Trailer tire ratings

[dblake]

Anybody know how to figure out trailer tire ratings on a multi-axle trailer ? I was pulling my neighbors trailer with his Bobcat digger on it the other day and we had a blow out . I looked at the tire that blew and it wasn't even trailer rated . Just a car tire . Are tire weight ratings cumulative ( add them all up ) or do you just add the two up on each axle ?

Thanks .

 

[ScottLewis]

Cumulative. Keep in mind that some of the total weight is carried by the hitch. Even with equalizers, the load isn't likely to be evenly distributed between the axles.





Dan

 

[dblake]

Danavilla ,

So if all tires say they're rated for 2000 lbs. the trailer with two axles and four tires should be good for 8000 lbs ?

 

[Cal Brewin]

So if all tires say they're rated for 2000 lbs. the trailer with two axles and four tires should be good for 8000 lbs ?

Thats correct, 8,000 including the weight of the trailer. Keep an eye on the air pressure, low pressure can heat up a tire and cause problems. I also have a small infrared temp gauge I use when hauling my travel trailer. Whenever I make a stop, I can check tire temps by just pointing the gauge at the tire and pushing a button. Very handy.



Tom.

 

[HBarlow]

Too many trailers have 15" passenger car type tires mounted. They are adequate when the tires are relatively new but prone to failure after three to four years whether they've ever been pulled even one mile or have sat around since new. Tread depth means nothing. The greatest enemy of trailer tires is the calendar not miles.



Harvey

 

[dblake]

Thanks for the info guys . I also heard that trailer tires a bias ply and not radials since radials have sidewalls that are too flexible and don't give enough lateral support as the old bias ply . Anybody heard that one before ?

 

[Grizzly]

Thats correct, 8,000 including the weight of the trailer. Keep an eye on the air pressure, low pressure can heat up a tire and cause problems. I also have a small infrared temp gauge I use when hauling my travel trailer. Whenever I make a stop, I can check tire temps by just pointing the gauge at the tire and pushing a button. Very handy.

Tom.

I'm interested in getting an Infrared Temp Gauge. Where is the best place to get one and what can I expect to pay for it?



What's your opinion on ST vs LT tires on a 5th wheel?

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Thanks for the info guys . I also heard that trailer tires a bias ply and not radials since radials have sidewalls that are too flexible and don't give enough lateral support as the old bias ply . Anybody heard that one before ?

Yes, I have heard that, from the tire shop I bought trailer tires from, a few years back. He also told me trailer tires are made slightly different than car tires. They resist cracking better, and are designed to sit for long periods of time.

 

[ScottLewis]

ST (trailer) tires are made both radial and bias. I think that most heavier rated ST's (like E rated) are bias but I'm not sure. A principal difference between LT and ST tires is the rubber compounds in ST's are supposed to resist the deteriorating effects of UV and ozone so they hold up better in storage. Again just what I,ve heard. I tried bias tires on my 11K+ 5th wheel and found they wore badly compared to the radials I've run before. It may have just been poor tires but I've gone back to radials.



Grizzly: I got my IR thermometer from Harbor Freight. It works fine for my purposes.



Dan

 

[J&LRam]

why not take a cue from commercial haulers that run LTs on their trailers. I've had more than my share of ST tire problems when bias ply tire tech was king and now that STs have changed to radials. Having several trailers of various sizes on the road for my construction business [installing truck stop driveway covers] we were carring two spares using ST tires on all 5 trailers. My Goodyear truck tire dealer switched me to 16" LT E and G on the two big GN trailers and LTs on my trailers with 15" wheels. That move all but eliminated my tire problems other than ruining a tire on site. I don' t use any brand of ST tires even on my single axle boat trailer as STs are only 65 mph max rated.

With out a doubt one of the best 16" trailer tires are the Michelin XPS Rib LT E which are recommended by Michelin for commercial trailer tire use. Others are BFG Commercial LT E and Uniroyal Lerado HD-H LT E. Bridgstone makes a all steel carcass LT E tire as the XPS Rib tire that seems popular with contract haulers I see when refueling at truck stops.



JIM

 

[WestTN]

The most important difference between ST and LT tires is the maximum inflation pressure. It is NOT true that radial tires have weak sidewalls. Radials make a much better trailer service tire because they run cooler when properly inflated.



Use a tire that is load range rated for the axle capacity. With radials you can run them at maximum rated inflation pressure even with lighter loads and get slightly better mileage and longer tire life. Running a bias ply tire at maximum inflation pressure with a lighter loade will result in excessive wear in the middle of the tread.

 

[CContreras]

I'm interested in getting an Infrared Temp Gauge. Where is the best place to get one and what can I expect to pay for it?



What's your opinion on ST vs LT tires on a 5th wheel?

Graingers Item # 3MU88

 

[Grizzly]

Graingers Item # 3MU88

Can you elaborate, I don't know what that means. Thanks

 

[CContreras]

Grainger is an industrial supply company. It's a great resource for specialty tools, fasteners, gadgets and so on. Check them out at Grainger Industrial Supply Have them send you a catalog, you'll have a field day. They have warehouses all over.

 

[Grizzly]

Grainger is an industrial supply company. It's a great resource for specialty tools, fasteners, gadgets and so on. Check them out at Grainger Industrial Supply Have them send you a catalog, you'll have a field day. They have warehouses all over.

We do have a Grainger in Albuquerque. I go by there often, I'll stop and check them out. I see they are $138. 25. Thanks for the tip.

 

[georgej]

Harbor Freight has them on sale for about 40 bucks from time to time. .

 

[BHaden]

I just got a really nice and compact IR temp gun from Summit for about $59. 00. I like it. Got the idea from someone on this list. Got it to go with the new GY Marathon 225/75-15 LRD-ST tires. They were $88 each from tire rack. I thought about something else, like LT tires, but these were too good a deal to spend a lot of time looking for something "better". If they are a mistake, I'll know tomorrow; going to Flagstaff via Phoenix. 1000mi RT with 5-6k in tow and 2k return.

 

[DonTX]

I use a Craftsman thermometer, not too pricey and works well. My friends all have the Harbor Freight one, works just as well, usually on sale for $9. 99.

I was checking my 5th wheel tires yesterday (34foot double slide Avion, two axles, 16 inch tires) and noticed they were inflated to 80lbs! The sidewall showes 80psi as max pressure for max load, I am leaving them at that pressure.

 

[BHaden]

Thats correct, 8,000 including the weight of the trailer. Keep an eye on the air pressure, low pressure can heat up a tire and cause problems. I also have a small infrared temp gauge I use when hauling my travel trailer. Whenever I make a stop, I can check tire temps by just pointing the gauge at the tire and pushing a button. Very handy.



Tom.

After reading this thread a coupleweeks ago while deciding on a set of trailer tires (got some more Marathons; OK for my purposes and they were a known quantity) I decided the infrared thermometer idea was a good one and ordered one from Summit. It probably saved me a blowout on my trip from San Diego to Flagstaff. At my first stop I noticed the left side tires were both around 115 degrees. RF was 142, RR was 192!!!!. Inspection revealed the shackle on the RR tire spring assembly was bottoming on the frame support causing all the load on that side to go onto the RR tire. Luckily I had a hitch with an axtra 2 inches of drop, which changed the angle enough that it didn't bottom. At the next stop all 4 tires were around 135. It was 105 outside in Phoenix. I now keep the temp gun in the door pocket. Geeezz, I love TDR!!!

 

[Grizzly]

I ordered a Fluke Mini #62 for $89. 95 from Test Equipment Depot. Free shipping, no tax.