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Trailer tires - do I need trailer specific tires?

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by IowaGuy, Apr 16, 2022.

  1. Apr 16, 2022 at 7:38 AM
    #1
    IowaGuy

    IowaGuy [OP] New Member

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    Tire experts or other smart people are trailer specific tires required?

    I am getting close to purchasing new tires for my 17 ft dual axle enclosed cargo trailer. I am converting the trailer to a camper so I will not have anywhere close to its rated weight capacity. Discount tire said I should probably go with tires specifically for a trailer. What is different about these tires and are they really needed.

    I have 205/75/15 stock tires on it, but thought about going to 235/75/15's. I really like the Michelin Defenders but it seems like the Goodyear Endurance are the only premium, brand tire made for trailers and in the stock size.
     
  2. Apr 16, 2022 at 8:42 AM
    #2
    jalam321

    jalam321 New Member

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    Yes, it is definitely a good idea to use ST trailer tires. They have stronger sidewalls that are designed to handle the weight of a trailer. Regular passenger car tires have softer side walls that flex more. ST tires stiffer side walls can also help reduce trailer sway. Carlisle makes a good ST trailer tire also.
     
  3. Apr 16, 2022 at 9:26 AM
    #3
    ATV25

    ATV25 Young at heart

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    YES ! ST tires are a must. Definitely a safety issue. I have been forced to run a car tire in a pinch to get home and the tread had already separated from the tire carcass in a 350 mile trip.
     
  4. Apr 16, 2022 at 7:12 PM
    #4
    shoe07

    shoe07 New Member

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    Get a st radial, far superior to bias imo
     
  5. Apr 16, 2022 at 8:14 PM
    #5
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 New Member

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    Alot of them
    https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trailer_Tires_and_Wheels.aspx
     
  6. Apr 17, 2022 at 5:58 AM
    #6
    justcuz

    justcuz 2.5 Gen Member

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  7. Apr 17, 2022 at 1:28 PM
    #7
    Retired...finally

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  8. Apr 17, 2022 at 1:34 PM
    #8
    1lowlife

    1lowlife Toxic prick and pavement princess..

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    I know nothing about trailer tires, but I'd say buy the best you can get.
    Driving for a living I've seen many a travel trailer vacation ruined by a tire exploding on the highway..
    Many of them causing damage to the trailer.
     
    2mchfun likes this.
  9. Apr 17, 2022 at 2:56 PM
    #9
    tundratoofun

    tundratoofun Yall better rednekonize

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    Rollin on goodyear marathon ST.
    Trailer weight of just over 3 tons

    20220417_145527_HDR.jpg
     
    Leo's first likes this.
  10. Apr 17, 2022 at 6:36 PM
    #10
    justcuz

    justcuz 2.5 Gen Member

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    trailer weighs 4300 lbs dry
     
  11. Apr 17, 2022 at 6:52 PM
    #11
    Retired...finally

    Retired...finally Utilizing that doctorate of procrastinatory arts

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    Last edited: Apr 17, 2022
  12. May 12, 2022 at 9:19 PM
    #12
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    Looking at buying a used trailer with Goodyear Endurance tires on it. Any idea if those are good and how long they should last? They look a little bald to me but maybe that's just how trailer tires look?
     
  13. May 12, 2022 at 9:33 PM
    #13
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Special Trailer tires (ST) have extra strength for side to side sway/shifting that trailers often have or the occasional curb or pothole.

    That being said, you can run an LT tire if it exceeds your trailer GVWR. I cannot so it’s not even an option since I need a tire rating just over 4000 lbs each.

    See if https://www.centramatic.com/ has some wheel balancers for your lug pattern. You will thank me later.
     
    Sundog likes this.
  14. May 13, 2022 at 1:21 AM
    #14
    astro-jason

    astro-jason New Member

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    When I bought my new camper I set an appointment for the next weekend to have the china bombs replaced with GoodYear Endurance 4 trailer tires mounted and balanced 650.00 bucks. There is a company that makes an 11 ply trailer tire, can't remember the name. I also use the TYMATE monitoring TPMS shows pressure and temperature.

    -Jason
     
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  15. May 13, 2022 at 3:01 AM
    #15
    Retired...finally

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    I think the Tymate system is the one I use too. Works for me.
     
  16. May 13, 2022 at 3:27 AM
    #16
    PermaFrostTRD

    PermaFrostTRD Tumescent Member

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    Short, very specific answer to your question, OP:


    YES.
     
  17. May 13, 2022 at 3:41 AM
    #17
    mverkaik

    mverkaik New Member

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    Automotive tires are better in just about every way. They have better belts, they are rounder, they balance better and they last longer. If you can get away with it, I would run them. However, you will find that for the size a trailer tire has a much higher load rating. You will quickly see that you can't get the same load rating in a 15" automotive tire that you can out of a trailer tire. By a big margin.

    It is the load rating that drives trailer tires to having stiffer sidewalls and more belts.

    Trailer tires are probably your only option.

    Goodyear Endurance tires are made here in the USA. They have a great warranty and IMO are the best on the market right now. The Marathon was a great tire till they moved their operations to China. Goodyear appears to have learned and recently started making trailer tires in the US again.
     
  18. May 13, 2022 at 3:46 AM
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    Retired...finally

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    They seem to be one of the better tires out there. I noticed my Goodyears when new didn't have near the tread depth I'm used to seeing on car or truck tires. Somewhere on the webz there's probably an actual tread depth number listed.
    Mine were not balanced when new. Many aren't. Hope to yank all four of mine and get them balanced while I check wheel bearings. Opinions are mixed whether balancing is even needed but it can't hurt, can it?
     
  19. May 13, 2022 at 4:06 AM
    #19
    gladecreekwy

    gladecreekwy Wyoming

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  20. May 13, 2022 at 6:32 AM
    #20
    Retroboy1989

    Retroboy1989 'Course it's 4x4!

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  21. May 13, 2022 at 6:41 AM
    #21
    mverkaik

    mverkaik New Member

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    Those are great tires. I bought a set before we went out west. Put about 7,000 on a set.

    The Goodyears are better. I have those now and between the warranty and the fact that they are made in the US would make them my choice.
     
    astro-jason and Retroboy1989 like this.
  22. May 13, 2022 at 8:00 AM
    #22
    Sundog

    Sundog Zoom Zoom

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    I had looked into these before for the truck. Unfortunately they don't make any for 1996-2010 Chevy/GMCs 3/4 or 1 tons.

    Looks like a full line up for trailers.
     
    ColoradoTJ[QUOTED] likes this.
  23. May 13, 2022 at 8:08 AM
    #23
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Did you call them?
     
  24. May 13, 2022 at 8:12 AM
    #24
    Sundog

    Sundog Zoom Zoom

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    I emailed them.

    Response:
     
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  25. May 13, 2022 at 8:32 AM
    #25
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Bummer. I have them on my GN and truck.

    20k miles on these tires.

    image.jpg image.jpg
     
  26. May 17, 2022 at 10:26 PM
    #26
    mass-hole

    mass-hole New Member

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  27. May 17, 2022 at 10:28 PM
    #27
    mass-hole

    mass-hole New Member

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    Watch the speed ratings on the tires. Many ST tires are only rated for 65 mph but others can be 81 or more mph.

    I am not condoning towing at 81 mph, but its good to make sure you have the overhead. I often tow at 70 mph and so I specifically bought 81 mph rated tires
     
  28. May 22, 2022 at 10:49 PM
    #28
    Chad D.

    Chad D. New Member

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    Yes. ST tires are the right tire for your needs.

    I pulled the OEM 205/75-15 Chinese tires off my TT after pulling it just a few times. Tires were LR-D with 65 PSI max. Things always looked a little low, even at max pressure. Wobbled all over the road…. Went to LR-E Goodyear Endurance 225/75-15 at 80 PSI and couldn’t believe the difference it made.
    I also installed a Tire Minder I-10 TPMS system and have been quite happy with all it provides.


    Don’t try to cheap out on trailer tires. It rarely works in your favor.
     
  29. May 23, 2022 at 4:14 AM
    #29
    Stumpjumper

    Stumpjumper New Member

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    That is what I run on my dual axle boat trailer. Trailer tires don't have a real deep tread even when new. 2 rules of trailer tires that I follow are run at max PSI and replace at 5 to 6 years regardless of the amount of tread. P rated tires are OK on a light utility trailer only. I have one that I use for my ATV and it has P rated tires on it with no problems.
     

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