Uneven trailer tire wear

[SteveP]

I have a 1988 load rite trailer (2000 lb rating ) and my tires wear (cupping) on the inside edges of both tires. My boat is an Allumacraft Backtroller 17 with a 40 Honda estimated weight loaded up with fuel etc. is appx. 1300 lbs. I'm close to needing another set of tires and would like to address the wear problem. Tire size 175/80 13

Any suggestions ?

[REW]

I suspect that you have a bent axle or just tires that are out of alignment. Before getting your new tires, take the trailer to a good alignment shop and have the wheels aligned, and the axle checked for being bent.

After you purchase the tires - balance the tires on a regular basis - and also rotate them from side to side on a regualr basis.

In your case - if you had been rotating the tires - you would have at least equal cupping on both the inside and outside of the tires.

If possible, purchase good trailer RADIAL tires. They will wear much longer, and the trailer pulls easier.

Take care

REW

[Cranker]

I recently observed my tires having the same cupping action that you described and I was certain that it was an alignment. problem. I immeadiately took it to a professional alignment shop and for $35 they hooked it up to a unit that measures the toe/camber with a laser. Money well spent. It was not out of tolerance by much, but it still caused abnormal tire wear.

[steveP]

Is yours a single axel trailer and more importantly how did they adjust the alignment. Mine is ia single axel solid unit?

[AquaMan]

REW is right on the mark with the alignment and especially with the RADIAL tires. The regular bias ply trailer tires that came with most older and do still come with some of the smaller rigs are going to wear faster. The one benifit that these tires have is to alert you to an alignment or load problem faster then radials.

However, the radials will wear better and give you a smoother ride with better tracking. The most import thing is to keep all your tires equally and properly inflated and rotate them regularly.

The 13" rim will accomodate a wide variety of tires. The best I have come accross are the Tritans (Load rated for my rig) from Firestone.

Best regards

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Cranker]

They make the adjustments by bending your axle with hyd. equipment and laser beams are used to tell them how much is enough. Very acurate!