Cargo carriage is an essential need for countless sole proprietors, businesses, and traders in the world. As a trailer driver, the safety of your cargo is your responsibility, and the health of your trailer tires should be your no. 1 consideration for that. But it’s hard to know when you need to replace trailer tires.
Without healthy tires, the safety and timely delivery of your merchandise are at risk. You should always keep an eye on important metrics like tire pressure and tread wear. Failure to do so can result in loss of cargo, or worse, a fatal accident.
Here are some considerations to replace trailer tires.
1. How Long Has It Been?
The first thing to consider is the age of your trailer tires. How long has it been since you replaced them? At about 4 years of age, they can show signs of dry rot and significant wear and tear. Such worn conditions will put you at a high risk of blowouts, so it’s best to replace your tires at this stage.
With tires, looks can be deceiving. Even if the outer wall looks healthy, the inward-facing wall might not be in such good shape. You should check the tire’s sidewalls for its manufacturing date to find out its precise age. If they’re older than 4 years, we’d suggest replacing them before your next trip.
2. Tire Condition
Besides the tire’s age, its tread also speaks volumes about whether or not it needs replacement. Inspect your trailer tires closely and look for signs of wear.
Has the tire gone bald? Are tread patterns still sufficiently pronounced? Check if the tube still fits well. If you find anything off with the tire’s appearance and wear patterns, it might be time for a new set of tires for your trailer.
3. Check for Uneven Treadwear
The state of your tires also tells a lot about your trailer. If the tread wear on your tire seems to be rougher on either side, it could indicate an alignment issue with your trailer. If that’s the case, get your trailer axles checked before installing a new set of tires. Make sure you correct the problems with your trailer before investing in a replacement to avoid uneven tread wear on new tires.
4. Tire Size
With trailers, tire size plays a significant role in the operation, load capacity, and durability of your tires. The capacity of your tires should at least match up to the load capacity of your trailer.
For instance, you should at least have a 15”/225-10 radial-ply set installed on a trailer with 10,000 lbs of load capacity. Using tires with a compatible load capacity helps you avoid life-threatening hazards on the road. Check if your current tires meet the required load rating criteria for your trailer. If not, we’d suggest replacing them.
Summary
Transporting merchandise across the country is a job that includes tons of responsibility. As a trailer driver, the safety and timely delivery of your cargo are on you. Therefore, having a reliable set of trailer tires installed is the bare minimum. Before you set out on another trip, make sure you address the considerations mentioned in this article and replace trailer tires if needed.
