Recommended Replacement Special Trailer Tires for 1964 Vintage Travel Trailer  

Question:

Expert Reply:

First things first: cool trailer.

What I suggest you do is reply back to me with your trailer's current tire size. This will be noted on the tire's outer sidewall. Also noted on the tire sidewall will be the weight Load Range the tire is rated for. This may appear as "LR B" or "LR C" for example.

Any given trailer tire size could be offered in several different weight load ranges and so you'll want to select tires of the appropriate size, of course, but also with the load range rating that provides some safety margin based on the trailer's GVWR, or its gross vehicle weight rating - the most it is allowed to weigh when fully-loaded up. The trailer's main identification sticker or plate should have this GVWR.

The benefit of using higher-weight-rated tires, whether radial or bias ply, is that a tire will run cooler when it is not operated at or close to its maximum capacity. Heat is a trailer tire's worst enemy so using tires that can handle more weight than you're going to require them to means they will run cooler and often last longer. Please reply with your tire size and the trailer GVWR and I will be glad to offer recommendations. You can refer to the two linked articles too for more details on trailer tire sizing and selection.

I do notice that your trailer is in what appears to be excellent shape for its 53 years and I suspect that it was well-cared-for and perhaps stored inside a barn or shed for much of that time. I urge you to consider a protective cover for the trailer, along with storage covers for your new tires, for the off-season. A cover is much easier and cheaper to replace than a trailer tire that has suffered damage from UV exposure.

I linked our pages for tire covers as well as for RV storage covers in case you also want to consider these items along with your new tires. We have RV storage covers for both warmer and cooler type climate zones.

expert reply by: Adam R

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