Tire Blowout on Starcraft Pop-Up Camper

Updated 07/20/2017 | Published 07/19/2017

Products Featured in This Question

Kenda Karrier S-Trail ST145/R12 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range E

(571)

$71.63

Kenda K353 Bias Trailer Tire - 5.30-12 - Load Range C

(3835)

$53.83

Question:

last year i blew 2 tires. Both had worn spots on them,and they were new. its a small starcraft popup camper. It says to put 80 psi on the side wall,and on the trailer as well. Im afraid im gonna blow them if i go that high. Can you help me?

asked by: Barry P

Expert Reply:

Special trailer tires should always be inflated to their maximum air pressure (in this case, 80 psi). Manufacturers test their tires to determine the optimal inflation level, and 80 psi is common for 12” trailer tires, so inflating to 80 psi won't cause a blowout in itself.

The most common cause of tire blowout is overheating. Overheating can be caused by several different factors:

-Overloading the trailer. If the load range of the tire is exceeded by the weight of the trailer, this can cause overheating, which can in turn cause the tires to blow.

-Under-inflating tires. Inflating tires to a lower air pressure than the maximum reduces the amount of weight that the tire can handle, which can cause the tire to fail if a heavier load is placed on the trailer.

-Axles that aren't aligned. If the trailer axles aren't correctly aligned, this could be causing your tires to develop wear spots and eventually blow out.

-Hot climates. If you are doing a large portion of your driving during the middle of the day or afternoon in a hot climate, this increases the chance that your tires will overheat and fail.

If you are not currently using radial tires, switching to these models would provide additional benefit. A radial tire flexes more than a bias tire, giving it better ground contact, traction, stability, and tread wear. Radial tires normally run cooler than bias ply tires, which contributes to a longer life for radials. If you are still looking to replace last year's tires, we carry several brands of 12” tires that require 80 psi. For a size 145/80-12 (the specific size should be listed on your tires), I recommend the Kenda Karrier S-Trail ST145/R12 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range E, # AM10140. This model includes premium rubber compound materials to help disperse heat, which would be highly useful if you do a lot of driving in hot weather. It also includes a 2-year warranty.

We do not currently carry radial tires in the 5.30-12 size, so for this size I recommend the Kenda K353 Bias Trailer Tire - 5.30-12 - Load Range C, # AM10066. This model is designed for excellent handling at high speeds, and it also includes a 2-year warranty.