If you're towing, you'll have tires on your trailer. I tow a 25 ft. Haulmark race trailer ... with my track car and misc. tools and fuel it weighs a little over 7000 lbs. I've always been careful to watch tire pressure and look things over before towing.

At my last track event, a gentleman pointed out a grapefruit size bubble on one of the trailer tires. I've never seen such a large bubble. I know it wasn't there in the morning so it happened sometime during the day. I installed the spare tire and went in today for two new tires (I like to have the same tires on each axle). The Goodyear load range D tires are a little over 2 years old and have over 60% tread remaining.

Upon inspection, I found that three of the four trailer tires were bad. The other two tires were not round at all and were beginning to bulge in the tread area. So I'm replacing all of them and may have one good tire for a spare.

I've leaned from this that just inspecting the pressure and sidewalls isn't enough. Jack it up and spin the tire. If it isn't round you're probably in for trouble soon.

Hope this warning helps keep your trailer behind your truck, where it belongs!

RichF350V10

 

How often should you change the tires on a fairly heavy trailer? This is the first trailer I've owned. Bought new in Oct. 02' It'll be towed about 10-12 X's a year. Approx. 6000mi.

 

Trailer Life Magazine had a good article on tires in late summer I think. In general tehy say most of us will not wear out a tire before it deteriorates from sun and ozone.
They recommend changing tires routinely after about 5 years in service, or if there is obvious wear or damage like you saw. Tires with cracked sidewalls are typical symptoms of old age.

From what I have read, bulges in the sidewalls are caused by either damaging the tire by hitting something, or parking them on leveling blocks that do not totally support the width or contact patch of the tire.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

I'm pretty good at turning wide and watching the mirros in turns (the extendable Superduty mirrors are great). With a 25 foot trailer it is difficult not to scuff a curb from time to time when turning right.

Two of the four tires were not damaged on the sidewall, they were grossly out of round and bulging in the tread area. This says to me that the tires were letting loose all over. I would have never noticed the out of round problem if I wasn't replacing the tires due to the sidewall bulge, though.

I'm wondering if storing the trailer up on Jack stands might be better. Keep all weight off the tires might reduce the seperation problem. However, I store my trailer in a dirt lot and that makes jacking it up a lot more difficult. Perhaps using 3/4 inch plywood under the jackstands would keep things upright in the dirt.

RichF350V10

 

I'm pretty good at turning wide and watching the mirros in turns (the extendable Superduty mirrors are great). With a 25 foot trailer it is difficult not to scuff a curb from time to time when turning right.

Two of the four tires were not damaged on the sidewall, they were grossly out of round and bulging in the tread area. This says to me that the tires were letting loose all over. I would have never noticed the out of round problem if I wasn't replacing the tires due to the sidewall bulge, though.

I'm wondering if storing the trailer up on Jack stands might be better. Keep all weight off the tires might reduce the seperation problem. However, I store my trailer in a dirt lot and that makes jacking it up a lot more difficult. Perhaps using 3/4 inch plywood under the jackstands would keep things upright in the dirt.

RichF350V10