Radial vs. Bias-Ply Trailer Tires

[Guest]

I need to replace tires on an enclosed car carrier. Some folks say bias tires are less prone to swaying and tread separation, while others say radials generate less heat. I also hear that new trailer tires only last about 3 years. My trailer GVWR is 9,900 pounds, and the 225x15 radials separated at 3 years and just 3,000 miles. What has been the experience of others?

[Guest]

Radials are pretty much the way to go. The tires that seperated, are they radials and are they marked "ST" ( Special Trailer)?<P>If they are passenger tires it's no surprise they came apart on such a heavy trailer. ST tires have a much higher load rating, inflation and other details that make them different.<P>The ST215/78-15 Goodyear tires on my 20' box trailer have about 1/2 tread after ~ 3 trips from PA to Kansas loaded with ~ 4000 lb car(previous owner) and around 6000 miles with a slightly lighter load.

[Guest]

The tires were Carlisle radials, ST rated, 225R15s rated at about 2,400 pounds apiece load capacity. The trailer weighs 4,000 pounds, and it carries a 4,000-pound car. Tire inflation was 55 pounds (compared to 65 maximum). Two tires separated, and one is now in the process of separating.

[Ron Green]

The reason the tires are separating is most likely due to heat build up. You will need to run at or near the tire rated 65 pounds maximum when carrying that kind of weight. <P>We had 2 tires fly apart comming home from Florida all due to low air pressure which created the heat. The salesman on 95 was more then happy to take our money and explained he sees this problem week in and week out with trailer tires.

[Guest]

Ron is <B>SO RIGHT!</B><P>If it says 65 PSI -run them at 65 PSI. I have 13,925 miles on a set of Goodyear Marathon trailer tires, size 225x15. The trailer weighs 4250# and the cars hauled in it range from 4000# to 4400#. The tires look like they are still new, although I have not measured the tread depth.<P>I never leave home without checking the inflation of the tires and they are invariably down to about 55 PSI.<P>Several years ago on another trailer I had a crack in a rim that I did not know about and this allowed the air to leak out very slowly.<BR>A passing driver blew his horn and pointed at the trailer wheels. When I pulled off the interstate and looked at the tire it had separated all right. I had two sidewalls and nothing in between. The center of the tire had separated and gone off to parts unknown. Low pressure = heat buildup = separation and finally tire failure.<P>It ain't the tires, its the pressure. ~ hvs