Trailer tire info,need some insight
 

Looking at getting a new set of tires for trailer. The ones I am currently running are 10-12 years old, but I only trailer about 5 miles round trip to ramp. We are in the early stages of planning a keys trip next spring, so I need a good set for that road trip. I used to use Goodyear marathons, but understand they are not what they used to be.

I have friends that use LT tires instead of ST and have had good results, just make sure to get a proper load range.

What do you guys use and what about going with LT?

Wally World has a tire w/rim for $110, I have 2 of them on my flatbed trailer for 3 years now with no problems. Probably less than 4000 miles.

Thanks

Bias ply I like carlyse usa trails. Got them on 2 tandem axle boat trailers. Recently put a set of carlylse radials on a landscape trailer and it seems to ride smoother and pull a little better. Might try radials on the next V20 trailer. Towmasters bias ply on the skiff trailer seem good, stay away from Hi-Runs, cheap but ride like crap. I'll bet Destroyer will be here soon and give us the scoop though. He seems to know about that kind of stuff.

Hercules steel belted radials ST. ride smooth, steel belts for toughness. $64ea. mounted and balanced on your rims at your local tire shop.

PD, I bought two Greenball Radial 205-75-14 a couple of months ago from Sam's Club for $122 shipped to me. The Greenball tires seem to be highly rated. I have trailered 300-400 miles so far and they have been real good.

Also for what it's worth, I installed 2 Ultra-tow hubs from Northern Tool. They have a grease fitting made into the back of the hub and a dust cap with a removal rubber cap, so that you can pump grease from the rear out through the front which essentially repacks the bearings while flushing the old grease. I had always used Bearing Buddies, but these don't tend to blow out the grease seal like BB. I liked the concept.

I bought 4 galvy rims and tires from etrailer. Pretty sure they are cheap china made junk (loadstar??). They made the trip to FL in back no troubles. When I got home I put the old tires and rims back on the trailer and put the new set in the basement to keep from getting dry rot in the sun.

BTW I do not recommend etrailer. They sent me the wrong rims and tires and it took them forever to get things straight.

Next time I would go with Eastern trailer.

LOL Thanks for the quodos Brad. :beer:

Ok, for what it's worth, I also like and use Carlisle trailer tires. Been using them for decades and never once had one go bad on me. I like the Biased Belted tires rather than the radials for my trailers. Much less side to side squirm like you get with Radials. They make trailers tires for most trailer makers, so I figure that if it's good enough for the makers, it's good enough for me. Plus, they are made in the USA, not some cheap China import that you don't know about.

I use Carlisle USA Trail trailer tires mostly. And to quote their website:
"Carlisle manufacturers tires for many of the most popular trailers in use today. Each of these tires is purpose built to fit a trailer style or application. Carlisle tire builds road ready trailer tires built for work or play".

The Carlisle USA Trail Trailer Tire is a bias ply DOT approved for highway use trailer tire. The Carlisle USA Trail Trailer Tire is often found on boat trailers, cargo trailers, horse trailers, utility trailers and specialty trailers. Carlisle USA Trail trailer tires are made in the USA. They (Carlisle) have been building trailer tires for a long time. They are both innovative and reliable. Carlisle Tire was founded in Carlisle, PA by Charles Moomy in 1917. So they've been around for a long time and have earned the trust people place in them. Since 1917 Carlisle Tire has grown to one of the world largest manufacturers of specialty tires and wheels. Carlisle Tire is know the world over for producing high quality tires, tubes and wheels for all kinds of equipment from ATV's to lawn tractors, golf carts and trailers. Additionally, as I said earlier, Carlisle is a large supplier of OE Tires (original equipment) for many of the leading tractor manufacturers and ATV manufacturers.

So there you have it. The tires I use and why I use them. Mine are 14" rims and they cost about $89 each. For my money they are a well worth it bargain. Oh, and if you really want radials they make them also. I just don't like them as much.

Thanks guys, good info. Buddy of mine just put 4 Carlisle radial ST's o his travel trailer. $325. They had to order them, but only took a day. Also heard to make sure they are "fresh". They can stay on the shelf for a year or two.

Guess the next question is radial or not.

What psi do you run the radials at, I'm guessing the bias is at 50psi

I have a guy on craigslist I found that sells them CHEAP, about half of what walmart sells them for. Yes they're china made, but so are the wally world ones, and about 80% of the trailer tires out there now. As to bias VS radials, if given a choice, I'll go bias ply. The load ratings are the same for both, but as I had somebody tell me before, bias tires let go and you get some scuffing, marks, and other stuff, but when a radial goes you lose fenders and can get holes knocked in your hull.

I run most of them at 50, radial or bias. Some trailers that are pretty light weight I'll run at a lower psi so they won't beat you to death.

I run them to the recommended inflation psig as found on the side of the tire. (usually in the 45-55 psig range).