What Type of Tire Should be Used on a Motorcycle Trailer

Updated 04/08/2015 | Published 04/07/2015

Question:

Why put a radial trailer tire on my small motorcycle trailer rather then a car tire? Both weight bearing capacity and speed rating of a car tire is well in excess of the loaded trailers gross weight and as good as, or better than, the radial trailer tire?! Thanks for your time.

asked by: Fred

Expert Reply:

Some tires are specially designed to be used on trailers. These tires include the letters "ST" in the size specification that is listed on the sidewall. The "ST" stands for "special trailer". This kind of tire has a stronger sidewall than an automobile or truck tire so it can handle higher air pressures and higher loads.

For a trailer I cannot recommend you use a passenger vehicle tire regardless of how small or lightweight the trailer is.

The main difference between a radial ply and a bias ply tire is how the tire is constructed. The cords inside a bias ply tire run at a 32 degree angle to the direction of travel, and the cords on a radial tire run at a 90 degree angle to the direction of travel, or across the tire from wheel lip to wheel lip.

A radial tire flexes more than a bias tire, giving it better ground contact, traction, stability, and tread wear.

A radial tire will normally run cooler than a bias ply tire, especially when the tire is under a load. A tire that runs cooler will last longer.

expert reply by: Jameson C