Trailer tire question

56FordGuy · Mar 7, 2011

I'm getting ready to replace four tires on my two horse, bumper pull trailer. It currently has 205/70R15 tires on it, but I believe it's supposed to have 205/75R15 tires on it. I've been pricing tires, and am confused. Trailer specific tires are significantly more expensive than I expected. I was quoted $138.00 apiece locally for Goodyear load range C trailer tires. I've found better prices on brands Ive never heard of online, but that doesn't really do me much good because even if the internet tires are decent quality, I doubt I can have them delivered and installed by the weekend without spending as much on shipping as the tires themselves.

Is there any reason I can't run load range C truck tires? I've not yet priced them locally, but plan to do that tomorrow.

Diamondpilot · Mar 7, 2011

56FordGuy said:
I'm getting ready to replace four tires on my two horse, bumper pull trailer. It currently has 205/70R15 tires on it, but I believe it's supposed to have 205/75R15 tires on it. I've been pricing tires, and am confused. Trailer specific tires are significantly more expensive than I expected. I was quoted $138.00 apiece locally for Goodyear load range C trailer tires. I've found better prices on brands Ive never heard of online, but that doesn't really do me much good because even if the internet tires are decent quality, I doubt I can have them delivered and installed by the weekend without spending as much on shipping as the tires themselves.

Is there any reason I can't run load range C truck tires? I've not yet priced them locally, but plan to do that tomorrow.

You can run truck tires but my guess is the price will be about the same. Around here most tire dealers will not mount anything but trailer tires on a trailer. They used to do truck tires but will not anymore. Last set I had mounted up I had to take the wheels off and tote them into the dealer and tell him it was for a project truck at home.

Goodyear trailer tires are junk. The only ones worse are Carlisle. We put on 10-20 sets of trailer tires a year and we will only use GreenBall and Maxxis. These have been the best in our experience. 10 years ago Goodyear Marathons were top notch but the last set I bought in 2008 I had 3 let go in under 3,000 miles. Trailer was never loaded past 5,000# and its a 7,000# trailer. Put GreenBalls on it after that fiasco and not a single issue. Had the trailer loaded to the max and not a single issue in about 7,000 miles.

Trailer tires have stiffer sidewalls and will handle the sharp turning much better than a truck or car tire. Also, no matter what they try to tell you make them balance them. I have had trailer tires not balanced and they tried to convince me it was not needed but it does...

Chris

whistlepig · Mar 7, 2011

I personally wouldn't buy tires from Goodyear either. They will simply have no wear life to them. As Diamondpilot says I would stick with trailer tires. A friend of ours got a "bargain" on 4 ply car tires ( load range B) and mounted them on a two horse tandem axle trailer. The sidewalls were destroyed in less than two years and less than 500 hundred miles. I am a firm believer in buying trailer tires for trailers.

Raspy · Mar 7, 2011

I'm just about to get a set for my tandem axle trailer too.

I've been running H78/15 D bias ply tires on it for 14 years with no trouble and they are worn to where there is no tread left at all. Excellent tires that carry my tractor with a gross trailer weight of up to about 8,000 lbs.

I'm not opposed to running truck tires on it, but they would be load range E radials and nothing less. Absolutely no '"standard load", no "load range B", or even "C".

The cost for a new set of (4) bias ply H78/15 D pre mounted on brand new wheels and ready to bolt on is $400. Hard to beat. But, I'm still considering a set of another common size, like 215/75/16E steel belted radials for trucks. I'd have to buy new wheels, but the availability might be better in the future and the ride might be better. The bias ply tires are fading away and being replaced with radials. But my experience is that trailer radials are weak in the sidewall and I don't trust them. I'm glad to see that some of you have found a couple of good brands, but still, I might just get E rated truck tires and be done with it.

As far as sharp turning and truck tires are concerned, I'm not the least worried about truck tires. I also have a triple axle 48' enclosed trailer that is very heavy. I'm running 265/70/17E truck tires on it and they work very well.

whodat526 · Mar 8, 2011

56FordGuy said:
. I was quoted $138.00 apiece locally for Goodyear load range C trailer tires..

thats sounds kind off high i bought 8 newer 14ply 16 in tires for my daul tadem trailer and only gave 120 a piece and they was trailer specific and the trailer tires for my 16 bumber pull i just sold wasn't but 70

davkir · Mar 9, 2011

Around here, the 205/75R15 Greenball radials are about $85 each, mounted and balanced including disposal charge for old tires.

Diamondpilot · Mar 9, 2011

davkir said:
Around here, the 205/75R15 Greenball radials are about $85 each, mounted and balanced including disposal charge for old tires.

Thats about what I pay. I get them for $75 or $79, can not remember for sure but I get a deal from my tire guy since he is my neighbors cousin and I buy about 10 sets or more per year.

About $90 for 225/75/15 and $70 for 205/75/14 which we use a lot of also.

Chris

Raspy · Mar 9, 2011

I decided to stick with what I've had such good luck with and got another set of ST225/75D bias ply, yesterday. Rated for 2540 lbs. and very stiff sidewalls.

$92. each pre-mounted on brand new 6 lug wheels.

I was tempted to go with some 215/75/16 E truck radials, but the price for the bias plys was too good to pass up.

mark1 · Mar 9, 2011

I remember years ago I went to Sears looking for a couple tires for my utility trailer,the sales person asked me what I needed them for? and I said it's an old (1963 home made untiity trailer!) He almost jumped out of his SKIN!. he said "we don't have trailer tires"!!! I asked if he had 2 round 12" tires.he said he did. I said ok mount them on these rims. they lasted 15 years. Finealy the rims rusted out and the tire sides looked kinda ragged. so I got new tires and rims. Of course this is only a 1000 lbs capacity trailer that sits empty most of the time. but I'll never forget the expression and look from that salesman!!!!

grsthegreat · Mar 9, 2011

the only thing i know about horse trailer tires....is dont use radial tires. use bias ply tires.

ive been told this by the manufacturer of my trailer, by Les Schwab tires and by other people hauling trailers.

im really not sure why....but ive been running bias ply trailer tires for 14 years now, never had a blowout. so it must work

Diamondpilot · Mar 9, 2011

Raspy said:
I decided to stick with what I've had such good luck with and got another set of ST225/75D bias ply, yesterday. Rated for 2540 lbs. and very stiff sidewalls.

$92. each pre-mounted on brand new 6 lug wheels.

I was tempted to go with some 215/75/16 E truck radials, but the price for the bias plys was too good to pass up.

Good luck with the Bias. I never had any luck with them but most of my towing is at high speeds for 100's of miles at a time. Sounds like you have had good luck with them for your needs.

That price is pretty good like you said.

Chris

Raspy · Mar 9, 2011

grsthegreat said:
the only thing i know about horse trailer tires....is dont use radial tires. use bias ply tires.

ive been told this by the manufacturer of my trailer, by Les Schwab tires and by other people hauling trailers.

im really not sure why....but ive been running bias ply trailer tires for 14 years now, never had a blowout. so it must work

This is my experience too. My car hauler came with radials and I immediately took it back and got bias because it towed so poorly with them. They've been on it for about 14 years and are now totally worn out.

I have a set of 16 inch radials on my dump trailer and they seem fine, but I think they are load range E.

I also have a 30 foot box trailer with a set of Carlisle 15 inch radials on it and they are just plain scary. It sits almost all the time so I haven't changed them yet, but it's like towing on inner tubes.

On my 48 foot Box trailer with triple axles I put a set of 265/70/17E truck radial tires and they are wonderful. Stiff and easily handle the load. 17" is not a common size for trailers, but I slipped on a set of 8 lug Hummer aluminum wheels and used five of the tires that came on my Dodge P/U. Love them.

I'm also running an old set of 16.5 bias tires on my equipment trailer. Way old school! But they work fine. Very stable.

powerstroke444e · Mar 9, 2011

Check your local firestone store local one here seems to always have better price and I have been running firestones since around 2002 and have had no issues.

Raspy · Mar 9, 2011

powerstroke444e said:
Check your local firestone store local one here seems to always have better price and I have been running firestones since around 2002 and have had no issues.

Firestone what? Bias, radial, light truck, space saver spare, bicycle?

powerstroke444e · Mar 10, 2011

I don't know the name on the ones on the trailers as I am to lazy to walk out and look. On my trucks I know they are destination? and on the trailer I use there regular truck tires.

Hematite · Mar 10, 2011

grsthegreat said:
the only thing i know about horse trailer tires....is dont use radial tires. use bias ply tires.

ive been told this by the manufacturer of my trailer, by Les Schwab tires and by other people hauling trailers.

im really not sure why....but ive been running bias ply trailer tires for 14 years now, never had a blowout. so it must work

Bias ply are much more directionally stable which I would think is a benefit for a horse trailer. Actually, it's a benefit for any trailer. I ordered my new equipment trailer with bias tires and with the WD/ anti sway bars, it rides so stable it's unbelievable.

Elviscaretaker · Mar 11, 2011

I've only run radials on my 2 current trailers. I'd tow that thing from the west coast to the east coast non stop at speed and never had an issue with them. Don't think they last long enough but they have been stable in all sorts of conditions. The only "blow out" I had was picking up a rail spike in one on a job site. My old trailer had bias on it, not very stable but that was most likely the trailer suffering from being over loaded.
Not a good selection of trailer tires around here. I need to order most in and get to pay for the privilege. Average about 130 a tire.
Flat bed and a cargo, both 15" nothing special.

56FordGuy · Mar 11, 2011

I wound up with some 205/75/15 Greenball Towmasters, installed for $78.00 apiece. They're radials, but considering the limited use I have planned for the trailer (once or twice a year, no more than 30 or 40 miles most likely) I'm hoping they'll be alright.

Elviscaretaker · Mar 11, 2011

I'll have to see if the greenball's are available on the west coast next set. And, check into a truck series to see if they'll fit the bill. It gets old replacing them once a year, best I seem to get is 30-40k. Would like to see 50 or better yet, 80 like my truck tires. Those are a whole separate issue though.