Trailer tires sidewall busted

[bryceman2712]

ok sorry about opening a new topic just to ask a question or two but sometimes I can find answers online and sometimes not. The tires on my trailer have great tread, almost like brand new, but the side walls are cracked about 3/4 of the way around and I'm not talking about little splits the tire is busted open waiting to blow only being held together by the belts. Is this because of being in and out of the water? I have never seen this on a tire with such good tread. I am looking at purchasing new ones. The spare has sun damage should I replace it as well? It is holding air but from not being rotated on the trailer the top side has been face up in the sun for its lifespan. Can I keep these new tires from the same fate? Or should I just buy cheap tires knowing I will be replacing them every season or 2?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re-ask the last 2 questions in the correct I/O forum

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...ance/mercruiser-i-o-inboard-engines-outdrives

Moving this topic to the trailer forum as that deals w your 1st question

Just a heads up, doesnt matter if you are a new member, new boater, old member or owned many boats, you'll get better, faster help if you'd post the questions in the right sub-forum (there are several. Plus add some indication of what your topic is about in the title. Also no need to both apologize and claim newby in every topic, we all were at one point and asking questions amd getting answers is the whole point of the forum.

Better titles on topics, simply allows those that can help, find and answer your questions quicker.

 

[jbcurt00]

You want to relplace all the tires, including the spare, BEFORE you tow it further then the end of the driveway..

 

[bryceman2712]

Absolutely we parked it in the garage and its not moving until they're done I'm going to take the tires off and take them in that way I can inspect the trailer also. Should they wear like this tho?

 

[fhhuber]

Ever seen the Recreational vehicles with boards beside the tires? Its to keep the sun off in order to prevent the sun exposure from damaging the sidewall of the tire.

Its a practice that helps a little but not that much really. If the tire is old enough that sun exposure has destroyed the sidewall its too old for the road. It IS a normal issue with OLD tires. Someone who can read the date code (if you show it) can tell you just how old the tires are. More than 6 is getting time to start worrying even if you don't see anything wrong.

http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/how-old-and-dangerous-are-your-tires.html

 

[fishin98]

ANY tires that show weather cracking like that require replacement. Look into the tread of the tire if it shows the same type of cracking replace it. This happens to ALL brands and types of tires, exposure to the elements will eat them up.

 

[gm280]

I always wonder why trailer tires are not made to the same standard that vehicle tries are required? Most trailer tires never wear out, they crack and dry rot. If the same materials were used for trailer tires that is used for vehicle tires, they would wear out before cracking and dry rotting in most cases. But then I guess you can't sell as many. :noidea:

I have a old old yard cart for doing yard type work. This yard cart has to be 20 years old at least. And the original tires are still on it and still holding air. I have never had to pump them up. And the dry rot is everywhere on those tires that I can almost see the air inside. But they still hold air and work for yard working issues.

 

[oldjeep]

While weather can be part of the issue - under inflation causes a lot of sidewall damage too.

 

[JASinIL2006]

New car tires develop dry rot, too. It's not a phenomenon unique to trailer tires. I've heard that 5 years is about all you can expect from a tire, and that includes time spent sitting in the warehouse awaiting purchase. As mentioned above, it's good to learn how to read the date of manufacture code. I won't buy a set that's more than a year old.

 

[gm280]

New car tires develop dry rot, too. It's not a phenomenon unique to trailer tires. I've heard that 5 years is about all you can expect from a tire, and that includes time spent sitting in the warehouse awaiting purchase. As mentioned above, it's good to learn how to read the date of manufacture code. I won't buy a set that's more than a year old.

Yes I guess you are correct about car tires. I do have a set of old tires on my Ranger PU. And While there is still good tread, I do see very small cracks happening now on the sidewalls. So new tires are on the menu. And this is a garage kept truck.

 

[bruceb58]

Check the date code on the tires. My bet is they are way older than the recommended replacement interval of 5 years.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret... code&ef_id=Vt2cnAAAAGNWSw4p:20160307152204:s

 

[bryceman2712]

Now that I think about it my wife's jeep is starting to show some cracking to. I'm gonna have to check them out as well. Glad I asked by I really learn a lot about tires that I did not know before.

 

[bryceman2712]

So I called around to get some prices and local shop said that's very common unless you drive the trailer a lot. Was going to order and take the rims off myself but I found a great price from a local guy I've used a long time $140 out the door for 2 new tires mounted new valve stems and I don't have to bother bringing in loose wheels. Forgot about the spare so probably $210 for the 3. Seems fair to me and 1 less thing for me to have to worry about since we will be boating 2 states away sometimes at family's Lake house in Tennessee. Might keep the spare in my truck bed to prevent sun damage since I have a bed cover.

 

[ezmac]

Trailer tires are manufactured with extra ozone resistant compounds. Passenger and truck tires will carry the load of the trailer and boat as long as the load rating has been met. The reason for the extra ozone compounds is that most trailer tires may sit for long periods without being moved. It is the flexing of the tire under load that allows the ozone compound to leach to the surface and protect the tire. Passenger and truck tires with daily or frequent use usually do not develop sidewall or tread cracks. Before cracks can develop the tires wear out. Protect your tires by shielding them from sunlight. Cracks in themselves are not a cause for concern until they are deep enough to expose the cord. Deep cracks allow moisture in and cord strength is compromised. Buy a tire cover for your spare, I would check I boats first. Another suggestion is to use your boat more often. You can check the age of your tires by looking at the DOT number. The last number is the year of manufacture and the two numbers preciding that are the week of the year. At least that was the method used when I was in the racket. Buy new stems with new tires. Rubber stems snap in and over time the rubber relaxes and a leak may occur. If you use metal stems give the nut a quarter turn to tighten them up again. Just my experience.

 

[jayhanig]

ok sorry about opening a new topic just to ask a question or two but sometimes I can find answers online and sometimes not. The tires on my trailer have great tread, almost like brand new, but the side walls are cracked about 3/4 of the way around and I'm not talking about little splits the tire is busted open waiting to blow only being held together by the belts. Is this because of being in and out of the water? I have never seen this on a tire with such good tread. I am looking at purchasing new ones. The spare has sun damage should I replace it as well? It is holding air but from not being rotated on the trailer the top side has been face up in the sun for its lifespan. Can I keep these new tires from the same fate? Or should I just buy cheap tires knowing I will be replacing them every season or 2?

1) It is not because of being dipped in water. I absolutely do not consider this normal for (your implied) two year old tires. All rubber is subject to dry rot over time and it's not uncommon for that to happen before you wear out the tread. My tires are six years old with very little tread wear since I live just 5 miles or so from the ramp I like to use. They are just starting to show a little dry rot but nothing like what you describe. And I live on a barrier island off the NC coast.

2) While you ought to replace your spare now, it is not necessary for it to be as exposed to the sun as your other tires. Buy a cover for it and leave it on all the time until you actually need it (if you ever do). You should still check its pressure from time to time, at least during the boating season. Pressure is less important over the winter since there's no possibility it will be needed until the next season. Since there's no weight on it, low pressure won't hurt the sidewalls of the spare.

3) Tire pressure on the trailer tires themselves, OTOH, is critically important. Keep an eye on it all year around. Soft tires are tough on sidewalls. I cover my trailer tires during the winter to minimize exposure to the sun when there's no need to do so. During boating season, no covers as they're a bit of a PITA to install.

4) If by "cheap tires" you mean bias ply, by all means. I see little advantage in radial tires for boat trailers considering that dry rot affects both cheap and expensive tires equally and you have no tread issues as it is.

 

[bruceb58]

During the winter, both my trailers are now up on jack stands to take the weight off the tires. Years ago, I had one set of tires fail at the location of the flat spots that developed when sitting all winter.

 

[GA_Boater]

You have the tires squared away. Have you checked and repacked the trailer bearings? A flat tire isn't fun to deal with, but when one of your new trailer tires passes you on the highway, things are far worse.

 

[bryceman2712]

Lol that's funny about the tire passing on highway because my old boss has told me this story so many times. He had a pull behind air compressor on the truck and was heading out of state for a job. While traveling down the highway he looks over and the air compressor passed him just before going into the median nose diving into the grass and flipping end over end.

And by cheap tires I simply have found the same 6 ply trailer service tires ranging from $40 each to $100 each online. Just different manufacturers.

 

[bigdee]

Cracks in themselves are not a cause for concern until they are deep enough to expose the cord.

^^^x2^^^