Car Tires on Utility Trailer

[Welshman]

I have a 5' x 8' single axle, tilt utility trailer that is in need of tires. It hasn't been registered for a few years as I've only used it around the property towed by my Haulster, but now I need to be able to use it on the road again for several 50 mile round trips (state routes and neighborhood streets - no highways) to my former residence. The tire place that I do business with has a set of passenger car ties that will fit at a fair amount less than comparable trailer tires. I'm sure I won't be carrying any loads more than say 500lbs. Does anyone have any experience with car tires on a light duty trailer like this?

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Trailer tires have stronger sidewalls and track better than passenger vehicle tires. If you recognize that, load the weight on the trailer properly, and keep your speed down, passenger vehicle tires will work just fine.

 

[kenmac]

Alot of people use car tires on trailers this size around my parts. I used them on my dual axle trailer for several yrs & never had any problems. They should work just fine on this size trailer

 

[Welshman]

Thanks for that. The main roads I travel are posted 50mph - is that reasonable? Also, what might I notice as far as tracking? By the way, these tires are 185/80-13's.

 

[kenmac]

I have a 5 X 14 with 13'' tires ( not sure of the other measurments). I use to haul 2 large 4 wheelers down the rd at 60. Never had any problems. Just don't over load & you will be fine. IMO, tracking would have to do with the build of the trailer

 

[Diamondpilot]

For lightweight stuff its fine.

Chris

 

[94BULLITT]

Car tires have softer sidewall than trailer tires. The stiffer sidewall of a trailer tire reduce sway. Have you checked at lowes, tsc, etrailer.com or a trailer dealer for tires and wheels already mounted. They are not that expensive I'd put trailer tires on it cause some day you will need to haul a heavy load.

 

[JIGBUILDER]

ST tires are speed restricted to 65 mph. The P tire isn't however when used in a trailer position the P tires capacity is required to be derated 10 percent.

My 5' x 10' tilt trailer came with 13" wheels and ST tires. I don't use ST tires so a trip to my local tire dealer for a pair of P tires. That was 7 years ago and the trailer does fine at 75 mph legal speed on the the interstate near me.

 

[mikehaugen]

The issue I know of is with multiple axle trailer. When you turn a 2 or 3 axle trailer you put a lot of side stress on the tires, stress that car tires aren't made for. That being said, however, I was in desperate need of a tire for my small (5x10) dual axle trailer but did not want to buy a new tire because I had plans to replace all the tires and rims the next year as well as paint the frame so I bought a used car tire for cheap to hold me over. That was 2 years ago now and still have not replaced the tires. Funny sometimes how projects keep getting put off, I must have a huge stove because haven't run out of back burners yet. Anyway though, I don't use that trailer for a lot of weight usually and so far it has been fine.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

I replaced the passenger car tires on my 5' x 10' single axle trailer with new trailer rated tires. There was a noticeable difference in that it reduced the tendency of the trailer to sway. Cheap insurance in my opinion if you are going to use the trailer very much at speeds over 50mph.

 

[GMARTINEZFUSTER]

I have a 6' x 10' single axle trailer with 215/75/R15 on it and it handles flawlessly. Just keep in mind that with wider tires you lose offset space between rails and tires. Other than that, I think you can do just fine with car tires.

-Jerry

 

[jwstewar]

In 2009 I bought a 16' tandem axle stock trailer. It is 225/75R15 Kumho passenger tires on it. Didn't notice when I bought it. Thought I would replace them right away, but mikehaugen, I must have a huge stove. To make a long story short, I've still got the Kumhos on it and they are doing fine. Between me and my buddy that borrows it quite a bit, I would say this trailer has been pulled probably 5 - 10k miles. Everything from moving furniture to our goats to his steers w/ up to 4 steer in it at a time. Have never had any sway with it. One thing I do notice though is with a bump the tires seem to offer a fair amount of bounce vs. a regular trailer tire. Now since we are hauling goats, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Keeps some of the jolt from them. Now whenever I get ready to replace the tires, I will have a decision to make. Put Passenger tires back on it or switch to ST tires. Thought about putting the tires Radial ST Goodyear tires that are currently on the camper over to the stock trailer and buy new tires for the camper since compared to the camper the stock trailer is light. Especially since my buddy bought a stock trailer and it won't be used to haul steer any more.

 

[crbr]

I have a 5' x 8' single axle, tilt utility trailer that is in need of tires. It hasn't been registered for a few years as I've only used it around the property towed by my Haulster, but now I need to be able to use it on the road again for several 50 mile round trips (state routes and neighborhood streets - no highways) to my former residence. The tire place that I do business with has a set of passenger car ties that will fit at a fair amount less than comparable trailer tires. I'm sure I won't be carrying any loads more than say 500lbs. Does anyone have any experience with car tires on a light duty trailer like this?

I'd not hesitate to use them as you described. Nothing more than two fat girls hopping in the back seat of your car to go for a ride....

.

 

[Soundguy]

be aware that a tire place may tell you to get off their lot if you pull in and need help with P rated tires on a trailer.

i bought a horse traielr with p rated tires on it. lost a tire ( tandem ) on the interstate.. limped off the exit and hit the service center /truck stop.. guy took one look and say 'p' ont hem and said he couldn';t help me.. and asked me to pull off his pavement into the jiffy store due to insurance reasons

 

[Sutol]

I used car tyres on my car carrying trailer, it has two axles and four single wheels. the tyres are 13" and when twisted by sharp turns with weight on the walls would start to bubble out as the casings had damaged.
I fitted a lower profile and this does not happen even with 2 tons on the trailer, I run them at 50psi and they do not get hot even when run at 65 mph loaded.
I did a 250 mile trip with a Land Rover discovery on the trailer averaging 60mph and the tyres stayed the same temp and were fine.

The lower profile tyre (tire) is a good bet in my opinion and saves buying the more expensive trailer/van tyres.

The trailer below (in signature) is loaded with a 2.25 ton breakdown van.

 

[Ojonesy]

Most people love the bias tires over radials, less sway and longer tread life.
Sometimes "new and improved" isn't always better.

Brian

 

[oldyellr]

Most people love the bias tires over radials, less sway and longer tread life.
Sometimes "new and improved" isn't always better.

Brian

That might depend on the number of plies.

I guess most people here were not born when bias ply tires were standard in North America and only sports car owners sought out radials. Radials were superior because of their better road-holding, precise steering, better fuel economy and they weren't squirrelly over streetcar tracks. Nowadays you mostly see bias ply tires on trailers. Since you can't feel a trailer tire going down right away like you can a tire on the vehicle you're driving, trailer tires take a lot of abuse. They need to be of much tougher construction, more plies. I have do doubt a radial tire made for trailer use would be superior, but it would cost a lot more. Bias trailer tires cost more than car tires as it is, so there wouldn't be much of a market for radial trailer tires.

 

[clemsonfor]

I have that same size on my boat trasiler. It weighs about 600lbs motor weighs about 200 bateries 100lb trailer a couple hundred, fuel etc another hundred or so, see where im getting. & tow that boat to the lake sometimes 15miles away up to 65mph. Hauled it the hour to my new home, its on P tires, no problem and never noticed sway? 3hey do squat even fully inflated, but wear even and dont ever get hot. my car hauler has P tires as well and i tow my tractor 3 hours and it has done fine. I m lookin for newer tires as there old and cracking all over. posted from my "unsmart phone" no its not a smart phone and i dont have a data plan. i have just dicovered mobile web which any phone can get!

 

[clemsonfor]

That might depend on the number of plies.

I guess most people here were not born when bias ply tires were standard in North America and only sports car owners sought out radials. Radials were superior because of their better road-holding, precise steering, better fuel economy and they weren't squirrelly over streetcar tracks. Nowadays you mostly see bias ply tires on trailers. Since you can't feel a trailer tire going down right away like you can a tire on the vehicle you're driving, trailer tires take a lot of abuse. They need to be of much tougher construction, more plies. I have do doubt a radial tire made for trailer use would be superior, but it would cost a lot more. Bias trailer tires cost more than car tires as it is, so there wouldn't be much of a market for radial trailer tires.

There are plenty of radial trailer tires?

 

[WilliamBos]

Not legal up here. We have run LT tires on our trailer in the past, but now require a trailer tire.