Cargo trailer tire brands

[Rhianntp]

I picked up an older trailer with ST175/80R13 tires on them. Trying to replace the tires/rims on a budget. Have any of you had good experience with any of the cheaper brands? If so could you please share what those brands are? Preferably with the tires already mounted on rims.
Thanks :shy:

 

[highdesertranger]

"any of you had good experience with any of the cheaper brands?"

NO

highdesertranger

 

[riptorn]

HDR is rite.
Also I hope your wheel baring's have greaseable caps to grease often (like every day often) when traveling cause those itty-bitty tires will spin a wheel baring into oblivion   
It would be good to pull clean & check them now and cheap insurance t carry a spare set of baring's, they will fail

 

[Rhianntp]

Thanks  :thumbsup:
What are the good brands of 13" tires ?

 

[Rhianntp]

Have a recommendation on bearing grease?

 

[tx2sturgis]

All of the 13 inch 'china bomb' cheapo trailer tires are a crap shoot.

You can increase your overall luck by:

>Checking inflation pressures with a tire gauge every week or so, and bump or kick the tires at every fuel, meal, and rest stop. 

>Keeping 2 spares handy, consider the tires as disposable, don't patch unless absolutely necessary, just buy new ones as you damage or wear out the old ones.

>Making damn sure you are not overloaded. Avoid it at all costs. Try to reduce travel, or drive slower, on really hot days on hot pavement and with heavy loads.

>Crossing your fingers.

 

[Rhianntp]

What brands of 13" trailer tires are good in your opinion ?

 

[Rhianntp]

The current tires are older China bomb tires with some cracking. Definitely need new tires. Do I have to buy new rims? Was thinking maybe just buy two quality tires and have them mounted to those rims... is that a bad idea? Appreciate all the comments

 

[highdesertranger]

IMO there really isn't a quality tire option for that size tire. sorry to be a downer but I am just being honest. is this one of those Harbor Freight trailers or one of their clones? how many lugs nuts on the wheel?

highdesertranger

 

[Rhianntp]

No its a legit enclosed trailer, not a harbor freight frankentrailer. Carlisle USA Trail aren't quality? 5 lugs 4.5"

 

[Rhianntp]

https://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-USA-Trail-Radial-Tire/dp/B00EZMSUDS

That's just for the tire, not the rim.. don't consider this quality? What trailer tire brands are quality?

 

[highdesertranger]

I would upgrade to a larger diameter wheel. your lucky they are 5 lug. where are you located? I have several 5 lug trailer wheels in AZ. highdesertranger

 

[Rhianntp]

I'm in northern Wisconsin haha..preparing for nomadism in fall probably

 

[bullfrog]

Realistically I have had several cheap utility trailers that came with cheap tires and never have gotten more than 3,000 miles of normal road use out of them and only then by avoiding interstate speeds and greasing bearings upon purchase and every year after that or 1,500 miles. I usually travel roads in the southwest so heat I assume is a factor. I have never had a flat or a blow out but most of what I haul could be left on the side of the road and no one would want it! LOL!!! Save yourself the headaches and get some larger wheels and run quality light truck tires.

 

[Rhianntp]

Are you talking about using a bigger tire like 14" or 15"? What do I need to measure in the trailer to know what would be possible?

 

[Rhianntp]

I'm definitely open to changing the wheel size in order to get better quality rubber on it. Just need to know how to go about determining what options are possible.

 

[bullfrog]

I used to just go to a junkyard but if you have a boat shop or trailer dealer around they might advise you. A lot of the big tire shops won't because of liability so maybe a used tire dealer would have lots of mounted wheels and tires you could try. You want a wheel that is centered pretty much on the axle flange if possible without hitting the frame or trailer through full movement.

 

[tx2sturgis]

What brands of 13" trailer tires are good in your opinion ?

As I said, they are all a crap shoot. 

As far as I know, you will not be able to find GOOD 13" trailer tires. You may be able to find DECENT 13" tires.

(if someone has a suggestion, please let us know about it)

You can get 14" trailer tires from Goodyear: Endurance Tires. And they are (supposed to be) made in USA. I would assume they are 'good' tires since they cost about 3 times what the chinese tires cost. You may be able to use 14" wheels and then buy the 14" Endurance tires. It depends on how much fender clearance you have, what your hubs are (4 or 5 bolt) and how much money you want to spend. 

You have not told us what kind of trailer this is...whether it is an overbuilt VARDO tiny home, a travel trailer, a pop-up tent trailer, or a little 4x8 trailer to haul your lawnmower...or who knows what. 

I have a pair of WalMart 13" Douglas Xtra-Trac (made in the USA) car tires mounted on my small landscape trailer, but this is very lightweight and only used occasionally to carry a load of wood or building materials or debris headed to the landfill.... or a motorcycle when needed. The tires have probably 10,000 miles on them now, over 5 years old, and no problems. Yes, they are NOT ST trailer tires....so what, they work fine IN MY SITUATION, and they were super cheap...about $35 each.

Sometimes the difference between years of good service with cheap tires and a blow-out on your first trip is to do the things I already mentioned. In other words, do not ignore the trailer tires, take care of them, especially if you have a heavy or fully loaded trailer.

 

[Rhianntp]

This trailer weighs about 800 pounds empty and I would be hauling about 500 to 800 pounds of stuff in it regularly. Plan to use it as a garage of sorts. Keep my scooter, bicycles, generator, gas can, tools etc in it.

 

[tx2sturgis]

In that case, here is a good choice of 13" tires with rims, and if you order a pair, you would have the old pair to use as spares.

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trailer_Tires_and_Wheels-sz-5_on_4~1|2_Inch-pc-13_Inch.aspx

I have a set of 15" Castle Rocks on my little travel trailer...they are filled with nitrogen and I have not had to add any air in more than a year.