Car Tires Vs. Trailer Tires. ITT We Discuss.

[Flash]

So I am looking for new tires for my Littleguy, The tires are 8 years old and I would like newer ones.
They are starting to show there age and I have decided to find tires.
Now my little guy has "Trailer tires"
Why can't I use Regular car tires, My little guy is not that heavy and
Car tires are cheaper...
Help me make a decision forum members...

[mechmagcn]

You'll get arguments from both sides of this issue. Myself, I run car tires on my tear and have for more that 30K miles. Trailer tires are built with a heavier sidewall to prevent damage caused by sharp turns with dual axle trailers, one issue we never see due to the fact that teardrop trailers are usually single axle.

[Shadow Catcher]

After looking in vain for trailer tires NOT made in China I decided that I would use Micheline Harmony 14" passenger tires. I did not regret this decision last summer on our trip. Each tire has a rated capacity that is more than the weight of the trailer.

[grant whipp]

Mid-grade automotive radial tires ... I've been using them on my teardrops for almost 30 years with never a problem, and always a way better ride ... ...!

CHEERS!

[Corwin C]

I think that the varied responses that this subject brings up really depends on the design of your trailer and the terrain that your trailer actually sees. On a tandem trailer that gets maneuvered around while heavily loaded, a stiffer sidewall is important to keep the tire from rolling off the bead, but on a single axle trailer the trailer tires will never see more side force than the TV does. I doubt that there are very many of us that are drifting our trailers around corners. It's important not to get to far away from the manufacturer's intended use for a tire. Generally, car tires are designed to see a relatively consistent load at high speed on smooth surfaces. Most trailer tires are designed for widely varying loads (both weight and lateral loads) and moderate speeds on smooth surfaces. LT tires can vary from one extreme to the other and some are designed to resist abrasion and puncture that would shred other tires. This is important for off-road and farm use.

In my experience, I use car tires on my TTT ('68 Aristocrat that doesn't get very far from pavement because it sets quite low and drags bottom easily), trailer tires on my flatbed car carrier (usually heavily loaded tandem axle), and light truck (LT) tires on most of my other trailers (they all see off-road and farm use.) When the trailer tires wear out on the car carrier I'll probably switch them over to a highway tread LT also (I'm not real impressed with the trailer tires.) If you are on pavement or good gravel/dirt roads all the time, car tires with their softer sidewalls will improve the ride and will most likely perform well. But if you get in the rough (sticks, brush, large rocks, etc.), they probably will not last like a heavier duty tire will. My tear will see some terrain that a typical car may not be able to navigate, so I'm planning on highway tread LT tires (I'm also a fan of the bigger diameter and narrower tire/wheel look.)

[asianflava]

Look at this thread/poll

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8482

[GPW]

Wow!!! poll results says a LOT !!!

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I've only been in this game a short few years, so my experience is limited compared to others. My teardrop was specifically designed around the Harbor Freight 4x8 Heavy Duty trailer kit with 12" wheels, so I'm not able to fit a larger wheel on my teardrop. I've never had any issues with the HF trailer tires *knocks on desk* and every year they see miles and miles of dirt forest service roads and long trips at highway speeds. If my trailer was capable of fitting 14" wheels with small car tires, I would probably go that route, just because a larger diameter wheel handles potholes and rough roads better. But I can't say that I'm not happy with what I have.

Either way, after 8 years on a set of tires, you're certainly due for new ones!

[webbaldo]

will be using car tyres here, Morris Minor tyres in fact. There 14inch and it means I can fit chrome hubcaps.

[Jerry Bleeg]

I'm just like Zack. I have a HF frame with my trailer built over the wheels, and am limited as to the size I can replace the stock HF tire with. I have had good luck with the stock HF tires but they are getting of age where I am starting to think a new set may be needed or wise by next year. The size is 5.30 x 12. Does anyone know of a like sized 12" radial passenger tire that I could use on my stock HF rims. I know I could buy new tires and rims from HF again, but would like the softer ride of a passenger radial.