Do I really need trailer rated tires?

[harrisg]

I weighed my 16ft I/O boat with an EZ load trailer today and it only weighed 2320 lbs. I should get new tires because when I bought it recently to restore, the boat and trailer had been sitting outside for 4 years. However, with that little weight, is it really necessary to buy trailer tires?

 

[Pony]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

I've seen people use non trailer tires before, but personally i dont see it as a particularly good idea. When you think about it trailer tires and car tires do completely different things. Just look at how stiff the sidewalls are on a trailer tire, since they are made to carry a load.....whereas a car tire's sidewall is made for turning and traction........<br /><br />What tires were on it to begin with??? if it had trailer tires and the rims are good, the tire itself is prolly cheaper than a regular tire anyways. Around here for a 4.80 x 12 wheel with tire is about $50 and is somewhere around $35 for just a tire.<br /><br />Taking a line from shore landr trailers "Its whats underneath that counts" When safety is an issue you may as well do it right, and just buy trailer tires......I'm sure this will be debated, but IMHO trailer tires are the only way to go.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

agree w/pony, different mission, different tire.

 

[John McFarlane]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

Do a search on trailer tyres. <br /><br />Much has been said, and lots of arguments tossed, that does not need to be repeated.

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

Originally posted by pony85:<br /> <br /><br />Taking a line from shore landr trailers "Its whats underneath that counts" When safety is an issue you may as well do it right, and just buy trailer tires......

That's fine...as far as it goes. I've participated in these trailer tire threads before...and rarely does is get mentioned what use the trailer is to be put.<br /><br />If you live 3 miles from a lake on back country roads, it's fair to say that your needs are different from someone who trailers hundreds of miles on the Interstate.<br /><br />And...what quality trailer tires? The $50.00 cheapo's from China...or a quality Goodyear Marathon or similiar?<br /><br />What I'd like to see is a site where they compare trailer tires brand by brand. That seems to be lacking. At least I have not found it.<br /><br />There's a guy on e-bay that sells 14" tires with wheels for $60.00. They're trailer tires! Or, you can pay $100.00 or more for the tire alone from Goodyear...<br /><br />Simply having "For Trailer Use Only" on the sidewall doesn't mean much to me.<br /><br />Thanks for reading, Chuck

 

[Pony]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

I've read many of those threads as well, and I tend to agree with you......many people dont mention how the trailer will get used. However i would assume....and that may get me into trouble.....that most boat owners travel more than 3 miles, and even if the local ramp is that close, do they only go to that lake. Is there a chance of going on a vacation and bringing the boat etc.....<br /><br />About the tires.....and im sure this will draw attention as well.....I was referring to carlisle trailer tires. Now last time i checked that company was founded in Pennsylvania and i believe is now headquarterd in South Carolina. so nonetheless an american tire. Maybe the price differs where you are...I know that the same tire and wheel is much more expensive in northern wisconsin compared to SE wisconsin where i am for example.<br /><br />I like you would like to see a comparative site, simply because of the debates that have occured on this site alone.<br /><br />Now i know carlisle tires have been hottly debated here and it seems like some really really hate them. reports of blow outs and such.....but i want to know what those people do as far as trailer maintenance. Now if you call them cheapo tires, i prefer to call them baseline.....like force engines get a bad rap primarily because they are cheaper and many newbies to boating would get them and not understand engine maintenance. is it not concievable the same has occured with carlisle? I have run two trailers with carlsile's and one with goodyears. neither one has caused any trouble. My grandpa has carlisles on his boat and probably goes to the lake twice a week at 125 miles round trip every summer. never had an issue. Just like boat engines i tend to think that any tire can be good and do what it is supposed to if cared for properly. JMHO.

 

[JB]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

Yes. You really need trailer tires.

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

Here's another aspect that I would welcome a discussion on. Perhaps I should start another thread; but I'll mention it here and see what develops... (I'm into photography...and I love to say that <br /><br />What about the guy down the street from me with a Bayliner 190 whose trailer has those itty bitty 12" "Trailer Tires".<br /><br />My boat; approximately the same weight...is on a trailer with P2057514 tires. It came from the dealer that way. (So did his...)<br />

<br /><br />Even assuming that his 12 inchers are rated for the load...(the sidewalls are too scuffed...I can't read the rating...they are "NANCO" brand tires...something tell me that it's way under-tired for the size of his boat.<br /><br />Do any of you feel that for reasons of $$$ or whatever, that many boats are being placed on trailers with less than adequate size wheels and tires?<br /><br />Discussion please...<br /><br />Thanks for reading, Chuck

 

[Pony]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

I agree with ya chuck...I'll post some pics etc when i get home......<br /><br />Those tires also look a little underinflated as well

 

[Pony]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

<br /><br />this would be my tire....its a 4.80 x 12, which is mor than enough tire at the class B range.<br /><br />My previous boat had this same tire (not that tire but in size i mean) I didnt feel it was safe. Those tires have a 780lb rating and the boat was a 16ft fiberglass tri-hull. not light by any means. I uprgraded to 5.14 x 12 in the class C load capacity, which is a much more appropriate tire. <br /><br />The boat i have with the tire pictured is a 14ft alumacraft so no biggie there (most trailers i see with that size boat have much smaller tires). I do agree with ya chuck in that 5.13 x 12 might be a better choice, or at least something bigger than that boat has. bigger tire, better load capacity. <br /><br />Personally i can;t see money as an issue. bigger tires are no that ridiculously priced....at least not that i have noticed. the prices i gave in my first post were for the 5.13's

 

[Realgun]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

Heres what I have found and i tried my best.<br /><br />Load range C tires for my boat is 5.30X 12<br /><br />Any tire for cars that will fix can only carry 880lbs max. SO I know my boat and trailer ready to go and loaded with fuel and such weights 1960 LBS. So no matter what car tire I wanted it will not handle it. <br /><br />I though going to 13 inchers might help. Actually no and 14 inch tires(185/60Hr14 same diamter as the 13 inch tires) nope will not handle the weight!<br /><br />That I think is the bigger issue and not the actual tires!<br /><br />Here is a Link to the rating

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

I just replaced tires on my trailer (and tow rig, but that's a different story). The correct sized automotive style tire priced out at $15.oo each, but couldn't carry the weight necessary for the boat according to my tire dealer. <br /><br />I doubted this at first - after all automotive tires carry a load and have to deal with higher cornering and braking forces than a trailer tire. Then again, consider the type of vehicle that 13" tire was designed to carry and it's easy to see that my trailer, loaded with the boat and all of my gear, by far exceeds the weight of whatever speck-of-a-car those tires would fit. <br /><br />The corrct trailer tire, Carlisle brand, priced out at $45.oo each. I wasn't happy to pay more, but then again I didn't lose sight of the reason I was replacing them - to eliminate the worries I'd had trailering on old worn out flat-spotted tires.<br /><br />I'm all for saving a few bucks when it really doesn't make much difference, but I wouldn't cut corners when it comes to tires. There's never a convenient time or place to have tire trouble. Spend the extra money and you'll have to find something else to worry about.

 

[Pony]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

To further discuss the question you posed chuck i think money may be the biggest factor in why so many boats have undersized or incorrect tires......but perhaps just as important is that most people lack the knowledge of the tires. It takes just one person to put the wrong tire on a trailer and sell the boat to someone else, to then have that person replace those tires with the same ones....thinking of coarse they are doing the right thing.

 

[NathanY]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

Tell you a little story. A while back I posed this same question, the response was that I needed trailer tires. So I bought trailer tires. I had no problems with them at all, and did not ever have to worry about towing long distances.<br /><br />My dad on the other hand, put new tires on his boat at about the same time. His were not trailer tires. They were car tires. Both of our boats weighed about the same, had the same size tires on them, but mine were trailer tires and his werent. Was towing his boat back from Arkansas, a trip which I had made many times with my boat, and got about half way, on I-35 which is not a smooth road. I looked in the rearview, and noticed alot of sidewall flex. Thought damn, my boat never does that. About two hours later, BOOM tire blows. I put the spare on it, no big deal, spare is a Goodyear Marathon ST, an continue to drive. About an hour later, BOOM the other car tire blows. This time no spare, but was close to the house so no big deal. Made it home.<br /><br />I learned that trailers do need ST tires on them. I went down to Goodyear and had a brand new set put on the trailer. Now I dont have to worry when I pull the boat.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

Back in the 80's I had a 24 Aquasport that I towed from New Orleans to Destin, Fl about 500 miles round trip several times a year. I also towed to the Florida keys once about 2500 mi round trip. All the trailer ever had was used light truck tires. Never had a failure.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Do I really need trailer rated tires?

If ST rated tires where required to safely tow a trailer I would think that there usage would be mandated by the Department of Transportation which they’re not. <br /><br />Back in the bias tire days I could see the reasoning behind it but with the advent of trailer radials I think most of the arguments are no longer valid.