Radial Trailer Tire Recommendation for Camper that Has ST185/80D13 Bias Ply Tires

Question:

Currently have ST185/80d13s on my Hybrid camper....the dry weight of the camper is 2700 lbs and these tires have a 1610 load rating. The current tires have cracks on the sidewalls probably because of the heat the bias ply are generating....will the radials that you carry help with this? Looking at the ST175/80R13 and will the narrower tire 185 to 175 really make a difference? Please advise!

asked by: Brian

Expert Reply:

Radial tires are a better option for trailer tires all around so whenever available we recommend them over the bias-ply options.

A radial tire flexes more than a bias tire, giving it better ground contact, traction, stability, and tread wear.

A radial tire will normally run cooler than a bias ply tire, especially when the tire is under a load. A tire that runs cooler will last longer.

I am assuming you have a tandem axle trailer based on your current tire capacity not being enough for a single axle trailer at your weight. The tire I would recommend is the Taskmaster ST175/80R13 Radial Trailer # TTWTRTM1758013C which is a radial with a capacity of 1,360 lbs at 50 psi capacity. What I really like about the Taskmaster tires is that they have a higher speed rating that most trailer tires which are often only rated for 65 mph. These are rated up to 81 mph. I attached a review video as well.

Size wise you will only be looking at a very small difference that wouldn't hardly be noticed or seen.

expert reply by: Jameson C