Will Trailer Tires be More Durable if a Higher Weight Rating is Used

Question

Question:

I have a 8,000lb boat with tandem axle trailer. I have not had much success with Goodyear or Carlisle tires on my trailer. The belts seem to break and the tires swell. Several people have recommended Kenda radial tires for my boat trailer. The trailer came with load range D tires from the factory, should I increase that to load range E? Would I have better luck with Kenda and load range E?

asked by: Ed

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

You could go with a higher weight rating tire for more durability, but keep in mind that this will NOT increase the load bearing capability of your trailer, you'll be limited by the capacity of the lowest rated component of your trailer, be it the springs, spindles, axles or tires.

Keep in mind that the number one enemy of tires is heat. Be sure your trailer isn't overloaded, that the tires are kept fully inflated to the pressure rating shown on the tire sidewall and that the tire speed rating is observed. Most trailer tires have a 65 mph speed rating. Keep in mind that Radial tires do a better job of shedding heat, so if they're available in your tires size, you might want to consider radial tires. Worn or broken suspension components can also cause uneven tire wear.

Both Kenda and the Taskmaster Provider tires we offer are quality tires that you'll get plenty of service from if you observe the guidelines I've mentioned above.

If you'd care to mention which tire size you're looking for, I'd be happy to make some recommendations for you.

expert reply by: Mike L

1

Answer 1

I wouldn't recommend doing so, especially given the amount of weight your dealing with on a triple axle trailer. If you're referring to the ST225/75-15 tire size, a load range D should be kept inflated to its maximum pressure of 65 psi, while…

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Answer 2

Trailer tires really shouldn't be used after 6 years of age. The materials of the tire just breaks down to the point they become compromised and will eventually fail. In nearly every situation the treads will still be seemingly good and it's…

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Answer 3

Yes, radial trailer tires can spin in either direction. They are not directional. I attached an FAQ article on trailer tires for you to check out as well.

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Answer 4

There is a solution for you, though we only have light truck tires that will fit a 16.5 inch diameter wheel. Instead, you would need to replace your wheels with something that supports a more common tire size. I recommend the Kenda #AM32666, which…

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Answer 5

Sometimes the number of plies is indicated on the tire sidewall. in this case, the only ply information that is on this tire is that it has an 8 ply rating and that they are nylon. because of the strength of today's materials, there may not be 8…

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Answer 6

Before switching to a higher load rated tire, like a load range D or E, you will want to check the weight capacity on your trailer wheels. If you have a steel wheel, the capacity should be stamped on the backside lip of the wheel. If you have an…

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Answer 7

Trailer tires should be kept inflated to the maximum pressure listed on the tire sidewall, as opposed to passenger vehicle tires that will have a certain acceptable range. If a trailer tire is inflated to a lower air pressure than the recommended…

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Answer 8

On any trailer tire you always want to inflate the tire to the maximum cold psi, which you said on your tire was 80 psi. Doing this will give you the best performance, allowing the tire to wear more slowly and give you optimum gas mileage.

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Answer 9

It depends on what you mean by "any tires". If you are wanting to use passenger car tires then you can in an emergency situation but you really need to use trailer tires for normal use of your Airstream Overlander. Trailer tires have a…

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Answer 10

Tire failure is usually caused by a few things. It can be from overloading the trailer, improper tire inflation, and/or exceeding the speed rating for the tire. You should verify that the tire capacity you have for you trailer is adequate for how…

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Answer 11

There are really only two standard trailer tire sizes for 15" wheels, 205/75-15 and 225/75-15 with the latter being the taller option (28.4" diameter x 8.9" wide vs. 27.3" diameter x 8.1" wide). I recommend the Karrier…

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Answer 12

There is not an equivalent trailer tire to your light truck tires that are 7.00-15, which have an overall diameter of 29.4" and width of 7.8". A 225/75-15 tire such as the Karrier #AM10256 is similar, with a 28.4" diameter and…

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