Lifespan of Trailer Tires

   / Lifespan of Trailer Tires #1  

3v0

Platinum Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2013
Messages
521
Location
Oklahoma Pan Handle, United States
Tractor
Kubota BX2200
A while back I was talking with guys at the local breakfast click including one that runs the local wreckers and one or two that had worked in tire shops. The subject turned to trailer tires. They said trailer tires are only good for something like 6 or 8 years. After that they blow out out on the road regardless how little you have used them.

This is a little upsetting in that I have about $400 in 8 year old trailer tires that have only seen about 1000 miles total.
 
   / Lifespan of Trailer Tires #2  
They could very well be right. I supposed it depends to some extent on whether they're exposed to the sun when not in use, maybe temperature, etc., but I think tires that are seldom used have a shorter lifespan than tires that get used enough to flex that rubber now and then. If I'm not mistaken, no matter how good a warranty a tire has, the limit for most manufacturers is 10 years from the date code on the tire.
 
   / Lifespan of Trailer Tires #3  
Most RVers go by that. Motor home tires are generally considered time bombs after 6 or 7 years and most large 5th wheelers consider 5 or 6 max if you can get that out of them.

Most of the new large 5th wheels come with brand name TOWMAX tires also called China Bombs by most RVers.

I run LT tires on all my trailers to get away from the ST trailer tires. I still don't like to run them more than about 6 years. But rarily ever get one to last that long anyway.

But you got to consider that RV's are almost always run at or very near their max weight.

If you are trailering things that are not anywhere close to max for the tires then you can probably run them a lot longer.

Also it depends a lot on what kind of damage would occur from a blow out. A blowout on some utility trailer probably would not hurt anything. Blow out a tire on a 40ft 5th wheel and you will probably do thousands of dollars in damage.
 
   / Lifespan of Trailer Tires #4  
A while back I was talking with guys at the local breakfast click including one that runs the local wreckers and one or two that had worked in tire shops. The subject turned to trailer tires. They said trailer tires are only good for something like 6 or 8 years. After that they blow out out on the road regardless how little you have used them.

This is a little upsetting in that I have about $400 in 8 year old trailer tires that have only seen about 1000 miles total.

It's true. I work with trailers and I flat refuse to tow any with tires older than 6 years old.

No tire place in town will touch any tire older than 6 years old other than to replace them.

Chris
 
   / Lifespan of Trailer Tires #5  
does it help to armor all them or put something on them every now and then?
 
   / Lifespan of Trailer Tires #6  
does it help to armor all them or put something on them every now and then?

No, makes it worse.

Best thing I can recommend on low use items is to place them on jack stands.

All tires have a date code. Learn hiw to read them and when buying new tires confirm all new tires are no more than 6 months old.

Chris
 
   / Lifespan of Trailer Tires #7  
I have personally experienced a blowout on my toy hauler tires, which were 7 years old at the time and seemed to have perfect tread.

Very fortunately, it has tandem axles and the weight transferred to the other axle. I didn't know I had the blowout until I stopped at the campground a few miles further down the road.

Looking at a flat tire with a piece of sidewall the size of my palm hanging on by a thread was a scary experience. If I had run it any further I have no doubt the other tire on that side would have blown out from being overloaded. I drove the pickup back into town and got a new tire mounted on the old rim. Then I stopped at the tire store on the way home and got 3 more matching tires for that rig.

My life is worth a lot more than the cost of 4 tires. And so is yours.
 
   / Lifespan of Trailer Tires #9  
Carlisle tire and rubber ST tire tips

High speed towing in hot conditions degrades tires significantly.

Best practice. Do not exceed 60 mph while towing a trailer.

Most ST trailer tires have a maximum speed rating of 65 mph.

Load carrying capacity decreases as heat and stress generated by higher speed increases.

Time and the elements weaken a trailer tire.

3 to 5 years is the average life expectancy of a trailer tire,regardless of mileage.

It is estimated that in approximately three years, roughly one-third of a tire's strength is gone.

After three years, depending upon storage and conditions of usage, consider replacing trailer tires even if they have tread depth remaining.

After five years, trailer tires should be replaced in all cases.

IMO much depends. Our car hauler or a utility trailer we use on occasion to move our tractors that sits around most of the time may get by with 6-8 year old ST tires. However a RV with a ST that gets pulled several thousand miles a year ain't gonna' last that long. Now put the trailer with ST in commercial service running interstate speeds 24/7 and you got problems. I keep LT's on all my heavy trailers and P on single and liteweight tandam axle trailers. Speed limits around here are 75 mph on the interstates and 70 mph on some non interstate roads.

LT tire manufacturers say replace every 5-7 years.
 
   / Lifespan of Trailer Tires #10  
My shop is filled with free tire takeoffs from friends trailers. They change out every 4 years or when they have a blowout...seems to be an even race:eek: They have horror stories about how a blown tire will remove electrical and plumbing and fenders from a travel trailer. Me, I use them on the ranch, slow speeds, I have lots of spare tires/rims ready to mount when a tire finally refuses to hold air. I have about 70 tires on the ground and round. Highway tires are new bought...pasture tires are friend's takeoffs.

Net... change the freaking tires every 4 years if you are driving highway speeds and loaded...BEFORE you are stranded and facing huge trailer repair bills, not just new tires.
 
 
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