PSA...Check your trailer tires...

[JCappy]

I had a spare trailer tire explode while mounted to my boat trailer. It never hit the pavement. It happened when I wasn't home one day. Went out in the garage, walked around the front of the trailer to get to my work bench and noticed rubber everywhere. Looked to my right and saw that it had disintegrated. I was like WTF. I'm guessing it was 7 or 8 years old and had been mounted to the trailer from the day I purchased the boat. According to the tire shop, it dry rotted from the inside out. I had never thought about it going bad just sitting there but it did. Glad I wasn't near it when it exploded. So yes guys, check your tires.

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[bgott]

I had a spare trailer tire explode while mounted to my boat trailer. It never hit the pavement. It happened when I wasn't home one day. Went out in the garage, walked around the front of the trailer to get to my work bench and noticed rubber everywhere. Looked to my right and saw that it had disintegrated. I was like WTF. I'm guessing it was 7 or 8 years old and had been mounted to the trailer from the day I purchased the boat. According to the tire shop, it dry rotted from the inside out. I had never thought about it going bad just sitting there but it did. Glad I wasn't near it when it exploded. So yes guys, check your tires.

I just had one balloon on my camper. I replaced the 7 year old tires on the ground because they showed cracking. The spare was new, still had the stripe down the centerline of the tire. I figured the tire would get me off the highway in a pinch so I left it on. A month or two later I went camping and, when walking up to the camper from behind, I noticed the tire had a huge bulge through the tread! When I got home it got replaced, along with the tires on my flatbed trailer.

I had a spare trailer tire explode while mounted to my boat trailer. It never hit the pavement. It happened when I wasn't home one day. Went out in the garage, walked around the front of the trailer to get to my work bench and noticed rubber everywhere. Looked to my right and saw that it had disintegrated. I was like WTF. I'm guessing it was 7 or 8 years old and had been mounted to the trailer from the day I purchased the boat. According to the tire shop, it dry rotted from the inside out. I had never thought about it going bad just sitting there but it did. Glad I wasn't near it when it exploded. So yes guys, check your tires.

 

[Advntrbound]

Our new to us camper came with 15-year-old tires. Bought 4 new ones and added TPMS. There are a lot of scary trailers being towed down the highway.

 

[keithcroshaw]

Crummiest part was, the spare wouldn’t keep pressure. New now obviously.

 

[Scott0700]

What amazes me is the number of people who will spend $100k on a boat or camper and not have a spare tire. Makes me laugh when I see them on the side of the interstate scratching their heads.

 

[Janster]

What amazes me is the number of people who will spend $100k on a boat or camper and not have a spare tire. Makes me laugh when I see them on the side of the interstate scratching their heads.

Not only that, but general maintenance…… being ‘aware’ of things as they age.

Hubs/bearings are probably the next most important thing to keep maintained,

I installed a nylock nut on my coupler probably 5 years ago to prevent it from backing out (Loosening up) but every couple years, I start getting ‘clunks’ when stopping/starting. As soon as I hear those clunks, I’m adjusting the coupler. And actually….this fall, I’m replacing the nylock nut. I think the nylon (or whatever its made of) is depressed enough that it’s not holding like it should. Easy peasy….cheap 1/2 x 20 nylock nut. I‘ll take apart the whole coupler to clean, inspect, and replace that nut. I should get a receiver /hitch rubber cushion - it still works but showing signs of dry rotting.

Keep those trailers maintained my friends!!

 

[JCappy]

Not only that, but general maintenance…… being ‘aware’ of things as they age.

Hubs/bearings are probably the next most important thing to keep maintained,

I installed a nylock nut on my coupler probably 5 years ago to prevent it from backing out (Loosening up) but every couple years, I start getting ‘clunks’ when stopping/starting. As soon as I hear those clunks, I’m adjusting the coupler. And actually….this fall, I’m replacing the nylock nut. I think the nylon (or whatever its made of) is depressed enough that it’s not holding like it should. Easy peasy….cheap 1/2 x 20 nylock nut. I‘ll take apart the whole coupler to clean, inspect, and replace that nut. I should get a receiver /hitch rubber cushion - it still works but showing signs of dry rotting.

Keep those trailers maintained my friends!!

Completely agree. Maintenance is key. Also check those lug nuts. Had a buddy pick up a brand new boat from a dealership 3 hours away and he got 30 miles before one of the tires came off the trailer at 70 MPH. It destroyed the fender and tore up the axle from dragging on the highway. Luckily the boat did not get damaged. The dealer tried to blame it on him but he managed to have them pay for a new trailer. He got lucky that the dealership had not gone home yet and they drove down to meet him to repair it enough to get him home. Tough lesson to learn.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Hubs/bearings are probably the next most important thing to keep maintained,

I keep a loaded grease gun in the trailer tool box.

Years ago, I bought a brand new PJ car hauler and hauled it home. Dealer prepped, ready to go.
Loaded my 70 Javelin, got almost to the show/swap meet/races and WTF - that trailer tire is wobbling.
Got out and checked - the bearings were gone. I was close to the destination so slowly limped it in, unloaded the car and proceeded to check it out. It toasted the end of the axle, hub, and brakes.
Took wheel and hub off, jacked up the axle end and chained it to the frame so I could get it all back home.
Checked all of the other hubs - no grease. Sent pictures to PJ trailers in TX and suggested total lack of grease could have been the cause, asked if it left the factory that way - if so, they may have other issues, or if it was a dealer issue (they are also supposedly to check everything over).
The following week, a whole new axle assembly arrived at my home - I never even suggested it be free.
I assume nothing after that. Factory missed, dealer missed, I should have triple checked.

The PJ trailer I had -

Aluma tilt-bed I have now. It was a short run so I tossed the spare in the back of the truck instead of mounting it on the trailer's spare tire mount seen in the pic

I typically lift the trailer off the tires for the winter, keep the tires covered unless using it and keep the spare in the garage away from light. Grease gun in tool box along with a hydraulic jack and other stuff.

 

[JKenTex]

My experience, a boat trailer, that was at or over weight, running Marathons.....

Never had an issue, but I did run them over inflated most always. That was per a former GY factory guy. They ran much cooler and I never had any issues with 1 exception.

Had one peal and toss the tread. The tire was still inflated. Turns out, the last ones I bought were from China. That's one thing he warned me about. They aren't the same, and they're all over.

From then on, I made sure the tires were manufactured anywhere but China and I was golden. That and over inflating appropriately for the weight ad the tires never got over heated.

Boats are easy, most of the time as they're balanced on the trailer unlike other trailers that need someone that understands and centers/balances weight.

Also, storing them, if it's outside, cover them. Keep direct sun OFF of them. Also, long term storage, rotate each wheel about 45 degrees every month or 2. Even if it's 6 months, the tires will stay healthier. That was another surprise from the GY guy. He said he tried to beat that into travel trailer customers, to simply lift and rotate, so customers don't drive off with a new trailer that's sitting on 1 year old tires that sat in the same spot. Oils in the rubber will actually leach downward leaving drier top of the tire.
Again, I was running about 1500# over weight and not really balanced as it should be but I managed those tires....... Friends with smaller 5-6k lb boats well within spec for the trailer and tires and blow tires constantly because they ignored the tire health.

On our Jeep's it shouldn't be anything like that to manage, just maintain proper PSI and general care.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My experience, a boat trailer, that was at or over weight, running Marathons.....

Never had an issue, but I did run them over inflated most always. That was per a former GY factory guy. They ran much cooler and I never had any issues with 1 exception.

Had one peal and toss the tread. The tire was still inflated. Turns out, the last ones I bought were from China. That's one thing he warned me about. They aren't the same, and they're all over.

From then on, I made sure the tires were manufactured anywhere but China and I was golden. That and over inflating appropriately for the weight ad the tires never got over heated.

Boats are easy, most of the time as they're balanced on the trailer unlike other trailers that need someone that understands and centers/balances weight.

Also, storing them, if it's outside, cover them. Keep direct sun OFF of them. Also, long term storage, rotate each wheel about 45 degrees every month or 2. Even if it's 6 months, the tires will stay healthier. That was another surprise from the GY guy. He said he tried to beat that into travel trailer customers, to simply lift and rotate, so customers don't drive off with a new trailer that's sitting on 1 year old tires that sat in the same spot. Oils in the rubber will actually leach downward leaving drier top of the tire.
Again, I was running about 1500# over weight and not really balanced as it should be but I managed those tires....... Friends with smaller 5-6k lb boats well within spec for the trailer and tires and blow tires constantly because they ignored the tire health.

On our Jeep's it shouldn't be anything like that to manage, just maintain proper PSI and general care.

My car hauler gets set up on stands for the winter or when not using on a fairly regular basis. Tires covered, easy to rotate them for the betterment of the tire and so the bearings aren't sitting in the same spot at all times. Odd but I've seen bearings where they sat long-term in one position and you could see the outlines of the rollers on the cup. Maybe it's nothing, but always made me wonder.

For my classic cars - I usually try to store them so I can push forward a bit, or backward a bit, so they don't sit 4 months in one spot, and over-inflate for the winter.

 

[JKenTex]

I keep a loaded grease gun in the trailer tool box.

Years ago, I bought a brand new PJ car hauler and hauled it home. Dealer prepped, ready to go.
Loaded my 70 Javelin, got almost to the show/swap meet/races and WTF - that trailer tire is wobbling.
Got out and checked - the bearings were gone. I was close to the destination so slowly limped it in, unloaded the car and proceeded to check it out. It toasted the end of the axle, hub, and brakes.
Took wheel and hub off, jacked up the axle end and chained it to the frame so I could get it all back home.
Checked all of the other hubs - no grease. Sent pictures to PJ trailers in TX and suggested total lack of grease could have been the cause, asked if it left the factory that way - if so, they may have other issues, or if it was a dealer issue (they are also supposedly to check everything over).
The following week, a whole new axle assembly arrived at my home - I never even suggested it be free.
I assume nothing after that. Factory missed, dealer missed, I should have triple checked.

The PJ trailer I had -

Aluma tilt-bed I have now. It was a short run so I tossed the spare in the back of the truck instead of mounting it on the trailer's spare tire mount seen in the pic

I typically lift the trailer off the tires for the winter, keep the tires covered unless using it and keep the spare in the garage away from light. Grease gun in tool box along with a hydraulic jack and other stuff.

That's way to close my '79 Z28's (had 2) with the 1st having Crager SS's, like just about everyone, and everything running them in the early 80's. My Z's were both bronze and the first one (loaded t-tops etc.) had the gold anodized SS's. A couple buddy's had TA's.......no comment in the different in the 350 and the 403. Azzhales would always kick my butt by after about 50 MPH. The second was basic, but had a LT1 out of a '70 Vette with 4 speed. No one bothered to try anymore. It would roast the tires if I wasn't careful, but past 100 was a beast. 140 easy...

 

[JKenTex]

My car hauler gets set up on stands for the winter or when not using on a fairly regular basis. Tires covered, easy to rotate them for the betterment of the tire and so the bearings aren't sitting in the same spot at all times. Odd but I've seen bearings where they sat long-term in one position and you could see the outlines of the rollers on the cup. Maybe it's nothing, but always made me wonder.

For my classic cars - I usually try to store them so I can push forward a bit, or backward a bit, so they don't sit 4 months in one spot, and over-inflate for the winter.

So I'm not the only one that believes, whole heartedly, that it's dead on correct.

I tried to rig something up to do the same but I didn't trust the trailer. I'd bring a small floor jack and get it just high enough to get that quarter rotation. Pretty much once a month when we weren't on the water.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So I'm not the only one that believes, whole heartedly, that it's dead on correct.

I tried to rig something up to do the same but I didn't trust the trailer. I'd bring a small floor jack and get it just high enough to get that quarter rotation. Pretty much once a month when we weren't on the water.

Correct or not, because I don't like to leave tires sitting on the ground long-term, car or trailer, and it's so easy to do when they are elevated.....

I have a cousin who retired as a "tire maker" at Bridgestone/Firestone - good question for him, maybe.
Might confirm my paranoia, or have him laugh, dunno. I'll see him in a week or so at a family gathering.

 

[Labswine]

So, I just ordered 4 Goodyear Endurance All Season Trailer Tire ST205/75R14 LRD 2040 Lb. 65PSI tires for my trailer. They are AMERICAN made. I checked a few other tires on Amazon and called the suppliers and they admitted that all their trailer tires were made in China. So, to them I said, "NO Thank you".

So the plan is to get the Goodyears mounted on the rims and, that one tire I just bought to replace the one that blew out, to get mounted on the spare tire rim since it's basically brand new, even though it says on it, "Made in China".

I also bought a 3 ton floor jack to be able to raise the axles to get the tires/rims off, as well as 3 Ton jack stands to hold up the axles whilst the tires are being replaced, and when we travel, that floor jack will travel with us in the bed of my Gladiator, as it'll be much easier to work with than the factory scissor jack that Jeep provided with my JT Overland. Hopefully, I won't need it.

I've been driving for over 45 years and had NEVER had a flat tire on any of my vehicles until that fateful trip. Hopefully, won't happen again but, this time at least I'll have the tools ready to deal with it.

 

[Gatorac]

Noticed this about a week ago. Spare tire went boom just sitting next to the house. This was the last of the tires I got in 2022 from Simpletire.com that was date coded 2017. Never buy tires from that place. They were already 5 years old when they shipped them to me. I'm still pissed about it.

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