Trailer Tires - Maintenance Tips And More

The tires on your trailer are just as important as the tires on your car or truck. They must be properly maintained or they may become damaged. However, with tires that hold the weight of the trailer, there are a few special considerations. So, before you pack up and head out, take a moment to look over these five important maintenance tips.

Find the recommended air pressure for the tires

People make a common mistake when they are filling their tires with air. They often look around the rim of the tire for a number that is printed in the rubber. Even though there usually is a number on the tire, it is not the recommended air pressure - rather, it is the maximum air pressure that the tire can hold. You should consult the maker of the tire or your trailer's manual to find the exact recommended air pressure. Keep in mind that it is better to be below the recommended air pressure than it is to be above.

The more often that you keep the tires at their recommended pressure, the longer they will last. Even if the trailer is not in use you should try to maintain this recommended pressure. This will keep the sidewalls of the tire sturdy when it comes time to use them.

Always check the air pressure before you leave

Take special care to check that pressure in your tires before every trip. Since you probably do not take your trailer out as often as your car, this should be easy to do. Simply make it part of your preparation to pull out a pressure gauge and make sure that the trailer tires are properly inflated. If they are not, take the extra few minutes to fill them up. Not only will you be much safer but you will also enjoy a much smoother ride and avoid the possibility of a small problem turning into something major.

Consider taking air with you

Since you may be out on a recreational trip with your trailer, it is always a good idea to actually bring air with you. If you are at a lake, campsite or other recreational area, it will be easy to fill up your trailer tires if you have brought a full air tank or air compressor with you. You don't have to bring much, just enough to get you back home safely if you lose some air pressure.

Always consider weather conditions

Since a trailer carries an extra heavy load, you always need to be wary of weather conditions. First, you should avoid using a trailer in unsafe weather. Second, you should consider buying special trailer tires if you foresee that you will have to drive in bad weather. Third, always pay close attention to how the weather affects your tires. Before you set out, check for cracks, splits or any other imperfections that might cause a blowout. To avoid damage like this, consider bringing your trailer tires inside or leaving your trailer out of nature's path.

Always use the right tires for the job

Trailers can carry varying loads, so you need to consider the maximum load that you will be carrying and buy tires accordingly. Figure it out like this - if your trailer has four tires and you can foresee the trailer carrying a 5000 pound load, then you would divide 5000 pounds by four. This will tell you that each one of your tires will need to be able to bear a weight of 1250 pounds. If you have trouble with this, contact a local tire dealer and they might be able to give you a professional opinion.

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