Expected Life of a Trailer Tire?

[clarkbre]

I have a 2006 King Trailer rated for 1200# with 4.80x12 tires.

After looking it over this weekend, I noticed the tires are starting to show some very small cracks in the sidewalls. The cracks are approximately ? to ? inch long.

My question is:
What?s an average service life of a set of tires? These were original with my trailer so they are about 4 or 5 years old.

There is still plenty of tread left but the cracks make me nervous. I will replace the before I do any long trips (more than 2 miles).

 

[dingbat]

Re: Expected Life of a Trailer Tire?

Depends on the tire, how often you use them and how you store them.

The radial tires on my wife's horse trailer are OEM 1997. They will need replaced this year. The radial tires on my boat trailer still look like new. Going on their 5th season.

 

[jonsquatch]

Re: Expected Life of a Trailer Tire?

5 years sounds about like the expected life where I am at. I tow longer distances fairly often and I don't think I have ever worn the tread off the tires before they needed replacement. It's too easy to do major damage to a boat to leave dried out tires on the the trailer, not to mention it sucks to change on the side of the road when you should be on the lake. The sun seems to be the major culprit, if you keep the tires covered when stored outdoors they seem to last a lot longer.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Expected Life of a Trailer Tire?

Depends mostly on storage conditions. They rarely get replaced because the tread wears out.

My small boat trailer sits outside year round in the sun. I used to get about 3 years on the tires until I started to cover them. NOw I get about 5 or 6.

My bigger boat has been garage kept its whole life. The original tires are now 26 years old and they look like new.

 

[searay3]

Re: Expected Life of a Trailer Tire?

I have a 4500 lb dry boat. sits outside on a twin axle, easy roller, 14 inch rims. Was losing a tire a year. Brand new tires, one year and at leat one would throw the tread. After much disussion with other owners who kept boats outside, and with the same explanation from the tire dealer, this issue is uv and what the tires sit on. sitting on the bare ground and uncovered, the tires fail very regularly. Park it on concrete or even some plywood under the tires and cover them. Plastic bags will even work if you can keep them on. Once started, this practice has saved me years of use on the tires.....

 

[clarkbre]

Re: Expected Life of a Trailer Tire?

Thanks for all the info. I talked to a couple local tire dealers and both said about the same. UV and dirt don?t mix well for the rubber at all. I now have a Costco carport that the boat is parked in so that should help a little with the UV. I?m planning on putting gravel in that area too so that should help as well.

I bought the trailer used and got 2 good seasons before any maintenance was needed so that?s good. I?m planning on doing a 300 mile trip in May so spending $73 on a new set of tires will give me a good piece of mind.

Thanks again for the info.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Expected Life of a Trailer Tire?

Check camper supply catalogs. Many RV owners buy covers that keep the sun off tires for their motor homes or campers.