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[Jack Arnott]

Hello All,
I need new trailer tires. I have been using Discount Tire for a long time, but am growing weary of them, and the parking is getting a lot worse there. (Turns out the parking lot is shared, and new neighbors are bogarting it.) I think that Costco or Les Schwab would be my best two bets, but this is without visiting them. I have 15” rims, single axle, and 3500 lb axle. I had radials, and want those again. My old tires are over ten years old. One has a nail in it, slow leak, and is unrepairable.
Any thoughts on where to go for tires, and which brand tires you prefer? (Consumer reports does not rate trailer tires.)

Thanks, Jack

[Keith Broughton]

My old tires are over ten years old. One has a nail in it, slow leak, and is unrepairable.

Thanks, Jack

10 years! Even if the one was "repairable" you needed new tires a while back!
As for retailer, it's more a matter of brand.
 There are plenty of cheap tires out there but I suggest you  stick with a name brand and look for decent pricing.

[Bob Faulkner]

I'm not  a trailer tire expert, but you will probably want to get tires that have "ST" on them (as part of the model name/number).  The ST indicates they are for trailer use, and to my understanding, have much better sidewall construction than non-ST tires.  Trailers that do not have a differential put more stress on the sidewalls of tires when going around corners or making turns while backing up, which is why an ST rated tire is preferred.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge on this will respond.

[Jack Arnott]

Doesn’t ST refer to single axle?

[Ray Aberle]

Between those two choices, I would go with Costco, and that's coming from someone whose parents used Les Schwab for literally decades. The main reason I'd do Costco is they are nationwide instead of just west coast, which may be beneficial if you travel a bunch. They're also open on Sundays, instead of L/S that isn't. On the other hand, L/S does offer emergency "we come to you" services that Costco won't. They open earlier in the day than Costco.

[Tim McCulloch]

Doesn’t ST refer to single axle?

Nope, "Special Trailer".  Suitable only for trailer axles and not to be used on traction or steering axles of power units.

[Caleb Dueck]

Another vote for Costco instead of Les Schwab. 

Load rating is your friend, otherwise many of the trailer tires are nothing special.  LT (light truck) tires are fine as long as the load rating is good.  Stay away from P (passenger) tires.

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[Stephen Kirby]

Trailers that do not have a differential put more stress on the sidewalls of tires when going around corners or making turns while backing up, which is why an ST rated tire is preferred.

Why would a trailer have a differential?  Assuming we're talking about 5x8 to 16' single or tandem axle covered trailers.

[Rob Spence]

Why would a trailer have a differential?  Assuming we're talking about 5x8 to 16' single or tandem axle covered trailers.

I think he meant trailers DONT have differentials, so trailer tires don’t scrub that way. However, many trailers have more than one axel so when you turn sharp, there is a lot of force on the sidewall.

Load capacity for the size is important to check.



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[Bob Faulkner]

Why would a trailer have a differential?  Assuming we're talking about 5x8 to 16' single or tandem axle covered trailers.

The home-made type.  I'm surprised how many of these I see.

I think he meant trailers DONT have differentials, so trailer tires don’t scrub that way. However, many trailers have more than one axel so when you turn sharp, there is a lot of force on the sidewall.

Load capacity for the size is important to check.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Correct. 

Trailer tires (ST) are what is needed with the absence of a differential.

[ProSoundWeb Community]