Trailer vs Car tires.

[Uncle Dave]

I have often heard the comment on these forums to use trailer tires and not car tires for your trailer.<br />What is the difference of a tire carring the load say 3,000 lbs of your car/truck and the load of your 3,000 lb boat. The load rating of all tires is given on the side wall.<br />Can some one throw some water on this??<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Fitz.

 

[JB]

Re: Trailer vs Car tires.

The nature of the loading on a trailer tire is entirely different than that on a car tire.<br /><br />Even at the same load rating a car tire is dangerous on a trailer.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Trailer vs Car tires.

Trailer tires tend to have stiffer sidewalls. This reduces the "sway" in them. I myself use car tires because used car tires are cheap and easy to find(used), can't say that about trailer tires. I would recommend the trailer tires if you can afford them, they are only about $10-15 more than regular tires.

 

[ISkiH2O]

Re: Trailer vs Car tires.

Trailers don't have the level of suspension cars do. The tires absorb much more of the impact with pot holes and such.

 

[Columbia]

Re: Trailer vs Car tires.

I've hauled more sailboats than powerboats and have always preferred the stiffer sidewall bias ply tires to radials. When you have a boat that draws four or five feet perched way the heck up on a trailer, the sway with radials would dang near give you a heart attack as the sides flex. And with dual axle trailers, when you turn a corner the bias ply will effectively pivot even on the drag axle and the radial will warp ALL out of shape due to that dragging of one axle.

 

[DJ]

Re: Trailer vs Car tires.

Mr. Fitz,<br /><br />All points above are good ones. They point to the sidewall stiffness of special "ST" tires.<br /><br />As mentioned, they are not that much more and are truly suited to the different needs that trailers present.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Trailer vs Car tires.

Mr. Fitz, A radial tire was designed for a somewhat different job than a trailer tire. Radial tires are designed to work with the flex of a given suspension, optimize traction, provide a "quiet" sound, and perform in a variety of year round environments. (Snow, rain, heat, etc)<br /><br />Essentially the side walls on a trailer tire are far more stiff, tread design is typically designed to shed water and operate in a straight line. Tire pressure is higher in trailer tires. If you can watch the tires while going over bumps at speed you would swear they are going to blow out. With todays custom trailers you can quite easily flex the tires into the fenders. <br /><br />Depending on your actual use (miles)your tires will most likely rot out before they wear out. Pop the extra 40-100 bucks for at least 8 years of safe reliable service.<br /><br />Doug

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Trailer vs Car tires.

Mr. Fitz, A radial tire was designed for a somewhat different job than a trailer tire. Radial tires are designed to work with the flex of a given suspension, optimize traction, provide a "quiet" sound, and perform in a variety of year round environments. (Snow, rain, heat, etc)<br /><br />Essentially the side walls on a trailer tire are far more stiff, tread design is typically designed to shed water and operate in a straight line. Tire pressure is higher in trailer tires. If you can watch the tires while going over bumps at speed you would swear they are going to blow out. With todays custom trailers you can quite easily flex the tires into the fenders. <br /><br />Depending on your actual use (miles)your tires will most likely rot out before they wear out. Pop the extra 40-100 bucks for at least 8 years of safe reliable service.<br /><br />Doug

 

[Mucka29]

Re: Trailer vs Car tires.

D.O.T can write you a fine if you don't have trailer tires on your trailer!