Trailer Tire Recommendations for a Trailer Towed by a Motorcycle

Question:

I am building a pull behind motorcycle trailer from a kit. My question - is an 8inch tire good enough? The trailer will have a gross weight of no more than about 400 lbs and I was planning on running slightly lower air pressures to soften the ride a bit I was also planning on taking the smaller of the two leafs out of each spring. I would also like to travel at the current speed limits. Would I be committing trailer tire suicide or am I on the right track? Or should I just buy a kit with 12inch tires?

asked by: Tom H

Expert Reply:

An 8 inch tire is perfectly fine for a motorcycle trailer. It will probably be easier on the bike. A couple of things you mentioned do wave red flags. First, tire pressure. Trailer tires should always be inflated to the maximum psi as indicated on the trailer tire. This is because trailer tires are specially constructed with a thicker sidewall when compared to passenger vehicle tires. When under inflated the thicker sidewall generates excessive heat and can fail.

The other thing to look at is modifying the suspension. You should not modify the suspension on the trailer. Doing so can cause it to ride or track behind the bike poorly. It can also lead to excessive tire wear and the other suspension components wearing out quicker.

The trailer tires that we carry are rated for 65 miles per hour. You will not want to go faster than that because the faster you go the more heat will build up. Tires in general, but especially trailer tires, do not like heat. I have included a link to our FAQ article on trailer tires for you.

expert reply by: Michael H