P500 Old trailer tires

[Sledge]

Not really a P5 issue, but I had two blowouts on my dual-axle cargo trailer during my just-ended 2200 mile vacation. Many, if not most of us haul our P5s on trailers, I reckon.

The trailer is 10 years old, and I probably don't have 20k miles on it. Tread depth was excellent, and my frugal nature would not permit me to replace the apparently serviceable tires.

WRONG! I'm now a believer in replacing tires due to age, regardless of tread depth. After the second blowout, and still 500 miles from home, I put a new set of 4 on this morning.

Trailer tires are inexpensive. 4 8-ply 225/75/15s were <$400. (It costs me $1500 to re-shoe my truck).

I won't make that mistake again. In 5 years, my trailer gets new tires, regardless of remaining tread.

Joe

 

[Gator]

two weeks ago I had to go recue a friend because of a blowout on his boat trailer. Same thing. The 10 year old tires looked perfect. We lost a second tire on the way home.

 

[ehart814]

I believe that putting a cover on the tires when the trailer isn't being used would be helpful...Something to block UV rays. Might help a bit, but if they are old they should still be replaced. Sucks you had to deal with that on your trip... Safe travels Joe

 

[Tflynn]

Sorry about your luck. I've always heard replace them after 5 years even if they've been parked the whole time. I would bet 99% of trailer tires age out before they wear out. Jeez now I'm thinking I have two dual axle trailers that need tires $$$$$

 

[Alan aka Davinci]

Not really a P5 issue, but I had two blowouts on my dual-axle cargo trailer during my just-ended 2200 mile vacation. Many, if not most of us haul our P5s on trailers, I reckon.

The trailer is 10 years old, and I probably don't have 20k miles on it. Tread depth was excellent, and my frugal nature would not permit me to replace the apparently serviceable tires.

WRONG! I'm now a believer in replacing tires due to age, regardless of tread depth. After the second blowout, and still 500 miles from home, I put a new set of 4 on this morning.

Trailer tires are inexpensive. 4 8-ply 225/75/15s were <$400. (It costs me $1500 to re-shoe my truck).

I won't make that mistake again. In 5 years, my trailer gets new tires, regardless of remaining tread.

Joe

Many people look at the tread and see there is plenty but do not examine the side walls for weather checking which is a guaranteed blow-out.

Alan

 

[Sledge]

Thanks for the kind concern, but neither blowout was a big deal, actually. Annoying at worst.

The first, on the way to Colorado, was likely blown 100 miles before I knew it, judging from the look of the carcass. More steel than rubber. It was on the passenger side, which may be why I didn't notice.

God bless dual axles. The amount of weight I typically haul could easily be handled by a single axle, but it won't be on my watch.

I had a spare, and drove 1400 uneventful miles before the second blew halfway home. Driver side, I felt and heard that one go, and stopped and evaluated the situation.

Given the previous experience, and the fact that I was on a shoulderless road, no spare, and only 5 miles from the next town, I just drove on in.

It was 0645, and I caught a guy going into the Cenex COOP store, and he said they opened at 0700.

I was back on the road at 0830, wallet $380 lighter, but with a relieved heart worth much more than that.

Oh, and I went from 205/75/15s to 225/75/15s. About 2" taller, and over 1" wider.

I like big tires. On everything.

Joe

 

[trigger]

Many people look at the tread and see there is plenty but do not examine the side walls for weather checking which is a guaranteed blow-out.

Alan

Try to protect from UV rays, I keep mine under the lean to.
Keep them up out of the dirt, that's the mistake I made. Parked on PT 2x10's now.
Always have a spare ready.

 

[Sledge]

UV? Parked on dirt? Sitting still too long?

Or just unavoidable deterioration over time, as the manufacturers say?

Hell, I don't know, and y'all probably don't either, but I know that rubber just dries out over time.

5 years from now, these new tires will have cost me a little over $6 a month. For all 4.

They will have served well, and will be retired then.

Joe

 

[hambone]

Not really a P5 issue, but I had two blowouts on my dual-axle cargo trailer during my just-ended 2200 mile vacation. Many, if not most of us haul our P5s on trailers, I reckon.

The trailer is 10 years old, and I probably don't have 20k miles on it. Tread depth was excellent, and my frugal nature would not permit me to replace the apparently serviceable tires.

WRONG! I'm now a believer in replacing tires due to age, regardless of tread depth. After the second blowout, and still 500 miles from home, I put a new set of 4 on this morning.

Trailer tires are inexpensive. 4 8-ply 225/75/15s were <$400. (It costs me $1500 to re-shoe my truck).

I won't make that mistake again. In 5 years, my trailer gets new tires, regardless of remaining tread.

Joe

I buy a shipload of tires for work. I mean a lot! I have really good support in the tire department.
My tire guy says the same, 5 years max, doesn't matter what they look like. I went thru same thing as you and I am on the 5 year plan now for sure.

 

[Rustell]

This happened to us just last week.. We arrived at the Pine Mountain Rally only to discover we had blown a tire..didn't feel it, didn't hear it. Good fortune prevaled as the only repair shop in this town of 500 people had 4 new tires for me.

 

[rocmar]

UV? Parked on dirt? Sitting still too long?

Or just unavoidable deterioration over time, as the manufacturers say?

Hell, I don't know, and y'all probably don't either, but I know that rubber just dries out over time.

5 years from now, these new tires will have cost me a little over $6 a month. For all 4.

They will have served well, and will be retired then.

Joe

Sun rot

 

[rocmar]

I believe that putting a cover on the tires when the trailer isn't being used would be helpful...Something to block UV rays. Might help a bit, but if they are old they should still be replaced. Sucks you had to deal with that on your trip... Safe travels Joe

Yeah...
but you still get the
heat...
I do mine every 4
years...
sucks to ruin a camping
trip...with a flat