trailer tires

[alanexpupo]

after looking at the thread on trailer tires i have to wonder what is the bast brand of tire?

[RANGER]

Goodyear Marathons are my choice. Pricey - yes! But of great VALUE!

[alanexpup]

OK. thanks ranger. I get the impression there are only 2 brands out there. carlisle which i have on now and marathon

[RANGER]

I have never regreted the Marathons. Great tire with excellent traction in the rain and fantastic tread wear. They're the tires of choice for me!

[REW]

I really don't think that it is a big deal to worry about a particular brand of tire.

The important thing is to find out what your rig weighs fully loaded, add at least a 25% safety factor - and then divide by the number of tires on your rig.

Now, what ever that total weight is - just buy a tire that will carry the load.
It can be a trailer tire, a car tire, a tractor tire etc.

Too many folks buy a tire that is not rated to carry the load.

Don't just add up a bunch of published nubmers for your rig.
Take your fully loaded rig, filled with gas, full livewell, if you ever trail your boat with water in the livewell. all batteries, all gear, and all vacationing or trip stuff that you might put in your rig.
Then, take your rig to a scale - freeway scale, a transfer station scale etc. Find what the total weight of your rig is that is being carried by the rigs tires.
Remember, this is the "true" weight of what the tires need to carry.
i.e. everything - boat, motor, all contents, trailer etc.

Many times you can find a good quality car tire on sale - with a load rating that will work very well for carrying the load.

After all, cars, trucks, and suvs are all big and heavy vehicles and need tires to allow them to run at speeds to and over 100 mph and do it safely. Obviously the tires on these rigs will work perfectly fine to carry a boat and its contents, if it is not any heavier than the loads that are printed on the side of the tire.

Take care
REW

[Chad1]

I tool REWS advise last year and am very, very happy. I save a ton of $$$ and the tires are in great shape after about 2000 miles so far. Chad

[mikemac]

A friend of mine, that owns a tire store, told me that car tires and trailer tires are not the same. Trailer tires have a stiffer sidewall than a car or truck tire. He had a trailer flip on him because he had car tires on it. This was an extreme condition, but he swears that it would not have happened if he would have had trailer tires on his rig. Thought you would want to know.

[MrWalleye73]

It can be real hard to find a 14" car tire than can handle 1870 lbs a piece. If you compare some equal sized tires, car/truck rated and trailer rated, check the weight carrying capacity, not always the same.

[Chad1]

I believe that is why REW says to weigh your trailer loaded first. If you go that route what would it matter??Chad

[Brax]

I had bias ply tires on my trailer then went to radials. WHAT a difference! I noticed right away when I was pushing the boat around the garage how much easier it was to move. I use to go through 1 tire a year before I bought the good years. Best money I ever spent on my boat. Don't buy cheap tires for your trailer, it doesn't pay in the long run.