Why so many blowouts?

[dessertman]

Why do so many people seem to have trailer tire blowouts--compared to almost no blowouts on their SUV's and trucks? Are trailer tires really poorly made? My SUV weighs 5,000 lbs. and has "SUV/light truck" tires which just gave me 65,000 trouble-free miles. My dual axle boat rig weighs 4300 lbs. Why do I need to buy "trailer" tires when "SUV/light truck" tires seem to last more miles and have many fewer blowouts? Is it because my SUV tires cost $850-950 for four while four trailer tires cost less?
Anyone have any hard data?

[jopes]

how many people tow going over 65 mph?

how often does one replace both tires when there is a blow out on one side?

how often does everyone check tire pressures?

I trailered a bronco on a 10k rated trailer and constantly had blow outs, granted the ones on the trailer were not the best of brands, and once I switched to other brands I have not had the issues with the originals.

[Phil T]

Before switching from trailer special tires to light truck, consult a website from a name brand tire maker, or at least distributer.

I had a bulge on a Gooddyear marathon trailer tire & I replaced it. I decided to replace the tire on the other side of the trailer because both were 7 years old & I take trips of 200 miles or more often with my boat. I simply did not want to take a chance with one new tire and one that was 7 years old. It is not fun to be broken down on a road side with a failed trailer tire.

[oldschooltiller]

Originally Posted by dessertman

Why do so many people seem to have trailer tire blowouts--compared to almost no blowouts on their SUV's and trucks? Are trailer tires really poorly made? My SUV weighs 5,000 lbs. and has "SUV/light truck" tires which just gave me 65,000 trouble-free miles. My dual axle boat rig weighs 4300 lbs. Why do I need to buy "trailer" tires when "SUV/light truck" tires seem to last more miles and have many fewer blowouts? Is it because my SUV tires cost $850-950 for four while four trailer tires cost less?
Anyone have any hard data?

Because compared to auto tires trailer tires are junk. Someone is going to come on here and bash me for this post but seriously. If car tires were as "good" as trailer tires we would have some seriously unsafe roads to commute on.

[DW]

That is why I got the Khumo's for my trailer because they are rated as a truck and trailer tire. I had a big blowout, so no more junk trailer tires for me!

[Hot Runr Guy]

From a single-axle point of view, I was unable to find 14" rim passenger/LT tires that would handle the load capacity I needed, near the diameter I could fit under the fenders.

I also think that part of the "blowout" problem is that it's pretty hard to tell if you're getting a flat on the trailer, so we keep dragging them along until the tire disintegrates. When I had one start to let loose a couple of years ago, I saw the vibration of the trailer fender in the mirror, but had it happened at night, I'm not so sure I wouldn't have just kept going.

HRG

[Blackmacs]

Trailer tires are a main portion of the suspension, especially on leaf spring trailers. This means they have more plys in the sidewall and are usually stiffer so they can hold up better to all the flexing. All that flexing leads up to heat and that leads to tires coming apart. The added plys also keep the trailer from swaying as much as a passenger tire would. Good Year recommends increasing the air pressure if a person is going to tow at speeds greater than 55 mph. What is sad is that the rigs we tow can be worth more than the vehicle towing them and we're forced to use very old tire technology because there isn't much ROI for the tire makers.

[Jerryv]

How does the tire size compare between your SUV and your boat trailer? I bet the SUV tires are a lot bigger. No one would buy a boat trailer with 16 inch tires though because the boat would sit so much higher.

Jerry

[oldschooltiller]

Originally Posted by Blackmacs

Trailer tires are a main portion of the suspension, especially on leaf spring trailers. This means they have more plys in the sidewall and are usually stiffer so they can hold up better to all the flexing.

A stiffer sidewall will flex much less, not more.

Leaf springs will function no different as any other type spring, as far as the function of the spring is concerned.


It's my opinion that if you are trying to force the tires to function as the suspension your springs are far to stiff.

It's also my opinion that not having shocks on a boat trailer is nonsense and one area that can be improved, on virtually everyone's rig.