How do I Select a Trailer Tire?
After you've figured out the towing capacity of your trailer, you will need to select the right tires for your trailer.
Tires are critical for any type of trailer. Whether you are hauling cattle, horses, cars or boats, you need to be sure your tires are up to the job if you want to get the most out of your haul. With the right tires, you and your cargo will be safer on the road.
If you overload your tires, your trailer becomes a dangerous liability. At any point, the tires could blow out, or the load could sway so much that it actually flips over. It is paramount that you select the appropriate tires for your trailer.
1. Key Terms when Looking at Trailer Tires
Let's get started with a few definitions you'll need to become familiar with you can find this information on the tire wall and/or also on the placard on your trailer.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) this is the maximum weight of your trailer when it is LOADED. This includes the trailer and the entire load you will haul.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) this is the amount of weight that each axle can bear. If you have a tandem axle trailer, with a GVWR of 12,000 pounds, then each axle can hold carry 6,000 pounds.
What does this mean? The total weight your trailer can be, including trailer weight and contents is 12,000 pounds. The weight each axle (in a tandem axle trailer) can bear of that is 6,000 pounds.
We've got a selection of trailers and trailer accessories online here.
Now what does this mean for tires? Well, it means that in a tandem axle trailer, there will be 4 tires. Each axle can hold 6,000 pounds, this means each tire (two tires support an axle) need to be able to hold a minimum of 3,000 pounds. You can tell the max load capacity for your tires by reading the side wall.
2. How do I know when I need new tires? Check for these Signs.
Go out and look at your tires. How are they wearing? Are the outsides thinner than the middle of the tire? Is the center of the tire wearing faster than the outside?
If you can see that your wear pattern on your tires is not even across the entire tire, that's an indication that your tires have too much/too little air, they aren't balanced/aligned correctly or any number of issues with your tire.
The good news? If you catch this uneven wear early, you can get it fix this before your tires are ruined.
If your tires are cracked, bald or you can see the threading you definitely need to get new ones. Check with a local trailer/tire dealer near you if you have any questions or reach out to us at support@north40.com
Note: It seems counter intuitive, but trailer tires that are regularly used can have a better lifespan than those that are kept in storage. During use, tires release compound lubricants that can help extend tire life. A trailer sitting in the sun can break down in the sun's UV.
3. Things to Know when Selecting a Trailer Tire
- Are your tires radial or bias ply tires? What's the difference?
- A radial tire allows the sidewall and the tread to function as two independent features of the tire.
- A bias tire consists of multiple rubber plies over lapping each other. The crown and sidewalls are interdependent. The overlapped plies form a thick layer that is less flexible and more sensitive to overheating.
- Where can you find out what tires you are currently using? This information is usually on the sides of the tire where you check for max PSI, etc.
- What size are your tires? What's the load rating?
- The size of your tires can be found on the side of the tire around the same area where you would have found the max Psi; you will also find the load rating of your tires there as well.
Warning: Don't mix radial and bias tires, and don't mix tire sizes both are dangerous and could result in a blow out, or faster denigration of the tires you purchase.
4. Further Considerations when Looking to get New Trailer Tires
When you are looking to get new trailer tires, you should also consider getting a matching spare at the same time you never know what's going to happen, and towing a boat or trailer, you need to be prepared.
Who wants to be stuck on the side of the road when they were almost to the river? Having a jack, a spare tire and the knowledge of how to use both will not only give you peace of mind, it will help you get to where you need to go.
When looking at new tires also check your trailer bearings and make sure they are greased and in good working order.
A good way to prolong the tires you just bought? The first way is to check the air pressure in them often as we've seen, too much air in a tire is bad, and not enough air in the tire is ALSO bad. Make sure they are filled to the working range suggested on the side of the tire, and tht will go a long way to prolonging the tire's working life.
Rotate them regularly and when you store them make sure they are out of direct sun, in fact by tire covers, because, as we've seen above, UV damage to tires can age them faster than driving on them every day.
Wondering how to determine towing capacity? Find that out here.
Parting Thoughts: When Buying New Trailer Tires
When you're in the market for new tires, there are many things to consider, and getting the right size and load bearing capacity is probably the #1 thing you need to make sure you look at but when you come in, either to us or your local dealer, make sure you have in your mind exactly WHAT you're going to be using your trailer for- is it to haul a drift boat? Do you need tiers to drive on the ranch?
These considerations will help you in determining what is the right tire for you. If you have any additional questions we didn't answer above, use the form below and reach out to us. We'll work to get back to you within 24-hours.