted about our trailers.
Way to go! You are one of the few my friend! Keep up the good work!
I recently bought a small 2003 boat and trailer. When I got it home I checked the DOT date code. 2002. Twenty-two years. Previous owner used the boat and trailer every year. Tires looked great, but a new set was the first upgrade I did to my new boat!
That was probably a pretty wise decision! Congrats on the boat!
Those tires are cheap, smart to not risk blowout.
Same here, 2012 boat/trailer, on the ride home I thought I was being followed by a low flying plane; 4ply cheesy tires, new tires are 8ply, effortless and quiet now..
Goes to show you how the gov'ment regulations are! Tires will last a lot longer than the posted date
Upgrade the tire and go to the max speed! We ain't got all day! Lol
The trailer I just bought has Goodyear Marathons that are 23 years old. The guy that sold it to me drove it from Alabama to Maine freighted with tools. The tires have great tread but are dry rotted and covered in cracks. Thats why im here, looking to buy some good tires. Great vid! Thank you
I sold tires for 38 years and I agree with everything you said.
Appreciate that feedback! Thanks for watching!
So mention that the speed rating is based on 30 minutes not all day driving. If a tire has a speed rating of 80mph that means yes you could speed up to 80mph to pass another vehicle but not drive for 8 hours at 80mph. Most of us RVer's believe that 65mph is fast enough for a safe speed. It's not about you it's also about other people on the road that could be killed.
I do have a pace, trailer with one axle size 15 two weeks ago went to craft show with my wife on highway 401 in Canada for 200 kilometres and what you said at 12 minutes around an old 20 years tire should got in a museum . I should’ve look at your video before so what happened the tire did blowout on the highway I gotta tell you. It’s not a nice experience made it back home, but I changed those two tires for a Goodyear Endura and I think they are made in USA did not want any China bomb on the trailer after this experience. Thank you very much for all the explanation.
I keep my trailer tires at 80 psi and replace them every 4-6 years I check the psi before hooking up during my trip when I fuel up never had a blow out or flat in morning starting out on the road again... Enjoyed your comments about trailer tires good job.. thank you 👍👍,
Sounds like you have your bases covered! Thanks for watching!
Same here. I check the pressure before a trip and verify at each fuel stop. My last trip with the RV, I stopped for fuel and had 1 tire about 20 psi below what it was only 2-3 hours earlier. Sure enough I had picked up a nail. Had the tire repaired about a mile from the fuel station and was back on the road in less than 20 minutes. Unfortunately I then picked up a bolt in the tire next to the previously mentioned tire. I found that 40 miles down the road when I stopped just to verify that the repaired tire was still holding. No open tire shop close by and a fast leak required that I change it immediately. It was a Sunday and the local Courthouse parking lot was empty. I was able to pull into the lot and position the RV to provide shade while I changed the tire. Another 20 minutes and we were back on the road.
When we got home the E rated OEM tires were replaced with G Rated tires. OEMs were 3 years old and were not very high quality. I let them run longer than I should have. I am over tired now and completely happy with it.
There's not a single tire that doesn't last at least 10 years per DOT requirements. The lifespan after that is considered questionable only because you have to account for the worst case scenario. If it was left in direct sunlight in Arizona, it will last 10 years. That would be the worst case scenario and I would likely change it then for sure. If it was stored in a pitch black garage it will last way longer but you have to use the 10-year worst case scenario.
FINALLY!!!! Someone who talks truth about trailers, tires, bearings!!!!
I appreciate the vote of confidence. Thank you for watching!
I pull an RV trailer and I check the tire pressure at least once a week while travelling or at the beginning of a trip. I also carry an extra spare tire just in case when travelling afar in some cases. In over 25 years of pulling an RV I only had one flat on my trailer and luckily it was not a blow out but just a nail. After replacing the flat with the spare, I stopped at the next town to replace my spare. It's harder than you think to find a ST tire [in the size required] in some locations. That is why I carry an extra spare.
We have a saying in our family. “It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.” I’d say in the case of having a spare tire for your rv or trailer, this saying fits perfectly. Good job on being prepared and proactive. It’s what I do, too. I never haul a trailer without a spare tire.
I run 12 ply steel belted 225s. Best trailer tire upgrade I’ve ever done.
I have definitely gone over 55 with U-Haul trailers on a number of occasions. I thought it was just a suggestion because in most places the speed limit back then was 55, so I figured it was to keep me legal😅
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I always took it as a suggestion myself! “Drive it like a rental”.
But in all seriousness, yes there’s a specific reason for that recommendation. Thanks for watching!
I’m literally 15 seconds into the vod and I just like this guys energy
When looking for new tires don't forget to look for the tread depth. Some new tires are 7/32 some are 10/32 which is a 30% difference.Some are 4mm or 5mm. Many companies make the depth hard to find in their ads. If your buying tires with 20% less tread they should be 20% cheaper if the tires are comparable in quality.
Agreed 👍
For a trailer tire most users have to replace them because of age or blowout -- long before the tread wears out.
I check the pressure on my trailer tires before every trip. I also run a TPMS on my trailer.
Generally, the more premium tires have less tread, and the reason is tread depth contributes to sway. Especially when loaded.. Cheaper tires have more tread to look better. Goodyear Endurance and Hankook Vantra ( another premium tire ) are both lower tread tires. Even the well loved Maxxis 8008 and Kenda Loadstars are lower tread tires
I never wore out a trailer tire, is that even possible?
We've been putting LT truck tires on our trailers for years. No regrets from our farm.
5 psi over cold.
I used to heavy haul and that saved many tires. Especially in the high temperatures in the summer.
I check tire pressure every trip.
And sometimes during a trip.
Excessive?
Maybe.
I have never had to change a tire on a trip.
Carry spares for truck and trailer anyway.
Y'never know.
Pull a 48' 18K tri axle gooseneck & a 42' 13K dual axle fifth wheel.
Inspect/service bearings often. Beginning and midseason.
Uhaul (mini trailer ) tires survived 107 mph in Nebraska , was passing several big rigs on 2 lane . Towing vehicle was a F350 powerstroke 😀
Good advice. I ran a small business in which we had to infrequently use trailers with inexperienced drivers. Three rules we had. 1) Check the load 30 minutes out and at every stop. 2) Check the tire and bearing temperature using an infrared temperature gun (they are about $20) 3) we got some cheap remote tire pressure monitors that went on top of the normal valves.
Those are great rules for pulling trailers. Thanks for watching!
Bought a new toy hauler. It came with chrome modular wheels. Pulled it 1,500 miles. Checked the lugs and TP at almost every gas stop. At least felt the hubs and tires… got ready to head out and heard a clicking sound. One of the wheels was LOOSE!😮
The chrome had broken off the wheel seat so wheel was wobbling. Had to replace the studs and put standard steel lug nuts on it. Later went from 14 to 15 inch aluminum wheel wheels. Never had problems after that.
I used to work in a tire store and I was trained. I'm not a tire expert, but I have been trained. The speed rating is for 4 hour sustained speed, not for a minute or two. It doesn't mean that the tire is going to fly apart if you exceed that by 1 mph. The load, speed and tire pressure all work together to determine how long the tire is going to last. If your load speed and tire pressure is near the max that the tire can handle, you're more likely to have a failure. This is a problem because so many RV trailers are designed to operate at or even over the tire and axle max weight. Reduced load and/or speed reduces the risk of failure. I have pulled a lightly loaded U-Haul trailer at highway speeds with no problems. I have a 1,000 pound popup trailer that I've pulled for many thousands of miles at highway speed on the 5.30-12 tires that it was designed to use, inflated to about 40 PSI. You don't need the listed MAX pressure in a tire if the load on that tire is significantly less than the max load.
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I have a : horse horse trailer with living quarters. I use it as a toy hauler, just one small Honda . I don’t run my tires at full pressure because it bounces around. I normally don’t run with more than 30 gallons of water. But I check the air pressure before every trip and make sure all 4 are the same. I also carry a digital thermometer and check all the tires every time I stop. Trailer stays under cover when not in use . This last trip I knew they were getting old and so I slowed down to 70 max. Coming out of Ok. Hit a really bad stretch on 40 slowed down to 60 . Stopped for the night and within 1 hour of starting the next day both of the front tires came apart. First one than about 30 miles the other one. Stay vigilant. Check tire temperature and check mirrors. And always take note of how it feels . Mine told me and I caught them before they tore anything up.
Good job on taking all those factors into consideration. Not everyone does. It really does boil down to a safety hazard on the roadways to ignore the key things to keeping trailer hauling safe. So glad you caught it before it caused damage to your or you trailer/vehicle!
Slowing down to 70?
No way you should even have that rig going 70.
Speed kills,everyday.
Thank you for a very informative video. As a tow / recovery operator, seen lots of tire issues. This information needs to be out there. Well done.
For sure! Thank you for watching!
I check my tire pressure every time I start to use my trailer. Check it in the cool of the morning and have a TMS to watch the pressures and temp of my tire down the road.
That's the way to go! Thanks for watching!
check or change? the tire pressure on a trailer should be adjusted depending on the weight its carrying, there are no shocks most can be safely pumped up to around 60PSI refer to the TIRE LABEL NOT THE DOOR STICKER OR MANUAL the door sticker pertains to the original equipment only and is usually not even correct just a good guess
Great video! I have 4 tandem axle trailers for various work purposes. I check the tires out every haul, but check the pressure every 3-4 tows.
My trailers are used intermittently so I check the tire pressures before each use. If used on a trip, I use the "thump" method each morning and when doing rest stops.
I've noticed more and more guys running LT tires on their trailer. I run continental LT one ton van tires (Think like off of a Mercedes Sprinter) because the load index and speed rating are significantly better than that of a conventional trailer tire. I also believe that the rubber compound they use is far superior to that of ANY Chinese made tire I have found yet. They are quite expensive to buy new in comparison to a trailer tire, but I have found brand new sets that people simply wanted to replace for a larger offroad type tire for their "van camper" build.
I do enjoy watching your videos, keep them coming!
I just replaced the ‘18 Castle Rocks on my 19 foot Camper. (March 2024) They looked fine, but I plan to travel longer distances this year.
Once the tech removed the tires, they were warped and extremely dry cracks in area I didn’t see.
I bought the GY Endurance ST225/75/R15 at Belle for $640. (3 tires) my camper weighs 3600 dry, never been over 4200 on the scales. 👏👏 great info!
Good choice! Thanks for watching!
Just found ya on TH-cam , you are da man on trailers . Can’t wait to watch all your videos .
I like seeing all the examples you have being balanced. Something i think that is important.
Thanks for that feedback. And thanks for watching!
Great video as always! When buying tires, check the manufacture date, it's on the tire sidewall as well. You could be buying tires that sat around the dealer for four years, now you have one to three years on those tires.
I do landscape/Hardscape/tree brush/dig graves in rural East Tennessee, in the mountains .I run a 7 x 12, 10,000lbs. dump trailer with a Bobcat E 20 /MT 100 most job sites. It's a lot of miles on crazy roads/trails sometimes at awkward speed and traction.😂
I was sitting outside of the tire place waiting on the tires to get done and was just curious about what else was out there.
That hasn't been said anybody who comes across this video found in gem. Y'all should probably listen to this man.
Also, if you don't check your air pressure every time you're about to pull that trailer out and double check your connections,before you load it up you're doing wrong.
Thanks for watching! I've been in those hills & mountains of East Tennessee. Beautiful country! Those winding roads are something else. We appreciate the feedback! Keep on keeping on!
I’ve pulled a U-Haul trailer at 70-80mph for most of a 13 hour trip when I moved. The trailer was packed with my stuff and my CBR600RR.
Smooth the whole way.
(Don’t be like me lol) I was unaware of the possibilities at the time
Uhaul trailers are probably the best built trailer out of all trailers.
Great video. I'd like to see a video on the tire pressure.
I pulled an max loaded 5' x 8' cargo trailer with 12" wheels and 21" wide tires at 80 MPH in wyoming on the freeway (at speed limit) ! darn thing never missed a beat!
Glad you had a good experience with it! Thanks for watching!
I check the pressure every time we go out, and use a pressure monitor. The monitor shows pressure and temperature. The pressure monitor also showed 77psi when the tire was in shreds and the rim sparking on the pavement too. So much for monitors.
I have a travel trailer, so not used every day. But I do always check the pressure before a trip. I also have TPMS sensors in my trailer tires and can continuously monitor tire pressure and temperature on my infotainment screen.
Great video, you hit all the imp info, esp putting 110 psi tires on lighter duty cast wheels, ive seen friends crack rims twice from doing this thinking they were doing the right thing by putting a heavy duty tire on their trailer without realizing you have to change out the rim as well.
I’ve always checked tire pressure every time I use it. I have a CDL so pretrip is engrained in me. Nice content video!!
Your video was 100% not 99, 100 lol. Great job. Thanks.
Thanks for the vote of confidence! We appreciate you watching!
I was waiting for you to talk about Carlile. You mentioned about 20 years old. My Carlisle are about 22 years old, and like you said believe it or not they still in good shape.
Carlisle has a really good tire life have some 20 years old and no cracks ect.
I have a small utility trailer, it came with Carlisle tires and they are 12 years old and still show 0 cracks or dry rot. I don't travel far with it but still feel uncomfortable using the trailer with those tires.
I'll be the first to admit, I don't know trailer tires, that's why I am watching video. Car tires I know. High performance Summers and High Performance Winters I know. Three decades of instructing Advanced Driving Schools, I've seen and driven a lot at the limits. Those car tires work phenomenally in the right season. However after four years I replace them. Sure they might look like they have more tread, but the rubber compound is much harder than new. That means less grip. Try to stick your finger nail in a 4 or 5 yr tire. Then stick your nail into brand new. Nuf said? It's yours and my life. Yup, just a few inches per tire is holding the trailer, car or truck on the road.
I always check the air pressure on my trailers before pulling them, I check my truck about once a week also.
That’s a great way to stay on top of things! Thanks for watching!
Just bought a new to me 1448 Jon boat, 1988 Evinrude 9.9hp tiller, and a trailer. The hour plus drive home was sketchy at best, dirt roads and slow. Trailer rehab time. At a minimum, the trailer tires are shot, dry rot. I don't know squat about trailer tires which is why I am here. Thanks for the extremely informative/educational video. Knowledge is pretty cool when passed along by someone who nails the delivery spot on.
I’m a weekend warrior with my travel trailer a half a dozen weekends a year. I check the pressure before every trip.
Fantastic video!! And I check air pressure every time I pull my trailer
Tire pressure checks EVERY TIME before moving the trailer!!! So important before you hit the road! Every time folks. Be safe, stay safe. ((Topic Idea: how to properly inspect your frame and suspension system---how to properly look under a trailer for damage and wear. Another important safety consideration. Thanks TrailerSmith!))
Safety first! Great idea for a video! Thanks for watching!
I got a trailer with original bias ply tires I just retired and they were made in 87 or something like that. Still held air and drove great down the highway at 80 mph with a load.
I check them every time, because I use my trailer for about 3 - 4 times a year..... I also do the 1 mile stop and check hitch and chains and lights. I am a little paranoid
Good to hear from others who are safety minded! Great job! I'm a little paranoid when it comes to safely driving a vehicle or hauling a trailer. I just couldn't live with myself if my actions caused harm to my family or anyone else. Thanks for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment. Keep up the good work!
Federal regulation on commercial motor vehicles requires stopping within the first 50 mi and every 3hrs or 150 miles on any trip and checking load securement. I believe doing such a check on any trailer is a good idea.
I run my tires with a TPMS, so I know exactly what pressure and temperature my tires have. And before I take my trailer anywhere, I make sure the pressure is right, but I also check the torque on the lugnuts.
Way to go! Check. Your. Lug. Nuts. Always!
I check pressure about every other time I pull. I pull a 34ft toy hauler bumper pull. I don’t need any issues. I also kick and finger check lug nuts when we stop for food or fuel.
I'm getting ready to replace my trailer tires. A lot of great info. I didn't know there were speed ratings for trailer tires. Great to know since I travel roads where there is a 70mph speed limit.
thanks for the info; now I just have to figure out what the axil can handel
I check them every time! You are great! Good explanations on everything !!!!
I appreciate that! Thanks for watching!
I do lawn care I pull a trailer about three times a week and I check the air pressure in the tires about once a month.
Keep at it! Thanks for watching!
So much good info on this one about trailer tires. Saved to watch again.
Just got a new 16' Utility trailer and pulled it home i did look at the weight it was good for but i didn't know all this so when i get off work tonight i will be checking all this out . Thank you for the info thats why i was here i was curious to know these things
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
Great Video! Just a thought - Do you have a "checklist" that you would recommend for using a trailer? Someone in the comments mentioned CDL pre-inspection checklist - something like that?
Each time I use it. Also I check the temp on the wheel bags, each time I stop at a rest area
I check my tire psi before I pull out. In tire care I would suggest that if your trailer is parked outside and it’s not used very much to either pour a cement pad just for your tires and the second is to buy tire covers. I had a box trailer that sat outside and the drivers side of the trailer was basically facing east to west with no shade on it. One day I got to move it and while checking the tire psi I noticed that the tire was starting to dry rot. The outside of the tire had small splits all the way around it. The other tire facing away from the sun was fine. A cheap set of covers would have saved me $150 bucks. I also had heavy duty inner tubes installed when I put the first set of tires on it.
I rotate the tires on my trailers. I start at the right front putting the spare on and then go clockwise around the trailer. The last tire off becomes the spare. Also I have seen the inside edge will usually wear quicker. I will get the tire flipped on the rim giving more tire life. I also check air pressure regularly. Lube lug nuts and retorque once after roughly 100K. This has worked well for me.
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I had a toy hauler with 7000 pound axles and it came with 16 inch load range G tires that failed frequently. I switched to 17.5 inch rims and 4400 pound rated tires and had no more problems. The new tires were the same diameter as the original tires.
You made a good move! We use 17.5 rims on a lot of our applications. Thanks for watching!
Definitely check before every use.
I learned the hard way.
Sometimes the best lessons I ever learned was through the hardest way to learn them. Thanks for watching!
Most definitely,. every pull with a load. On long hauls I Always walk around at every fuel stop and even check the temp of the tires and hubs with my hand.
Doesn't every one?.
Unfortunately, the only way to truly learn is......the hard way.
No. Absolutely not. It would probably surprise you at how many people barely give a second’s thought to checking the tires on their trailers. I’m glad to hear there this that do. Gives me hope!
Loved the video. You provided a wealth of solid, useful information. I take my tire age and condition very seriously as I pull a 30 foot RV from Colorado to Canada each Summer. My tires are currently the originals from the 2018 trailer I pull. Although they look great, I will be replacing them in a few weeks as you suggested, because of the age-factor. Thanks again for the great video.
Thanks for the feedback! We truly do appreciate it. I'm glad the tire video was helpful to you, especially as you get ready for a big trip! Thank you for watching and may you have safe travels!
What I know about tire age, tires will go bad just sitting around. The factory spare on my pickup looked really bad at eight years old which is why I replaced it. I had only ever used the spare once, and it spent the rest of its life under the pickup. That tire saw direct sun for like 2 days its entire life. Definitely important to identify the date code on tires.
Good tidbit on the wheel being able to match the rating of the tire. I didn't even think about the wheel's capacity when thinking about what the tire can handle. That was completely new info to me.
I have used 10 ply truck tires on every RV I have owned. I have never had a tire failure with them. The only tire failure I have had was with an original Goodyear ST tire.
I was just about to say the same thing. I have much better luck with using 10 ply lt tires. I also use tires that match my dually. Once my 4 rear tires wear on my truck I will put my camper tires on the truck to wear them off and put 4 new tires on my camper. Keeps my tires from dry rotting.
I have two living quarter horse trailers that came with Goodyear g rated 235/85R16a and I kepp them aired to sidewall max and I lost a bunch of them and only had GY stand behind two that lost tread but held air. I thought that maybe I was getting punctures like GY store said. I switched to Michelin XPS Ribs on advice of other horse haulers with the same experience. Those are 80 psi truck all steel plies tires. I aired them to 90 to have little squat and never had a failure. I got nail punctures and thebtire survived and it got plug patched and ran it to the wear bars. I learned no GY tires and LT is not a disqualifier for a sturdy made tire.
As I said in the video, I’m not a fan of Goodyear tires for truck or trailer, EXCEPT for the Goodyear Endurance, specifically. If you want to run a tire designed for steering like a truck tire is on your trailer, instead of equipping your trailer with tires designed for the function of being pulled that’s okay. That’s your business. I’m just getting the info out there from a shop/mechanic standpoint. Trailer tires is one of the most confused topics relying to trailers. The comments section is proof of that.
@@TheTrailerSmith the tire failure I had was the Goodyear endurance.
Had a Goodyear endurance with around 5000 miles on it and 4 years old fail recently on an 15:45 RV trailer. Checked the other 3 and were all cracked. Checked air pressure before trip but never imagined the tires would be cracked so didn’t even cross my mind to check them since they were hardly 4 years old. Original tires were changed at 6 yrs due to age and I thought GY endurance would be an upgrade. I will not use GY endurance again.
I use 215r70/19.5 full tilt commercial truck tire. Can be good for steer, drive, trailer or all position rated. Does not need to be ST, as long as it is trailer position rated- almost all are drive and trailer position rated.
So Wise , Thank You . Why is the tire life so Short now? We Must all remember and execute
Good Stuff I would also like to add that I have seen high psi tires with low psi valve stems !! I have seen the wrong valve stem just blow out
Good point. Happens all the time! Thanks for watching!
Also when folks add TPMS snesors to their rubber valve stem they take the risk of the valve stem wobble and fail. Always replace all rubber valve stems with steel valve stems when using TMPS sensors.
Hoping my luck holds!! While towing a camper I can't think of anything more important than the tires and wheels that support my investment and keep us from a road side disaster. As soon as we bring a new camper home the tires get changed out for the highest load rated Tow-Max tire for that size tire. The new tires will be balanced and spend the rest of there lives at or close the max pressure. Tire pressures are monitored electronically but double checked prior to leaving any camp. (that pays off!!)
I do check tire pressure everytime I hook up to the trailers. Then again every morning along the way of our trip. But then again at every pit stop the first I do is go and touch all the hubs to see if anything is getting warm...
This is really good to hear! Preventative practices go a long way in avoiding break downs & emergencies. Nothing is ever 100% guaranteed, but it sounds like you have a good routine for checking things!
I do check my tire pressure every time I pull my 5th Wheel… Thanks, great video!
Right on! Thanks for watching!
we have 30+ enclosed 10K capacity utility trailers in our fleet. when i switched up from buying cheap trailer tires to Goodyear trailer tires, our tread wear life went way up, and issues with tires went WAY down. more than pays for the difference in cost. you can feel the weight difference in the tires also, the same size tire in a Goodyear VS. the cheap tires is a several pound difference, with the Goodyear being much heavier, and the sidewall feels much thicker and stiffer. the Goodyears also seem less likely to get damaged from when the drivers take a corner too sharp pulling into a parking lot and 'hop the curb' with a fully loaded trailer.
💯 everything you just said. Thanks for watching!
I pull a gooseneck one horse trailer with living quarters.
I'm a freak about tires, but struggle to know all the details I should know.
I love watching your videos even though I struggle trying to understand it all!
Thanks, atleast I know know NOT to believe to sales guy at the tire store.
I ran Chinese tires on my lowbed and truck for years hauling heavy equipment on the highway and in the bush, never had a blowout or lost any treads. They’re just as good as any other manufacturers tires in my opinion.
It must not rain where you are?
LT tires are fine for trailer use if they meet the weight rating for the axle. They are built better.
LT tires are actually designed for shifting weight loads vs static weight loads. The entire reason ST tires exist is that they are not designed to be used on an axle that can self propel. LT tires can be used on an axle that is self propelled.
ST tires are also built to be twisted under load, as the case with a tandem trailer in a tight turn.
Yes, LT is designed & structured to be on a vehicle. ST is designed specifically with trailers in mind. A QUALITY ST is the preferred tire for trailers while a QUALITY LT is preferred for light trucks.
Some RV company's (Air Stream) put LT tires on their trailers. The tire categories overlap with each other so if your going from a ST tire to a LT tire better make sure you are getting all the weight number correct.
I agree. You will notice LT tires don’t say don’t put on a trailer but an ST tire has warning not to use on a vehicle.
Thanks for the info. I have had my small utility trailer for over 10 years and have only checked the tire pressure twice. Maybe use it about 8 times a year. 😖
I check my trailer tires for cracking, bumps, unusual ware and pressure before every tow. I also have an active pressure and heat monitoring system that reports information during towing.
That’s the way to do it! Thanks for watching!
My tires are being contatantly monitored with A TPMS and are kept at max cold PSI everyday when the tires are on the road.
Question for the group. I have a 13 foot skiff. Total weight Boat, motor, trailer and fishing stuff is aprox 1100 lbs. The trailer currently has 8” rims. The specs on the tires meet the load and speed requirements. However, I plan to tow the trailer 500 miles each way when traveling from Georgia to Florida multiple times per year. I want to put larger wheels on the trailer as I believe the trailer would ride better and be safer. My question is what size wheel should I put on the trailer? 12”, 14” or 15”. Thanks in advance for any opinions.
I just changed the tires on my old trailer. They were bias ply Uniroyal brand I believe. I know they were on the trailer when my dad bought it in 1983! One still holds air and it's my spare now. The new/used tire I put on it blew out in less than a month just sitting in the yard. Those old Boss put tires had been in the weather for 40+years
Very informative and helpful. More people need to pay attention to their tire ratings than they actually do these days.
Agreed! Thanks for watching!
Great video. 👍💪🏅 I am actually pretty good about checking tire pressure on all my trailers.
That is so good hear! Keep up with it. And thank you for watching!
Timely info as I'm looking to replace the tires on my travel trailer. I check the air pressure every time I take it out of the barn.
It drives me crazy when I'm traveling the interstate at 70 mi an hour and a little utility trailer passes me and those 12" to 14" tires are just a singing.
Check your lug nuts! 😄
Yes! Check your lug nuts! And your air pressure!
It's crazy to me how many people are pulling trailers down the road that are in really awful condition or they are severely overloaded, or they are going too fast for the wheel/axle. It seems they always get to where they are going. I wouldn't make it 3 feet in those same conditions! LOL Thanks for watching the channel!
Do you have a video on installing lift blocks on trailers?
Very interesting, I do check the air pressure every time I pull our travel trailer mostly because it may set 2-3 weeks in between usage.
Good job! Thanks for watching!
I run GY endurance on my TT and I check PSI every trip and I run a TPMS. I've found living in South FL if I run them at 80psi they get hot and over pressured and set off the TPMS during the summer. I run them at 75psi and they will stay below the alarm point on the TPMS. Once I hit the mountains and cooler temps I can air up to the 80psi and no alarm.
As a landscaper I just learned a lot from this video!.. thank you sir. New sub here.
My trailer came from the manufacturer with "LT" tires on it....Guess I'll buy those cause I can get USA made tires for it with 2X the load range it needs....Intech Explorer Flyer....Great trailer👍
I think LT tires are actually better.
I have always checked my tires air press pre trip, truck, trailer, and cars. It's free insurance. Adjust as necessary. I agree with you.
Couldn’t agree more! Thanks for watching!
As always, lots of good info.. Thanks. I noticed wheel weights on the tires in the video. What are your thoughts on balancing trailer vs. not balancing trailer tires?
The tyres on my caravan are as old as my caravan... 42 years old. I took it out over the weekend for a 2 hour drive and they held up fine.
I always check the tire pressure along with checking the lights. We just purchased new tires and the replacement tires have a higher load rating, we are not hauling any more weight on the trailer.
I bought new tires for my small trailer when they were about 15+years old. Not much tread was left and there was cracks. I got nervous so I replaced them. They were made back when tires were made a bit better.
Yeah. I’d say it was probably time for new ones!
Awesome video. Two years ago, I installed the Goodyear Endurance ST 235/80R 16 on my fifth wheel. The tires have ~20,000 miles on them. The tread depth is 4/32 to 5/32 on all tires. I don't see any cracking or bulging on the tires. When the trailer is stored, it is under cover not in the sun. Preparing for an upcoming 6,000-mile trip. Would you install new tires prior to the trip or do one more trip on the existing tires? Just your thought. Also, I have a TPMS on the tires and mostly travel at 65 mph on the interstate.
Love your videos keep it up. You’re very helpful.
I own a 34 foot toy hauler
Recommended tire pressure my manufacture, 65 pounds
Goodyear recommended
80 pounds
What would you recommend?
Check them every time before leaving home. then each day while towing
Thought a good video might be about trailer coupler connections and capacities
I run 45 lbs cold on my little car hauler (says 50 max). Always check before leaving the house and multiple times after they get warmed up.
Good deal! Thanks for watching!
So FOR ME a automotive mechanic over 50 years, i know how tire pressures change with , temperature, age, and neglect! For me every 2 months i fire up my portable compressor and air up my fleet, trucks, motorhome, trailer, car dolly, side by side, ones on the ground and the spares for them all, not all of them need alot but they all need some, so if you figure at the 2 month mark there loss is “X” then just imagine over a longer time what they will lose! I was ALWAYS amazed just when trucks came to my shop, not just the ones that contractors used but also the ones with 2 or more child seats in them, that would have10 to 20 psi less pressure from the stated pressure on the door sticker. Often we were accused of “just trying to SELL some tires” yet a blind man could have seen how bad of tires some people had on there vehicles! The concept of the TPMS systems is awsome, however with time many people still drive with the system telling them “tire pressure” LOW… they will tell you things like oh im just driving around town, or i dont carry any heavy weight, or my favorite, i thought i had a bad sensor cause the tire looks ok!!!
It would be interesting to see what the actual towed speed numbers are encountered with rental UHaul trailers. My observation is about 8 out of 10 trailers are towed at 60 to 75 mph. With an outlier pushing 80 from time to time. Some of the smaller UHaul trailers I have rented even had 45 mph max speed stickers on them. Most of my use has been local around town use so speed limits were usually not an issue.
That would be interesting information to see!
Thanks for clarifying MAX LOAD SINGLE / DUAL meaning. Google search results only confused me!
You’re welcome! Glad it was helpful for you! Thanks for watching!
Always ask for a 12 ply 8 14 5 LT tire for your trailer it can be Goodyear High miler tire or a firestone low Boy tire or Hucules or Remington high miler
good video for the common sense things or things you should know if you want to run a trailer and they all apply to your car tires the same way i love to see a bmw or benz go rolling buy with some noisy tires and then at the stop light the cheap tires they bought for the car
Thanks for watching!
I checked the speed rating on the uhaul trailer tires and they were good to do so we were going 80 most of the time
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Bought a 2012 jayco 18’ camper. Single axle 3500 GVWR 2600 dry weight. Tires look great but deciding to purchase brand new for Family sake. Anything else I should look into? Appreciate it