Should 10 Year Old Trailer Tires be Replaced
Updated 11/03/2025 | Published 01/16/2025
Question:
I have a VERY small pop-up camper Kompact Kamp Mini-Mate that weighs about 350lbs. Around 500lbs loaded. It has Kenda Loadstar K371 4.80/4.00-8 tires on it. I used this trailer once for a month-long trip in 2015, towed behind a motorcycle. The camper has been sitting outside ever since. I plan to use it again this summer for a short trip up to the Grand Canyon. If I dont see any signs of dry rot on the tires I havent inspected them yet should I assume theyre OK or should I replace them just due to their age? While the trailer was outside in the Phoenix heat, it didnt get much direct sun because it was parked directly to the north of a large RV which shaded it . My spare tire has zero miles on it and was stored in a shed for the 10 years after the last use. No direct sunlight at all, but the temp in shed does get above 140 degrees quite often. The tire looks fine and still has full air pressure. Im thinking that one may still be good to keep as a spare. Can I get by with these tires as they are, or is 10 years too long? What is the life span for a bias ply tire? Ive had a heavy duty truck tire with only 2000 miles on it blow out at low speed because it was 10 years old. But that was a radial tire on a heavy diesel truck.
asked by: Jeff
Expert Reply:
Hey Jeff, this is a great question but generally trailer tires live to be about 4-6 years old before it's time to put them out to pasture. After that they just end up being unreliable and prone to failure. Yours being 10 years old and having lived through desert heat I would say they should be replaced. That said, many people (including my Dad) push past this limit without even thinking about it and it did work for some time.
Even if they look fine they rubber has broken down to some extent and you are on borrowed time. Since this is a motorcycle trailer I would be even more cautious since the stakes are even higher in terms of risk. For the price of the part # AM10002 I would just replace them and have one less thing to worry about.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Kenda Loadstar K371 Bias Trailer Tire - 4.80/4.00-8 - Load Range B
- Trailer Tires and Wheels
- Tire Only
- Bias Ply Tire
- Load Range B
- 4.80/4.00-8
- 8 Inch
- Kenda
more information >
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Jameson C.
11/3/2025
Hey Jeff, how did things go with the new Kenda Loadstar tires for your Mini-Mate camper? Did the fresh set give you peace of mind on your Grand Canyon trip? Your update could make it easier for others deciding when to replace older trailer tires.