Trailer tire recommendations

woodbutcher

Well-known Member
My stock trailer came with P235 75R15 Uniroyal tires when I bought it new in 2001. They have served well, but they are starting to weather-crack. I've had 10-ply trailer tires on flat-bed trailers that were still durable after 30 years of occasional use. The HD tires don't cost much more than the passenger car tires, so, are there other considerations? I don't care about appearance, my trailer usually is decorated on the sides with fecal material from cattle. (Sometimes on top, also.) I would like to avoid making it any higher off the ground, though.
Butch
 
Just remove the P from the size and replace with ST and you have a trailer tire. If you punch that into Google you will get all the info on price, weights and sizes you can use.
My understanding of tire nomenclature is that the "75" is what tells you how high the tire is so changing from a passenger tire to trailer tire should not change height as long as you stay with a 75R tire. My experience with the ST tires is all positive. We have several light duty trailers so equipped. If anything they will be cheaper than the "P" tires. As for lasting 30 years like older tires don't bet on it. The manufactures have changed something in the process that is making anything made of rubber dry rot quicker than it used to, especially if from China,, which avoiding is getting real hard to do.
 
My understanding is that the belts on ST tires are narrower, they are not as wide as the tread, than on other tires.

Dusty
 

You just need to load it heavier. I can't seem to get more than four years out of trailer tires. :D
 
I was thinking same thing,LOL. That or he needs
more mufflers, nails, screws etc on the road like
we have here. My right side trailer tires go
through heck, 'specialy the rear one.
 
As to size, here is how to decode the sizes:
P or LT or ST are the TYPE of tire. P being for passenger cars, LT for light truck, etc.

The first 3-digit number (235 in this case) is the WIDTH of the tire tread in millimeters.

The next number after the slash is the PROFILE. 75 means that the height of the tire is 75% of the width. The smaller the number, the lower the profile and the larger number is a taller tire.

The last number is the rim diameter required.
 
I will NEVER go back to using a trailer tire!!! They don't have the same requirements as to quality as a vehicle tire does. I would put a set of LT tires on and go from there.
 
woodbutcher,

Here's a little more information about ST tires. The ST apparently stands for "Special Trailer" and they are specifically meant for use on trailers.

I've had both ST and P tires on trailers in the past. The one thing that I found out the hard way is that you don't want the STs to be underinflated. The extra stiff sidewalls will just shred if the tire is underflated. At least, that's been my experience.

Here's what I found:


SPECIAL TRAILER 'ST' TIRES?

Eastern Marine carries a full line of nylon bias ply trailer tires. These 'Special Trailer' (ST) tires have been constructed for better high speed durability and bruise resistance under heavy loads. Trailer tire construction varies substantially from automotive tires, therefore it is essential to choose the correct tire for your towing application. In general, trailer tires have the same load range (or ply) from bead to bead and are bias ply construction. This allows for a stiffer side wall which provides safer towing by helping to reduce trailer sway problems. The use of 'Passenger Car' (P) tires a on a trailer is not recommended because their construction, usually radial or bias belted, allows for more flexible side walls. This could lead to increased trailer sway and loss of control.

Tom in TN
 
Use an LT rated tire.

ST rated trailer tires need to be replaced every six years whether they are worn out or not, because they will simply blow out without warning.

Most ST rated trailer tires are made in China, if that helps you make your decision.
 
I didn't get 15 years on trailer tires before they fall apart. Good tread, rotten rubber. I went to the tire barn. They told me trailer tires don't come with a warranty. I didn't have a large choice to pick from. So I bought the cheapest and sold the trailer to buy a larger one a few years later.
 
Don't matter if trailer or truck. Radial tire life is 8 years max. Nylon will last longer but won't wear as good. Had radial tires on my bale mover trailer that were new when I bought it and had to replace them in 5 years because one popped when pulling it and the other three popped with it just setting. I have a stock trailer that is a 1993 don't pull it much and still has the original nylon tires on it.
 
in Canada most tires have an expiry date of around 5 years and don't last much longer than that.
 
Check with Sam's Club online; their tire shops carry, or can get, trailer tires at reasonable prices. Nephew gets tires from them for his stock trailer.
 
Thanks to everybody for the replies. I've heard a lot lately about expiration dates for tires, and that made me uneasy about my 15-year-old passenger tires on the trailer.
Butch
 
talk to the guys at your local tire shop, if they have been there for any length of time they can steer you right for the conditions in your area. You didn't say if this was being pulled on rock covered, shell covered, pea gravel covered, or highways. that all and more needs to be taken in to account when buying any tires. Is this a single or tandem axle, they make both? Any truly professional tire man needs more info then you have provided. please don't be shy about sharing information with them.
 
Sidewalls shred?
The treads are the part that goes on ours.
Now and then we'll catch a bad cord and get it off the trailer before it lets go.
Seems they got from broken cord to nothing but 2 sidewalls in a big hurry.
 
(quoted from post at 14:22:41 10/28/14) I didn't get 15 years on trailer tires before they fall apart. Good tread, rotten rubber. I went to the tire barn. They told me trailer tires don't come with a warranty. I didn't have a large choice to pick from. So I bought the cheapest and sold the trailer to buy a larger one a few years later.

Similar experience, had one pop on me on the way to a livestock show and sweated the others until we got them replaced. Truck stops don't have them, a large trailer dealer didn't have them. Got mine all replaced at WalMart, same as what was on the trailer originally (STs, Goodyear tires) but these have a higher max pressure than the old ones. No warranty and no way to balance them, weights won't fit on the rims properly. My old ones were about 10 yrs. old.
 

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