Trailer Tire life and replacement

[TimC]

I'm hoping for some input on replacing trailer tires from folks that take long distance trips. My original tires, two 13" Kendas (175/80-13), are carrying 1500# total and have mfr dates of 3214 and 2514 which puts them mid to late 2014. They weren't put in service until late 2015. So I am not too concerned on the need to replace this year. The rule of thumb I have heard is at ten years replace them if you have plans of extensive miles, so I rarely consider tread depth. Is that your experience? I hope I am a couple three years from replacement. This summer they will be put through more miles than they have seen so far combined and I hope to repeat that the next few years... God Willing!

Thanks
Tim

[S. Heisley]

The size of the tire also makes a difference. The smaller the tire, the more rotations it has to make to keep up with your tow vehicle.

I replace mine about every other year, when the tread is worn down and I can see Lincoln's head.
I'll probably make 3 years this time because I only got out twice last year, thanks to some medical issues.
This year, I've already missed one outing due to COVID-19 restrictions. Those restrictions are starting to be lifted though.

[TimC]

Thanks Sharon. Looking at the photo of your trailer it looks like you might have 12" wheels? Yeah, they spin a lot more times than even my 13", but, I see what you're saying. I'm planning a 4k mile trip and I'm guessing it will be time to replace after that. Six years old with probably 10k miles total is probably my comfort limit to avoid problems.

Tim

[RJ Howell]

Considering you're 6yrs in of those tires and standard is 5yrs.. Sounds like you may already have decided to change out, I tend to agree that thought.

When we go it's months plus or 6-8K miles (last one was 10K). I do two runs and swap the axle bearings (yet to have one look spent). I run 15" tires and I figured I had one more venture before swapping those, putting me at 25K or 3 yrs. I'm a bit on the cautious side mainly because I'd rather be playing then searching for a tire shop when we travel.

[MtnDon]

In many decades of towing trailers that are either work trailers or recreation trailers I have never worn the tread out. I have had unrepairable sidewall damage though. The tires usually age out. My tires are usually 15 or 16 inch size so that does help with tread wear. Tire manufacturers say 10 years last time I looked. But I draw my personal line at 6 years from the tire manufacture date. The rubber ages even if it is sitting on a tire dealer rack.

[TimC]

Thanks RJ and Don. I think I will run the crap out of my present tires until mid July and then replace them before I make my 4k+ trip. I'll be sticking close to home and have a decent spare to limp along if needed.

[swoody126]

5 years from birth month is their expected life

the materials deteriorate whether in use or not

as stated above and i concur no one ever(amost ever) wears out trailer tire tread unless the spindles/axle is out of alignment

towing a trailer w/ "ST" branded(trailer) tires on it past 60 months from the birth month is inviting an undesirable/inpeasant experience

remember... when tires fail they tend to do more than loose air ... they damage other parts of the trailer

as a forumite from another forum says

it is OK to forgo proper preparation/planning IF you are willing to accept the consequences

during a recent summer i replaced 15 "ST" branded tires under 65 months of age due to 7 actual failures(i have pics butt this site wont load them for view)

2 of another set of 5 ended up taking out an aluminium tandem axle fender(+$)

fortunately 8 did not do any damage

go forth at your own risk

sw

[TimC]

SW, point well taken, I do disagree with you one point. That nobody wears the tread out on trailer tires. You haven't met my friend He is famous for delayed jobs or vacation due to tire problems. One time the tire was near bald. Fortunately for him he usually finds flats between jobs/vacations when he goes to hitch the trailer.

Are you taking that in general ST rated tires are five to six years life? I was assuming that my Kenda STs were a better quality than the 12" standards you see at the big box stores. Either way, I'm taking the advice to swap them out before I do any extensive trips.

Tim

[TimC]

I'm looking at replacing two trailer tires, 175/80-13

What are the advantages of radials over bias ply on a trailer that weighs 1500#?

[swoody126]

TC, i did say "almost ever"

and yes even for the Kendalls

all the ST tires i/ve known are made in kung foo somewhere using the same materials

it's the materials not the manufacturing process(brand specific) that have caused the issues i've dealt with

tire size rarely enters the equation

tire size enters the bearing speed/wear equation making maintenance/grease quality more critical

sw

[drhill]

I would never toss out trailer tires that are only 5 yrs old. But I live in Canada. The tires will last far longer here than they would in the hot sun of Florida, Texas or New Mexico. Your kenda tires are a well respected brand. There are some low quality tires out of Asia, but they also make some of the best tires in the world. My favourites are Maxxis and I trust those on my boat trailer. (loaded to almost the limit & 700 km from here to my favourite lake)

[TimC]

I would never toss out trailer tires that are only 5 yrs old. But I live in Canada. The tires will last far longer here than they would in the hot sun of Florida, Texas or New Mexico. Your kenda tires are a well respected brand. There are some low quality tires out of Asia, but they also make some of the best tires in the world. My favourites are Maxxis and I trust those on my boat trailer. (loaded to almost the limit & 700 km from here to my favourite lake)

I'm on the WI/MI border and rarely experience over 80f/26c. The trailer spends its days off in a garage with no direct sunlight. I think I can easily get more than 6 years, but, I'm not going to take a chance while on a high mileage trip in July/August. Besides, when I started looking at tires some flashy aluminum wheels popped up at about $70 a piece, so, I'm thinking of getting a new set of wheels and use the current ones bumming around near home. I have baby moons on my current wheels, but, the clips to mount the caps break easily. I think I've had enough worry about losing another baby moon. They sure look cool, but, when I show up to a camping spot and I'm missing one, well, it kinda sucks.

[gudmund]

I am hearing most tire stores are saying 7/10 years - so when buying tires, I would make sure you look at the 'new' tires they are installing before they mount them!! check the 'dates' !!!! Tire stores, over the years have been known to carry 'old' stock, so make sure the ones being mounted were made within the last few months !!! kind of the same 'rule' when buying a new propane tank - they are date stamped on the handle when made and have a 12year use time limit per law = buy the newest dated one you can find - have seen many a-one over the years that are 3/4 years old & still sitting on the shelf 'for sale' - same goes with tires - especially 'trailer' tires, being they probably sit on the shelf longer than the car/PU tires being they don't sell as many depending on the tire store and the type of customer they deal with. I personally use car tires on my teardrop, 205/75R-14 = a very good weight rating for mine (1430lb at 35psi per tire, total trailer weight = 1460 along with a bit softer sidewall than trailer tires = good ride - have no need for a stiff sided ST tire being it is a teardrop. This is the same tire brand I have been using on my car for years, getting 50thou mile wear out each of them (15580R-13 Geo Metro/Suzuki Swift, 7 of them since 1987 and still driving #7 = almost 1 million miles of driving) for years. And the big +plus+ is tire $$$, trailer tires cost = over $100 each new, buying the tires I use at W-M for $57 each = !! 2 for the $$$ of one !!