Trailer Tire Problems

[Dirk W.]

My Goodyear Marathons, with about 3500 miles on them, are showing excessive wear on the outside edges. The trailer is a Shorelander. Tire pressure is OK and the camber has been adjusted about 6 months ago. Were do I start? What are the things to try first? The tires have never been balanced. The trailer does not seem to sway excsessively (but I really don't know). I live in Hastings, Minnesota and nobody in town that I know of will look at the axle. Anybody know of a good trailer shop in the area? Any help is appreciated.

[T-Mac]

I have had trailer axles "aligned" at regular auto-front end alignment shops.
Don't ask me what they did...but, the axles got straight.
Is that where you checked? (alignment shops)

[Dave S]

Hi Dirk:

I was getting the same wearing on the outside of my boat tires. I recently put new Radial tires on, had tires balanced, and took the boat trailer to a front end alinement shop after reading numerous postings on WC about having your boat axles aligned . They told me the front to back axle alignment was slightly off. Cost for single axile alinement was $55 which will be money well spent if it increases my tire life.

[ET]

Being in the tire Business I can tell you that once a Wear Pattern Starts on a Tire it will not go away... Dont expect a alignment to keep that already worn edge from wearing further. It will continue until the tire is unsafe. A tire rotation does not help either.. On a Vehicle Tires moved from front to rear often wear slower, but that is a result of weight being lighter on the rear of most vehicles. The only answer is Regular ALignments, new tires, proper PSI and rotations.