Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Chris,

I have auto tires on mine, but at 2400# it is near the limit of safe use of passenger tires.


My 3000# vintage trailer has trailer tires.

I'm not comfortable with any less than a 500# safety cushion.
If the tires aren't rated for at least 500 pounds more than the trailer will weigh loaded, then I would switch to the heavier trailer tire.

Rob

I have trailer tires right now, but will changing them out soon.
One of my guys at work gave me a set of 15" rims that will fit perfect.
Guess he was trying to suck up to the boss, but hey, I got a free set of rims!
I tried a little PhotoShop and I hope they will turn out something like this:

I seem to be in the minority with trailer tires. Why did I choose them? My trailer is heavier than the TDs, but that isn't the only reason. I have a bass boat with the same tires and wheels I chose for my TTT. It rides just fine on those tires, and my TTT will wieigh close to what my boat and trailer weighs.

I bought my tires and wheels as a unit because I can use the same spare tire for both my boat and TTT. I can't do that with the tires and wheels on my tow vehicle, as it's a Nissan truck with 6-lug hubs, and besides, I only have the mini-spare, not a full size tire, on the truck. If I had 4 or 5 lug wheels on my tow vehicle, I might have gone with auto tires.

Chris C wrote:As light as our little teardrops are, do you run an auto tire or trailer tire? Why have you chosen what you did?

The tension between what is good enough and what is beyond that creates the space for .... Chris' teardrop

Auto tires here, 25 psi smooth ride.

I am beginning my build. Today picked up a pair of wheels to match my TV, and ordered some tires.

My favorite tire shop said that the cheapest new tires (about $75 a pair) would rot befor they wore out, and I am using about 1/4 of less of the capacity of the tires.

dave

Car tires, but I guess for a different reason....they are much cheaper than 15" trailer tires. Ride better also.

I just found out that it is illegal in Canada to use auto tires on a trailer.
They can't have a "p" rating, ave to have a "ST " rating. Too bad, I allready bought my tires, If they want to get down on thair hands and knees to check my tires they are more than welcome to.......

Micro469 wrote:Too bad, I allready bought my tires, If they want to get down on thair hands and knees to check my tires they are more than welcome to.......

Good choice!!

Micro469 wrote:I just found out that it is illegal in Canada to use auto tires on a trailer. They can't have a "p" rating, ave to have a "ST " rating.

John,

I've read endless times on the FiberglassRV forum where Americans have been told exactly the same thing - and it's not true there. So I thought I'd have a look and, sure enough:

(4) For the purpose of determining the sum referred to in subsection (3), where trailer or trailer converter dolly is equipped with a passenger car tire, the maximum load rating of that tire shall be divided by a factor of 1.10.

That's from:
http://www.transport-canada.org/roadsafety/tp/tp13136/tr120.htm
But whether your axle fitter will accept that Transport Canada knows better than him is another question entirely......

Andrew

My boat trailer tires and TTT tires are the same style and size, but they do have one difference. The ones on the boat trailer are load range B, rated for 1350 lbs capacity each, and have a max pressure of 50 lbs. The ones I got for my TTT are load range B, rated for 1180 lbs capacity each, and have a max pressure of 35 lbs, so they shouldn't ride too hard. With the trailer estimated to be around 1400 lbs, loaded, the tires will be at about 2/3 capacity so I didn't think I needed the heavier tires.

Stock Harbor Freight trailer tires. 12". Of course they have only rolled up and down the driveway a couple of times when I am moving the camper by pushing it but so far they have held up well.....



Ed

EZ wrote:Stock Harbor Freight trailer tires. 12". Of course they have only rolled up and down the driveway a couple of times when I am moving the camper by pushing it but so far they have held up well.....



Ed

Hey that’s what I have, but I have not put them to the same test as yours because I prefer to break them in by leaning them up against a wall. Also before taking them out on the open road, I want to make sure they have are acclimated. Oh and of course I will have purged the Chinese air and replaced with higher quality mix we have here in the colonies.
Oh also you folks down under do you have problems with the Chinese air making the tires spin the wrong way?

I'm going to put the same rims/tires on my TD that are on my Ranger. Mostly for ease of changing a flat (I have a full-size spare on the truck), partly because I won't always be towing on pavement.

I am building my trailer, and have chosen P205 75 R 15 car tires. I have chosen them for high ground clearence for rough roads and smooth ride on the highway. By the way I got them installed this evening.

Has anybody done without a spare tire and used some sort of temporary tire inflater with tire sealant to get you into a repair shop or a temporary parking spot untill you get the tire fixed? I am thinking of doing this has anyone had experience with this?

Thanks!
jplock

Has anybody done without a spare tire and used some sort of temporary tire inflater with tire sealant to get you into a repair shop or a temporary parking spot untill you get the tire fixed?

I've used it in car tires to fix a flat that was caused by a punture on the edge of the tread in a radial tire (in an area that I knew the tire shop wouldn't fix), and it worked. However, I've had trouble with ballance on the tires that I used it in. If you use it, you need to put it in and then immediately drive the vehicle a while to "distribute" it equally around the inside of the tire to minimize the out of ballance thing.