Availability of Replacement Radial 5.30x12 Tire for Boat Trailer

Question:

I need to replace a 5.30x12, load range c, tire on my boat trailer Where are Kenda tires made. Are all small trailer tires bias ply. Why not radial. What is the failure rate compared to other brands.

asked by: Marion

Expert Reply:

Kenda tires are made in Taiwan or mainland China, as are most trailer tires these days.

We do not offer the 5.30x12 tire in radial, and in my research, I was unable to find that tire size available in a radial. This being said, we offer a ST145/R12 radial tire that is a close size match for a 5.30x12 tire. The tire is compatible with a 12x4 rim and would measure about 21 inches in diameter with a section width of about 5.7 inches. They will be about the same width as a 5.30x12 tire, but about an inch shorter in diameter. A ST145/R12 tire like part # AM10130 would be an acceptable replacement for your existing tires.

I do not have any specific information about tire failure rate of Kenda tires versus those from other manufacturers, but in my experience failure can be avoided by doing the following:

1) Keep your tires fully inflated to the maximum pressure listed on the tire sidewall. Unlike a passenger car tire, trailer tires feature a stronger sidewall designed to provide greater stability when under load. Failure to fully inflate the tires can cause heat build-up, leading to premature tire failure. Also, a tire only will only realize its specified load rating when inflated to its maximum psi shown on the tire.

2) Do not overload your tires. Your towing system will only be as strong as the capacity of its lowest-rated component. Running your tires when loaded above their stated capacity will increase the heat build-up, shortening your tire life.

3) Many trailer tires are only rated up to 65 mph. Consistently exceeding your tire's speed rating by traveling at higher speeds will increase the heat in the tires, which again will shorten their life.

In summary, excessive heat kills trailer tires.

We sell several hundreds of Kenda trailer tires on a monthly basis, and in the overwhelming majority of cases, tire failure can be traced to user error rather than any defect or lack of quality in the tire itself.