Regular street tires on boat trailer?

[Jeremy]

Any of you tried regular steel radials on you boat trAiler? Walmart has a sale right now $45 a tire.. I always heard not to on trailers but a tandem boat trailer and bass boat don't put a huge load on tires.... 4000 lb total... Isn't that about what a midsize car weighs?

[BigStickFishing]

The only thing different than a car tire is the thicker side wall that is made for increased load. I have always put car tires on my boat trailers with never an issue. Since when did a boat start waying more than a car does?

[blackgts2002]

You have to also take into consideration that your tires on your trailer are a big part of your suspention. I wouldn't use those tires.

[billius]

BassCat has been putting Cooper Cobra Radial GT tires on their trailers for a few years with no issues. I think right now, they may be in the process of changing brands, as there are some issue with getting the Cooper Cobras. I've got them on my trailer and have had no issues with them.

[21XDC]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by blackgts2002 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">You have to also take into consideration that your tires on your trailer are a big part of your suspention. I wouldn't use those tires.</td></tr></table>

[Beartrap]

used kelly charger passenger tires on my single axle ranger for years...fished tournys all over southeast plus made long trips to mexico and south texas each year.....no issues whatsoever and they wear much better and evenly than those cheap azz made marathons......

[trimman01]

just put cooper cobras gts on mine abought a month ago. I think they were around $130.00 each ,with white letters. Happy so far.......

[Beartrap]

how can something with 50-60lb of air pressure be part of your suspension...is that the part that makes it bounce higher or ride so hard....if passenger car tires had as many blowouts or failures as marathons or carlisles-the courts would be backed up with lawsuits against the manufactors...

[Mickstix]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Beartrap &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">how can something with 50-60lb of air pressure be part of your suspension...</td></tr></table>

The tires sidewall still flexes, reguardless of the air pressure.. It's the only suspension most boat trailers have.. The axles are solid and mounted directly to the frame.. And yes, the air pressure plays a big part in the amount of bounce or stiffness of ride, the trailer has.

[Beartrap]

I don't have any way of proving this except by observation but i firmly believe the tires on your pickup truck are far better made than the tires they sell as trailer tires.....I've used them to pull my boat all over with no issues...as far as sidewalls flexing,i have to assume that passenger car tires also flex....
p.s. my ranger trailer has springs.....

[trimman01]

how much are the sidewalls flexing when you are running across the lake.When theirs alot of boat traffic or big swells or rough conditions.I would think it would take more abouse on the water. I guess nobody has ever been airborn or caught a wave you didn"t see.I have never seen my trailer do any of that..

[Rayburn Rat]

what are you talking about Willis?

[250XDC]

I had some road hugger tires on mine for almost 8 years, replaced them with some cooper cobras

[trimman01]

The boat takes more of a beating on the water than on the trailer.I don"t care what tire you have or p.s.i it is inflated to. i have seen alot of trailers and very few didn"t have springs . Unless it was a homemade rigg..

[herk91]

You need to go out and look at your boat trailer real close. You will notice there are LEAF SPRINGS on your trailer IF YOU have some type of heavy boat, i.e. bass boat bowrider etc. Tires as part of your suspension; not as much as you think.

[blackgts2002]

the next time you hit a good dip in the road, watch the tires in the mirror... they sure do act as part of the suspension.

[tinfisherman]

I think a lot of people are all right in this situation. There are a lot of variables to consider. It all depends on the size of the boat and trailer, single or tandem axle, and if it has suspension or not. Maybe list your set-up, what tires you have and how they work, and if you have tried the alternative and how that worked out. Maybe we will get some better answers. I am currious as to the answers.

I currently have a 16 foot deep V on a shorlander roller trailer with leaf springs. I have actual trailer tires on. I agree the tires do flex when hitting dips, but so do the springs. The thing does ride awfully bouncy. I am currently looking to move to a bigger boat with a tandem trailer, so if it works out I wll post how that rides as well.

[CatFan]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Beartrap &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I don't have any way of proving this except by observation but i firmly believe the tires on your pickup truck are far better made than the tires they sell as trailer tires.....I've used them to pull my boat all over with no issues...as far as sidewalls flexing,i have to assume that passenger car tires also flex....
p.s. my ranger trailer has springs.....</td></tr></table>

I agree with you. Unfortunately, you can't get many good tires in 14" like out trailers need.

IMO, as long as your rig is well under the max load of all your tires, it isn't going to make much difference.

[rude150]

Trailer tires have a thicker sidewall, because most boats and campers, sit for long periods of time. Therefore, the thicker sidewalls help slow down flat spots, sagging, etc. There shold be an "ST" in the prefix of the numbers on the side of trailer tires.

[omcforever]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by rude150 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Trailer tires have a thicker sidewall, because most boats and campers, sit for long periods of time. Therefore, the thicker sidewalls help slow down flat spots, sagging, etc. </td></tr></table> Not! They are engineered to to take more abuse and load and flex less(flex creates heat and heat causes failure at speed),,,,,,,,,,i.e. the C D E and so on load ratings and additional plys not just thicker sidewalls. Most trailers with no shocks and car tires have a tendency to bounce and flex more and create heat and if they are under inflated like a lot are, and the tire is not up to it, It WILL fail. Then we start playing the blame game, damn Coopers or damn Goodyears,,ect.