trailer and tire maintenance

[flyingnugget]

ok, so don't laugh at my stupidity on this subject but....

After this boating season I'm looking to upgrade my OEM tires and rims for something a little better. They will be 3yrs/seasons old. Traveled with the boat this year and we are ready to extend our reach and try new places. Most of the time the boat is wet slipped during season so we don't have a ton of miles on the wheels at all.

Soooo, when y'all get new tires and rims for the shorelander, where do you take it? just a regular tire store? or does it need to be a special trailer tire/repair place?

Can you take it and get the rims/tires with the boat on it still, or do I need to have just the trailer?

Thanks guys and be gentle..lol

 

[Andy S]

You can leave the boat on the trailer to replace tires.

Where to purchase, either at a local tire store or online which ever has the best price.

 

[AndyD]

We just bought tires from Discount Tire. They sold wheels there too but we were only in the market for tires. Left the boat on the trailer and trailer hooked to the truck. They just used a hydraulic hand jack to lift the trailer.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Discount tire for trailer tire service! They are pretty accurate with the psi too! All mine were within 1 lb of each other after 4 months of usage. And watch for promotions with tires, they usually have rebates.

 

[txav8r]

I second discount tire. I bought the Carlisle radials and was quite happy with them compared to the bias ply. Just having a tire worth balancing was well worth it. Those tires went from Texas to Lake Powell and back, and is currently in Florida for the Bimini crossing, so the tires are solid.

 

[SCP1]

Go with radial trailer tires, and make sure you get the same weight rating or heavier weight rating ( load rating). Don't assume they will give you the right (load rating) tire.

 

[bronze_10]

I think I saw someone on here say they always use light truck tires instead of trailer tires stating the lt tires were more duriable..

 

[swatski]

ok, so don't laugh at my stupidity on this subject but....

After this boating season I'm looking to upgrade my OEM tires and rims for something a little better. They will be 3yrs/seasons old. Traveled with the boat this year and we are ready to extend our reach and try new places. Most of the time the boat is wet slipped during season so we don't have a ton of miles on the wheels at all.

Soooo, when y'all get new tires and rims for the shorelander, where do you take it? just a regular tire store? or does it need to be a special trailer tire/repair place?

Can you take it and get the rims/tires with the boat on it still, or do I need to have just the trailer?

Thanks guys and be gentle..lol

So far, Carlisle radials seem to work well for everyone here with Shorland'r trailers. I have about 800 miles on mine - just put on last week - and so far so good. Those do run smoother than the original plys. I got those radials as a warranty replacement from Shorland'r. While Carlisle used to have terrible reputation in the past, their new tires seem to be all right.

--

 

[bronze_10]

The new aluminum trailer we bought last year has Carlisle and we have been to myrtle twice all of over central nc and va and eve a 1000 mile round trip to Ohio a few weeks ago and they have not missed a beat...

 

[flyingnugget]

Thanks guys...

This helps take out the stress of figuring out where and how to get new tires on the trailer...

Y'all rock!

 

[KXCam22]

I got the maxxis. They seem pretty good. Cam.

 

[2kwik4u]

I think I saw someone on here say they always use light truck tires instead of trailer tires stating the lt tires were more duriable..

I've always replaced my ST tires with LT tires when they are due. Not that the ST tires are bad, but the LT's are better. Same load ratings, radial construction, and much longer life (harder compound rubber I would presume) under normal usage. The bias ply ST's on our factory AR190's trailer are junk IMO. The sidewall is far too soft, and they flat spot over the course of a day or so. Takes 10-15 miles for them to build enough heat in them to "round out" again and drive smooth. When they become due for replacement I'll be finding a similar overall diameter wheel/tire combo in an LT style tire.

Got the tip/theory from a friend that is a professional drag racer and tows 3 weekends a month for about 9-10 months a year. He has a triple axle toy-hauler style trailer and sees a significant cost savings from the increased life of the LT's.

 

[KXCam22]

Mine had 14" and LT, although better, are hard to find in that size. I didn't want to upgrade the rim size so had to settle for the maxxis with the same load rating as the old tires. Still, they are pretty good and tow smooth. I wish I would have got them balance at the time but the tire shop talked me out of it. No issues with balance but would be better overall. Cam.