Trailer tires?
 

Going to start hauling my TopGun around, moved from LOTO to Dallas area.

We plan on logging some miles over next few years with my boating buddy moving to AZ and the rest of the crew still back at LOTO. The original HD MyCO is still in perfect shape but will get a few thing addressed, #1 being all new tires...

bias ply or radials? Some of my friends have switched their equipment trailers over to HD radials and are getting “less blowouts and way longer life” but if they do get a blowout it’s obviously catastrophic... I’ve seen the damage done as I’ve repaired it.

opinions from those who haul regularly and long is appreciated...

- Bill

Bias Ply, They still make those?

Serious Note: 1St Question? What size are the tires and how many lugs on the wheels?

Depending on how old the trailer is you may want to look at changing to a tire and wheel combination, it may be cheaper? But we will need to know this first. We can lead you down the correct path once we know that.

I too will be needing a set of 4- 14" tires as mine are getting old.

What is currently the best tire to get? I would love to go with a larger diameter , but it is more work than I want to get into at this time.

They are 8 lug aluminum wheels 16”. I don’t want new wheels, just tires.

[img]blob:https://www.offshoreonly.com/465773cb-205f-48c2-9860-ff9c06cd95af[/img]

“All” of the smaller light duty trailer tires are still bias ply.

A good place to look: https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Tra...SAAEgKtgPD_BwE

Another option, is Firestone Transforces.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...98da554a90.jpg
I put on the Firestone transforce, new wheels and tires

For 16" wheels...
I would go with Firestone TransForce HT (LT tires).
OR
Goodyear Endurance ST Trailer tires.

I have had great experience with both of them.

For 15" wheels...
I would recommend Maxxis 8008 trailer tires
OR Goodyear Endurance ST trailer tires
OR Rainier ST trailer tires.

For 14"
I would recommend Rainer ST trailer tires.
OR Maxxis 8008 trailer tires.


I have used all of the above with good to great results.
I do NOT recommend Goodyear Marathon or Carlisle ST trailer tires. I have personally as have many others had bad experiences with these.
I have never in my life bought a bias ply tire. The only reason I ever would is if I got into vintage racing. Even for a trailer where bias ply has been an option, just by Radial ST tires.

Some folks are also very happy with Saliun or Goodyear G-rated trailer tires. I have no experience, so I can't comment on such.

They are actually 16.5” wheels.

what prompted this post was the fact that multiple tire dealers told me they couldn’t get tires and the ones that could are over $200 each for the Transforce. I’m told it’s because it’s 16.5”

im waiting on a few quotes on tires and wheel packages. Yours looks real sharp Speedy!

I've had good luck with Carlisle, some people bag on them but...objective evidence is key.

Personally I think those Firestone TRANSFORCE look like da bomb...wish I would have known about them...sigh.

Not true
https://www.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-...t-radial-m8008

I had 16.5 also odball size, switched to the 16

holy cow man, I don’t need to argue. Do you see “all” in quotations!??

Yeah, 16.5 is a real oddball now.
Look into a wheel/tire package from here:
https://www.tredittire.com/

I always carry two spares now too, especially for a triple axle trailer.
IF I had 16.5s, the main reason I'd go to 16" wheels is it is WAY easier to find a 16" tire that is round, black, and holds air in an emergency, than a 16.5".

FWIW, when I didn't have a spare, and needed to make a trip (borrowed a buddy's brand new enclosed car trailer for a 3 state trip once), I bought an off the shelf wheel and tire from Tractor Supply, and chucked it in the trailer. I kept the receipt, and returned it unused. :D

Guys, ALL 16" tires are crap these days. Heavy load, 3 axle, tight turn or backing up and a tight turn rips the tread from the casing. Then a few miles down the road ka blam. There goes the stainless fender or some paint off the boat. Ive posted about this is the past. I went with 17.5 s on all my trailers 4 years ago. I have dump trailers, tilt deck lowbed trailers, specialty equipment trailers and a 3 axle gooseneck for my 400SS. NOT one failure in 4 years! These are not cheap I bought 22 tires and wheels as I became fed up with tires blowing up. There are custom wheels now available so the 17.5's are not so ugly. They run 120 psi and the sidewalls are tough. They are a commercial lowbed tire. The overall height is about the same as a 16.

MG-38 your inbox is full

The 16.5 is why I asked the question on size. The older Myco's had those, now everyone has crossed over to the 16's. Look at a number of the trailer tire wheel packages. It may be less expensive to cross over to the 16's. Especially in the long run. If you need to get a tire on the road, almost all the places carry 16's, very few 16.5 anymore. And lets be honest, at some point your going to have to cross over anyway...

M G 38 heres the links I tried to pm you but your inbox is full

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SINGLE-16-X....c100290.m3507
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Firestone-T....c100290.m3507

I agree with you that 17.5" tires are a viable option. However, they are CONSIDERABLY heavier than a 16" tire. This is of note because additional rotating mass is rougher on trailer suspensions, and can cause increased stopping distances.
This all needs to be taken into account when weighing options on whether to upgrade or not.

Yep All that is true. Some pics of tire height. There seems to be about 13 +- pounds difference? 48 vs 61.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f479154701.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...a396f14119.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f0a125a566.jpg

i agree with your point but hailing with a 1 ton dually shouldn’t even notice this extra rotational mass... I haul 20k# horse trailer rig all the time, no big deal for a 13,000# boat and trailer.

Anyone running a 235/85 on 16”?

I forgot we had switched a horse rig from aluminum wheels to steel. I have (5) nearly new 16” aluminum wheels mounted to Transforce. My sister in law had them at her barn!! Forgot all about ut

Yes, that is the MOST common size.

Just remember that spindles, bearings, axle seals, and even the brake lines (which is what broke on mine years ago) are going to have a "harder life" due to the additional rotating mass; mainly due to bumps when driving at speed.

F-2 Speedy thanks for sharing this links! You purchased from both of those sellers righ?

Yes, thats whats on my trailer

Thanks, looks great!

just me, but after towing with a 14 ply I would never touch an LT tire again, the sidewall stiffness is amazing, I have the gladiators on both my myco trailers and love it.. no more bouncing at expansion joints, and the tires slide better in turns and dont buckle the sidewall.

Came across this searching for something else and Ill put in my experience.
Trailer tires suck.
I have switched all my trailers to E load rated truck tires and ALL of my trailer tire problems disappeared. Trailer tires are not speed rater for how must of us tow on the interstate. They do not meet the same DOT safety standards as passenger tires, and they generally cost more.
Ive pulled tandem axle trailers in circles and never had an issue with the bead.

Just bought a boat with a triple axle and the guy put brand new Carlisle junk on it. Literally 6 brand new tires Ill be selling.

Im w Offshore- after a tread separation on my E tires coming back from LOTO I put 14ply on and will never look back.

I recently had to go to F from E as the tight radius turn into and out of my driveway kills the inner front and rear (of 3). Twists the hell out of them and tears the tread blocks and sidewalls. Load F are more like tractor trailer type construction and should cope better with the twist and only weight 6 lbs. more each., prices were comparable with E's for Copart's. Hopefully they slide instead like big rig trailer tires do.