Questions about trailer stuff and tires

[team39763]

I had a 16'X82" trailer built for hauling my racetruck around, but it's being held up because of the tires.  They offered me used tires which knocked 225 off the price(I was told they would be decent enough for my short trips until I had money for new ones).  When the trailer was delivered to my dealer, the dealer said the builder threw on some rediculously small tires...he said they were smaller than vw bug tires(what's smaller than that???...bicycle tires).  He told me he would find me some better sized tires off another trailer, but it's been a few weeks so I'm assuming he couldn't find any.  I was just wondering what size/type of tires you guys recommend?  I think the wheels are either 14 or 15(it's between those two).  There's a walmart and a tractor supply 20 miles from me, so those are my options for tires.  Is it possible to get some for less than $50 a piece?  I still owe $300 on the trailer and I still have to pick up new straps and a come-along/hand winch.  My plan is to weld in hooks/anchor points to the frame and use those to strap the frame down with the new straps.  Is the 4-ton come-along a good idea or not?  I definately can't afford an electric winch setup right now.

[zieg85]

The absolute best price on tires was off of EBay for me.  I got some T205 75R14 Carlisle C rated for $60 each shipping included for my 14' car trailer.  Maybe I got lucky but when they showed up the DOT date numbers showed them being fresh tires manufactured a couple of months before I bought them.  I will never go back to regular car tires for sure

[frogman68]

whats  the bolt spacing ? my trailer is 5X4.5 (14's) spacing I just grabbed some old d**ge rims brought em to walmart and put some tires on it..

[zieg85]

Do the math... 1000-1500lb trailer maybe more.  5000 lb truck.  A good car tire 1300-1500 lb rating x 4 is pushing the tire rating.  Michelin tires were best for weight rating, I used to get used sets from the Aerostar vans.  The tires get hot on long runs, ask me how I know... + car tires tend to sway more.  Bias tires, if you can find them, would be the only way I would go if you didn't get actual trailer tires.  I have had a car trailer more than 25 years and been across the country several times with car tires.  I sold my last car trailer and bought the current one I have now that had car tires that were iffy at best but I did have several cars on it before the new trailer tires.  I guess it all depends on how far you plan to go with it and how it pulls.  If you have any swaying problems, you will not with trailer tires...

[78 Chevyrado]

The absolute best price on tires was off of EBay for me.  I got some T205 75R14 Carlisle C rated for $60 each shipping included for my 14' car trailer.  Maybe I got lucky but when they showed up the DOT date numbers showed them being fresh tires manufactured a couple of months before I bought them.  I will never go back to regular car tires for sure

So what are the trailer tires just stiffer?  My trailer came with car tires  (backside has whitewalls) and the GTW is 7,500lbs.   when I get it fully loaded the tires look flat even though they're aired up (32psi max) and they get hot on a long pull on the freeway.  I been thinking when it comes time for new tires to get some kind of small LT "D Load Range" tire.  I was thinking they hold more pressure and have more capacity so I can just air em up and load em down and not worry about it (of coarse not going over trailer capacity).    I like using the freeway all I can cuz it's less stops and starts, so I wanna go 65-70mph and not worry about hot tires.

[team39763]

I'm planning to get trailer tires.  My truck is less than 3500lbs, so it's not too much of a load.  I'll find out what bolt pattern the wheels are and find out the size then I'll hit Ebay.

What about the 4ton come-along?  Will that work to pull my truck on the trailer if I can't drive it on there?

[zieg85]

So what are the trailer tires just stiffer?  My trailer came with car tires  (backside has whitewalls) and the GTW is 7,500lbs.   when I get it fully loaded the tires look flat even though they're aired up (32psi max) and they get hot on a long pull on the freeway.  I been thinking when it comes time for new tires to get some kind of small LT "D Load Range" tire.  I was thinking they hold more pressure and have more capacity so I can just air em up and load em down and not worry about it (of coarse not going over trailer capacity).    I like using the freeway all I can cuz it's less stops and starts, so I wanna go 65-70mph and not worry about hot tires.
[/quote]

Kenny, the bead is a lot thicker and the sidewalls heavier.  I believe mine says 50 psi as well and C rated as well.  I know for 15" they have d rated for the heavier camping trailers.  I just know it is night and day difference over car tires for my application.

[78 Chevyrado]

Well that's good, I seen lots of trailer tires at Tractor Supply.  I'm not sure what size the tires on it are, but I just wondered if they were any good comparitavely.  Thanks man!   

The tires I have kinda worry me though.  Ya know how people worry about getting old tires sold new?   I got some of those.  Bought the trailer brand new around 2000 or so.  The trailer is 10 years old, but the tires are 18 (yep Eighteen) years old.  couldn't believe that, selling 8 year old tires on a brand new trailer....  If I wasn't diverting my money into the truck for the forseeable future, I'd buy a new set of tires just for piece of mind.

[beastie_3]

Auto tires are not meant to be put on trailers. I have heard/read that the "layers" inside the auto tires are criss/crossed and trailer tires are one direction. Auto tires on trailers will cause the trailer to sway back and forth traveling down the freeway.

[Lt.Del]

on my 30 foot camper trailer, which weighs about 7k lbs fully loaded w/ camping equip. and water, has 4 15 inch trailer tires---ST205 75R15'S.

I use those same wheels (5x4.5 lug pattern) and tires on my 17' ATV trailer as well to make them interchange without problem when i have a blow out or something.  

[k5blazerfan]

need trailer tires contact the welding shop in cheyenne wyoming at 3076328294 or at www.theweldingshop.com custom paulibuilt trailers and accesories

[team39763]

need trailer tires contact the welding shop in cheyenne wyoming at 3076328294 or at www.theweldingshop.com custom paulibuilt trailers and accesories

Sorry, I keep forgetting to add to my profile that I'm in Texas.  You just reminded me that Cheyenne Wyoming is probably one of the greatest memories my wife and I shared.  When we were truckdriving a couple years ago our truck broke down about 450 miles from there, but our company insisted that we limp the truck to that location for repairs(at 45mph).  Our truck spent about a week or two in the Sterling/freightliner shop and during that time they put us up in this great hotel.  They had room service, a coffee shop, and smoothie place around the corner aswell as a $1 movie theater across the street.  Our company was paying us $80 a day(each) aswell as expenses(hotel and food).  We were in heaven for a while.  The place was great and everybody was so friendly.  We plan to take a trip up there for vacation one of these days and relive the memory.
  Sorry, I must have ADD or something...way off topic.  Anyway, I'm planning to check in with the dealer and see what size rims they are and head to tractor supply to check what tires they have.

[k5blazerfan]

yeah team its a nice place nice people and low crime but hey im glad you had fun here.. what else is cool is our vehicles dont rust i got an 84 k5 with no rust