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Spare tire

tniggeltniggel Member Posts: 66 ✭✭
in Trailer & Trailering Discussions
 So I got a blowout on my trailer on the way to storage this fall. I'm replacing all four trailer tires the question is I am replacing d load with e load, could I use the one old d load as a spare for emergencies.
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    Handymans342Handymans342 Member Posts: 10,375 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 2015
    Yes but it is probably dry rotted like the blow out one. 
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    mattiemattie Member Posts: 1,254 ✭✭✭✭
    edited October 2015
    How old was the tire? Date code on the side. Manufacturers say every 3-5 years for replacement. That's prob too frequent for reality though. Date code is 4 digits - week/year.
    Post edited by mattie on
    246BR, 276BR, H310BR current
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    NRathNRath Member Posts: 135 ✭✭
    edited October 2015
    My opinion is that if you do much trailering, I'd go with the E load.  There is a slight bump in price, but my experience is that the stiffer sidewalls will help trailer tracking (sway).  Additionally, the couple extra ply's would help prevent that blowout.

    I highly recommend the Maxxis M8008's.  Run from Goodyear's.  I've seen 3 different sets start splitting around the circumference of the tread.  I have no real complaint about your Carlisle's except that maybe mine seemed to dry rot a little premature. But, nothing near as bad as the GY.

    Tough call on the spare.  Use the old one and chances are good you could replace 2 flats when that first one has an issue.  Again, to me this goes back to how much and how far you tow.  Once or twice a year for 20 miles, maybe risk it.  I just got back from a 1500 mile towing trip.  I bought a new spare when I got the tires.
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    Handymans342Handymans342 Member Posts: 10,375 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Mattie, I believe its every 7 years
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    halifax212halifax212 Member Posts: 553 ✭✭✭
    Had an original '04 tire as a spare mounted on the trailer. Went out one morning and it looked identical to the photo above. A 5 year old tire blew enroute from Cincinnati to Maine. Based on this I am replacing after 5 years as I tow about 20 to 30 times a season.  
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    Handymans342Handymans342 Member Posts: 10,375 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Was it uncovered all that time on the trailer?
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    rasburyrasbury Member Posts: 8,239 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Also, make darn sure when you get your new tires they are inflated properly! I recently replaced my tires and did like one a month and I bought from a place that sells both trailer and car/truck tires- I think they had their gauges set to 35 PSI which is good for most passenger/lt truck tires but not these 60 PSI tires- the result was a new tire was underinflated and when I went across a bump, the tire squished so much it split it. Did not realize the culprit until I checked the air in the rest of the new tires and they were all that way- underinflated is a real issue. I never thought to check since they were new and I ASSUMED they knew what they were doing....
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    Cableguy GregCableguy Greg Member Posts: 5,012 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The tire that split above was at the proper pressure. @tniggel and I set them on his trailer and mine a few days before he made his trek to storage. The tire didn't look dry rotted at all. If it would have looked bad, we would not have taken a chance with them.
    2008 280 Express Cruiser, 6.2MPI, B3, Pittsburgh, PA "Blue Ayes"
    Go Steelers!!!
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    NRathNRath Member Posts: 135 ✭✭
    Cableguy Greg said:
    The tire didn't look dry rotted at all. If it would have looked bad, we would not have taken a chance with them.
    I'd agree with you CG & tniggel, that tire looks pretty good from what we can see in the pic.  I'd have towed on it, too.  I've seen them looking much worse and still haul a load.  

    It has to be assumed there was either a road hazard causing damage or just a defectively manufactured tire.  Coincidental that there was a story on the national news last night about tire recalls and lack of owner registration of tires.

    It's a good point about checking pressure.  If you go E-rated, it could be load rated at either 60 or 80 psig, so check the tire for yourself.
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    rasburyrasbury Member Posts: 8,239 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Sure can't go by looks when the tread separates..
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    Black_DiamondBlack_Diamond Member Posts: 5,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Under inflated or overloaded the tire will overheat and separate like that. Something few people consider is alignment, yes you can align trailer axles. Off kilter and they scrub/overheat/fail too. Had this exact problem with a 2-horse trailer. 

    Past owner of a 2003 342FV
    PC BYC, Holland, MI
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    JC290JC290 Member Posts: 706 ✭✭✭
     Very good point BD a lot of people never look at alignment makes a big difference. 
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    Handymans342Handymans342 Member Posts: 10,375 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I went thru a pile of tow dollies checking alignment. I measured front at 3 oclock and rear at 9 oclock. All of them except 1 was off by at least a half inch to an inch. I bought the straight one because I returned the first one after it wore the tires down after 400 miles. 
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