Trailer tires in Miami, FL usually fail from age, sun and under-inflation before the tread wears out. Look for sidewall cracking and check the DOT date code on any trailer that sits for months. Use a tire marked for trailer service, and call Miami Tire Shop with the size before you tow.
Trailer tires die differently from car tires. They sit in the sun for months, carry a load they were never rated for if the owner guesses wrong, and then get asked to run at highway speed.
If your boat, utility or cargo trailer has not moved lately, look at the sidewalls before you hitch up. Hairline cracks in the rubber mean the tire is finished no matter how much tread remains.
Why do trailer tires blow out when the tread looks fine?
Heat. A tire that is low on air flexes more, and flexing builds heat inside the casing. Add summer pavement in South Florida and a heavy load, and the internal structure can let go without any visible wear.
Check pressure cold, and use the number on the tire's sidewall or the trailer's placard, not the number for your truck.
Can I use a passenger tire on a trailer?
Only if the trailer was built for it. Trailer tires are marked for that service and have stiffer sidewalls to resist sway. Swapping in a car tire changes how the trailer tracks behind the vehicle.
Match the size and load rating already on the trailer, and replace in pairs on one axle.
What else should be looked at while the wheel is off?
Ask whether the hub and wheel bearings can be checked at the same time. A hot hub shortens tire life, and it is easier to see when the wheel is already off the trailer.
Miami Tire Shop is at 3151 NW 17th Ave. It is open Mon–Sat 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sun 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM, so bring the trailer in a day it will be open and have the tire size ready.
How old is too old for a trailer tire?
Age matters more than miles. Read the DOT date code, and treat visible cracking as a replace signal at any age.
What size trailer tire do I need?
Read it off the sidewall of the tire currently on the trailer. If it is unreadable, check the trailer's placard or call with the trailer's details.
Do I need a spare for my trailer?
It is worth having one, mounted on a wheel that fits. A flat on a loaded trailer is hard to deal with without it.