Trailer tire wear and maintenance

hawilson2

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 22, 2004
Messages
125
I have a 17 foot aluminum center console with a 4stroke 115 and a 30 gallon fuel tank on a single axle aluminum trailer. I would not consider the boat heavy. I always use trailer tires, specifically, ST205/D14's. I find the both tires seem to wear excessively on the inside and outside underneath but not in the middle. I just put 2 new tires on in the beginning of Aug 2008 and have since put 4-6K miles on them. They are showing a fair amoutn of wear already. The tires are rated at 1760 lbs at 50psi. I keep them between 42 to 45 psi. Also, they are not balanced. I have a few quesions concerning the tires: How many miles do good/decent trailer tires last? What is causing the inside/outside wear pattern and how can I get hem to wear more evenly and last longer? Should trailer tires be balanced (my tire guy said it was not necessary)? Thanks in advance.
 

a70eliminator

Captain
Joined
Sep 9, 2007
Messages
3,688
Re: Trailer tire wear and maintenance

No wear in the center means your tires are underinflated.
 

Tacklewasher

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
1,588
Re: Trailer tire wear and maintenance

What he said and I like mine balanced.
 

gstanton

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 3, 2003
Messages
451
Re: Trailer tire wear and maintenance

Also you need to:
a. Find the actual weight of your loaded boat and trailer. You can take the whole rig to a scale and find this out.
b. You have already found the max pressure and weight listed on the side of your tire. Compare this weight rating with the newly weighed rig.

You do inflate the tires to the max pressure shown on he sidewall.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,758
Re: Trailer tire wear and maintenance

Trailer tires should always be inflated to the maximum pressure on the sidewall (50 PSI in your case). As was pointed out, underinflation is the reason your tires are wearing.
 
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