Winterizing trailer tires

[magene]

I've blown out 3 or 4 trailer tires in the last 3 years, 2000 SAN, DHC tandem trailer. As far as i could tell, I didn't hit anything or drive over a bed of nails. They didn't look bad but were at least 5 years old. I'm trying to baby my new tires and wonder if anyone else puts their trailer up on blocks for the winter.

Thanks for the help - Gene

[SkiTower]

RE: Winterizing trailer tires

Not yet, and this is my third winter with this boat. Where do you store your boat (inside vs outside, where are you located, etc)

[harddock]

RE: Winterizing trailer tires

I just take out all of the summer air and replace it with winter air. Then change it back in the spring. pretty easy takes only a couple mins per tire.

[DanielC]

RE: Winterizing trailer tires

If you used multi viscosity synthetic air you would not have to change it every season.

[SkiTower]

Re: RE: Winterizing trailer tires

If you used multi viscosity synthetic air you would not have to change it every season.

And where would you get some of this and how much would it cost?

[SNobsessed]

Re: Winterizing trailer tires

wonder if anyone else puts their trailer up on blocks for the winter.

Gene - I did put my trailer up on some jack stands. Maybe it doesn't add tire life but it didn't cost me anything but 10 minutes either.

[core-rider]

RE: Re: Winterizing trailer tires

I don't know if blocks would really help with anything, but this season I did fill my tires with nitrogen. I always had an issue with my tires leaking down over time with normal compressed air so I changed to nitrogen since it is said not to leak out as fast. I've not had to add any air (nitrogen) this season, but I did have to replace a tire that the sidewall bulged out on. Also make sure you have high pressure valve stems. The only tire I've had blow out was acctually the valve stem that split.

BTW - My tires are now 6 years old on a single axle trailer.

[jpduster]

RE: Re: Winterizing trailer tires

The Sun is a big killer of tyres especially trailer tyres that don't get worn out and replaced as often as a cars would. Trailers are often parked facing in the same direction and cop full sunlight on one side.

[WakeSlayer]

Re: RE: Winterizing trailer tires

If you used multi viscosity synthetic air you would not have to change it every season.

Heh heh.

[ClemsonDave]

RE: Re: RE: Winterizing trailer tires

Don't own a boat at the moment (200 eta 2.5mths). However, I used to store them in my garage parked on scraps of carpet. Treated all sides of the tires heavily with 303. Outside, you could park on boards, treat with 303 and tire covers to protect from sun/weather.

[johnboyy7]

RE: Re: RE: Winterizing trailer tires

I do it cuz it makes since in my head to put them on blocks. Sitting on same spot of tire for 4 months seems like it could make it weak.

[CHassmann]

RE: Re: RE: Winterizing trailer tires

Store indoors on jack stands.

[bobchris]

RE: Re: RE: Winterizing trailer tires

Well waist of time blocking them up has no effect. Over loading the tire, wrong tire (load rating is not above load for the application), not having them inflated properly and the sun is what kills the tires not sitting.

if they are not rated for the load or they are not inflatted to the proper pressure for the load, then the sidewalls and cords inside of the tire breakdown and the tire fails. Using car tires enstead of trailer tires major no no. Not maintaining proper bearing grease or adjustment heats up the rims during use and causes the bead to fail. Sitting in the sun uncovered drys them out and causes leaks and weak sidewalls leading to failure.

So keep the trailer in a garage or out of the sun when not in use, cover the tires if you have to leave it outside unprotected. Inspect and repack the bearings as need, annually at a minimum, checking tire pressure before every use and every couple of weeks if stored long periods of time like over winter and you won't have any issue with your tires. Now if you bought the wrong tires to start with then there is nothing other than a new set is going to fix that.

Another common misstake is throwing tons of weight in the boat while it's on the trailer, full tank of gas, ballast, camp gear and on and on, if you only have a couple hundred pounds of margin on the load rating for the tires it's easy to exceed it by over loading the boat while it's on the trailler so know what your margin is before you load it up.

[harddock]

Re: RE: Winterizing trailer tires

If you used multi viscosity synthetic air you would not have to change it every season.

I hear that synthetic air is not enviromentally friendly and you need to be licensed to buy it around hear.

I spend too much time hunting naugas trying to get enough hides to redo my own seats. Apparantly they go into hybernation and are difficult to come by in the winter. Most in new england are runts so it takes many hides just to do a seat.

[harddock]

Re: RE: Winterizing trailer tires

If you used multi viscosity synthetic air you would not have to change it every season.

I hear that synthetic air is not enviromentally friendly and you need to be licensed to buy it around hear.

I spend too much time hunting naugas trying to get enough hides to redo my own seats. Apparantly they go into hybernation and are difficult to come by in the winter. Most in new england are runts so it takes many hides just to do a seat.