Recommended 235/85-16 Tires for Horse Trailer

Updated 05/20/2021 | Published 05/19/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Tamarack ST235/80R16 Trailer Tire with Silver Mod Wheel - 8 on 6-1/2 - Bead Balanced

(317)

$247.95

Adco Designer Tyre Gard RV Tire Covers for 30" to 32" Tires - Single Axle - Tan - Qty 4

(304)

$87.33

Karrier ST235/85R16 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range E

(2325)

$195.29

Question:

Have a 36 ft long 3 horse trailer Elite brand. Came with Michelin 235/85 16 E Tires 20 years ago. Have always purchased same tire as replacements but keep getting blown tires, broken belts. I am now needing education on trailer tires. Trailer rated for GVWR 15103, GAWR 6084. If carrying 3 horses plus stuff roughly 4000lbs extra. What is your recommendation for tires?

asked by: Mariann L

Expert Reply:

Let's begin with possible reasons for the blowouts you've experienced. The number one nemesis of trailer tires or any tire for that matter is excessive heat build up. Overloading, under inflating and exceeding the speed rating of a tire will all cause heat to built up and contribute to its early demise.

Also, worn or damaged suspension or axle components can also cause premature wear. Make a practice of examining the wear pattern on your tires. The wear should be uniform, if it's not then there's an issue and I'll link to an article that goes further into this.

Finally, how do you store your trailer when it's not being used? If it spends a lot of time in direct sunlight, over time the UV radiation breaks down the compounds in the rubber, which makes tires susceptible to failure.

So, how do you maximize the life of your trailer tires? Don't overload, keep them properly inflated, don't exceed the tire's speed rating, keep your suspension in good repair.

I'd recommend a quality trailer tire like the Kenda Karrier which we offer in 235/85-16 Load Range E as part # AM10295. The tire has a 3640 per tire/7240 lb per axle weight capacity, which exceeds your GAWR so you'll have some capacity to spare.

To protect the tires from UV radiation if the trailer's stored outside, I'd recommend tire storage covers like part # 290-3962 to protect your tire investment.