Ok, I have a 16' bumper trailer rated at 7000#, dual axles, one with brakes. The most I have had on it is 5000# of rock.....behind my 95' explorer....yeah, I know but that was before I got my truck and I needed the rock. Anyhow, I have been running pulloffs for the longest time. It has 15" tires by the way. So I got into hauling the scrap and noticed my pulloffs on the front axle looking a little dry rotted. So I hauled off some scrap, went to work and had the tire guy check on some trailer tires. Told him it was a 7000# trailer and needed the heaviest 15" they had, not worried to much about cost.

So he got me two for the axle and they are C rated at around 1875# at 50 or 60 psi. True trailer tires. Now my question is this. If the axle is rated at 3500#'s are these tires good?? Do you combine both tires or is 1875 what it would be for the one axle? Kinda thought it was stupid to rate an axle at 3500 and then you can only get tires rated at 1875. Asked if they had any D rateds in 15" and there was a big....NO. I have 235/75/15's and can't go much taller because of the fender clearance. I'm fixin to haul in about 5000-6000#'s of cast iron and safety while hauling is a big issue with me, but this tire thing keeps popping into my head. I wondered if I could go up to 16's on my trailer, but then I would need lower profile tires, thus less load capacity...and finding a 16" bolt pattern for a trailer?? That 22' gooseneck with the 2 foot dove is looking better everytime I haul something. Found one of those brand new for $3775, bed was between the wheels slightly and had tandem axles with 16's, think it was a 14,000# trailer.

Am I making to much of a big deal out of this or is this something I need to address. Most of the time I am hauling tin around 3000#'s, but occasionally I haul bigger. What are ya'lls thoughts on this?

Thanks, shawn

 

Tires are rated per tire for single or dual applications, when they are run side by side on a dually the rating is usually lower per tire than when ran as a single. 1875lbs for your single tire axle means per tire or 3750 for both sides or 7500 for your whole trailer. I think trailer builders usually figure this out so the max trailer rating is just under the tire ratings. These ratings are only correct if the tires are inflated properly. A lot of people pay no attention to tire ratings or pressures and are a danger to themselves and others on the road.

 

BTW if your trailer is only rated for 7000lbs it most likley weighs in @ 2000 so you only have a working payload of about 5000lbs +- 500lbs some people overload their trailers all the time and have no trouble(dumb luck) but if you ever have to make a emergency stop and you have under estimated your load and you have 7000lbs + the trailer or 9000lbs total you may not be able to stop(big liability) especially since you only have brakes on one of your axle's. I know a guy who hit someone when overloaded and though no one was killed he still got in a bunch of trouble and had to pay a bunch of $$$$ for the accident and got ticketed.

 

They do make both load range E and load range D in size st225/75/r15. The only thing to worry about is a lot of those wheels in 15 inch are only rated to 50 psi max. So if you try and put a tire on with a psi of 65 or 80, you might have some problems.

 

To put it simply if you are not overloading, a tire with half the axle rating is just fine!

 

Our shop has 7.00-15 Bias Nylon truck-tires load range D for $55 each and load range E for $68.

A 7.00-15 is the same height as a 225/75-15.

They are made in Thailand or Cambodia or somesuch and are tough as nails.

Once we convince someone to go with Bias on a trailer, they never buy another radial.

Bias has a lot stronger carcass and will not deteriate near as quickly when left sitting idle for long periods.

Also, a Bias tire will stand up to running low on air better than a radial.

If one half of the engineering had been put into Bias ply technology that has went into radial tires, they would be far superior.

 

Thanks for the good info, the numbers on the trailer were good to...have not thought about the trailer weight when thinking about 7000lbs. That means I had it loaded to max with my rock....if the trailer weighs 2000. Need a bigger trailer........ This week is cast iron week....and have a bunch!

 

Just don't get Carlisle tires.... they spontaneously combust or something

 

OOOHHHHHHH...... GREAAATT!! I think that's what he got me....well, on the trailer now.....said, " those are straight trailer tires" or something....should have just bought some regular tires....Thanks for the info though.

 

And knot up, and fly apart, and tread seperate, and explode.

Want good trailer tires, get DEESTONE.