trailer tires: Radials or not?

VortecJeep

VortecJeep

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Aug 24, 2005
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Concord, NC
Will be buying a trailer soon to haul the TJ on. Radial tires are an option when I look at trailers on Kaufman's website. Are radials worth the extra money on a trailer?
 
yes ! Mine run very cool. ( barely warm to the touch) IMHO and based on intarweb folk lore they are less susceptible to issues if you move them around or have to run a different tire in a pinch.

ex. with my 16" radials, I'd run a truck tire and not think twice to get me home.
 
I just replaced my bias ply trailer tires w/ a new set of radials and honestly I can tell for some reason the trailer moves around just a little bit. Before it never moved. Other than that I can't tell a difference except the radials squat more w/ a heavy load on them.

does this mean your going to Harlan w/ us in June since you'll have a trailer?
 
IMHO, it depends on the size & the load...

If you've got 15" rims, LR "C"' (car tires) or the "trailer rated" D's won't hold up in the long run. It's been chronicled on several forums that folks are getting crappy life out of them, only getting a few 1000 miles out of brand new radials... many on brand new trailers. Tread separation, blow outs, etc :rolleyes:
Who knows, could be shatty construction and the axles are misaligned or similar?

My trailer's no light weight (2200# dry) & rated by Hudson (prior to axle swap) at 10K#, so I'm toying with some LR "E" radials (ended up with a 1/2 dozen after swapping tires on the Sub)... just not sure if they'll fit under the fenders (heavy 3/16" plate), but pretty sure they'll hold up to a 7K# load without issue :lol:
 
lockedup5 said:
I just replaced my bias ply trailer tires w/ a new set of radials and honestly I can tell for some reason the trailer moves around just a little bit. Before it never moved.
Click to expand...

Probably tread squirm, common with all new tires.
 
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