Trailer tires - I got some

M

Marco Flamingo

Active member
I still haven't decided what I will do long term, but for now I couldn't pass up this deal. Two C rated 13" ST tires mounted on galvanized rims and delivered to my door for less than $125 (wait till they find out where I live). Change two tires and I'm good to go.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IEY ... ge_o00_s00

I'm not sure that I should even keep my 2004 tires to use as spares.

In looking at possibilities, I found some tire size calculators where I could compare the effect of going to a 14 or 15 inch wheel. Very interesting.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?ti ... -185-50r15

My tires are 175/80 13" with a diameter of 24.02 inches. Going to a street tire like a 185/65 on a 15" rim would be a diameter of 24.47 inches, for a difference of +.45 inch. That means that the 15" street tire would raise the trailer by less than 1/4 inch because the street tire has a lower aspect. And the street tire has a larger footprint. And a higher speed rating. And is cheaper.

Going with something like a 15" wheel with a 185/50 tire actually lowers the trailer by 3/4 of an inch.

Mark
 
I just bought new tires too. Mine were "only" about four years old, but I just don't trust them after that -- since it's not like I can go out and buy Michelins or another "good" brand in a 13" trailer tire.

I had a specific desire to move up to Load Range D tires. I'm below capacity rating on the Load Range C's, but not WAY below, and I just wanted a bit more room in the specs. But just try to find a Load Range D radial trailer tire in our size (mine are the same 13" as you have). I have found precisely one, which is a Kenda Loadstar Radial ST tire. I wanted to buy a set last spring, but when I called around, either merchants didn't want to check the date codes for me, or they did check but they one-and-a-half years old already. No thanks! So I stuck with my then-three-year old tires until a few weeks ago, when I tried again. I found some that were only five weeks old. Yeah! That's more like it. And the place had a reasonable price and free shipping (they could have tried to charge me anything, since they knew I'd been looking since last year for some with a reasonable date code; but they didn't).

A friend just bought some normally priced 14" Maxxis trailer tires on Amazon and when they came the date codes were nearly two years old. Come on people, that's not reasonable!

I initially considered going to 14" tires on my C-Dory trailer because of the much better tire selection, but it would take a lot of re-working on my particular trailer. The same trailer frame did come with 14" wheels as an option, but the axle "sleds," springs, and I think fenders are a different size (it's been a few years, so I might have forgotten some details). And the 13" have been fine in reality. Now that I have the Load Range D tires, even better.

I can't believe the delivered price you got on those tires and rims!
 
I would not buy tires based solely on price. But that's just me. Do these tires have a brand name? We have used Carlisle Radials with good success while we owned our boat and trailer. I believe if you Google Carlisle Radial trailer tires they offer radials in a 13" size. Other road warriors have used them also with good success. I hope your good deal turns out for the best.
D.D.
 
Will-C":3qjy5h8y said:
Do these tires have a brand name?
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm sure that the tires have a brand name. With tires, the manufacturer will put whatever name on it that the secondary seller requests. For instance, Carlstar Inc. has trailer tires made in China and then branded Carlisle. Carlstar also has trailer tires branded Marathon that are marketed through Goodyear.

Which brand name should I hope for?

Mark
 
I figured since I mentioned the Load Range D 13" tires above, I'd fill in a bit more info in case anyone else is interested. I was under the max on the Load Range C tires, but still wanted a bit more overhead in the capacity.

They are Kenda Karrier/Loadstar Radials (note that they make an almost identical tire in Load Range C so you have to be specific). Mine are ST175/80 R13 (which I guess is the size of just the single axle tires if you have a 16 - those 16's are just so darned convenient!). eTrailer carries them but I had a tough time getting them to check the date code (they did once, and it was too old; then when I called back another time they weren't able to check). I ended up buying them from Trailer Tires and Wheels, who were happy to check the date codes every time I called (which ended up being a few times because for a while every shipment of the tires was 1.5 years old already). They had a good price and free shipping, but that's not why I bought these tires - I bought them because they were the best radials in my size I could find that were also Load Range D. I'd gladly have paid more for better tires, but couldn't find anything better. Here is a link to the tires and the place I bought them - great service and I was able to get five week old tires. (~$65 per tire at the time I bought them, just for reference).

http://www.trailertiresandwheels.com/st ... ailer-tire

The previous Load Range C radial trailer tires I had went up to 1,360# per tire. That was fine, as I have 4,300# riding on the tires (so 1,075# per tire), but then who says each tire has exactly 25% of the weight on it? Now I'll have the cushion of the Load Range D's, at 1,610 lb. per tire. Tho I'd drop back down to C's if that meant I could get some amazing tire (like say Michelin started making 13" radial trailer tires), but so far I haven't seen anything like that.

Anyway, new trailer tires --- always a good feeling! I already have galvanized rims, so just bought the tires and had them mounted and balanced locally.
 
I saw that the actual load ratings on trailer tires depend on whether it is a double or single axle. Trailer tires are "de-rated" when used on double axle because if one tire pops the remaining tire has to carry the whole load. Probably good to go to a D rating. On a single axle, the rim carries the weight. Ouch.

The tires I bought show Kenda Loadstars in the picture, but then says that they are B rated in the specs. Purchasers all said that was a misprint and that they are C rated. One good thing about Amazon Prime is that if they ship Cheeto brand trailer tires I can just return them within 30 days.

Mark
 
So true on the Amazon Prime - handy, that! Do check the date codes (if you care), because a buddy of mine just bought some nice Maxxis trailer tires via Prime and they were nearly two years old (ouch!).
 
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