12 Jan 21:
Good time of year to check those trailer tires. there is a lot of information to be found on the sidewall beyond just the size, not all tires are the same despite being the same size. One item is the manufacture date of the tire, this 4 digit code is WWYY for Week and Year of manufacture. Tires should be replaced when they get worn, or at the 6 year mark. This tire was made in July of 2015 so it should be replaced this Summer. Although the sidewall looks okay, micro-fissures are starting between the tread lugs. This tire has also been stored inside, tires on trailers outdoors will have been getting UV damage for 6 years.
Same tire, it happens to be the spare on our Day Sailer II trailer. It is Load Rated B, 785 pounds per tire, purchased at Walmart, and the tires on the trailer are Load Rated C, 990 pounds per tire, purchased at our trailer dealer. Higher load rated tires run cooler with the same load, so this B rated tire is okay for a spare on our1000 pound boat and trailer, but we wouldn't run it cross country. Another thing to check is the recommended air pressure, if you are running a tire at max load it needs to be at the recommended pressure to prevent excessive sidewall flex and heat build up. A new tire, properly inflated will also increase mpg for the tow vehicle. One last note, be careful about putting a higher load rating tire on a wheel that came with the lower load rating tire, as wheels have load limits also, and the wheel could fracture if it is overlaoded.
One last tip, if you bought a used trailer, take a look at the tires, not just for age, but to make sure the proper load rated tire is installed. The previous owner may not have known to check for load rating when they bought their new, low priced Walmart tires.
See you on the water!
Clark and Skipper
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