Mud terrain tires on a cargo trailer?

[JokerOne]

For an off road trailer, does it make sense to have Mud terrain tires like these considering they are not connected to a drive shaft in any way.
Does it make more sense (for lower drag / better gas mileage ) to have a 10 ply truck tire with street tread and not off road tread?

thanks!

[onehoser]

it's nice to have spares if the wheels are the same size and fit on your off road/tow rig

[JokerOne]

it's nice to have spares if the wheels are the same size and fit on your off road/tow rig

That was what I was thinking but I have all terrain tires (Nitto Terra grapplers , and I love them).

Other than that is their any advantage?

thanks.

[lfhoward]

Other than that is their any advantage?

thanks.

I think looking awesome is an advantage.

[JokerOne]

Other than that is their any advantage?

thanks.

I think looking awesome is an advantage.

does look pretty cool doesn't it.

[KSBOWHTR]

I can't think there is any advantage. But they look really good!!

[tony.latham]

I run 6-ply LT tires and have not had a flat with them since 2013.



I don't believe there's an advantage of an aggressive tread on a trailer. I don't travel on inclined slopes with trailers when it's slick.



Tony

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Not truly functional but have that "Looks Good" thing goin' for'em.

My opinion on "look good" is like adding all kinds of chrome to a Harley.
Might "Look Good" but, ... chrome won't get ya Home. Would rather
have functional, ymmv.

hank

[troubleScottie]

The only functionality might be associated with braking assuming there are brakes on the trailer. It is not obvious if this would be any better than any tire with trailer brakes.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

My post above it strictly an opinion, mine. Not meant to frustrate or belittle someone
else's decision on how they put their trailer together. But, it's still my opinion.

Now about the breaking thing...

Weight on wheels has the most impact on how functional the breaks will be.
More weight, = more functional. up to a point, of course, there is always that point.

When you see a Big truck (semi), rollin' along folks generally think oh, he can stop quick
he's got them air breaks and big honkin' pads to grab that disk or w i d e shoes inside those
large wheel. Funny thing is that truck's tires need a lot of weight to flatten the bottoms
of the tires so there is sufficient for friction to allow the breaks to work. Think about this,
the worst case of a vehicle needing to stop in a hurry is a Bob-tailin' Semi (no trailer). Zero
weight to speak of to press those tires on to the pavement add a small amount of moisture
I hated drivin' bob-tail. 1 I wasn't gettin' paid (no load), and 2 how dangerous it was. So,
give those guy an gals room and some respect, they earned it.
Breaks on a CT are good. they won't stop a space schuttle but neither will a Toyota.

hank

[JokerOne]

I run 6-ply LT tires and have not had a flat with them since 2013.



I don't believe there's an advantage of an aggressive tread on a trailer. I don't travel on inclined slopes with trailers when it's slick.



Tony

I think the ply rating is necessary. But I think you are correct, no advantage of the aggressive tread that I can think of other than being swappable with your tow vehicle if needed.

[JokerOne]

Howdy All;

Not truly functional but have that "Looks Good" thing goin' for'em.

My opinion on "look good" is like adding all kinds of chrome to a Harley.
Might "Look Good" but, ... chrome won't get ya Home. Would rather
have functional, ymmv.

hank

Hank, thanks. and I agree. My wife is all about form, and I'm all about function.

[JokerOne]

The only functionality might be associated with braking assuming there are brakes on the trailer. It is not obvious if this would be any better than any tire with trailer brakes.

thats a good point I hadn't considered. thanks!

[DamonH]

Mud terrain tires have reinforced sidewalls that are made to withstand sharp or jagged rocks off-road. Where I go in Wyoming the rocks are pretty sharp and can catch a sidewall just right causing unrepairable damaged to a tire. I haven't had any issues once changing to off roading tires. Other than that, it's mostly just the looks factor.

[Squigie]

I've had aggressive tires on two trailers, and military "zig-zag" tread on one of those plus another. (Think, "snow tires from the '60s.")

Aggressive tread patterns offer some advantage. Notably, they help the trailer resist falling into ruts, sliding off rocks, or sliding down off-camber roads/slopes.

But if you don't take the trailer off road or down rough roads, the only real benefits are sidewall flex and puncture resistance (most designs, but not all).


Whether one wants to consider it related or unrelated, another observation I have made was that 'average' car/LT tire widths are great for highway use, but sub-par off road. When off road, pizza cutters or super-wide offered the best traction - particularly resistance to sliding on obstacles or slopes. The typical widths in between were less stable.