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Trailer tires are very important when traveling for long distances and carrying heavy loads, so you need to choose them very carefully. You can find trailer tires for various road or weather conditions, as well as for light or heavy loads. Keep on reading to learn more about used trailer tires online.
What is different about trailer tires?
Whether you are pulling a camper, a boat or a utility trailer, you need to make sure that you have the right model which is compatible with your vehicle and the load that you plan on carrying.
Trailer tires must:
- Be able to carry heavy loads — trailer tires are made to handle heavy weights, so that’s why you should never place your usual car tires on a loaded trailer. By having the right set of tires you can get there faster, safer and more comfortable. Some of the trailer tires in our catalogue are able to carry as much as 28 600 pounds! Check out the information on Load Indexes later in this article and customise your research on our site!
- Reduce stress to your vehicle — when pulling a heavy trailer or boat with your truck or an SUV, you are putting a lot of stress on the car. By having the right set of tires on your trailer, you can reduce the stress to your car and also the gas consumption. First of all, you have to choose the right size of trailer tires and analyse all the conditions that they will need to withstand. You will find all the answers in this text.
What are ST tires?
Tire world loves its abbreviations. For example, the letter P found in the tire number on its sidewall, refers to a passenger tire, LT stands for light trucks and ST means a “special tire”. ST tires are designed specifically for trailers, whether they are trailers for cars, boats or utility vehicles. These tires have a stronger construction in order to carry heavy loads on non-powered axles, and also have stiff sidewalls to prevent the trailer from swaying.
The construction and the materials ST tires are made of (inner fabric steel structure, steel belts, etc.) allow them to have some of the highest load — and some of the lowest speed indexes in the industry. This is the main reason why you should never use P tires on your trailer! They are just not made for that! Always use ST tires.
How to choose the best used tires for a trailer?
Here are some key aspects to keep in mind:
1. Radial or Bias Ply
Radial tires are made with belts of steel that run at a 90 degrees angle of the tread center line. This makes them last for longer and also not develop flat spots when the trailer is parked for long periods of time. Offer a smooth ride and work well even at high speeds on the highway. They also tend to remain cooler.
Bias ply tires have nylon belts running at 30 to 45 degrees in angle from the tread center line. Bias ply tires are stiffer and increase the stability when the trailer is loaded, reducing sway. They are cheaper than radial tires.
2. Speed Index
Speed index (also known as the speed rating) indicates the maximum speed at which the tire can carry the load shown by the load index. The number shown by the manufacturer was tested in ideal road conditions, but in real life it also depends on the age of the tire, the pressure, the road and weather conditions, and other factors.
Trailer tires usually have high load indexes, but low speed indexes. It’s quite obvious that you should not drive at high speeds when pulling a heavy trailer or boat. The speed indexes for the used trailer tires we currently have in stock are L (75 mph max) and M (81 mph max).
3. Load Index
This number shows the maximum weight that the tire can hold at the maximum speed indicated by the speed index. The higher the index, the bigger the load. Load indexes of used trailer tires that we currently have in stock range from 91 (1.356 lbs per one wheel) to 149 (7.165 lbs per one wheel). If we take the latter for example, it means that one tire can hold a maximum load of 7.165 lbs. Therefore, a trailer with 4 wheels equipped with these tires has a capacity to carry a very heavy weight of 28 600 pounds.
Check out Goodyear Unisteel LT 275/80R22.5 G670 RV 149/146L in our catalogue! It costs just $390,25 and it has only been driven once!
4. Tread size
A larger tread offers more grip on wet roads or off-road conditions, but it also makes the tires louder at high speeds. Choose the tread size, according to the road type and weather conditions of your destination.
And keep in mind that new or used trailer tires have a narrower tread width for decreased rolling resistance and a shallower depth of the tread (this reduces the squirm).
5. Tread Design
Trailers are usually driven on paved roads and highways, therefore, they usually have symmetrical and directional tread patterns. Symmetrical tread pattern gives good stability and a comfortable ride, which makes these tires fuel efficient on dry roads, but performs worse on the wet roads.
Directional tread is shaped in a V and it’s great for wet roads protecting against aquaplaning (these tires suit for driving in snow or mud). Choose the one that is right for you in our catalogue!
Brands of used trailer tires
Utires.com selection of tires includes models from some of the top brands in the world, such as Bridgestone, Dunlop, Yokohama, Goodyear, Cooper, Continental and more. We have tires from more than 50 companies and you can find them in the “Shop by brand” section of our website.
While our offer for used trailer tires is not as big, we still have products from Goodyear, Contender, Samson, Supercargo and Transmaster. Some of our customers’ favorites are:
- The Goodyear Unisteel G670
- The Transmaster Trailer Radial
- The Contender Premium Trailer
- The Supercargo Radial Trailer
- The Samson Trailer Express
Check all of them right now and see if you can find the right one for your trailer.
Trailer tires by tire season
Trailers are not made to ride at high speeds on the highway (so they don’t need summer tires), and they are also not made to be driven on heavy snow (so they don’t need winter tires). Most trailers are equipped with All-season tires and this type is the most common type.
All season tires offer good traction and control on both dry and wet roads, as well as mild snow. They are suited for places with mild climates with summers that are not as hot and winters that are not very cold. Some of the most popular models of all season trailer tires we currently have in stock are the Goodyear Unisteel G670 and the Transmaster Trailer Radial.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a used trailer tire cost?
The price of a used tire depends on the model of the car, the size, the year and the tread left. At this moment, the trailer tires that we have in store range from $39 to $390 per piece. The more tread is left, the more expensive the tire, but even so, you end up paying way less than for a brand new one.
- Used trailer tires under $200 – the models you will usually find in this category are single units, either bias-ply or radial. Most models on our website are in this price category, including the Goodyear Unisteel G670 and the Samson Trailer Express.
- Used trailer tires over $200 – in this category you will either find bulky tires with a wider tread, or sets of 2 or 4 tires. The models we have in this category are the Towmaster Trailer Radial, the Contender Premium Trailer and various sets of 2 or 4.
New or used trailer tires?
As the road ahead, a need to change tires can be absolutely unpredictable. If your current set of trailer tires is showing signs of wear, something happened to it, or maybe the seasons are changing. But you still don't need to spend a lot of cash and buy new tires. Online shops like Utires.com offer a wide variety of quality used trailer tires — or any other kind you might need.
All of the tires featured in the catalogue have good tread left, undergone serious quality control and are sold with significant discounts. In comparison with new tires, used trailer tires can save you up to 30% cash, such as the Goodyear Unisteel or the Transmaster Trailer Radial.
Also, by buying used tires you participate in the environment protection and really help to reduce rubber waste.
When to replace used trailer tires?
Every 3 to 5 years. Keep in mind that trailer tires are not replaced based on the tread they have left, but based on their overall condition. When in storage, trailer tires are affected by UV rays, wind, rain and so on.
The UV radiation causes damage to the sidewalls, and together with other factors, the tires get oxidised. This is why they are made of special rubber compounds that help them to keep up better when stored, but you still have to replace them at least every five years.
Can you use car tires on a trailer?
No. Car tires are usually designed to work well at high speeds and not to carry heavy loads. On the other hand, trailer tires are made for supporting heavy loads and they don’t do so well at high speeds. So you should definitely not place car tires on your trailer or vice-versa.
What pressure used trailer tires must have?
Your used trailer tires should be always inflated to the maximum pressure recommended by the manufacturer —according to the weight that you are going to carry! You will find this on the official site of your tire’s manufacturer. For example, Goodyear Unisteel G670 for the 245/75R22.5 size has to be 70 psi for 3875 lbs per wheel (highway steer) and 105 psi for 5150 lbs per wheel (highway steer).
Always make sure to check the pressure of each tire on a regular basis! And also — before driving, as it increases with heat.
- Underinflated tires become overworked and in time they will get damaged and unsafe (and can even blow up)
- Overinflated tires lose traction, the tread will wear much faster, plus they can also overheat and blow up.
How to store used trailer tires?
The first and most important thing when you park your trailer for extended periods of time is to keep the tires away from the damaging UV rays of the sun. You can do so by parking the trailer in a garage or by covering them with specially designed tire covers.
Also make sure to park the trailer on an even surface, and remove as much load from it as possible. If it’s not possible to remove all or some of the weight, at least move the trailer occasionally so that the pressure isn’t put on the same spot for long periods of time.
Also make sure to always stick to the recommended load shown by the load index in order to not overload the tires and damage them or have them blow up.
Where to buy used trailer tires?
There are usually four places that you can get used tires from: local dealers, retail stores, online marketplaces and online stores. Going online shopping is very handy: you’re capable of choosing from a very wide variety of carefully selected models of new or used trailer tires — and find the best price and tread left for your current needs. Our customers leave thousands of positive reviews on Google and eBay. Join them, because we are keeping on delivering (for free right to your door)!