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Boat trailers have been towed around for many years, and people automatically assume that they have the same function as car tires. This innocent assumption often places people in situations where they have to call their Trailer Assist Division for help due to tire problems.
Understanding what boat trailer tires are and how they differ from regular tires is essential knowledge for boaters. This article will tell you all you need to know, specifically relating to boat trailer tires.
What are boat trailers, why are they different, and what are the things boaters need to know before purchasing them? These questions are addressed below.
1. What Is A Boat Trailer Tire, and Why Is It Different from Other Types of Tires?
2. What are the Features of a Good Boat Trailer Tire?
3. Why You Need A Boat Trailer Tire
Trailer tires are vastly different from auto tires or light truck tires. Trailer tires are not used for movement, neither do they steer nor swerve away from obstacles.
Automobile tires can do all these things. This is why their sidewalls are flexible because their threads have to stay anchored to the pavement. Because they appear similar to boat trailer tires, folks often use automobile tires on their trailers. This is not safe in any way, and it isn’t advisable.
Automobile tires are designed to work with the complex steering, suspension, and braking systems of a car. On the other hand, boat trailer tires are designed to stay beneath stiff suspensions and trailers with brakes. They should not be used interchangeably.
Boat trailer tires, or ‘Special Trailer (ST) ‘tires, as they are often called, are designed to work in harmony with your trailer’s unique design to serve your trailer’s requirements effectively. Unlike the sidewalls of automobile tires, which are flexible, boat trailer tires have stiff sidewalls. The sidewalls for ST tires are rigid to stop your rig from swaying dangerously.
ST tires have a much higher load capacity than automobile tires. Their heavy-duty load capacity even surpasses that of light truck tires. Trailer wheels are usually narrower than car wheels to reduce their movement, improve fuel usage, and keep it cool constantly. As a result, ST tires have shallower threads to support these functions.
Choosing good trailer tires and effectively maintaining them helps your rig function optimally and prevents situations that might leave you stranded in undesirable places.
When the important parts of a boat trailer are listed, boat trailer tires are often overlooked. Nevertheless, they deserve a lot of attention. Trailer tires can determine your entire boating experience depending on whether you get the best fit for your boat. You can’t choose a suitable tire without knowing what to look out for.
As long as the tires you’re going for have some key features, you can purchase them, regardless of their price. Focusing on price is one of the most common causes of bad boat trailer tire purchases. Top-quality tires are a necessary investment, and they will certainly serve you well.
One of the main reasons you need a boat trailer tire in the first place is that land tires are not durable enough to serve the function that boat trailer tires do with ease, so boat trailer tires need to be durable. If they aren’t stable, they’ll eventually get flattened and can leave you stranded in unfavorable circumstances. Durability also increases their water resistance, which is highly important. A good quality tire should last you at least 5 years, if not more.
Buying the wrong boat trailer tires can cause you a lot of unnecessary stress and land you in unfavorable situations. Before buying trailer tires, it is helpful to define what exactly ‘good trailer tires’ are.
It is also important to be certain the tires you’re purchasing are specialist trailer tires. This means that the tires have to be made for boat trailers. To check this, take a look at the sidewall, and if ‘ST’ is written on it, it is a specialist boat trailer tire. A specialist trailer tire will also have the type of tire it is marked on its sidewalls.
As for tire types, you usually have to choose between a radial boat trailer tire and a bias-ply tire. Bias-Ply tires are typically cheaper, and as a result of their crosshatch construction, they usually have tougher sidewalls. Bias-Ply tires are suitable for occasional use, but frequent use of them is not advisable. This is because they often transmit tire flex onto the tread, which leads to a gradual narrowing of the tire’s footprint, a problem that can cause sliding and slipping.
A radial tire is a much more preferable option. It runs cooler, has longer tread life as well as a wider footprint. Its belt construction is made of steel, making the tire much stronger than the bias-ply alternative. A bias-ply tire will serve you well, but it is not suitable for frequent use or long trips, so if you’re going to be using your boat trailer a lot, you’ll be better off with a radial tire.
If you’re purchasing a new boat and trailer, you likely won’t need to buy new tires anytime soon. However, if you’re not buying a new boat, you shouldn’t be surprised if you end up shopping for new boat trailer tires sooner than you expect.
A good way to determine if you need to get new boat trailer tires (before you’re forced to get new ones) is to check the sidewalls for the DOT code. The last four numbers in the DOT code tell you exactly when the tire was manufactured.
Once you’ve correctly identified the age of your boat trailer tires, the next step would be to check the condition of the tires to determine whether they need changing. An easy way to evaluate the condition of the tires is to use a penny to check the trailer tire’s tread.
You can do this by setting the penny, with the head facing downwards into the grooves, several of them, and if Abraham Lincoln’s head is visible with the coin in place, then you need to get some new tires.
It would help if you also looked out for cracks in the tire’s rubber. These usually occur due to the boat trailer sitting in one place for prolonged periods. This doesn’t mean that the tire’s tread has worn out. Rather it appears as a result of prolonged exposure to frigid weather conditions and UV rays. This causes the rubber to degrade and dry out, leading to cracks and other visible forms of damage.
They typically appear in the tire’s bead area, near the rim. Sometimes they show up between tread blocks or in the grooves of the tire. Though these aren’t always dangerous, once the cracks start getting deep, you should either get them inspected by an expert or buy new ones immediately. It’s simply not worth the risk.
Finding a renowned brand is highly advisable. Most established brands have consciously built a reputation on great products and services. That a brand in this industry is well-known is almost certainly a result of years of proven worth and quality. So, you will ensure a certain guarantee by opting for such a brand.
Another important factor you have to consider is the size of the tire. The size and load range go hand in hand. Trailers are usually classified as B, C, D, or E, with B being the lightest and E being the heaviest. Most boat trailer tires are either C or D.
A boat trailer with a load capacity of C can carry up to 1,820lbs. This means for a single axle trailer is that the trailer tires should support 3,640lbs (This factor’s in the boat’s weight, engine weight, and load onboard).
Though they can carry the total load rating, it is advisable to reduce their weight by 12%.
One feature of a good trailer tire is adequate load range.
Trailers come in various sizes, so naturally, tires have different load ranges. The load range can usually be detected on the tire’s sidewall. The load range of various ST tires spans from the lightest load range (B) to the heaviest load range (E).
The majority of boat trailer tires fall within B, C, and D load ranges, with E being the least common. If you get a perfectly designed boat trailer tire and its load range is wrong, you’ll have some real difficulties.
ST tires have a much higher load capacity than automobile tires. Their heavy-duty load capacity even surpasses that of light truck tires. Trailer wheels are usually narrower than car wheels to reduce their movement, improve the vehicle’s fuel usage, and keep it cool constantly. As a result, ST tires have shallower threads in order to support these functions.
One feature of a good trailer tire is the acceptable load range. Trailers come in various sizes, so naturally, tires have different load ranges. The load range can usually be detected on the tire’s sidewall. The load range of other ST tires spans from the lightest load range (B) to the heaviest load range (E).
The majority of boat trailer tires fall within B, C, and D load ranges, with E being the least common. If you get a perfectly designed boat trailer tire and its load range is wrong, you’ll have some real difficulties.
After purchasing a brilliant new set of boat trailer tires, there are a few things you have to take note of before hitting the road. The first of these is speed. Boat trailers mustn’t exceed speeds of 65 mph. This is because traveling at such a speed for extended periods will lead to tire failure.
It would help if you also tried not to load your boat beyond the weight limit. This will severely damage your boat trailer tires over time. It would help if you made efforts to protect your boat trailer tires from UV light and exposure to harmful weather conditions during periods when you’re not using them.
You could purchase unique wheel covers or use a tarp. You can also use garage storage. The important thing is to protect them.
Another helpful tip is for you to rotate and balance your tires the same way you would with a truck or car tire. A simple act like rotating and balancing your boat trailer tires side to side on a single axle trailer will increase the tire’s life and reduce irregular treadwear.
You should also regularly check the valve stem of your tire to see if it is the cause of progressively reducing pressure because it often is. Simply placing your finger on the side of the stem can help you know if the tire is losing air, listening for any sound that indicates air loss should be adequate.
Chinese manufacturers are known for their excellent quality boat trailer tires. One especially great manufacturer is Towmax. Towmax tires provide you with the needed towing power to carry heavy loads over long distances. Their Power King Towmax Vanguard tires are top quality standards and are considered premium trailer tires. Their design is specifically intended to offer long-lasting and reliable performance for boat trailers. They have a solid reputation for providing value, and a nationwide warranty backs their products. They are fast becoming one of the biggest brands in the trailer tire industry.
Trailer tires are essential for an enjoyable boating experience, and investing in good quality trailer tires is a worthy expenditure. Now that you have the necessary information, select the best trailer tires you can find and maintain them regularly. Most importantly, have fun!
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Tow-Max is a trusted supplier of trailer parts in China, known for its huge variety of products and one-stop services. We have been supplying customers from Australia, South America, the USA, and the Middle East. Our business partners are located in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Mexico City, Dubai, etc.
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