Trailer Tires Safety and Facts

When preparing to take a trip with your boat, camper or or other trailer, you should always make sure your trailer tires are ready for the long haul. Boattrailertires.com cares about your safety, so we wanted to provide you with some helpful trailer tire safety facts and tips to get the most out of your current trailer tires and how to find the correct replacements, if necessary

It is important to note that not all trailer tire problems are immediately visible. Like other tires, you can't rely on tread depth to determine if your trailer tires are worn out. This is because trailer tires carry a lot of weight, even while sitting in the garage, unused for a few months.

During travel, trailer tires release lubricants that help prolong their life. Using the trailer tires often also helps prevent flat spots from being parked too long - sitting on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt for extended periods of time can lead to tread separation once you take them for their next spin, no matter how much tread is left.

Trailer Tire Inflation & Temperature

A frequent cause of trailer tire failure is underinflation. Check your tire pressure often and make sure they are at the psi listed on the sidewall. If underinflated, your tires will have less load carrying capacity.

Keep in mind that every 10 degree change in air temperature leads to 1 psi of air loss. If you are traveling somewhere that the morning temperature varies greatly from the afternoon temperature, check your air pressure first thing in the morning and again as the temperature increases.

Trailer tires that are under-inflated - even for a short period of time - can become overloaded, overheated and can suffer internal damage.

Trailer Tire Cracks & Bulges

If you have cracks more than 2/32 inch deep in a trailer tire, it needs to be replaced immediately. Also check the sidewall for bulges and look over the valve stem and cap. An old, cracked valve stem can break off, leading to a sudden loss of pressure and increased risk of an accident.

If one tire fails, the sudden increase of weight on the remaining trailer tires can overload them, causing additional blowouts. If you have experience a tire blowout, pull off the road immediately and then check the other tires for damage before simply replacing your damaged tire and continuing on your way.

Trailer Tire Life Span

High speed towing in the heat can degrade trailer tires quickly. As heat builds up in the tires during driving, their internal structure starts to breakdown, compromising the strength of the tire. To lengthen the life of your tires, do not exceed 60 mph while towing a trailer. 3 to 5 years is the average life expectancy of a well-cared-for trailer tire.

When replacing trailer tires, it's a good idea to replace all of them at the same time to ensure your trailer tows properly; if this is not possible, just make sure the tire you replace matches the others on your trailer. Also make sure your trailer tires are designated as "ST" or Special Trailer. ST service tires are specially designed for trailers and are stiffer than those designed for cars and trucks. This stiffness helps to reduce trailer sway and this type of tire is readily available at Boattrailertires.com.

Cleaning & Storing Trailer Tires

If you are storing your trailer for an extended period, it is best to store at least the tires in a cool dry place. Remove them and store seperately, if necessary, and place the trailer on blocks; you can also lift the trailer slightly while the tires are still on in order to prevent flat spots. If your tires will be exposed to the sun during storage, consider tire covers to protect them.

It is a good idea to reduce the air pressure in your tires and make sure they are cleaned with a soft scrub brush, mild soap and water before putting them in storage. Use caution when selecting tire care products, though - avoid those containing alcohol or petroleum distillates, or you could accelerate the breakdown of the tire compound.

Boattrailertires.com stocks a huge selection of trailer tires at discount prices for most trailer applications. If you do not see the trailer tires you are looking for, please let us know. If you need help choosing the correct tire, please call one of our knowledgeable sales staff at 1-888-590-6793.