Tires for teardrops?

[DragonFire]

My Grasshopper currently has car tires on it. No spare. I need to get another rim and 3 tires. The trailer weights 700 lbs.

Are you guys (and gals!) running trailer tires or car tires?

Current tire size:185/70R13

Measurements for rim: Ford 5 on 4 1/2. 13"x 5. 3 3/4 back space.

The rim measurement was done by the former owner.

So correct me if I'm wrong (please!!!), but I should be looking for a 13x5 rim with a Ford lug nut pattern, right?

I think I saw some on the Vintage Trailer Supply site. In black so I don't have to monkey with getting it sprayed to match the other 2.

[Gage]

Car tires are ok. That's what I have on all my trailers and never a tire problem. My Field and Stream even has smaller tires than what you have on the Grasshopper. The trailer will ride softer on car tires than trailer tires. Also your trailer doesn't weight near as much as a car so why not? And they are cheaper than trailer tires

[Gary and Cheri]

Gage is right, car tires will make for a softer ride and that is probably the main reason to use them. Camp Inn trailers come with car tires for this reason. I believe though that car tires are usually more expensive than trailer tires which is why many don't use them. As said cars weigh 3 - 4,000 lbs and your trailer will weigh maybe 1,500 loaded so go for a good ride. I'm planning on putting the low rolling resistance ones on mine. Little better mileage maybe?

Gary

[DragonFire]

Talked to someone at Les Schwab today while getting new tires for the car...they sell trailer tires too, and said the car tires are not good for trailers due to the backing up and side to side movement of the trailer (my trailer tracks very well....kinda like the rear tires on a car, so I'm not sure I buy his reasoning..) He said the car tires will get torn apart. The sidewalls are not sturdy enough on car tires.

I told him the weight of the vehicle...much lighter than a car. He also quoted me a price on a rim.

The tires would be about $86 each. Pretty similar to a car tire, if not slightly less. I have a couple prices for car tires online that are less.

Still undecided. Not buying anything right this minute anyway, but that is something to get before I head out on the road. The tires on the trailer are over 7 years old, but look good. No cracks on the sidewalls or anything, tread still looks good. But they are old..don't know how old they really are, though there should be a date on them somewhere, right? The year they were manufactured? For inventory purposes at the tire shop/warehouse, etc?

[48Rob]

Using "car" tires on a small lightweight trailer has been done many times, and usually without issue, but, there are those who can't/don't see the line between small and lightweight, and medium to large and a lot heavier, when they choose the cheapest car tire advertised for their trailer.

There are several differences between car tires and trailer tires.
Differences that every trailer owner should understand before buying new tires.
With the internet, it doesn't take long to educate yourself, and make the best choice for your situation.

Rob

http://www.taskmasterproducts.com/acata ... rtires.pdf

[asianflava]

I've got car tires been on there for many many thousand miles. I run them at relatively low pressure (25psi) to reduce the bouncing. Never had any problems.

There was a poll here a few years back, and if I remember correctly, most folks are using car tires. I don't understand the Les Schwab guy's argument. Maybe he's thinking about a double axle trailer?

[DragonFire]

So you get what I'm saying about the trailer tracking..not like the tandem trailers. There is no drag on the tires..not any more than the back tires on my front wheel drive car. And there is half the weight on the tires as there would be if they were on a car.

I go back and forth. The car tires have worked great for years. They are just old. Not worth taking the risk, and if I'm getting a spare, might as well replace all 3. Or at least 2, and use one of the old tires as a spare for awhile.

My big trailer has trailer tires...I bought them, and that is one heavy rig. But the tear...that is a different story.

And Slow...as far as putting snow tires on or larger tires...there isn't the room. There is a lot of travel in the tires..I was behind the trailer from Reno to Sacramento, and those tires travel a lot under the fender. Besides...snow? hate to say it (get ready to laugh, everyone!!!!) I have never driven in it. I'm a native Californian. From the San Francisco Bay Area. I've seen snowflakes only 3 times in my life. I don't think I'll need snow tires any time soon. If I do, I'll check into it. But not now!

[doug hodder]

I"m with you Rocky....the trailer tire thing would certainly be valid on a tandem axle trailer since backing and any tight turning would stress the sidewalls much more than a single axle one. I use automobile tires, cuz I like wide whites. Doug

[Shadow Catcher]

We have kind of been over this before. Virtually all of the trailer tires are made in China and according to Goodyear tire exec retired they do not yet have their act together. There are a pair of Goodyear Marathons on Compass Rose and I plan on having them balanced and taking care of them. The spare however will likely be a car tire.

[DragonFire]

Your Goodyear Marathons...older American made trailer tires???

Sorry, I know brands of scooter tires better than car or trailer tires. I had some Hungarian made Sava tires on my scooter when I bought it new and they were horrible. I now only buy top of the line Heidenau tires from Germany for my Vespa.

I'm leaning toward car tires for the tear. I just don't see a huge reason not to do that. Huge reason not to use trailer tires if I can use car tires: Made in China by folks who aren't on top of their game yet. I tried it on the scooter with the Savas and I'm lucky I ride very cautiously...otherwise it could have been really bad.

Any suggestions on rims? I only need one, so who makes a good cheap one, and I don't mind paying a bit more if it already comes in black. I have baby moons that go on the stock rims, and would like a rim that accepts them if possible (maybe they all do, what do I know?? I'm learning here!!)

Thanks for everyone's help. I just want to have safe tires. I've never had a blowout, only one flat, knock on wood. I've been driving about 25 years. Don't need to make a poor choice now and have my luck change!!

[emiller]

Trailer tires have thicker side walls (more plys) to help control trailer sway. On a teardrop that should not matter. You will get better mileage with trailer tires because there is less friction. Trailer tires don't usually wear out they dry rot before wearing out. I use car tires on my tears and currently have low profile 13" on my standie but will change to trailer tires soon.

[emiller]

Another thing to think about most tire stores here in Arizona will not put car tires on a trailer for legal reasons. This is off the D.O.T. web site
QUESTION:
Are passenger rated tires allowed on trailers? We get only “STâ€

[doug hodder]

Same thing here in Ca. Eddie....places like Big O etc...won't install them on a trailer. Take in some bare rims though and they will mount up what you want...just don't drag the trailer in. I took in 2 rims and was asked what the tires were going on. I just said, "the rims I brought in". Doug

[pete42]

The "trailer" tires are made for travel trailers
they have a lot added to them to withstand the flex that is exerted on them
but remember travel trailers weigh 2 to 3 times the weight of your trailer.
so I would not hesitate to use car tires.
pete

[DragonFire]

I never thought of taking the trailer in to have the tires changed!!!

I assumed I would have to jack the trailer up, pull the wheels off, take them in and have tires mounted and balanced, and take them back to the trailer and put them back on.

That's my plan and somehow I'm sticking to it.