Replacement Size 205/75-15 Trailer Tires

Published 01/27/2017

Question:

I have an 18 foot pipe trailer that hauls dirt, cars and a John Deere Tractor. The 2 year old tires did not wear well at all. The tires on the trailer are ST205/75D15. I had expected more than 2 years of service. Any recommendations?

asked by: Robert C

Expert Reply:

The most common reason trailer tires fail or don't last is from under inflation. Trailer tires should always be inflated to their maximum psi when the tires are cold. This is because trailer tires are constructed with a thicker sidewall than passenger vehicle tires to handle the increased vertical load. If the tires are under inflated the thicker sidewall will generate even more heat.

Other factors that can cause a tire to wear is exceeding the tire's speed limit rating or overloading them by carrying too much weight on your trailer. Tires are rated for speed and load capacity and going too fast or heavy will put added strain on the tires.

The damage to a tire is mainly caused because one of the above situations causes them to get too hot. Your current tires are bias tires which generally run hotter than radial tires. So you may want to replace them with radials. A radial tire will also flex more so it has better ground contact and traction which will improve the tread wear.

For a radial tire, size 205/75-15 I suggest the Westlake # LHWL300. These have a load range D with a maximum rating of 2,150 pounds when fully inflated to 65 psi. The maximum speed rating is 75 mph. They also come with a 5 year warranty.

expert reply by: Charles S