Jim Edgerly wrote:only have around 2000 miles on them, but special trailer tires have a 3-5 year life span, and are not made to wear out.
All rubber tires have a finite, not just Special Trailer tires. The time length is debated by some, varying from 5 or 6 to 10 years. I don't believe in pushing my luck too far so draw the line at 5 years on a vehicle or trailer tire. I'll run my wheelbarrow tire the tire fails.
I was not going to pursue this topic any further but Jim's post prompted me to do so as I agree with his stated opinions.
IMO, he makes a good point about why trailer tires exist. At one time my old faithful utility trailer had motor vehicle tires on it. I noticed a pronounced increase in trailer sway after the change from ST to P. With a heavy, but within load capacity, load at speed on the highway there was always some side to side motion. With lesser loads that was not sp apparent.
As I mentioned previously, and as Jim mentioned Special Trailer (ST) tires are made with stiffer sidewalls on purpose. I know that P and LT tires can be run with lower pressures than what is on the sidewalls. That is the normal running condition on my trucks and cars. They are made to operate that way. However, it seems to me that taking a tire designed with stiff sidewalls and running it at lower pressure is a recipe for potential tire failure from heat build up. I'm sure the ST's will ride softer but much hotter. It is dangerous to borrow an idea that is countenanced for one type of technology and transfer it to another similar but different one.
Anyhow that's all I have to say.
