Tire rot

[Justbass11]

So it seems the cause of my flat tires the other week on my trailer was from tire rot. Hard to believe trailer tires are so expensive. So if one tire has rot the other tire will be going flat soon. It is what it is

[TnRiver46]

I can get one for $90 but I have a smallish boat 

[DaubsNU1]

Check the dates on the tires...replace them every 5-6 years, regardless of treadwear. 

 

I recently replaced the four tires on my 5th wheel we purchased used in 2020. The tires were 9 years old, still plenty of life left on the tread. Tire technician showed me a bulge on one of the tires...said I dodged a bullet(!)

 

I don't care what the price of a tire is...good quality tires are priceless. 

[looking45]

Whats Not expensive these days. Don’t buy the cheapest tires. They are the only thing getting you to and from the lake. If you don’t already have one, get a spare too. The last thing you want to do is leave your boat on the side of the road while you get a tire repaired 

[Dwight Hottle]

@DaubsNU1 & @looking45 Good advice from you both.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, looking45 said:

Whats Not expensive these days. Don’t buy the cheapest tires. They are the only thing getting you to and from the lake. If you don’t already have one, get a spare too. The last thing you want to do is leave your boat on the side of the road while you get a tire repaired 

At least it’s harder to steal with one wheel 😂 

[looking45]

11 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

At least it’s harder to steal with one wheel 😂 

The boat isn’t the problem. Everything that was in the boat will be gone when you get back

[TnRiver46]

Just now, looking45 said:

The boat isn’t the problem. Everything that was in the boat will be gone when you get back

Well you take all that with ya to the tire store, been there…..

[gim]

In addition to tread, the environment your boat trailer is stored in will play a role here.  UV rays from the sun can cause a lot of damage over time.  If your boat trailer sits in a garage when not in use, then the tires remain shielded from that damage.

 

Another item that no one has mentioned here is to make sure your tire wrench fits the lug nuts on your trailer tires.  My tire wrench for my truck tires didn't fit my lug nuts on my trailer tires, but luckily I noticed when I was at home.  I added a 4-way iron to my truck.

[Spankey]

I replaced tires on my current trailer a few years ago. Put radials on it. That boat trailers beautiful or let’s say there was a noticeable difference. 
I get winter here in the Northeast. I block my trailer in the fall and have no weight on my tires over the winter months. 

[GaryH]

Tires are expensive but well worth the alternative. I run Goodyear endurance and put a lot of highway speed miles and 🤞I’ve never had a failure. Tires and PFD’s no going cheap…

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

Another item that no one has mentioned here is to make sure your tire wrench fits the lug nuts on your trailer tires.  My tire wrench for my truck tires didn't fit my lug nuts on my trailer tires, but luckily I noticed when I was at home.  I added a 4-way iron to my truck.

My rig is like this as well.

Truck is 3/4 " and the trailer is 13/16" with a deep socket or something wacky like that. 

Here's another tip . . .

Purchase a few extra trailer lug nuts and keep them in your towing vehicle.

I stripped one out a while back.

A-Jay

[Spankey]

5 hours ago, Justbass11 said:

So it seems the cause of my flat tires the other week on my trailer was from tire rot. Hard to believe trailer tires are so expensive. So if one tire has rot the other tire will be going flat soon. It is what it is

Keep a good spare on your rig also. Hope you never need it. Shop around, I think you will get a better price than you think. 

[dave]

When I owned two boats, the smaller one that parked on the carports tires were fine.  The trailer that sat it the driveway, dry rot.

[airshot]

Most all trailer tires rot before they wear out.  Lucky to have a barn to store my boat in, only sun they see is when I go fishing.  Vehicle tires have almost doubled in price in the past 4 plus years.  Bought a set for my wife's SUV just over 4 years back, needed a set for my SUV so went back to same place for same tire as before.  440 back in 2020, current price is 805.....what an eye opener !

[GRiver]

My trailer tires age out before they wear out. My boat stays on the water, so my trailer sits empty 99% of the time. I put tire boots over them so it keeps as much sun off them as I can, but they still seem to rot out. Not using them seems to be worse than using them. It seems even if they look good after they get so old, they just give up the ghost.
So like @DaubsNU1 suggested, I just replace them when they old, or make ya feel in easy. 
What I don’t like is I have 5 trailers, two are dual axels. 

[Glenn]

 

[Bird]

Best way to prevent flats is stay away from Pennsylvania 😁......I know.

[Dwight Hottle]

41 minutes ago, Bird said:

Best way to prevent flats is stay away from Pennsylvania 😁......I know.

 

Best way to avoid speeding tickets for me is to stay out of Virginia. 

[TnRiver46]

I think I’ve only had 1-2 blowout but I’ve worn out a couple dozen and ran over a ton of nails (I fish a lot). 
 

I have never had one long enough to rot except maybe a spare 

[DogBone_384]

On 9/16/2024 at 2:11 PM, DaubsNU1 said:

I don't care what the price of a tire is...good quality tires are priceless. 

 

Dad taught us premium tires & brakes … good advise.

[Susky River Rat]

@Bird if the roads don’t get you the boat ramp will!