trailer tires

[gim]

I'm still using the original trailer tires that came with my boat/trailer that I bought in 2016.  They are starting to show signs of wear on the inside portion.  I'm done fishing for the season now but it may be time to replace them before next season.  My Father looked at them and didn't seem to think they needed replacing yet.

 

How can you tell?  I obviously don't have the amount of mileage they have on them like vehicle tires do.  Just by visually looking at the tread is hard to tell.  I always maintain proper tire pressure too.  I'm leaning towards just replacing them to be on the safe side.

 

Thanks

[Jig Man]

Five years is as long as I would want to leave tires on a boat trailer.  I’d be replacing them.  You might to have your axle checked because of your wear pattern.

 

Our crooked, hilly, narrow roads eat the outside pair on my trailer after 3 years.  After 5 the inside pair get replaced.  I’d rather spend some money for tires than have a blowout and maybe an accident to go with it.

 

When you purchase be sure to get trailer tires and not car tires.  They will have stronger sidewalls and are better suited for trailers.

[Tennessee Boy]

I've always felt like I can accept more wear on my trailer tires than on my truck.  The only thing I ask of my trailer tires is to remain inflated and don't slide when I go around a curve.   I don't have trailer breaks so hydroplaning during breaking is not a concern.  Plus,  I typically don't go fishing when it raining heavily anyway.  You said they are starting to show signs of wear.   Doesn't sound like a blowout is imminent.  I would not replace them.

[GaryH]

Average life span of trailer tires are 5 to 6 years when maintained properly. I do a lot of highway speed hauling the boat and the last thing I want is a blowout. Goodyear endurance every 5 years.

[MickD]

How much do tires cost?  How much will it cost to repair the damage to your boat and trailer if a blown tire causes an accident?  How much is your time worth, the time spent along a busy highway waiting for service/ambulance/etc.  Yes, worst case scenario, but it can be avoided without spending a fortune.  

 

One thing you can do is ask a tire expert in a tire shop.  Yes, they will try to sell, but they are probably a lot more expert than we who cannot even see the tires are.

 

Car alignment shops can align trailers.  I had to have my last one done when uneven tire wear showed up.  Have them check your bearings while you're there.  

[gim]

Fantastic advice here.  This is the first boat/trailer I've owned on my own.  All my previous fishing were from family boats that my parents primarily took care of which included trailer tires.

 

As mentioned, they have now seen 6 full seasons of use.  The roads I frequent are not super hilly and rarely do I drive more than about 60 miles one way to fish.  I do not drive over 65 mph either per the speed rating on them.  Plus I do not fish in the "winter" when snow, salt, and gravel are on the roads and can wreak havoc on them.  I have always kept proper tire pressure in them too.

 

I think I am going to begin the search for a new pair before spring.  I'd rather be on the safe side and spend a couple hundred bucks than experience a catastrophic blowout simply because I tried to get one more season out of a worn tire.

[Bankc]

UV and ozone are what is gonna kill a trailer tire.  So how much life they have left in them will likely have a lot to do with how much time they spent outside, exposed to the elements.  Also, the quality of the tire will play a large role.  Good quality tires have a lot of an anitozonant chemical mixed in with the rubber.  This protects the tire from ozone and UV light.  Poor quality tires won't have as much.  So higher quality tires can last quite a bit longer than cheaper ones.  

 

So, they might be fine, and they might need to be replaced.  The only way to know is to have a qualified tire specialist inspect them.  Of course, these guys usually sell tires, so there is a conflict of interest.  But at least you know if they say the tires are fine, you can probably trust them.  

[gim]

5 minutes ago, Bankc said:

So how much life they have left in them will likely have a lot to do with how much time they spent outside, exposed to the elements.

Great point @Bankc.  My boat/trailer is always stored in the garage when not in use so sunlight/UV is only when I am fishing.

 

If I remember correctly, the brand is Carlisle.  I had to have the stem valves replaced on each of them about 3 seasons ago and the tire guy that replaced them said they were a good type of trailer tires.

[FryDog62]

You may have seen I posted similar on ido and got a variety of answers... but I'm at the same trailer/tire age as you. I've decided that whether the tread is worn or not I will replace as its been 5 years. A friend of mine who used to sell utility trailers said the biggest risk isn't tread wear, but drying out and cracking. He said even if there appears to be wear left, replace no longer than 5 years, sooner if you put a lot of miles on and/or store outside. 

 

Since time/cracking is more of the actual risk, I'm going to let the boat sit in the garage all winter and then replace in spring. May not buy me an extra 6 months, but who knows... that's my plan anyway ~

[TnRiver46]

If you got the money, replace them. I replace mine when the rubber flies off……. Carlisle is a good brand from my experience 

 

but seriously its kind of a personal preference. My grandpa always said “your life is riding on your tires, always get Michelin.” Sage advice, yes, but not totally necessary. Fast forward to my professional career, driving a company vehicle 100-200 miles every single day for my boss who is frugal and slow to act. I’ve driven many many many miles on crap tires and many many many miles on good tires. You can flat a new one just as well as an old one with a properly placed nail. Murphy’s law states that you will puncture a sidewall on brand new tires far more often that you will on old ones. I put two used tires on the back of my personal pickup two years ago for $50/apiece, still doing fine (I don’t drive it nearly as much as company truck). Sure I would love to have Michelin tires on everything but I don’t own any oil rigs in Dubai. Also there’s only one thing I’ve ever done with tires and that’s wear them out. A rubber tire isn’t that complicated of an entity so I don’t feel like I need a premium one just so I can wear it down on asphalt. I usually buy middle of the road tires made somewhere in America 
 

now we parlay this same info to boat trailers. Like @Tennessee Boy stated, all a trailer tire has to do is roll. No power is being applied to them so traction isn’t a top priority. Even tread wear is about all I look for. That being said, if you drive around with bald trailer tires it’s only a matter of time until the rubber flies off (I know I’ve done it haha). That’s why I said if you’ve got the money just buy them, no harm no foul. Just be prepared for Murphy’s law to eat your brand new tires out of spite. In fact always be prepared, some vehicle lug wrenches won’t turn trailer wheel lug nuts. Another thing about blowouts is they shouldn’t completely destroy anything unless for some reason you don’t know it’s flat. I’ve had plenty of flats (company cars, boat trailers, lawn mower trailers, etc) and never went careening into a tail spin, just pull over and change the wheel……….. 

 

The answer to the question “how do you tell?” is indeed by just looking at the tread (“inspecting”). I’m sure somewhere along the way we’ve all heard of the penny test. Stick a penny in the treads and they should be deep enough to cover honest Abe’s forehead . The guys at the tire store do it all day everyday so they are a little better but it’s not rocket science. Look for uneven wear and how much tread is left and maybe dry rot cracks, that’s all there really is to it 

 

I don’t know what brand tires bass tracker uses but I’ve had two buddies that ran the original ones for 12 years before any failures , both of them store their bass trackers outside 

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

I'm still using the original trailer tires that came with my boat/trailer that I bought in 2016.  They are starting to show signs of wear on the inside portion.  I'm done fishing for the season now but it may be time to replace them before next season.  My Father looked at them and didn't seem to think they needed replacing yet.

 

How can you tell?  I obviously don't have the amount of mileage they have on them like vehicle tires do.  Just by visually looking at the tread is hard to tell.  I always maintain proper tire pressure too.  I'm leaning towards just replacing them to be on the safe side.

 

Thanks

In my mind you got an extra season out of them - replace them now.

Including the spare.

You'll be glad you did.

A-Jay

 

[TnRiver46]

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

In my mind you got an extra season out of them - replace them now.

Including the spare.

You'll be glad you did.

A-Jay

 

At least that 6 inch angle iron didn’t eat your brand new one…….

[Jig Man]

People who are full time rvrs or do serious camping never let tires, no matter the wear or amount of sunlight, be more than 6 years old.  I’ve replaced 5th wheeler tires that had less than 5000 miles on them before the were 7 years old.  In the scheme of things trailer tires are about the cheapest items on a boat rig.

[gim]

49 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Including the spare

I forgot about that.  I've never used it and it looks brand new.  Should I still replace that one too?

 

56 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

In fact always be prepared, some vehicle lug wrenches won’t turn trailer wheel lug nuts.

 

I found out about this only after the valve stems needed replacing.  Of course the tire wrench for my truck didn't fit the lug nuts on the trailer tire...

 

Luckily the tire lost air because of the bad valve right in the garage so it was just about the most ideal situation.  I simply drove to auto zone and bought a 4-way wrench which I also now leave in my truck.  This is the sort of thing I would have never thought of when I bought the boat new in 2015.  I simply assumed the tire wrench for my truck tires would work on the trailer tires.

[Jig Man]

I normally travel less than 100 miles to a lake so I don’t figure my spare needs to be as good as the others so I don’t replace it as often.

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

I forgot about that.  I've never used it and it looks brand new.  Should I still replace that one too?

 

Up to you I guess.

Should you need it, a new one could increase the chances of it performing effectively enough to get you home.  While there's always some I can not do much about,

I am very willing to do whatever I can to eliminate risk, not 'manage it'.

#peaceofmind

A-Jay

 

[GaryH]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

I forgot about that.  I've never used it and it looks brand new.  Should I still replace that one too?

 

 

I found out about this only after the valve stems needed replacing.  Of course the tire wrench for my truck didn't fit the lug nuts on the trailer tire...

 

Luckily the tire lost air because of the bad valve right in the garage so it was just about the most ideal situation.  I simply drove to auto zone and bought a 4-way wrench which I also now leave in my truck.  This is the sort of thing I would have never thought of when I bought the boat new in 2015.  I simply assumed the tire wrench for my truck tires would work on the trailer tires.

Don’t forget a Jack for the trailer.

[gim]

55 minutes ago, GaryH said:

Don’t forget a Jack for the trailer.

 

The jack I have for my truck works for the trailer.  I used it when I had to remove the tires to replace the valve stems.  It stays in my truck and I'm always towing my boat with my truck, so its always with me.

[WRB]

Most quality trailer tire companies like GoodYear recommend no longer then 8 years if the tread is 75%. Sitting without driving for months in cold climate will shorten sidewall strength, 5 years is a good idea in cold climates.

If the tires are on your mind change them!

Tom

[Log Catcher]

I have a 1998 Bass Tracker that I bought in 2000. I replaced the tires when they were around 18 years old. I still have the original spare that has never been used. 

 

I know I don't put as many miles on a trailer in a years time as most people do. My boat is stored in the garage and is not taken out in bad weather where salt could affect the tires. 

 

Maybe someday I will replace them again.

[Jigfishn10]

If you're questioning it in your mind now, it's telling you to replace. It's really a small insurance policy you're purchasing now in lieu of a nuisance down the road.

 

That's just me. I hate surprises at inconvenient times knowing I could have prevented the inconvenience.

[K1500]

6 years tops. Goodyear endurance (NOT marathon). 

[S Hovanec]

My trailer tire experiences have been:. I'll put anything on my trailer as long as it ISN'T a Carlisle.  They were OEM on my trailer, blowout, warranty replacements, blowout.

 

2 of my friends had similar experiences with Carlisle on their new boats too.

[rboat]

I have a 16' fiberglass boat with a single axel trailer with a single tire on each side and no trailer brakes. I ran trailer tires for years and found they just never held up very well. I now go against the grain. I know you all will throw shade my way, but hear me out. I talked to a tire guy who works with many of the best tire companies about changing to steel belted car/truck radials for my trailer. He checked with a couple of manufacturers and said that as long as we were in the specs for weight it should work very well. I have had them on for several years and am extremely happy. The trailer tracks straight and rides very smooth. No wear problems and the trailer actually pulls easier. I know you will all scream I am unsafe and stupid for even attempting this, but the proof is on the trailer. I have pulled it all over city, highway, and in between for years. It is stored inside and I have seen no un-normal wear or weather cracks like I had with trailer tires. It works great, and if it felt unsafe at any point I would change back to trailer tires. The only difference is I have saved money on tires. Ok, let me have it guys.

[Skunkmaster-k]

8 minutes ago, rboat said:

I have a 16' fiberglass boat with a single axel trailer with a single tire on each side and no trailer brakes. I ran trailer tires for years and found they just never held up very well. I now go against the grain. I know you all will throw shade my way, but hear me out. I talked to a tire guy who works with many of the best tire companies about changing to steel belted car/truck radials for my trailer. He checked with a couple of manufacturers and said that as long as we were in the specs for weight it should work very well. I have had them on for several years and am extremely happy. The trailer tracks straight and rides very smooth. No wear problems and the trailer actually pulls easier. I know you will all scream I am unsafe and stupid for even attempting this, but the proof is on the trailer. I have pulled it all over city, highway, and in between for years. It is stored inside and I have seen no un-normal wear or weather cracks like I had with trailer tires. It works great, and if it felt unsafe at any point I would change back to trailer tires. The only difference is I have saved money on tires. Ok, let me have it guys.

I changed to radial tires as well.