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Author Topic:   Trailer Tire Wear

masbama posted 09-07-2010 08:22 PM ET (US)
My single axle trailer tire on the right side is wearing out on the outside tread. Bought the tire new in the spring because of the same thing happening to the tire before. The left side tire is perfect after four years. The axle does not look bent. Is there some simple way to fix this?
russellbailey posted 09-07-2010 08:52 PM ET (US)
All 4 of the tires on the Continental tandem axle trailer under my Outrage 25 did this - they were like that when I bought it. The tires were still supple with no cracking, and I had a tire shop dismount and remount the tires so I could wear the other side. They had about 5000 miles on them.
I'm not sure why this happened but I'll still get good wear overall, and the remounting did not cost much compared to new tires. I've since put another 2000 miles on them.
I suspect your axle may be slightly bent. A heavy truck alignment shop could check and straighten if needed by precise bending. I have a trip there on my to-do list before I buy new tires.
jimh posted 09-07-2010 09:09 PM ET (US)
Is the tire with the uneven wear a bias-belted trailer-rated tire?
masbama posted 09-07-2010 09:34 PM ET (US)
Yes jimh; it is. It is not low on air. I am hoping for a DYI project or simple solution.
Jefecinco posted 09-08-2010 09:15 AM ET (US)
Do the obvious stuff like making sure the wheel bearings are not loose, lug nuts are torqued to spec, wheel is not bent, etc.
If you can find a nice flat and level hard surface nearby park the trailer there. Ensure the pressure in the tires is as equal as possible. Very carefully measure the distance from the flat surface to the bottom of the axle. If the distances are equal it's unlikely the trailer axle is bent in the longitudinal axis. Measure the distance from the axle (both sides) from the spring mounts to the tip of the trailer tongue. If the dimensions are equal this indicates that the axle has not slipped on one side. Measure the distance between the fronts of the tires and then between the rears of the tires. If these dimensions are equal it indicates you have no toe-in nor toe-out on your tires.
Finally, adjust the tongue height until one side of the axle is level (assuming a box shaped axle). Then check the other side of the axle for level. If both are level it indicates there has been no torque bending of the axle.
Butch
masbama posted 09-08-2010 09:33 AM ET (US)
Thanks Butch!
I'll give it a try.
Michael
moabelite posted 04-17-2015 08:31 AM ET (US)
Michael -
Did you ever get resolution on this question? Did you attempt the measurements Butch recommends and get an informing outcome?
I am experiencing heavy wear on the inside of one tire on the 2006 single axle Karavan trailer for my Montauk 170. Driver's side tire wears evenly. Passenger side wears heavy on the inside of the tire. Inflations are correctly set and I don't see any obvious signs of other issues.
Mel Wallace posted 04-18-2015 09:18 AM ET (US)
Might as well chime in to this conversation. My 2006 Karavan trailer tires have similar wear problems with proper inflation. I feel the trailer isn't adequate for the 17 ft. Montauk and there is axle flexing going on while cruising down the highway. I reverse mount the tires when wear starts occurring. The original tires and Goodyear Marathons did the same thing. How much additional download do you get at 60 mph on the highway. We need Jimh to do some aero work for us............
Jerry Townsend posted 04-18-2015 01:47 PM ET (US)
Your right wheel is misaligned - you may be able to see it by looking at the wheel from behind the boat - and the wheel would not be vertical, but as if rotated a bit clockwise. It could be caused by a bent or damaged hub/wheel or ??. An auto repair shop would be able to help you - or bring it over. --- Jerry/Idaho
masbama posted 04-18-2015 08:59 PM ET (US)
My problem was indeed the axle.
Hal Watkins posted 04-25-2015 02:44 PM ET (US)
I went from 6000 miles on bias ply tires to 25,000 on radials.

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Author	Topic: Trailer Tire Wear
masbama	posted 09-07-2010 08:22 PM ET (US) My single axle trailer tire on the right side is wearing out on the outside tread. Bought the tire new in the spring because of the same thing happening to the tire before. The left side tire is perfect after four years. The axle does not look bent. Is there some simple way to fix this?
russellbailey	posted 09-07-2010 08:52 PM ET (US) All 4 of the tires on the Continental tandem axle trailer under my Outrage 25 did this - they were like that when I bought it. The tires were still supple with no cracking, and I had a tire shop dismount and remount the tires so I could wear the other side. They had about 5000 miles on them. I'm not sure why this happened but I'll still get good wear overall, and the remounting did not cost much compared to new tires. I've since put another 2000 miles on them. I suspect your axle may be slightly bent. A heavy truck alignment shop could check and straighten if needed by precise bending. I have a trip there on my to-do list before I buy new tires.
jimh	posted 09-07-2010 09:09 PM ET (US) Is the tire with the uneven wear a bias-belted trailer-rated tire?
masbama	posted 09-07-2010 09:34 PM ET (US) Yes jimh; it is. It is not low on air. I am hoping for a DYI project or simple solution.
Jefecinco	posted 09-08-2010 09:15 AM ET (US) Do the obvious stuff like making sure the wheel bearings are not loose, lug nuts are torqued to spec, wheel is not bent, etc. If you can find a nice flat and level hard surface nearby park the trailer there. Ensure the pressure in the tires is as equal as possible. Very carefully measure the distance from the flat surface to the bottom of the axle. If the distances are equal it's unlikely the trailer axle is bent in the longitudinal axis. Measure the distance from the axle (both sides) from the spring mounts to the tip of the trailer tongue. If the dimensions are equal this indicates that the axle has not slipped on one side. Measure the distance between the fronts of the tires and then between the rears of the tires. If these dimensions are equal it indicates you have no toe-in nor toe-out on your tires. Finally, adjust the tongue height until one side of the axle is level (assuming a box shaped axle). Then check the other side of the axle for level. If both are level it indicates there has been no torque bending of the axle. Butch
masbama	posted 09-08-2010 09:33 AM ET (US) Thanks Butch! I'll give it a try. Michael
moabelite	posted 04-17-2015 08:31 AM ET (US) Michael - Did you ever get resolution on this question? Did you attempt the measurements Butch recommends and get an informing outcome? I am experiencing heavy wear on the inside of one tire on the 2006 single axle Karavan trailer for my Montauk 170. Driver's side tire wears evenly. Passenger side wears heavy on the inside of the tire. Inflations are correctly set and I don't see any obvious signs of other issues.
Mel Wallace	posted 04-18-2015 09:18 AM ET (US) Might as well chime in to this conversation. My 2006 Karavan trailer tires have similar wear problems with proper inflation. I feel the trailer isn't adequate for the 17 ft. Montauk and there is axle flexing going on while cruising down the highway. I reverse mount the tires when wear starts occurring. The original tires and Goodyear Marathons did the same thing. How much additional download do you get at 60 mph on the highway. We need Jimh to do some aero work for us............
Jerry Townsend	posted 04-18-2015 01:47 PM ET (US) Your right wheel is misaligned - you may be able to see it by looking at the wheel from behind the boat - and the wheel would not be vertical, but as if rotated a bit clockwise. It could be caused by a bent or damaged hub/wheel or ??. An auto repair shop would be able to help you - or bring it over. --- Jerry/Idaho
masbama	posted 04-18-2015 08:59 PM ET (US) My problem was indeed the axle.
Hal Watkins	posted 04-25-2015 02:44 PM ET (US) I went from 6000 miles on bias ply tires to 25,000 on radials.