What Causes Trailer Tires to Wear on the Center

Updated 05/31/2016 | Published 05/29/2016

Question:

I have a Dilly single axle boat trailer, with 8 inch wheels, carrying a 15 foot aluminum boat with a 9 HP out board motor and it is shredding tires. I went through a set of tires in about 200 miles. The tire wear is in the center of the tire and both tires are wearing similarly, and blew out within about 20 miles of each other. I purchased the trailer from a private seller, and he said that the had just recently redone the bearings. What do you recommend?

asked by: Steve Y

Expert Reply:

When you get wear just in the center tread of a tire that does indicate that the tire is over-inflated.

You want to make sure the tires are inflated to the max psi listed on the sidewall of the tires. Over-inflation would cause the wear and then could lead to the failure issues you are having.

If you jack up a side of the trailer do the wheels turn easily without any in/out or tilting movement? If so, the bearing are fine.

expert reply by: Jameson C