Just wondering if anyone uses actual trailer tires on their trailer. Looks like my trailer and Bronco weighs around 8500. Seems like too much weight for regular auto tires to carry. Does anyone know a good brand of trailer tires and are trailer tires rated to carry more weight than regular auto tires?

after having three (!) flats on my most recent Moab trip, I put four Good Years on my trailer and now carry two spares, (also Good Years).
I have Marathon Load Range D's. Some of the older Marathons had failures, but Good Year was good about replacing them and paying for trailer damage. The newer ones have a S in a circle after the word 'Radial' in the sidewall. You really need trailer spicific tires and carry two spares if you can. It's very hard to find trailer tires in the desert. And of course, change them after a few years even if they look good, the rubber breaks down from the ozone.
On my Moab trip, I blew the first out about 100 miles into the trip and mounted the spare. On the return, I was sitting at a stop sign and the trailer got hit, blowing the second one out. While driving down the service road to get it replaced, another one blew. Some trips are like that:D
BTW, I'm just towing a stripped down TJ, so I feel you really need a high load range tire with the heavy Bronco.

Originally posted by Cutter
Some of the older Marathons had failures, but Good Year was good about replacing them and paying for trailer damage.

Paying for trailer damage?! :eek: :eek: :eek:

I have Carlisle tires on my trailer (came with the trailer) and they seem to be holding up OK.

yep, it was a soft recall. They handled claims on a case by case thing. A wheelin buddy got his fender replaced and painted, and a couple web wheelin buddies got the tires replaced. Thats the main reason I went with the Good Years. Seemed like good customer service. I've heard good things about Coopers too. They last a bunch of miles and seem to fend off sidewall cracking good, too. The tires I had blow out were the ones that came on the trailer, probably used (or at least old) and all different brands. They might of been recaps because all the tread was the same pattern. I bought my old trailer from the same company and those tires last many miles, but that trailer got stolen and this was a new trailer on its first trip. But poo poo happens:D

On the one I'm building, I put some of the eight ply Carlisle's on it too. Load range D compared to the usual C or car tires that most trailers come with. Also got road hazard if they do blow. $71 apiece at Discount tire.

Just mounted a Carlise for my boss. Just make sure you ask for Load Range D which in a 225/75-15 will carry 2500lbs at 65psi.
They also come in Load Range C which will still carry around 2000lbs.

Jason :)

Yeah, I know trailer tires run better, give better mileage, and just generally WORK better... but light truck (LT) tires seem like an acceptable short-term solution as well. Car tires are pretty lightweight, but LT trucks have a heavier carcass. With load carrying capacity of 2028lbs at 55psi, that allows 8112lbs of gross trailer weight.... enough even for my portly rig and a good load of supplies... and even a set of extra tires.

Yeah, I know trailer tires have stiffer sidewalls... and that lends them good sway-resistance... but trailer-sized LT tires are way cheap and plentiful. You can argue against the stiffer sidewalls, too, if you want the trailer contents to ride a little easier.

Somebody said: "It's very hard to find trailer tires in the desert." That's a good argument for packing along a buncha spares, but also a good argument to run more common tires -- i.e. NOT trailer tires.

I'm still undecided. Every pro seems to have a con!

Randii

Originally posted by Brutpwr
Just mounted a Carlise for my boss. Just make sure you ask for Load Range D which in a 225/75-15 will carry 2500lbs at 65psi.
They also come in Load Range C which will still carry around 2000lbs.

Jason :)

I run Carlisles too. Just cause they say to run 55-65 psi. doesn't mean you gotta run them with that much air. Its best to run 25-35 psi when loaded so the tire can heat up, an not cause distortion then eventually have a problem. :nuke:

Ricky...seeya...

I don't see any reason NOT to run trailer tires, they are not expensive (if you think they are go price some general trailer tires) as far as finding spares it doesnt matter if your tire is a LT or Trailer specific I don't think it will be any easier finding the right size in the desert, if its a temporary thing you won't hurt anything mixing the two or even having slightly mismatched size. Get trailer tires and forget about it. You wouldnt run AT's on your trail rig just because they are cheaper

I sold two trailer spares today on wheels. Goodyear Marathon radials, 205/75/R15 on a 5 x 5 1/2 wheel: $110

Why go cheap if you can do it the right way for not much more? Whichever, it's your rig, not mine...

Thanks for the input guys. Looks like it is time to get some new trailer tires for the trailer

Originally posted by randii
Yeah, I know trailer tires run better, give better mileage, and just generally WORK better... but light truck (LT) tires seem like an acceptable short-term solution as well.

When do you have to BUY tires as a short term solution? Just get the trailer tires! I've never known you to do something half-assed Randy. I mean sure, you could run wire winch rope and it would work too, but YOU run Amsteel. :flipoff2: Why are trailer tires any different.

My D Load Range Carlisles have to carry a 2000 lb. trailer and a 4500 lb. Land Cruiser so I will stick with them. :D

When do you have to BUY tires as a short term solution? Just get the trailer tires! I've never known you to do something half-assed Randy.
The issue is that I already bought a set of wheels and tires for $50 (thanks, Whitewater!), to tow the empty trailer home from Southern California... and later, another buddy dropped off a second set of nearly-new LT tires that will mount up easily to a set of rims I got from Opps for free.... so I basically have two sets of wheels and tires for $50.

Yeah, that's rationale, but for the time being, I just don't have the cash to swing the trailer tires. Guess I'll limit use of the trailer to short jaunts until I can do it right....

Randii (getting shamed into using the right tire for the job)

Originally posted by randii
[B]

Randii (getting shamed into using the right tire for the job)

Shamed? Like I said, it's your rig, not mine.

Just remember which tires you have on the trailer when you have a blowout on the freeway and the trailer goes sideways, taking out that van load of kids on their way to T-ball.:D