Trailer Tires are Wearing On the Inside Tread with Low Miles on the Tires

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Question:

I have a 6 x 10 utility trailer with ST205/75d15 tires on a single axel. The inside treads are wearing down to the threads with very little mileage on them. I have not had any heavy loads on the trailer. Could provide me with some advise to correct the problem. I dont believe they can be aligned.

asked by: Brian R

0

Expert Reply:

You may be experiencing some wear in the suspension components that can cause tire wear and also be a symptom or cause the axle to be misaligned. Inspect your suspension components and if any of the holes where hardware goes is egg-shaped, that indicates wear.

To determine if the axle is not properly aligned, pull in straight on a level surface and stop. Measure from the center of the axle on one end to the center of the ball hole on the coupler. Then do the same on the other side. Even a small difference can cause wear.

Tire wear on the inside generally indicates an overloaded trailer. If you have not been carrying heavy loads, check to see if the axle has been flipped. If it has, that would be why the tires are wearing. An axle has a bow in it that should be curved up. When a load is placed on it, the bow helps support some of the weight, the axle straightens some and the tires will wear evenly.

Make sure that your tires have ST in front of the tire size. This indicates it is a special trailer tire. Only use special trailer tires on trailers, not passenger vehicle tires. Trailer tires are built with a thicker sidewall to handle more vertical load which is why they must be inflated to the max psi indicated on the tire. If they are not, they can wear unevenly and there will be excessive heat build up that can cause the tire to fail.

If you can jack up one side of the trailer, try moving the wheel alternating pushing on the top and bottom of the tire back and forth. If there is movement, this would indicate there is a bearing problem and you will need to replace the bearings, races, and seals.

I have included some links to FAQ articles and videos that should help you.

expert reply by: Michael H

0

Larry K.

3/24/2020

I just purchased used 20.8 pontoon on single axle trailer with 20.x8x10 tires on it they are wearing on inside would heavier springs help correct this? if so can you recommend what would correct this problem

Chris R.

3/24/2020

New or higher-rated springs MIGHT help with this issue, but only if the existing ones are really old (visually calling to be replaced) or are being overloaded with the trailer's weight (based on their capacity). With that being said, I have doubts that a pontoon trailer would be heavy enough to exceed the leaf spring capacity. Replacing springs that are otherwise in good condition with higher-rated units won't resolve the problem. Are the tires being inflated to the max psi listed on the sidewall?

Kevin

4/15/2020

I have a 6 x 10 trailer and the inside is wearing out on the tire. Just replaced them last year and only thing thats been on it is my bad boy rogue mower. Should i upgrade to a tandem axle or what should i try. Trailers only 3 years old

Chris R.

4/16/2020

I don't think a tandem axle setup should be needed on a smaller trailer like this. Have you had the alignment checked? I would also visually inspect the suspension components to make sure everything looks okay. Lastly, make sure you're filling those tires up to the max psi listed on the sidewall - under inflating them could essentially cause you to overload them (since their capacity is based on inflation).

Answer 1

Typically a trailer axle will have some camber in it - some bend - such that when it is not loaded the tops of the wheels bow outward slightly, with the outside edges of the tire treads making first contact with the ground. This allows that when the…

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Answer 2

You can use the Timken Grease and Oil Seal #TMK98ZR in place of the Grease Seal #GS-2250DL. While they are not exactly the same seal construction it is still a double lip design and the dimensions are the same so they are going to fit correctly.

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Answer 3

A lot of it depends on the length of the springs and equalizers that are used. When using Leaf Springs #e64SR with the #AP233 Equalizer Kit and the #H248 Hanger Kit, there should be 29-1/2" between the front and center hangers and 29-1/2"…

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Answer 4

The Suspension Kit for Tandem-Axle Trailers - 1-3/4" Wide Double Eye Springs #AP233 is the standard suspension kit. For a heavy duty option, we have the Dexter Axle Heavy-Duty Suspension Kit for Tandem Axle Trailers - 1-3/4" Double Eye…

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Answer 5

Hi Brian, To ensure you're getting the correct fit you'll want to measure the spacing horizontally from eyelet to eyelet and vertically from the hanger bolt eyelet down to the center of the shackle strap eyelets on your current equalizer. The…

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Answer 6

We recommend that all trailer tires be inflated to the max psi stated on the sidewall of the tire. If the tire is under inflated, the weight capacity is lowered to an unknown amount for that tire. Although running lower air pressures can improve the…

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Answer 7

Excessive tire wear on just one tire of a tandem axle trailer could indicate a few things. First, and the easiest to check, it could be a problem with some component of the suspension. You will want to inspect the suspension on that side and look for…

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Answer 8

Hello Damon, thanks for reaching out. We do carry Dexter 5 on 4-1/2" hubs, so we should have what you need. There is no way to look up your trailer to know exactly what hubs are needed though, so I will need a bit more info. The best way to…

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Answer 9

A load range E tire will have a higher capacity than a load range C. However, it does not increase the capacity of the trailer. The load range E will be stronger though so if that is what you are looking for then you can switch to a higher load range…

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Answer 10

Based on the pictures you attached and the outer bearing measurement you provided, it appears that you have 1-1/16 inch spindle like the BTR EZ Lube Spindle #TRU44FR. This particular spindle is designed for 2,000 pound axles and will use the same…

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Answer 11

There really isn't a particular maximum trailer weight that is used to determine when brakes need to be added to both axles of a tandem axle setup. While I do still recommend checking your local laws, I am also not aware of any general laws that…

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Answer 12

You would gain extra stopping assistance by adding brakes to your second axle on your tandem axle trailer. This will also help keep your original set of brakes from wearing down as quickly since wear and tear will be placed on the brakes for both…

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Trailer Tires are Wearing On the Inside Tread with Low Miles on the Tires

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