Tire Recommendations

[bucksnort1]

I have a 16' tandem flatbed trailer which I want to use for hauling my NH TC45D. The GVW spec on the trailer is 8,000 lbs and the spec weight on the tractor is about 3500 lb. I'm sure with a box blade or mower plus weighted tires, I'm looking at a 5500 lb payload. The trailer came with some end-of-life used tires so I think I should upgrade these. My hauling distance is short - 40 mi. Any recommendations on what I should be looking for in replacement tires would be appreciated.

 

[JIGBUILDER]

What size/load range tire do you have now have ??

I'm guessing 3500 lb tandam axles and 15" tires. Much depends on your present wheels width and pressure rating.

I have a set of Goodyear Wrangler LT215/75-15 D @ 2095 lbs each on one of my smaller flatbed trailers. The trailer came wit 5 lug 65 psi rated wheels.

Maxxis makes a U-168 Bravo LT tire in several sizes.

I don't use ST tires on any of my trailers but some folks have their favorites.

 

[Diamondpilot]

For trailer tires I will only install Greenball and Maxxis. I do 4-5 sets of trailer tires per year and they are by far the best. The worst is Carsisle and Goodyear Marathons in my opinion.

We have just started using the Maxxis but so far so good. The Greenballs we have been using since 2002 and not a single failure in well over 30 sets.

Any brand truck LT tire will also do a good job for you. I am guessing you are in the 225/75/15 size but may also be in the 215/75/15 size. I think you can get the 225's in 6 or 8 ply, also called Load Range C or D. In the 215's most brands only have 6 ply or Load Range C.

Chris

 

[Skyco]

Was in Sam's Club this morning and noticed they had a sign in the tire department that they now sell Greenball trailer tires.
Can't find a thing online on the Sam's Club site though....

 

[crbr]

Incorporated in 1976, Greenball Corporation began as in importer and wholesaler of industrial tires from Taiwan.

Another name on the same game...everything about them is as good as the next, excpet they cannot say, "Made in the USA. "





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[Diamondpilot]

GreenBall and Maxxis are the best trailer tires in the business in my opinion. They are all we put on trailers since 2002. I have never had one fail while I have had tons of Goodyear Marathons and Carlisle Trailer tires fail in the first year or two.

Last set of Carlisle's I had were on a tri axle trailer and 4 of the 7 tires failed in the first year of ownership. One was the spare that had never touched the ground.

Last set of Goodyear Marathons I had were for my car hauler. Lost 2 on a 60 mile trip in the first year pulling a Corvette. What, maybe 4,500# total with the trailer on a 7k trailer???? I torque my lugs and check tire pressure before each trip so thats not a issue.

Both trailers were replaced with Greenballs. The tri-axle has 6 years on them and about 20,000 miles. The car hauler has about 3 years and maybe 8,000 miles.

Buy them, just make sure you are getting Radial Tires, not Bias and make them balance them. Many will say you do not need to balance trailer tires but I make them balance them.

Chris

 

[Skyco]

I agree on the balancing, when I bought a set of Michelin XPS ribs for my dump trailer I paid for balancing. When I went to load them in my truck I noticed they weren't balanced. They said "ooh trailer tires don't need it".
Well, I said I paid for it, so do it.
It was amazing how much weight it took. Michelins typically aren't near as far out as these were...so I guess maybe the wheels were out a lot too.

BTW the sign I saw in Sam's said they were Greenball radials...

 

[Mace Canute]

You ever notice that you never see balance weights on tires on a factory new vehicle? I have yet to see any tire sold through a tire store that didn't need balancing to some degree...they might exist but I've never seen them!

 

[Newblue]

Buy them, just make sure you are getting Radial Tires, not Bias and make them balance them. Many will say you do not need to balance trailer tires but I make them balance them.

Chris

Also trailer wheels for the most part are lugcentric. Most tire shops will balance them hubcentric and with the center being stamped, it might be off. I had to search around town before finding a tire shop that had a lugcentric adapter.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You ever notice that you never see balance weights on tires on a factory new vehicle? I have yet to see any tire sold through a tire store that didn't need balancing to some degree...they might exist but I've never seen them!

Not sure what or where you are buying but I have owned Fords, GM, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Dodge, ect and all have the tires balanced from the factory. Many times it on the back side of the wheel or with tape on weights inside the wheel.

Chris