Spare Tire for trailer

[Diamondpilot]

If I thought a tire shop would refuse to put P or LT tires on my trailer rims, I'd simply take my business elsewhere. Would have to go dig thru three feet of snow right now to learn what my UT tire size is but odds are they 205/75-15's. Would price some LT and ST tires to see what the price difference is if I was interested. Maybe the OP obtained his trailer used with the P tires on it, he has been informed several times here that running P or LT tires on his trailer is unsafe. So far he hasn't given us any feedback.

We had to take the wheels off my uncles trailer to get LT tires installed on it. Its a tri-axle with 7,000# 8 lug setup. We just told them it was for a project truck.

Chris

 

[JDgreen227]

He probably couldn't stand the bickering.

GOOD ONE!! But thanks to all who contributed I learned a number of things.

 

[wvpolekat]

If I thought a tire shop would refuse to put P or LT tires on my trailer rims, I'd simply take my business elsewhere.

You would probably find that you would not get new tires that way. I found this at chains and mom and pop tire shops I have good relationships with.

 

[jrepp44]

WOW! Thanks to all who replied, my original question was answered. I did not mean to create such a discussion :laughing: To clarify my situation, this is a light duty 14' trailer that I use maybe once a month to haul a couple hundred pounds of supplies from Homers Depot. The "P" tires are what came on the trailer when it was purchased many years ago. - Again thanks for the help. JIM

 

[Diamondpilot]

WOW! Thanks to all who replied, my original question was answered. I did not mean to create such a discussion :laughing: To clarify my situation, this is a light duty 14' trailer that I use maybe once a month to haul a couple hundred pounds of supplies from Homers Depot. The "P" tires are what came on the trailer when it was purchased many years ago. - Again thanks for the help. JIM

Just wanted you to be aware they are not the proper tire for the job. When its time to replace look into getting the right ones.

Chris

 

[Markcuda]

Like you did in post 23

 

[Diamondpilot]

Like you did in post 23

Using a P tire versus a LT tire is a different thing. Also, on this particular trailer LT tires are the only ones you can get to fit in the fenders and handle the 25,000# load.

Chris

 

[radioman]

oh heck- if the man has a P tire laying around and it fits the lugs and needs a spare that allows him to tow it home during the last leg, then by all means do it.

I put a P tire on my camper when the camper tire blew and no spare. I was on the way home, another hour and half to go and all I had was my wife's car following me that had the right size lugs. Off the full size tire from car and on the camper. put the donut tire on the car and away home I went. NO problems. It did the job.

Thats all the OP wanted to know I beleive. A P type tire can do it in a pinch. thats all.

 

[Diamondpilot]

oh heck- if the man has a P tire laying around and it fits the lugs and needs a spare that allows him to tow it home during the last leg, then by all means do it.

I put a P tire on my camper when the camper tire blew and no spare. I was on the way home, another hour and half to go and all I had was my wife's car following me that had the right size lugs. Off the full size tire from car and on the camper. put the donut tire on the car and away home I went. NO problems. It did the job.

Thats all the OP wanted to know I beleive. A P type tire can do it in a pinch. thats all.

You have it backwards. His trailer has P tires on it from the start in 215 size. He has a 205 sized tire laying around and wanted to know if it would work as a spare, which it will just fine.

I have done the same thing. I had 3 flats in a 300 mile trip back from TN to IN in 2005 with a 2004 trailer. Junk Carlisle tires. They were 225/75/15 and just a year old, all inflated to 65psi, 8 ply. Anyway, blew a tire in KY on a Sunday. Put my spare on and the next exit went to get another spare. No tire shops open at 3pm on a Sunday so I got a used 225 P Passenger car tire. Blew another tire just outside Cincy. Put the newly acquired P tire on and made it to the next stop where I got 2 used 225 P tires, one mounted and one just in the bed of my truck. Made it 60 more miles and lost another. Limped the last 80 miles home with 3 of the original trailer tires, 3 P tires and no brakes. One flat took out the brake line loosing brakes on all 3 axles.

2 lost the tread and 1 lost a cord and put a big lump in the side wall that opened up as big as a football.

Next morning after fixing the brake line then bleeding, I went and had 7 new Greenballs mounted and balance. Still on there with about 20,000 miles and not a single flat.

Chris

 

[California]

I haven't seen it emphasized here, so here's one more factor to consider: The P tire with softer sidewalls and probably lower inflation pressure, will sway more than the stiff sidewall of a trailer or LT tire.

For occasional use of a utility trailer lightly loaded this may not be a problem. But if you are loaded near capacity then I would just use a P tire as an emergency spare to get home on, and drive more cautiously, anticipating sway - even if it it still within its weight rating.