This article answers the popular question: Do my trailer tires need replaced?
Tire inspections are an important part of daily trailer maintenance. Inspecting your tires often is the best way to identify if your tires need to be replaced. Forgetting to inspect your tires can be incredibly dangerous, especially if you are hauling a heavy load. The last thing you want is a tire on your trailer blowing as you’re driving down the road. Be proactive and consider trailer tire replacement if you notice any of these signs.
Tire Damage
Keep an eye out for damage and deformities on your tires such as bulges, cuts, and flat or extremely bald spots. Tires that have uneven wear and tear can indicate other potential problems with your suspension or axles, so be mindful of how your tires are wearing and if one side tends to wear down quicker than the other.
Foreign Objects
If you’re driving in and out of construction sites, inspect your tires for metal, nails, or screws. Just because your tire is punctured with a foreign object doesn’t always mean it will go flat. For trailers with dual axles, you may not always notice if one of the four tires is punctured. Sometimes damaged tires with a nail in them can have a slow leak. Catching the tire damage early is key! If you don’t catch it early enough it can lead to a tire blowout.
Tread Depth
The tread on your trailer’s tires provides the gripping action and traction needed to keep your trailer from sliding on the road. In cold and snowy climates like the Midwest, tire tread is extremely important to maintain traction on slick slow, and ice-covered roadways.
Inspect your tires for signs of uneven wear patterns. According to an article by Blue Ride Trailers, tires should be replaced when you can place a penny in the tread depth with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you. If you can see the top of his head, you need to buy new tires.
The chart in this article will help you correctly diagnose the possible cause is for your trailer tire’s unusual tread patterns.
Don’t Delay Tire Inspections
Your trailer’s tires help carry the weight of your cargo. It’s important to inspect them often for wear and tear, foreign objects, damage, and tread depth and replace them when needed. Waiting too long to replace your trailer’s tires can create dangerous driving situations for you and other drivers on the road. You must know how to spot the signs that your tires need to be changed and take action before it’s too late.