Trailer tires...?

Nordic

Member
In 2012 I bought a brand new Haulrite tandem axle trailer - 10 000 lbs capacity. The tire size is 225/75 x 15, the brand is Tex * Star.
I have put about six thousand miles on the trailer since new, being empty half the time. The tires have at best 20% wear left. What I would like to know is the brand name of a trailer tire that will give better durability? Thanks for your input.
 
If you only got 6,000 miles on the original tires you have axle problems. Measure the distance between
the axles to check for propper alignment.
 
Post some pics of your tires showing the tread and a side and rear view of the trailer, it might be possible to diagnose the problem from that.
 
(quoted from post at 08:13:20 01/23/16) If you only got 6,000 miles on the original tires you have axle problems. Measure the distance between
the axles to check for propper alignment.

The axles look perfectly aligned to me and the trailer tracks very well. There is no abnormal wear such as one side or other being more worn than the other. Most of the miles are straight highway so I can't blame excessive turning either. I just think the quality of the rubber is really poor.
 
(quoted from post at 08:16:49 01/23/16) Post some pics of your tires showing the tread and a side and rear view of the trailer, it might be possible to diagnose the problem from that.
The trailer is mostly buried under snow right now, maybe by the time the snow melts I will have figured out how to post pictures on here LOL.
 
That could be the problem, but that would make those the worst tires I've seen. It does happen tho. In
my experience tires are a crap shoot. I've had as good luck with cheap as expensive tires, and sometime
better from cheaper tires. Just make sure the load rating is high enough and they are radial tires and
you should be good.
 
Goodyear made a good 1. A lot of other brands have them. It looks like the trailer mfg put the
cheapest thing on there he could find, trying to keep the retail price down. I've seen it before.
Do you have a local tire shop close to you? I am not talking Walmart or chain tire store. Stop in
and ask them or better yet take the trailed to them and let them look at it. They should be more
than able to tell you if you have mechanical problems. Most know what is working for their
commercialal customers and will advise you accordingly.
 
I have put used pickup 10 ply tires on my 14000lb trailer for years now and have not had any tire problems other than flats or a tread separation on some.
 
Your tires are about maxed out for capacity when
you're fully loaded. And they are only about 28.5
inches tall.
I'd go with a lt235/75, or 30x9.50, with a highway
tread. If there's room, and it's in the budget,
switching to a 16 inch wheel would open you up to
more tire choices that would allow you to
significantly reduce the revs per mile, which helps
with tread wear.
 
(quoted from post at 17:46:11 01/23/16) I have put used pickup 10 ply tires on my 14000lb trailer for years now and have not had any tire problems other than flats or a tread separation on some.
I have thought the same thing because I get very good mileage out of tires on my pickup and 1-ton van. I have been under the impression that the transport authorities check the tires to make sure they are made for trailer application. When I get a chance I will ask one of those transport cops if pickup tires are accepted. I'd be more than happy to install "LT" tires.
 
(quoted from post at 20:21:02 01/23/16) Your tires are about maxed out for capacity when
you're fully loaded. And they are only about 28.5
inches tall.
I'd go with a lt235/75, or 30x9.50, with a highway
tread. If there's room, and it's in the budget,
switching to a 16 inch wheel would open you up to
more tire choices that would allow you to
significantly reduce the revs per mile, which helps
with tread wear.
 
(quoted from post at 22:44:29 01/23/16)
(quoted from post at 20:21:02 01/23/16) Your tires are about maxed out for capacity when
you're fully loaded. And they are only about 28.5
inches tall.
I'd go with a lt235/75, or 30x9.50, with a highway
tread. If there's room, and it's in the budget,
switching to a 16 inch wheel would open you up to
more tire choices that would allow you to
significantly reduce the revs per mile, which helps
with tread wear.
/quote]
First of all sorry for the double quote (I accidentally hit the wrong square). Yes going with a bigger tire size has several benefits except for clearance under the fenders when going over speed bumps etc.
 
sounds like maybe the trailer axles need to be aligned even with chinese tires you should have got more miles out of them than that, usually rapid tread wear on all the tires is due to axle alignment or suspension problems
 
Hence the, "If you've got room".
As long as your tires' weight rating exceeds what the trailer data plate calls for, I don't think they can say anything.
If so, how could you possibly recap a drive or steer tire and run it on a trailer?
Another thought... how deep was the tread when the tires were new? Seems like tread depth keeps getting more and more shallow for a particular size tire.
 
Stay away from Hi-Run trailer tires. Sidewalls like to blow. They are a foreign made cheap junk.Our local tire guy sold them to us for our stock trailers. Not fun trying to change a tire while loaded.
 
Thanks...need to hear the names of the bad ones as well as the good ones. What may appear as money saved is not worth it when you're stranded somewhere ugly...like in the dark and rain etc.
 
I agree with the comment about Hi-Run tires. I needed a pair of tires for my gooseneck grain trailer a couple years ago. The tread was 1/2 gone after less than 5000 miles. I would suggest going with a good quality LT radial tire with a none aggressive tread. I've had good results with both Kumho Road Venture and Firestone Transforce. The radials pull easier, run much cooler and last at least twice as long as bias ply tires.
 
Only thing I have heard here in Ohio is that tires marked mobil home are not allowed on trailers.
 
Firestone Transforce Load range E pickup tires I have found work the best. As far as putting pickup tires on a trailer, if your not allowed trailer tires on a pickup what does that tell you
about them?
 
Truck tires are of higher quality than
trailer tires. Can run truck tires on
trailer: a no -no to put trailer tires
on truck. Trailer tires only roll and
have a little stress when brakes are
applied. Truck tires most be able to
handle power of acceleration as well
 
(quoted from post at 06:49:46 01/25/16) Only thing I have heard here in Ohio is that tires marked mobil home are not allowed on trailers.

I've heard of restrictions on mobile home tires also...don't know why - they generally have more plies for heavy applications.
 
(quoted from post at 10:22:39 01/24/16)
Another thought... how deep was the tread when the tires were new? Seems like tread depth keeps getting more and more shallow for a particular size tire.
My spare is still new and has between 10 and 11/32's of tread depth. I think the manufacturer covered themselves there but to sell with the lowest price they obviously cut their cost by dropping quality.
Another thing I didn't mention is that I run the tires at between 60 and 65 lbs as specified. That said, one tire was a slow leaker and now and then I would catch it at 40 psi. Though I would pump it back up I have now replaced it...so at 6000 miles that one would've earned a ticket for low tread.
 
(quoted from post at 12:25:34 01/26/16) I run toyo open country ht 10 ply on truck and trailer, have never had a flat, great tire.
Sounds like a good confirmation...I have Toyo tires on my van and they have proved to be really good in every respect. It's really becoming apparent from these replies that putting light truck tires on a trailer is the best way to go. Thanks!
 
Local tire shop owner told me that trailer tires marked "ST" are good for between 5k and 10k only. He sells a replacement that is better but
I went to the LT load range E like others on here and have had good service.
 
(quoted from post at 10:28:15 03/04/16) Local tire shop owner told me that trailer tires marked "ST" are good for between 5k and 10k only. He sells a replacement that is better but
I went to the LT load range E like others on here and have had good service.

What your tire shop owner says confirms my experience and like HD6Tom says the trailer manufacturer will put any excuse of a tire on a trailer just to save on cost. At this point for me to choose a "trailer tire" over an LT pick up tire would be a hard sell.
 

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