I'm curious what others do to make their trailer tires last as long as possible before needing to be replaced. When a tired needs to be replaced is a subjective and much argued topic. One of the main ways to judge the condition of a tire is to look for cracks in the sidewalls and between the treads. There are many environmental factors that can make a tire begin cracking sooner than if the tire wasn't subjected to those factors. Oxygen and sunlight seem to be two major factors that make tire compounds degrade over time. Do you do anything to protect your tires from aging?
Our trailer is stored indoor and out of the sun most of the time and during the winter months, I unload the axles (and tires) by putting the trailer on jack stands. The tires are deflated to about 20 psi, as it's better for the tires to be stored at a lower pressure, if there is no weight on them. Lower pressure is better according the the NHSTA, because at lower pressure less oxygen is forced into the rubber compounds from the inside of the tire. I do all of this to keep the tires in the best shape possible, which should mean the tires will have a longer service life, because who wants to spend $1000 on new trailer tires? One big catch is that the NHSTA states that tires, including the spare, should be replaced at six years from the date of manufacture because exposure to oxygen degrades the rubber compounds. If you live in Phoenix or similar very hot environments, then you should replace tires every four years.
Our tires were manufactured about two years ago. The tread depth is still about 90% of original with 16,000 miles, there is no possibility that we will wear the tires out at or before the six years of age mark. Let's say the tread depth at six years is 50%, which is a serviceable depth. Would you throw the tires away at 6 years and put on new, even if there are little to no visible cracks on the outside of the tire? This of course is hypothetical, because I have no way of knowing if there will be visible cracks at six years. Food for thought.
Our trailer is stored indoor and out of the sun most of the time and during the winter months, I unload the axles (and tires) by putting the trailer on jack stands. The tires are deflated to about 20 psi, as it's better for the tires to be stored at a lower pressure, if there is no weight on them. Lower pressure is better according the the NHSTA, because at lower pressure less oxygen is forced into the rubber compounds from the inside of the tire. I do all of this to keep the tires in the best shape possible, which should mean the tires will have a longer service life, because who wants to spend $1000 on new trailer tires? One big catch is that the NHSTA states that tires, including the spare, should be replaced at six years from the date of manufacture because exposure to oxygen degrades the rubber compounds. If you live in Phoenix or similar very hot environments, then you should replace tires every four years.
Our tires were manufactured about two years ago. The tread depth is still about 90% of original with 16,000 miles, there is no possibility that we will wear the tires out at or before the six years of age mark. Let's say the tread depth at six years is 50%, which is a serviceable depth. Would you throw the tires away at 6 years and put on new, even if there are little to no visible cracks on the outside of the tire? This of course is hypothetical, because I have no way of knowing if there will be visible cracks at six years. Food for thought.
