Tire Recommendation for Long Distance Travel on a Boat Trailer

Published 09/27/2016

Question:

the current trailer tires i have on my boat trailer are st20575D14. my spare is a st21575D14. what is a good long distance travel tire? speeds on hwy at 60 mph. single axle. the boat is a 22 foot sundance skiff, fiberglass, not sure of the weight

asked by: John W

Expert Reply:

For a good long distance travel tire, I would recommend getting Radial Tires. I suggest you go to the 215 width because it will give you a higher load rating of D and a slightly wider tire for better ground contact. The 215 width will fit on the same wheel as the 205 and the size difference between the two is not so big a jump as to cause any concern regarding clearance.

The tires I'd recommend for your boat trailer are the Provider ST215/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire, # TTWTRTM2157514D. These tires have automotive-grade tread with a tread depth of 10/32 inch. They are rated for speeds up to 81 miles per hour, and they have a 2200-lb max load at 65 psi. This Taskmaster Provider Tire has a special design that couples the strength of a bias tire with the durability and stability of a radial tire. Your current tires are Bias which are strong, but less ideal for highway travel or long distances.

I would recommend replacing your spare tire so that you have all the same and using a cover for it, like # CE27430, so it doesn't break down faster with more direct sun exposure. Using your current spare would put a bias on one side and a radial on the other which would not be ideal as they handle differently by design, but it could still get you by in a pinch.

expert reply by: Jason S