Trailer tires

[Clemracer]

How old should you let your tires go. Mine are 6 years old and just had a blow out.

 

[tractchores]

I would inspect them for dry rot / cracks. They can last a VERY long time if kept out of the elements, but with a lot of sun exposure you might be at the end of their life. If they are suspect and one already went it's probably time. I pushed my last set 10+ years, but it's parked in the shade. Larger ply tires can last a bit longer as well.

 

[weldingisfun]

How old should you let your tires go. Mine are 6 years old and just had a blow out.

I think you just answered your own question.

 

[Diamondpilot]

How old should you let your tires go. Mine are 6 years old and just had a blow out.

Time for all new ones. Get rsdials with high pressure valve stems and balanced. My favorite brand is Greenball.

 

[Gunny]

The only trailer tires I use are the ones on my 5th wheel camper and I change all six every five years, but on a camper, a blowout is usually more than just an inconvenience, it can cause some pretty extensive and expensive damage to the camper.

I've always been told that trailer tires don't wear out, they age out, and that five years is about all you can expect from them. The first 5th wheel I owned, the only blowout I had was during the tires sixth year. They looked good, but one blew out at interstate speeds. I changed the four on the axles during that vacation, but left the spares alone. Four months later, one of the spares blew the sidewall out while bolted to the spare carrier, destroying the tire cover I had on it. Since then, all tires are replaced on a five year interval.

 

[mcfarmall]

^^Yeah, what he said.^^

Also, most if not all "trailer service only" tires are rated for a maximum of 60 mph. I see a lot of hotshots pulling their RVs and trailers of all kinds at speeds far north of 60 mph. Regardless of the tire's speed rating, towing at speeds in excess of 60 mph is a risky activity at best.

 

[bspeedy]

I think you just answered your own question.

Exactly.

 

[bspeedy]

^^Yeah, what he said.^^

Also, most if not all "trailer service only" tires are rated for a maximum of 60 mph. I see a lot of hotshots pulling their RVs and trailers of all kinds at speeds far north of 60 mph. Regardless of the tire's speed rating, towing at speeds in excess of 60 mph is a risky activity at best.

A blanket statement with which I do not agree. Holding speed to 60 mph on stretches of interstate marked at 70 or higher is more risky than towing at 70+ with good tires / brakes. I could not mentally tolerate a full day of towing at 60 mph or slower in the western parts of the USA.

And I don't consider myself a 'hotshot', especially with the family aboard.

 

[Deere Dude]

A blanket statement with which I do not agree. Holding speed to 60 mph on stretches of interstate marked at 70 or higher is more risky than towing at 70+ with good tires / brakes. I could not mentally tolerate a full day of towing at 60 mph or slower in the western parts of the USA.

And I don't consider myself a 'hotshot', especially with the family aboard.

Hence the name "Speedy."

My truck finally gets rolling good at 62-64 where it doesn't want to downshift. If I can't drive all day at 73 on the interstate or whatever the flow of traffic dictates, I would see about a different tire.

 

[RickB]

How old should you let your tires go. Mine are 6 years old and just had a blow out.

I think you just answered your own question.

Indeed.