How Does Age and Exposure Affect 5th Wheel Trailer Tire Performance

Question:

I have some St235-80r16 on my fifth wheel trailer. It is one year old and has been outside in the sun on grass when not used. Gonna start using it again. Under those conditions would you say its safe to use or how long average do those tires last? Thanks

asked by: Beto

Expert Reply:

A trailer tire can be as much as 6-years old and still be used safely provided that there is no damage to the tire from dry rot or UV radiation, and as long as it has sufficient tread depth and can hold its required psi pressure.

From the time a trailer tire leaves the factory, travels on a container ship, is stocked in a warehouse and finally delivered to the retailer that will sell it, it is likely to be at least 6 months old. Trailer tires will have a DOT date code on the sidewall that indicates the year and week of production. This gives you one good indicator of their potential condition. A date code 0415 means the tire was made in the 4th week of 2015.

Since your tires are just one year old chances are that they will still be in good shape, but naturally this is something you'll want to check yourself. Check the sidewalls for hairline cracks and check the tread surface for signs of uneven wear. Either of these will signal the need for a new tire.

If you need to replace a tire I linked our page for all options in your ST235/80R16 size. I also linked tire/wheel combination products like # TA39VR.

I suggest you use tire covers on your tires during all storage periods, even in nicer weather. They will block UV radiation and also keep the tires looking good. Your tire size has an overall diameter of about 31-inches. So for covers you can use one of the products shown on the linked page, such as the 2-piece set # 052963762501 from Classic Accessories.

expert reply by: Adam R