Low profile tires on boat trailers?!

[atx111]

I was at the local boat show the other week and noticed something that didn't seem right. Every single wakeboard boat there; Malibu, Axis, Mastercraft, etc., had trailers with what looked like 20" rims with Nexen low profile tires. I don't remember the trailer manufactuers. I mean, I like the look of nice rims, but I wouldn't use anything that I couldn't put an ST tire on. Why are they doing this and how can this possibly be a safe set-up for towing?

 

[Dave.Mishchenko]

Re: Low profile tires on boat trailers?!

Boatmate provides trailers for Axis and Malibu and I think they're an option for Mastercraft. I have an Axis with the "tricked out" trailer and one of the components is the low profile tire. It's an 18 inch wheel and the tires (255/45R18) are rated for 1900 lbs @ 50 psi. They look great, but they're more susceptible to curb damage and won't absorb shock as well as a "proper" trailer tire. I didn't have a choice on the wheels when I bought otherwise I would have gone with the stock (15" I think) wheels.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Low profile tires on boat trailers?!

I also believe that the construction of the low profile has a stronger (thicker) side wall by design for initial use as a road coarse tire.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Low profile tires on boat trailers?!

They're probably selling those wakeboard boats to a "younger audience" and those low profile tires with the big pimpmobile rims look great to them.....

 

[90stingray]

Re: Low profile tires on boat trailers?!

They're probably selling those wakeboard boats to a "younger audience" and those low profile tires with the big pimpmobile rims look great to them.....

^^^^^^Bingo!^^^^^^ whatever it takes to sell those high dollar monsters.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Low profile tires on boat trailers?!

Used to be form follows function - any more it's form before function.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Low profile tires on boat trailers?!

They're probably selling those wakeboard boats to a "younger audience" and those low profile tires with the big pimpmobile rims look great to them.....

It doesn't have to work well; It just has to look Good!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Low profile tires on boat trailers?!

same reason some people walk around with their pants so low their belt won't hold them up, they have to hold the pants with one hand, and they can't walk well, run at all, or climb stairs.

Same reason some people buy a truck or utility vehicle with high clearance by design (for rough terrain) and lower it to an inch from the street.

As my grandmother said, they have more dollars than they do sense.

 

[Roadrager50]

Re: Low profile tires on boat trailers?!

I put baloon tires on my boat trailer. It makes it ride about three inches taller but I have four inches more of tire on the ground and it handles well on the road as well as it takes bumps on the road real well.

 

[atx111]

Re: Low profile tires on boat trailers?!

I also believe that the construction of the low profile has a stronger (thicker) side wall by design for initial use as a road coarse tire.

I was wondering about that too since they were meant more for performance vehicles that were meant to do more tight cornering. I just honestly dont know much about low profile tires since I never had them and would never put them on my truck, since I kinda feel that putting something like that on a 4x4 kinda defeats the purpose of having a 4x4.

Another thing is the cost of the wheels/tires. I was just doing some quick checking and you'd be lucky to find a rim for under $300-$400, nevermind the cost of the tires. You could probably easily spend at least 2 grand if you had a tandem axle trailer. That makes me wonder what these trailers cost new if they have so much money already wrapped up the the wheels and tires?

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Low profile tires on boat trailers?!

Big ego.

Small sidewalls.

Bigger bucks

Monsterous profits.

MOOO HA HA

Life is good.