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Q#1 One of the tires on my trailer lost all of its tread, it was like someone peeled it off with a big knife. You could even see the steel belts. The trailer is not even 5 years old and the tread on all the other tires are like new. When I went to buy a replacement, they told me I should replace all the tires due to their age. I checked the date code on the tires, and they were just 6 years old and hardly used. I was told this is a common problem with trailer tires.
A#1 I agree totally with replacing all four tires on your trailer. Anyone who owns a trailer should check the date code on their tires even if your trailer is a few years old! I’ll explain why shortly. In 2000 DOT ”Department of Transportation” required tires sold in the US to have the date of manufacture on the side wall of the tire which is easy to read. The tire date code (DOT number) is located on the sidewall of a tire and provides information about the tire's manufacturing date. Tires made after 2000 have a four-digit code with the first two digits representing the week of production and the last two representing the year.
For example, the tire in this image was made on the 12th week of 2021.If the 4 digit date code on your trailer tire was ending with a 19 you are looking at a 5 year old tire, which means it’s time recycle that tire! If your tire has a 3 digit code just dispose of these tires, they are not safe for the highway no matter how good they look. They were made before the year 2000.
You may be wondering why there are 53 possible weeks of manufacture when there are only 52 weeks in a year. D.O.T. week numbers are calculated differently. In D.O.T. week numbers, the first full week of the calendar year is week one. Therefore, it is possible that the end of December will have "week 53".
Trailer tires are known for developing cracks that are often referred to as dry rot. As you know tires are a combo of natural & manmade rubber along with a mix of polymers. To learn more… https://www.ustires.org/whats-tire-0
When exposed to the sun/ozone, rain & temperature, the polymers in the tire rubber break down. Because trailer tires spend most of their time sitting, the polymers break down more quickly causing bonds in the rubbers to break leading to cracks. That is why you’ll often see cracks in just one area of the tread or sidewall of a trailer tire.
This area was likely exposed to more sun and/or moisture. When inspecting your trailer tire be sure that you look at the whole tire, sidewalls, edge of the tread to the sidewalls and the grooves between the treads.
Michelin tire states that if a crack in the sidewall extends deeper than 2/32” the tire .may possibly need to be replaced https://www.michelinb2b.com/wps/b2bcontent/PDF/RV_Tires_Brochure.pdf
Age and the elements are hard on tires that spend more of their life sitting. Daily use is better for the polymers bond and helps to keep the rubber more flexible. The heat generated by the tire during regular driving helps shed the rubber of moisture which is an additional benefit to the polymer bonds. But tire age is not the only factor.
Trailer tires can fail for a number of reasons, including:
Irregular wear: This can be caused by poor axle alignment, worn suspension and bearings, or bent wheels.
Overweight trailers: When the load is too heavy, the axle bows downward, causing the tires to roll pigeon-toed, which can lead to pronounced wear on the inside shoulder of the tires.
Improper air pressure: Not having the correct air pressure can cause trailer tires to fail.
Here at the Northwood Garage we balance every trailer tire we install. Very few trailers have a shock absorber system. Out-of-balance trailer tires can be damaging to the trailer & tire. Tire vibration will cause the axle to bounce, which can stress the axle components and the entire trailer structure. This can lead to worn bearings, broken welds, and other damaged components.
Here’s an interesting note from BoatUS.com.. 44% of the calls to BoatUS Trailer Assist program come from members having problems with their tires. The simple fact is that trailer tires typically have an average life expectancy of 3 to 5 years, regardless of mileage.
Use the right tire
Passenger Tire or (ST) Special Trailer Tire? Never use passenger car tires on a trailer. Trailer tires (identified with ST on the sidewall) are designed to handle the load of carrying a boat, camper, etc.. around turns and corners at highway speeds. Passenger car tires aren't built to do that.
“Trailer tires are designed for heavy-duty, free-rolling applications with emphasis on tread wear, rolling resistance, stability and ease of towing. They normally have a heavier construction than passenger tires in order to meet the additional load-carrying requirements of trailer applications. Passenger tires are designed for passenger car applications and may not meet all the service requirements of trailer tires. — Goodyear Tire Company”
“Passenger car tires and boat trailer tires are designed differently because they are used for different purposes. It becomes a safety issue. We do not recommend the use of passenger tires on trailer applications. — Kenda Tire Company”
“There are two kinds of tires: bias ply, made with layers of nylon textile cords placed on top of each other at 30-degree angles, and radials, composed of a single layer of rubber-coated steel cables with more steel belts placed at the crown of the tire (the part that touches the road). Bias ply are less expensive than radials but are more vulnerable to developing "flat areas" after sitting in one place for a long period of time. Radials are preferred by many for use on long highway trips as they run cooler than bias ply.
Radial tires offer many advantages for trailer applications including less heat buildup, better ability to carry loads, less rolling resistance (better fuel mileage), longer wear and softer ride. Bias tires offer stiffer sidewalls, which may be beneficial in some applications, but usually not in "trailer" (free rolling) service. — Goodyear Tire Company”
“Radial tires cost more, and some tire makers push for it because they don't have bias ply to offer, but the fact remains that bias ply tires have stiffer sidewalls that will be more stable on the highway and give better comfort performance on off-road condition. Bottom line: Either radial or bias ply tires are fine if they are designed for trailer applications. — Kenda Tire Company”
Nitrogen is used in the tires of bikes in the Tour de France, NASCAR, the Indianapolis 500 and Formula One racers as well as aircraft and the military, nitrogen is being used more and more by the public for tire inflation. Unlike air, psi from nitrogen isn't affected by air temperature so the tire runs cooler. Nitrogen is dry whereas air contains moisture. As a result, nitrogen has found its way to boat trailer tires. Any tire filled with nitrogen is marked with a green valve stem. So, should it be used for boat trailer tires? Tire manufacturers aren't saying "yes" or "no." Nitrogen inside the tire will not stop the sun and moisture from rotting the tire from the outside.
“Goodyear does not offer nitrogen filling of tires at its 750 company-owned stores, although some independent Goodyear dealers offer it. Proponents of nitrogen filling of tires claim there is better retention of tire inflation. Goodyear suggests consumers check their tires- both the physical condition and the inflation pressure — at least monthly or before a long trip, whether the tires are filled with nitrogen or air. Consumers should practice good tire care and keep their tires inflated to vehicle manufacturer recommendations. — Goodyear Tire Company”
Just because your trailer is only 2 years old watch out. We had a camper trailer tire that was 4 years old on a 2-year-old camper. Clearly the camper manufacturer purchased a supply of tires in advance and had them in storage. To keep the family safe, we installed 4 new tires and replaced the spare as well.
In closing, no matter what type of trailer you have… *Proper tire inflation is critical to safety *Regular tire inspection is very important *Know the date code
Happy Trailing!
As a AAA member you receive many discounts, one you may not know of is the 10% you can save on repairs at the Northwood Garage. If your car or truck is towed in by AAA your discount happens automatically on the needed repairs and any additional repairs you have performed.
Benefits don’t stop there, when you come into the Northwood Garage show us your AAA membership card. Current members will receive a 10% saving on brakes, timing belt and most any other service your car or light truck needs.
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