Car Tires ok?

[scatgo]

Can car tires be used on a boat trailer? They will fit and they do have a c rating. 1700 lbs per tire.

 

[dwco5051]

You should not. Different construction. Google "Can car tires be used on a boat trailer" and you will find all the reasons.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Can car tires be used on a boat trailer?

NO

 

[scatgo]

Got cha. Thanks

 

[matt167]

If it's a van tire. That C rating is for cargo and not load rating. Those would actually be load range E and better than a trailer tire. However car tires are generally not acceptable and wouldn't be load range C

 

[BrettNC]

In my experience, 25 years ranging from 3500-7000 lbs axles, I've found car tires have been more reliable and have lasted way longer than trailer tires. As long as the tire meets loading requirements, I don't think it matters. In my opinion, there's a lot of hyperbole out there in order to justify and sell trailer tires.

 

[robert graham]

It would depend on how far and how fast you’ll be towing…..for a couple of miles back and forth to your local boat ramp I’d say it’s O.K…..more than that then better stick with trailer tires….

 

[JimS123]

In my experience, 25 years ranging from 3500-7000 lbs axles, I've found car tires have been more reliable and have lasted way longer than trailer tires. As long as the tire meets loading requirements, I don't think it matters. In my opinion, there's a lot of hyperbole out there in order to justify and sell trailer tires.

One of my TeeNee tandem trailers came from the factory with car tires. I ran them for many years without issue. They were only replaced when the sidewalls cracked.

OTOH, I have had ST tires self destruct in 1-4 years.

The sidewalls of STs say "not for use with passengers aboard" (or something like that). If that isn't enough to make you switch, I don't know what would be.

Load capacity is the key. What's the difference between a trailer axle and the rear axle on a FWD car?

 

[matt167]

I have said time and time again that the reason you can't use a trailer tire on a vehicle is the sidewall construction being designed different... As someone who has driven in a truck with trailer tires on the front I know why. It wanders because of the flex. Trailer tires are always more than 4 ply. A car tire is almost always 4 ply at the most. Take it for what you will

 

[Scott06]

It would depend on how far and how fast you’ll be towing…..for a couple of miles back and forth to your local boat ramp I’d say it’s O.K…..more than that then better stick with trailer tires….

I ran car tires on my trailer for several years like this short distance towing never had an issue.

 

[jimmbo]

Well, it is not the Smartest thing to do, and if the Trailer, even the Tow Vehicle are involved in even the most minor of Accidents, and some sharp Oily Hided Lawyer takes notice of Non-Trailer Tires on the Trailer, Look out! Odds are the court would find the Trailer unroadworthy, and because it was on the Road, can put a lot of Liability on you.

 

[Scott06]

Well, it is not the Smartest thing to do, and if the Trailer, even the Tow Vehicle are involved in even the most minor of Accidents, and some sharp Oily Hided Lawyer takes notice of Non-Trailer Tires on the Trailer, Look out! Odds are the court would find the Trailer unroadworthy, and because it was on the Road, can put a lot of Liability on you.

When have I done the smartest thing ? I guess I shouldn’t tell you about the blizzaks I had on a 22 ft sailboat trailer … off a car I no longer owned but same rim size …

 

[jimmbo]

You can do whatever you want. But if things go Sideways, the Onus is on you.

 

[Scott06]

You can do whatever you want. But if things go Sideways, the Onus is on you.

I can and everyone here will tell me not to do it. Very predictable

 

[jimmbo]

Perhaps they are just trying to guide you from making mistakes they or others have made

 

[Scott06]

Perhaps they are just trying to guide you from making mistakes they or others have made

seriously? guy asked if non trailer tires work, i expressed my experience they do in multiple examples where someone uses their head and doesnt go crazy with miles and speed , And everybody’s grandma comes out of the wood work.

 

[matt167]

If you are taking it around the block it could be golf cart tires and it won't matter.
But the next person who reads this may have something like a trailerable express cruiser and put on P rate passenger tires in the 205-75 R 15 that the trailer might have and try to make it 3 hours to the lake.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I was sold car tires for my boat trailer by Tires Plus. The crash totaled my truck, boat and 12 walleyes went to waste. Do not do it to save a few $

 

[jhande]

Can car tires be used on a boat trailer? They will fit and they do have a c rating. 1700 lbs per tire.

I can only go by what my dad used to do while I was growing up. He had camper trailers for many years.

He first replaced the tires with trailer tires only to find they didn't last as long as he was hoping for especially for the cost. Then he tried car tires and didn't get all the way home when he turned around and went back to the tire dealer. He didn't like how much the trailer swayed even though he had a load leveling hitch with a sway bar. The owner of the shop told him to try light duty truck tires and picked a higher rated tire than the loaded camper weight. The LT tires supposedly were a bit cheaper than the trailer tires. My dad liked them and they lasted twice as long if not longer.

The speed rating is not really a concern. The load range is. Besides how many ply's the tire has the strength of the sidewall is very important.

Did the tire shop owner convince my dad to use tires other than trailer tires? Yes & no. He first recommended trailer tires but my dad wasn't going for it. So the owner told my dad that these certain truck tires have worked for many customers if he was really set on using them.

In the end they were safe, longer lasting and dad liked them enough he always used them on all his trailers come time for tire changes.

 

[Lou C]

The only way you could safely use P rated tires is if you know exactly what your boat & trailer weighs and can fit a tire that is not going to be overloaded. The reality is that most trailers have at best a 10% safety margin with trailer tires that will always have a much higher weight rating than a P or LT tire will of the same size. So if your load is at the limit using P tires of the same size will put you well over the limit.
It is really the fault of trailer manufacturers. 15” rims and tires limit you to a 225/75-15 load range E tire at 2830 lbs. No P tire or even LT tire in that size will match that capacity. Now if you upgraded your axles & hubs to 6 lug 16” wheels then yes you’d have more choices.