How long should trailer tires last?

[horsinaround]

I looked at a XStar yesterday with a tandem axle trailer. It was a 2001 that "had only been take to the local lake and back". It had 400 hours on the boat.

The trailer tires were really worn, especially the back ones... Smooth. Looks like they were ballanced. The wear was also fairly even.

Should I think that I just have to replace the tires and roll on? Would the brakes be dragging, causing me to have to rebuild the brake system and replace the tires? Would the axles be bad and have to be realigned/bent back into shape??

I am trying to figure out what my offer for the boat should be. 500 for tires is one thing, but the other items could really add up.

My horse trailer has over 10000 miles on it and it's tires look great. It is a lot heavier than the boat to...

[rjracin240]

Checking to0 see if the brakes are dragging would be easy.....jack up each side if the wheels spin freely then the brakes are good! Worn tires on the trailer might be a good indication that the hourmeter could have been disconnected! To check the alignment of the wheels scribe a line on the tires with chalk or something that will leave a mark when you have the trailer jacked up to check for the brakes. This mark should be around the circumference of each tire and in the relative same place side to side. Then take a tape measure and measure from left to right on the front side of the tires then the same on the back side (Measurement should be same in back as in front give or take a 1/16th of an inch). This will give you an idea as to wether you have a bent spindle causing one wheel to be toed out or toed in.
Sounds like there is an inconsistency between hourmeter reading and tire wear to the "local lake". Expect about 20,000-30,000 miles out of the tires, then figure out how old they are (date stamp on side of tires one set of numbers are for week in year and then the year). Guess your detective work will be whether the tire wear, stated use of the boat and the hourmeter jive.

Good Luck

[east tx skier]

I looked at a XStar yesterday with a tandem axle trailer. It was a 2001 that "had only been take to the local lake and back". It had 400 hours on the boat.

The trailer tires were really worn, especially the back ones... Smooth. Looks like they were ballanced. The wear was also fairly even.

Should I think that I just have to replace the tires and roll on? Would the brakes be dragging, causing me to have to rebuild the brake system and replace the tires? Would the axles be bad and have to be realigned/bent back into shape??

I am trying to figure out what my offer for the boat should be. 500 for tires is one thing, but the other items could really add up.

My horse trailer has over 10000 miles on it and it's tires look great. It is a lot heavier than the boat to...

I start looking hard at the tires on my single axle after 3 seasons. When I bought my boat, the previous owner could not tell me when the tires were replaced. I got him to add the price of two new GY Marathons to the price we agreed on and he had new tires on it when I picked it up. I didn't want to chance the drive home to that sort of unknown.

[jraben8]

3 years is it for me whether they look like they need it or not. The alternative is just not worth it to me...

[mayo93prostar]

Tire life depends upon multiple factors including where the trailer is stored. Mileage is one factor but UV light and ozone exposure are very important. I was told a few years ago ozone was a detriment to tires sitting outside, not sure how much I believe it, but... Many of us owners have seen tires with lots of tread thickness left but they have deep cracks in the tread and sidewall area and therefore are risk for a blowout. tires on a trailer stored in a garage are going to last longer than one stored outside in the sun, given they have the same mileage.

[kkkeating]

Seems odd they would be worn smooth; I'd ask if they were the original tires or did someone elect to change them out with a worn out pair on their vehicle.

[Dylan]

I looked at a XStar yesterday with a tandem axle trailer. It was a 2001 that "had only been take to the local lake and back". It had 400 hours on the boat.

The trailer tires were really worn, especially the back ones... Smooth. Looks like they were ballanced. The wear was also fairly even.

Should I think that I just have to replace the tires and roll on? Would the brakes be dragging, causing me to have to rebuild the brake system and replace the tires? Would the axles be bad and have to be realigned/bent back into shape??

I am trying to figure out what my offer for the boat should be. 500 for tires is one thing, but the other items could really add up.

My horse trailer has over 10000 miles on it and it's tires look great. It is a lot heavier than the boat to...

I would probably dismiss this as high mileage, or just worn out from maneuvering the tandem trailer (and rarely rotated). Every time I park my trailer, I'm sure I subtract 500mi of tread on the tandem axle.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

If the rear tires on a tandem axle trailer are worn more than the front, likely the previous owner had his hitch too high and overworked the rear tires.

[flashydubber]

If the rear tires on a tandem axle trailer are worn more than the front, likely the previous owner had his hitch too high and overworked the rear tires.


sounds like a good point you've made. Also brakes would engage funny if the trailer isn't level

[horsinaround]

If the rear tires on a tandem axle trailer are worn more than the front, likely the previous owner had his hitch too high and overworked the rear tires.

That could be... His truck was a bit jacked up. The back tires were smooth. fronts were worn on the edges as i would expect from manuvering. The owner said that they were the original tires and then never worried about it as it was 20 mins to the lake.

I understand age is hard on a tire too. No question these need replaced.

On the actual hours, I understand on an Indmar that you can check the actual hours by plugging into the engine. Is the tool something only MC has or is it the standard code checker that autozone or advanced auto has. If so, where do you plug it in? The nearest MC dealer is a long ways away. My luck I would have to buy tires to get it there.


Thanks.

[Bruce Carr]

There will be a date code on the sidewall of the tire. It should be four digits with the first two being the week of the year and the second two being the calendar year. For example: 5009 would be the 50th week of 2009.

Knowing when the tires were made can help determine if they are originals.