There’s nothing worse than heading out for a long weekend trip, and all of a sudden running into problems with your trailer tires. If you’re new to using a trailer, figuring out how to deal with tire problems can be confusing. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be! Here are some important things to keep in mind the next time you break out your trailer.
Passenger Tires vs. Special Trailer Tires
Many people out there will tell you that passenger tires will work just fine for your trailer. The truth is, they won’t. We see too many people pulling trailers on the side of the road with a flat trailer tire because they aren’t using the right ones, or they haven’t replaced it in the recommended time-frame. Special trailer tires, just like snow tires, are designed for a specific job in mind. These special tires are designed to handle the load of whatever you’re carrying around turns and corners at highway speeds. A normal passenger tire is NOT designed to do this. According to Goodyear Tire Company, “Trailer tires are designed for heavy-duty, free-rolling applications with emphasis on tread wear, rolling resistance, stability, and ease of towing.” In addition, they also have a heavier construction to meet the additional load carrying requirements of trailers.
Watch for Oxidation
Your true mark for knowing when to get new trailer tires is how much oxidation there is, not how much the tread has worn. You don’t wear down your trailer tires by driving as much as you do by letting them sit still through winters or different seasons because of bad weather. Because the rubber on the tire oxidizes, it’s recommended that you swap out your trailer tires every 3-5 years and replace them with new ones.
Under-inflation
One of the biggest causes of flat tires on trailers is because of under-inflation. A good rule of thumb is to check your tire pressure often, especially because trailer tires won’t show the same signs of low pressure that normal car tires will. Just remember to know exactly what PSI your trailer tires need to be at and always check them with a quality gauge.
If you have questions about the right tires for your trailer, give the professionals at Terry’s auto Body & Trailer Sales a call at 641-985-2536. We can help you find the best replacement tires for your trailer and would love to answer any additional questions you may have.
References
