Towing vehicle tire longevity??

[wilnis]

Hi-I have an 04 Dodge 3/4 ton diesel P/U as a tow vehicle for primarily a 2 axle stock trailer, and twice a year, a 4 horse trailer. 70,000 miles, 80% towing miles. Truck came with 17" E rated BFG tires on steel wheels and I picked up a set of the same E rated tires on aluminum wheels and rotate them fairly regularly.
My question-I've read a few sites that say tires should be changed every 5-6 years no matter what the tread depth. Lots of qualifiers, including roads driven on, how much air pressure kept in the tires, towing, garage kept, etc, and I'm wonder if there is any consensus on this site about this recommendations as many of you do way more towing and have way more experience than I do? As both sets of tires are 7 years old, and both have 50% left of their tread, should I be getting new tires??
Thanks for your time and opinions. Bill

 

[JD3520Turbo]

If they are 7 years old, then I would stop rotating them, and wear one set out at a time. After that, I would not keep 2 sets of tires, because it takes to long to wear them out and they get old on you.


Some things to consider:
Are there any repairs in these tires? If so, I would be looking at culling those from the herd. They could have gotten moisture in the steel belts and caused rust and fail.

Are these tires outside all the time, or are they in a shed or garage? The sun will negatively affect tire life.

How much gravel do you run on? Also, if you do run gravel, are the tires looking chipped up or do they show signs of stone drilling? If they do, then you might want to consider some new ones. The reason is that if you get stone drilling, then that means that rocks have drilled down to your steel belts, and moisture has set in and can cause rust, which can weaken the structure of the tire. If you don't do much gravel running, then you are probably ok.

How many miles do you drive this truck in a year?
From the sounds of things, you don't have much tongue weight on this truck most of the time, unless you have a gooseneck horse trailer. I think of a horse trailer as a bumper hitch type of trailer. IF that is the case, then you are not stressing these tires out very badly at all.

Also, what pressures are you running in these tires? Hopefully not 80psi. Unless you have a very heavy stock trailer, you won't need 80psi in the tires. If you have a goose neck trailer that has a loaded weight of around 14,000 to 16,000 lbs, then you might want to air the back ones up that much, but not the fronts.

Those are things to consider. The one thing you don't want to do, is to be worrying every time you drive. If that is the case, then get new tires. Peace of mind is a valuable thing. Also, try to eliminate one set of tires, so you won't have so many tires to deal with.

Hope that helps a little.

 

[JESSE1]

I personally wouldn't run tires that old. I have a dual tandem flatbed trailer that had 5 year old tires that looked brand new. Hauled a load of hay and one of the tires blew out. Put the spare on and had another tire blow out with the next load. I bought eight new BF Goodrich Commercial TA 235/85R16 to replace all of them and kept one of the old tires for a spare. Some time later looked at the spare and realized the tread had separated from the carcass, and this was on the spare rack and not touching the ground. Don't take chances with old tires even if they look like new.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Me personally, would not use them. I have flats like crazy with the most odd ball stuff. I had a trailer hitch ball in a rental car a few years ago puncture the tire. I had a dogs tooth in one, kitchen fork, wheel stud, nails of course, tree branch, ect. You name it I have had it in my tire.

I also have my fair share of trailer tires fail. Had 3 of the 7 tires including the spare fail on a 2 year old trailer in 2 months time.


Now for tire wear on a 3/4 and 1 ton truck. I have owned 5 and never gotten more than about 35,000 miles out of a set of tires. I do lots of heavy towing but rotate every other oil change.

Chris

 

[slowzuki]

I live in a colder less sunny climate, never had much trouble with tires or trailer tires failing from age. They last and last up here. I've got two trailers (off road only now) that have tires from the 60's or earlier and are still fine.

On the road I've worn a few out, but usually ruin them from under inflation or overloading. Handful of flats, never seems related to age.

 

[JESSE1]

I think what kills most tires is UV rays. They would probably be more intense further south.

 

[clemsonfor]

Id run them but not on the interstate at 80mph. if around town i would not worry, but i would wear one set out first like said. You can try and sell them on c list they will prolly still bring $200-300 set if there that good then you dont have to worry. How can anyone have a set of tires last that long anyway? Maybe if you bout 80K mile michalins for your brand new honda car that never leaves town but i never get more than say50-60 k out of tires. But i dont buy the $400 dollar per tire 80K mile michalins either. My vehicles are older and have slop so i would be wasting my money on those type tires as they would wear uneven anyhow.

 

[wilnis]

Thanks for your replies. I'm buying new tires next week as I do alot of towing, even though all but two 1000 miles trips a year with a gooseneck are with a small bumper pull, but blow outs are a PITA to deal with. Thanks again. Bill

 

[crazyal]

I run the BFG all terrain KOs on my Tundra and after 5 years there isn't the slightest sign of cracking and at the rate of wear I doubt I'll be buying new tire for at least another 5 years. I think lesser quallity tires wouldn't last but BFG makes so real good tires.

 

[radioman]

Me personally, would not use them. I have flats like crazy with the most odd ball stuff. I had a trailer hitch ball in a rental car a few years ago puncture the tire. I had a dogs tooth in one, kitchen fork, wheel stud, nails of course, tree branch, ect. You name it I have had it in my tire.

I also have my fair share of trailer tires fail. Had 3 of the 7 tires including the spare fail on a 2 year old trailer in 2 months time.


Now for tire wear on a 3/4 and 1 ton truck. I have owned 5 and never gotten more than about 35,000 miles out of a set of tires. I do lots of heavy towing but rotate every other oil change.

Chris

you sure have an oddball of luck with tires.:confused2:

 

[Diamondpilot]

you sure have an oddball of luck with tires.:confused2:

Yes I do. You also have to remember that I currently have 3 trucks so thats 12 tires, 2 tandem trailers so thats 8 tires, and a tri axle trailer so thats another 6. Grand total of 26 tires for me not including lawn mowers, tractors, ect.

I also tow as many as 75 times a year with different trailers about 10,000 miles a year so I just about everything.

Chris

 

[JDgreen227]

I purchased a Y2K GMC Yukon XL 2500 new, the current mileage is under 37,000 actual. The OEM tires are Firestone LT245/75R16E, and the tread isn't even half worn out. The only sign of use, other than the tread wear, is tiny, hairline checking in the bead area. The truck is garaged 99% of the time, and the only towing use is a half ton aluminum utility trailer that might get 100 miles use per year, half of that when loaded to it's one ton capacity.

Every spring, I rotate the tires front to back, cleaning the sidewalls well with a power washer, and then applying two coats of Protect-All. EVERY year...at least every 2000 miles.

Now, if you were me, in my situation, would you shell out $1000 for new tires?

 

[thompsonoutdoor]

Just so the rest of you feel better, I drive 35,000 miles a year and get approx. 20,000 miles out of any tires. I work road construction and drive on a lot of bad surfaces, and tow 3 different trailers at times. Yep thats 2 sets of tires a year!

 

[JDgreen227]

Just so the rest of you feel better, I drive 35,000 miles a year and get approx. 20,000 miles out of any tires. I work road construction and drive on a lot of bad surfaces, and tow 3 different trailers at times. Yep thats 2 sets of tires a year!

Your first post here huh? Welcome to Tractor by Net, lots of great members and unlimited amounts of useful information here....

Two sets of tires a year huh? Man, you make me feel miserly trying to eke out another year on my 11 year old ones....LOL.

 

[clemsonfor]

I purchased a Y2K GMC Yukon XL 2500 new, the current mileage is under 37,000 actual. The OEM tires are Firestone LT245/75R16E, and the tread isn't even half worn out. The only sign of use, other than the tread wear, is tiny, hairline checking in the bead area. The truck is garaged 99% of the time, and the only towing use is a half ton aluminum utility trailer that might get 100 miles use per year, half of that when loaded to it's one ton capacity.

Every spring, I rotate the tires front to back, cleaning the sidewalls well with a power washer, and then applying two coats of Protect-All. EVERY year...at least every 2000 miles.

Now, if you were me, in my situation, would you shell out $1000 for new tires?

I wouldn't but you must be retired or thats your sunday driver? Thats a lot of money to spend on a brand new truck not to ever hardly drive it? Just sayin!

 

[clemsonfor]

I run the BFG all terrain KOs on my Tundra and after 5 years there isn't the slightest sign of cracking and at the rate of wear I doubt I'll be buying new tire for at least another 5 years. I think lesser quallity tires wouldn't last but BFG makes so real good tires.

Wow this must be either a tow vehicle for trips to the lake in the summer etc? Those tires i know can give 80K on the upper end till bald but still thats less than 10K miles a year, i just dont understand how you folks can live in more rural conditions and not drive more miles per year than this. Rural = road miles, period. I drive 12,500 miles just to work and home per year and the wife does about 12 K. That seems low but thats not counting the 300 or so round trip to the farm a dozen times a year, dosent count going to see family hours away, going to town on the week end ever going to the store, to get parts groceries, trips to looks at for sale stuff, trips with the boat to the lake hunting miles which can total into the hundreds etc.

I do like BFG's and so do they with that price, i personally am to cheap to buy them, id rather buy 2 cheaper sets for the same time and get similar life out of the 2 sets than to buy one expensive set that is older when worn out as well as if you tear one up the replacement cost is huge compared to a cheaper set.

 

[kenmac]

your talking about a 10 ply tire. Unless you tow alot of weight. If the tires are in good shape not dry rotted, etc. I wouldn't have a problem using them. I put a new set of ToYo open country on my dodge 2500 a few months ago. When their 7 yrs old I'll continue to use them if their still in good shape

 

[JDgreen227]

I wouldn't but you must be retired or thats your sunday driver? Thats a lot of money to spend on a brand new truck not to ever hardly drive it? Just sayin!

My wife and I worked in the same place, a 12 mile commute one way, but we needed two vehicles so our car got used for most of the work miles, and less than 3 years after we purchased the GMC our employer offered an early retirement deal that we both took. I used the truck for a materials hauler and my part time carpentry job after we retired but the way it sucks gas (4X4 with 4:10 gears) I try to drive it as little as possible. Thought about selling it when we retired but I really liked it and the depreciation hit would have been really bad at 3 years old, so we are keeping it.

 

[timswi]

My wife and I worked in the same place, a 12 mile commute one way, but we needed two vehicles so our car got used for most of the work miles, and less than 3 years after we purchased the GMC our employer offered an early retirement deal that we both took. I used the truck for a materials hauler and my part time carpentry job after we retired but the way it sucks gas (4X4 with 4:10 gears) I try to drive it as little as possible. Thought about selling it when we retired but I really liked it and the depreciation hit would have been really bad at 3 years old, so we are keeping it.

Is it that bad on gas?...I bought my wife an '01 Tahoe with 4:10's and a 5.3. It averaged around 16-17 MPG...Mileage is relative too...Depends on what your other daily driver is I suppose.

She now has a Hummer H3 and it gets similar, or slightly worse mileage. I think it has 4:56's in it, at least that's what all of the OEM stickers say. Bought this used.

 

[jgriswol538802]

Most of the tire stores around here will not repair a tire that is more than 6-7 years old. They say that the tire's age is as important as the mileage in determining it's condition and potential for failure.

I suspect it has as much to do with the potential for lawsuits as anything else.

I just replaced the OEM tires on a 2002 F150 that has 87000 miles on the truck and tires. They still had really good deep tread in the middle, but were worn on the edges to the point where I was becoming concerned. That and their age was enough to convince me it wasn't worth the risk of waiting for a tire failure.

I also replaced 4 tires on a GN horse trailer last year because of age. The trailer gets a couple of 200-300 mile trips a year at most, with the rest of travel within 5-50 miles of home. The trailer sits outside all of the time. Even so, the tires weren't really age cracking and the tread still looked almost new. I had one tire with a slow leak and the dealer refused to fix it due to it's age and I decided the last thing I wanted was a blown tire with horses loaded so I replaced all four.