What You Need to Know About Trailer Tires
You may not give them much thought, but your trailer tires work hard to take you and your cargo from one place to the next. To prevent expensive replacements or safety issues on the road, you should take the time to properly maintain your trailer tires. There are different trailer tire types but most of these recommendations are about basic tire care. Look at your owner’s manual to see if your tires need some special attention.
If you’re looking for trailers or trailer tires in Penrose or Florence, CO, visit True Value Trailers & Power Equipment. We’re also here for all your trailer tire service and repair needs! We welcome all our friends from Pueblo and Colorado Springs.
Prevent Tire Wear
There’s some natural wear and tear that occurs when your trailer tires ply on the roads. Trailer tires are built to be sturdy and few stock trailers will need to get their tires replaced because of regular usage. There are some things you can do to slow down the rate of wear and make sure it occurs evenly.
Proper Inflation
The first thing you need to take care of is proper inflation. When inflated incorrectly, trailer tires can’t cope correctly with the amount of force pressing down on them. This increases the rate at which they wear down, which means you’ll have to replace them more often. This isn’t only costly, it’s also pretty expensive. To avoid this, ensure you check the tire pressure regularly; this should ideally be done before every trip. External factors, such as the temperature outside, can affect the pressure in your trailer tires between trips. Get a tire pressure gauge and use it in the morning, when the tires are cool for the best reading.
Axle Health
When trailers are made to carry a higher load than they’re built for, it can lead to bent axles. The best way to avoid this is to, of course, only take as much cargo as your trailer can handle. If you do that and your axles are still getting damaged, it’s time to bring your trailer over to professionals for service and maintenance. Once you’ve ruled out the most obvious reasons for axle wear and tear, it’s time to get a professional opinion.
Weather
You get used to thinking of your trailer tires as hardy and rugged items, which they are, but they also need some care. When tires are left outside for a long time, they are exposed to the harshest elements, whether that’s hot sun rays or the freezing cold. This can damage tires, including cracking the sidewalls. Try and store your trailer somewhere where it’s protected from the weather outside. If you can’t do that, check them regularly to ensure they’re not getting damaged past the point of no return.
Excessive Weight
Whenever you load your trailer, all that weight bears down on your tires. Every trailer and tire is built to handle a certain amount of weight; adding more to that can seriously damage both. The Gross Combined Weight Rating of your trailer will tell you how much weight your trailer can take. Whenever you load your trailer, keep this number in mind.
It might be tempting to load more and just get the hauling done in one trip, but in the long run, this can get pretty expensive if things go south. Also, remember to evenly spread the weight around so that no one part is taking the bulk of the burden. An unbalanced load on the front, back, or one of the sides can actually lead to a blowout.
Trailer Tire Types
You can select your tires from a number of different trailer tire types on the market. For improved traction, longevity and increased fuel efficiency, try out radial tires. These are some of the best tires for trailers. With special trailer tires, you’ll get a stiffer sidewall, which decreases the amount of swaying that happens when you drive. Talk to us about where you’ll be taking your trailer and we’ll help you select the right tires!
We hope this guide has given you a greater insight into trailer tires. If you’d like to check out some trailers or trailer tires for sale, visit True Value Trailers & Power Equipment in Penrose or Florence, CO. If you’re looking for trailer tire repair and service in Pueblo and Colorado Springs, get in touch with us today!