When Should Trailer Tires be Replaced

Question:

I have a 2016 - 34foot Open Range Light 5th wheel trailer that currently has Westlake Super ST tires. ST225/75R15, speed rated L and load range E in a 10ply. The trailer has dual axles and all 4 tires have about 10,000 km on them and are date stamped 1515. We are heading to Arizona for the winter and am worried about blowing a tire on the trip. Is there a better tire I can put on the existing rims or should I look at the option of installing LT tires.

asked by: Rick W

Helpful Expert Reply:

If your tires have been used properly by inflating them to the correct psi and you have not been exceeding their max speed rating then you will want to check the tread on them. The smallest tread depth that we recommend using is 2/32 of an inch. If you are getting close to this tread depth measurement then you will probably want to swap out your tires before going on a roadtrip to decrease the chance of a blowout.

The only other factor that would come into play would be how old the tires are and how long they have sat on your trailer in storage. The max life that we recommend keeping trailer tires on a trailer is 7 years. Since your trailer is practically new I don't think you have to worry about dry-rotting due to storage.

The Westlake ST225/75R15 Radial Trailer Tire # LHWL304 that you currently have on your trailer is actually a great tire that also includes complimentary roadside assistance for 2 years. If your RV or trailer has a flat tire, call the help line and a technician will come change the flat for you. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year from anywhere in the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico. Because of this I recommend using the same tire.

The ST in front of the tire size stands for Special Tire which means it combines the strength of a Bias tire with the benefits of a Radial tire (better cooling on highways and tread wear). If you are looking at LT Light Truck tires then I highly recommend against it. Passenger vehicle tires are built differently than trailer tires as they have to accommodate for people riding in them. Trailer tires have more rigid sidewalls to support loads. They don't provide as smooth of a ride, but they handle the heavy loads from trailers much better.

I have attached a review video for the Westlake tire for you to check out.

expert reply by: Jon G