What Causes Trailer Tire Failure

Published 12/26/2014

Question:

I keep having blowouts on same side, Anne tire. How can i test to see if my trailer brakes are causing this?

asked by: Candra R

Expert Reply:

Typically trailer tires fail for the following 3 reasons.

1) Keep your tires fully inflated to the maximum pressure listed on the tire sidewall. Unlike a passenger car tire, trailer tires feature a stronger sidewall designed to provide greater stability when under load. Failure to fully inflate the tires can cause heat build-up, leading to premature tire failure. Also, a tire only will only realize its specified load rating when inflated to its maximum psi shown on the tire.

2) Do not overload your tires. Your towing system will only be as strong as the capacity of its lowest-rated component. Running your tires when loaded above their stated capacity will increase the heat build-up, shortening your tire life.

3) Most trailer tires are only rated up to 65 mph. Consistently traveling at higher speeds will increase the heat in the tires, which again will shorten their life.

Brakes don't normally cause the tires to fail unless the tire is locking up all the time, which if that is the case you would probably know this already.

expert reply by: Jameson C