Which 15" Tire Trailer is Better??

[ModMech]

Personally, if I have a choice, 16" for any trailer with a GVW over 5K although you can get LT or XL tires in the 15" rim size that for a set of 4 will get you WAY over 8K with a good safety margin.

In my experience, heat is the BIGGEST factor in tire failures, yes even with the Exploders

How do you get heat in a tire? Pavement temperature and sidewall flex. In TX where blacktop temps can easily reach 140*F you are starting out at a big disadvantage even empty. Add a little under inflation relative to the load, and a little speeding and you have a receipe for disaster. Others have also mentioned this in different ways.

The inflation pressure for ANY tire depends on THREE FACTORS:
1) Load
2) Speed
3) The TIRE Manufacturer's recomended inflation

Increasing #1 and #2 will also increase the needed air pressure in the tire, increasing both #1 and #2 at the same time will REALLY require more air in the tire(s).

ALL tire manufacturers have "Tire load and Inflation Tables" for each tire model they make. Obtaining this information is quite difficult unless you have a much better than average tire dealer/distributor.

 

[bp fick]

And old age. Nothing like a tire past it's "best used by" date. Those will shred in the heat. Heavy sigh.

 

[ultrarunner]

I've never had a problem with Made In USA tires...

The tires on some of my antique cars are more than 50 years old and never a problem... some sizes are not even made anymore.

I have to believe the quality control just isn't on par today...

Heck, I've got a 1958 FibreFlite boat that I show occasionally, the boat trailer still has the 1958 Goodyear Wide White Wall Tires it came with in 1958... (The Boat and Trailer always been garaged)

 

[jlrsn]

I also have had Bias Ply Tires that were 25+ years old on an old car hauler tilt trailer that I gave to my daughter. I told her husband to change the tires. That was 10 years ago and to this day there is no sidewall checking and my son-in-law said he only uses the trailer to haul hay on back roads and he'll get around to changing them. I'm going to buy new tires and give them to him.

For your information the following link will download a pdf file:

How to Read a Tire Sidewall (North American Market)

Tires are not like they used to be!!
Jim

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I also have had Bias Ply Tires that were 25+ years old on an old car hauler tilt trailer that I gave to my daughter. I told her husband to change the tires. That was 10 years ago and to this day there is no sidewall checking and my son-in-law said he only uses the trailer to haul hay on back roads and he'll get around to changing them. I'm going to buy new tires and give them to him.

For your information the following link will download a pdf file:

How to Read a Tire Sidewall (North American Market)

Tires are not like they used to be!!
Jim

So true. Over on the MH forums someone started the word (now gospel) that big truck tires tires blow out after they get 5 years old (saw it on TV that car tires 5 years old can kill you) so new like tires with 10-20K miles on them are being replaced with tires that sometimes are worse then the old ones they pulled but the tire dealers are making out well.

 

[Diamondpilot]

And old age. Nothing like a tire past it's "best used by" date. Those will shred in the heat. Heavy sigh.

I have actually had a 2 year old Carlisle that was a spare blow just like that while on the trailer sitting in my drive way. Sounded like a shot gun went off.

Chris

 

[JIGBUILDER]

I don't use trailer tires (ST) because of all the trouble they caused me when I ran my flatdeck trailers/cargo/implement trailers in my construction outfit in a eight state area some years back.
Finally a Goodyear truck tire dealer convinced me to go with all LT tires on all the trailers. Granted we had many 15" LT tire sizes and load ranges available back then. Much different now as not much available.

One of my smaller 16' trailers has two 3500 lb axle and I keep Goodyear Wrangler LT215/75-15 D load range on it. Their rated 2095 lbs X 4 = 8380 lbs of capacity.

I run max sidewall pressure , for several reasons, in all of my trailers if the tires load capacity are close the axle ratings.

Goodyear tire web says this about air pressure in tires used on trailers;

Special Considerations

RV TRAILER TIRES
Unless trying to resolve poor ride quality problems with an RV trailer, it is recommended that trailer tires be inflated to the pressure indicated on the sidewall of the tire. Trailer tires experience significant lateral (side-to-side) loads due to vehicle sway from uneven roads or passing vehicles. Using the inflation pressure engraved on the sidewall will provide optimum load carrying capacity and minimize heat build-up.

 

[lostcause]

asking which tire is better has got to be about the same as asking whether ford is better than chevy. actually, it's more like asking who makes the best vehicle to drive on the road. there's so many possibilities, and in general, they're all going to be good. sure, there are probably varying degrees of good, but based on so many factors - climate, terrain, weight, driving habits, etc, how can you pick a dead ahead winnner? i've seen so many debates on who makes the best of this or that, and in the end, all you end up with is a bunch of little battles.

just to stir the kettle a little, my trailer uses 7x14.5 tires on dexter mobile home axles. the trailer is a little over 10 years old, and i think i'm almost through my 3rd set of tires. sometimes they say "for mobile home use only" and sometimes they don't. i've had the discussion with the state police commercial vehicle enforcement division, and they are legal, and i find them to be perfectly safe and capable. i'm sure there are tons who will say otherwise, but i've seen commercial tires and axles that failed, but to date, mine haven't yet.

buy something capable of carrying the load you need, and it will probably work fine. maybe somethine else will work better for you, but it will be hard to tell unless you try both. it's all about what you feel comfortable with. checking and maintaining your equipment is as important, if not more important than trying to buy the best.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Good points on looking at what a tire can carry than brands. One load range over the Min value I think is the best way to go.

Yes that can require a lot of looking when it is for a 15" rim. Name brands are not a factor often when looking for the "best" trailer tire.

 

[tractorboy5500]

Not trying to change the subject to much, i am having a trailer built and found out today what brand of tires they installing on the trailer, now i am having 12K axles installed, tires are Trailfinder. St 235 80 16 radial, any body have good luck or bad luck with these tires, hope they are not the worst on the market, i know there not the best, do to i can buy the tire and rim for $165.00. Thanks guys.