Does it really matter if you replace travel trailer tires with specifically made trailer tires or would a good quality lite truck tire work just as well. I don’t really understand the difference and the price for trailer tires is often the same or more.
Mark F - What about the new reinforced sidewall tires such as Goodyear Silent armor and BFG allterrains?
Wheeler - same question. What about newer reinforced sidewall tires? KZ RV has used allterrains on some of it’s double axle trailers.
Trailer tires?
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November 27th, 2008 at 4:05 am
a good quality truck tire should work. you cannot use a trailer tire on a car or truck but you can use a car or truck tire on a trailer. keep in mind though you have to consider weight load etc
November 30th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Trailer tires are far more rigid on the side walls, they prevent the tire movement sideways.
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:40 am
If you are replacing trailer tires on a trailer then use ONLY trailer tires or you will get a lot of swerving will driving. The trailer tires hold alot more pressure and have stronger sidewalls which keeps them from swerving.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:46 am
Trailer tires follow the towing vehicle. Truck tires follow the contour of the road. Unless you want to have an unwieldy trailer that could go out of control on you, use tires intended specifically for that use.
December 4th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
i had a 16ft double axle car hauler with car tires on it and it rode so nice i would forget about it in town. i have hauled a lot of weight on it and didnt have a problem with it
December 5th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
you can put any tire on it that your little heart desires but the main thing is to put tubes in the tires and you will be safe.
December 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Safety is the issue. The biggest issues for trailer tires are load and age. Tires marked “ST” are designed for trailer service. They have special anti-ozone chems mixed in and are better suited for load shifting. Safe life is limited to three years.
An LT type tire is far better than a p-metric car tire and NEVER put a tube in a tubeless tire.
December 7th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
the do make radial tires now for trailer service, I just put 4 brand new ones on my 27 ft travel trailer. When you go past what the manufacturer intended on a vehicle or trailer you are askin for trouble. Those tires are egineered for the load and stresses of the trailer. You would most likely void any warranty or insurance you had by NOT using recommended tires. Just some things to think about. I got my radials at Discount Tire but I am sure other dealers carry them now.
December 8th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Trailer tires aren’t much different in terms of materials of construction/compounds than regular automotive tires, but they are different. Treat them as such.
One key difference we need to think about though is the intended use. An automotive tire (if you listen to the vehicle manufacturers) is there to give you a soft comfortable ride. To do this they have lower air pressure and softer side walls which flex a lot. How many of us learned to keep 32 psi in the tires?
Trailer tires on the other hand are meant to carry a load, your pop-up. If we follow the 32 psi rule, the trailer tires side wall will flex too much and quickly overheat, possibility leading to a tire failure. More on tire pressure is a little further on.
A big difference however lies in construction of the tires. There is a huge difference in the plies and belting of automotive tires versus many trailer tires. There is also a huge difference in trailer tire between manufacturer’s and some are just down right garbage! In trailer tire world, Duro is like Michelin is to automotive tires… For example, Duros bias-construction tires are actually designed to meet light truck standards and exceed trailer manufacturer’s requirements by far! They are even constructed with 4-6 plies for strength and puncture resistance! Most other trailer tire manufacturer’s can’t claim this.
December 9th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Your only concern should be sidewall strenth, meaning # of plies the sidewalls have, if you find LT tires with the same sidewall rating as the trailer tires, then you’re ok, if not, then you’re gonna end up with the tail wagging the dog, if you know what I mean, hope this answers your question.
George
December 12th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Tires that say Trailer tires are best to use because if you were ever in an accident there would be no question that you had the right tires on your trailer, truck tires could be bad for you in a court case, they would say truck tires weren’t designed for trailers making you liable.