Is it normal for trailer tires to wear unevenling?

[hostage]

I am unsure if there is a way to alignment for an single axle trailer, though mine looks like they are chopped on the outsides of both tires. I don't know if this is from lack of air or what, the middle of the tread is fine. This is an Single Axle 20ft Escort trailer that is original to my 19Ft Maxum cuddy.

 

[GA_Boater]

Worn outside tread and inside tread is less worn is from underinflation.

 

[robert graham]

Yep, under inflation....check sidewall of tire for maximum air pressure and put in about 5 PSI less than that with the tires cold....at highway speeds they'll heat up and PSI will increase.....

 

[dennis461]

Cupping could be from tire bounce, out of balance can start it, the cupping then makes them bounce more.
Put maximum rated PSI in.
Check for loose spring hangers or broken springs.
Are u-bolts still in good shape and tight?

Alignment...
Is the center pin in spring rusted away to nothing? Axle can shift on the spring (severe hit in a pothole can chop the pin off).
Loose u-bolts could let acle slide left or right.
Are both tires still centered in fenders?

Bias ply or radial tires?

 

[fhhuber]

Do you mean the outside edge is wearing more than the inside edge?
That would be toe-in which a tiny bit is helpful in making the trailer track well, but excess will first wear tires unevenly and way too much can have the trailer hopping behind you.

Under-inflation will prematurely wear the inside and outside edges of each tire, with the middle not wearing as fast.
Over-inflation wears the middle of the tread faster than the edges

A need for more weight in the trailer (or lighter springs... or shocks) can make the edges of the tire have cups of deep wear alternating with nearly no wear.
I get this issue on a cargo trailer that I use for very light stuff... so I had to add 150 lb on each side over the axles. (similar to the scallops below)
This trailer's axle and torsion springs are built expecting a certain average weight and that affects the alignment.

http://www.procarcare.com/images/shar/encyclopedia/Tccs1267.gif

 

[ahicks]

Does this trailer have conventional springs, or is it a torsion tube design? If torsion, especially with 20x8.00x10 type tires, cupped tires are pretty much normal. 3500 miles or so and they're done.

 

[hostage]

Does this trailer have conventional springs, or is it a torsion tube design? If torsion, especially with 20x8.00x10 type tires, cupped tires are pretty much normal. 3500 miles or so and they're done.

It has leaf springs, the wear looks like a combination of rapid ware at shoulders and scalloped. I really don't put many miles on these tires. I know one break has bound up a few times.

 

[greekfreek]

Had a new boat with EZ Loader single axle trailer with tires wearing on the outside, had a shop look at alignment, said the tires were junk and should be replaced with different brand/type. Took care of the issue for me..

 

[BCPOLNO23]

My trailer tires are wearing out on the inside half of the tire. Single axle trailer, leaf springs, new spindles, Edgewater 155 CC. Both tires. U bolts , springs, axle all look fine, but can't even get two summers out of tires. Bias tires. Any suggestions, please.

 

[greekfreek]

Mine were wearing on outside..Replaced bias ply tires with radials . issue resolved. Ask around maybe a shop can check the trailer alignment for you to be sure..

 

[On Holiday]

Just replaced my 4 trailer tires due to them being 7 years old. One tire slipped a radial while towing and noticed it at a rest stop. Inside wear due to dragging a tire while backing into my driveway.

Old tires on left and new tires on right

 

[Captain Caveman]

Revived an old thread because the brain trust here missed out on a key source for tire wear on trailers - incorrect load weight.

I didn't realize until many years after buying my boat that the boat dealer put my 16.5' boat on a trailer designed for heavier boats. Therefore the positive camber that is present on an empty trailer does not straighten out completely when it doesn't have enough weight on it. My tires (at 50psi before each trip) wear a stripe down the outside. I end up flipping the tires when cord shows on the outside, and then run them again until cord shows on the other side of the tire, then replace. To help with the problem, I make sure that anything heavy that is coming with me to the lake/river is in the boat, to help straighten out my tire camber.

So just because you are getting uneven wear, it doesn't just mean that it is a tire pressure issue. As others said though, you can adjust the suspension to fix the problem.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Yep, under inflation....check sidewall of tire for maximum air pressure and put in about 5 PSI less than that with the tires cold....at highway speeds they'll heat up and PSI will increase.....

Also have to respond to this incorrect information. The sidewall max is for cold inflation. Reducing it by 5psi is not necessary and is actually an underinflation issue. The tire people know what they are doing. They understand that the psi rises in the tire when spinning.

For trailers, inflate to the max cold psi.

 

[mike_i]

I was going to say the same thing.

Also have to respond to this incorrect information. The sidewall max is for cold inflation. Reducing it by 5psi is not necessary and is actually an underinflation issue. The tire people know what they are doing. They understand that the psi rises in the tire when spinning.

For trailers, inflate to the max cold psi.

 

[Scott Danforth]

only the original poster is allowed to revive old threads.