Trailering question

[Patrick S.]

I am a little concerned about trailering my C1. I read alot about GY Marathon tires "shredding" at highway speeds (65mph). My trailer is an 18' enclosed Car Mate that was new in 2007 and it has a few miles on it but the tires (205 X 15R) look new. The trailer with the 62 in it weighs 6100 lbs. and seems to tow nicely.
What temperature should I see on the "thermo" gun as I check during the trip to Carlisle? What temperature is too hot (I assume the temperature is a predictor of shredding)?

[Gene M.]

Re: Trailering question

Pat, Are you concerned about the temperature of the tires? You do have tires for a trailer, not car tires? I'm not familiar with GY Marathon. Just make sure you have them inflated correct pressure and it should not be an issue (trailer tires).

[Larry E.]

Re: Trailering question

I am a little concerned about trailering my C1. I read alot about GY Marathon tires "shredding" at highway speeds (65mph). My trailer is an 18' enclosed Car Mate that was new in 2007 and it has a few miles on it but the tires (205 X 15R) look new. The trailer with the 62 in it weighs 6100 lbs. and seems to tow nicely.
What temperature should I see on the "thermo" gun as I check during the trip to Carlisle? What temperature is too hot (I assume the temperature is a predictor of shredding)?

Patrick:

I had ST205 X 15R original tires on my United Trailer. My tire treds looked new but had a blow out several years ago coming back from
Bloomington Gold. Think the blow out was due to dry rot tires as they where old. I was told that it is very hard to see dry rot tires by looking
at them. I have since bought ST225 Marathon tires; load range D vs. load range C. It a far sturdier tire and has more capacity for weight.(Although
I will not be adding more weight to the trailer). Looks to be fine with clearence also. Previous post indicated 140 degrees on the "thermo" gun
or below is fine. Anyway that is my two cents; good luck; Larry

[Jim L.]

Re: Trailering question

What temperature should I see on the "thermo" gun as I check during the trip to Carlisle? What temperature is too hot (I assume the temperature is a predictor of shredding)?

When fully loaded my trailer puts just under 7000 lbs on the wheels and tires. At every stop I immediately check tire temperatures with my hand (no, not as scientific as an IR gun, but it's convenient). The tires on my trailer have never ever been any more than slightly warmer than ambient. I'd be concerned if I ever noticed a tire that was as warm as 140F (as mentioned in another reply).... that's high enough that your hand would register it as "hot".

Jim

[Rick A.]

Re: Trailering question

have you looked at the date code on trailer tires? personally, I would be concerned about dry rot, etc. as mentioned by other posters, as you said trailer new in 2007, which means tires are at least six years old. I would look at new tires.............

[Bruce B.]

Re: Trailering question

My cure for bad tires is to rent a Uhaul trailor.
They are well maintained, tow very nicely, now have surge brakes and stop very well.
At $50.00 a day I can trailor for 20 days for around $1000.00 and get free road service and don't have to store or maintain it.
They use front tire hold down straps but you need to bring rear tied own unless you want to throw thier chain around the rear axle.
I think if you trailor a few times a year it's the way to go, as long as you don't mind UHAUL written all over the trailor.

[Bill H.]

Re: Trailering question

When fully loaded my trailer puts just under 7000 lbs on the wheels and tires. At every stop I immediately check tire temperatures with my hand (no, not as scientific as an IR gun, but it's convenient). The tires on my trailer have never ever been any more than slightly warmer than ambient. I'd be concerned if I ever noticed a tire that was as warm as 140F (as mentioned in another reply).... that's high enough that your hand would register it as "hot".

Jim

We always saw 135-`140 on the 7,500 lb. racetrailer towing to Laguna, Jim. That was on top of Donner Summit, maybe the altitude? Funny, the motorhome tires were the same temp.


You guys may want to check on the Marathons , I believe they are now made in China.

Patrick, we had blow outs on the racetrailer and finally started putting new tires on every 2-3 years. Personnally, on a 2007, I'd change them especially if the trailer sits outside and the tires are in the sun.

[Dave S.]

Re: Trailering question

We always saw 135-`140 on the 7,500 lb. racetrailer towing to Laguna, Jim. That was on top of Donner Summit, maybe the altitude? Funny, the motorhome tires were the same temp.


You guys may want to check on the Marathons , I believe they are now made in China.

Patrick, we had blow outs on the racetrailer and finally started putting new tires on every 2-3 years. Personnally, on a 2007, I'd change them especially if the trailer sits outside and the tires are in the sun.

Pat,
My Trailex came with Marathon's when I bought it in 2002. I pulled it around 30K miles until 2010 when I put a second set of Marathon's on for the trip to the Charlotte National. I've done around 5-7K miles since then. 8 years for the first set is to long but the Marathon's have served me well.

[Gordon W.]

Re: Trailering question

For what it's worth, we've had numerous tires shred on our enclosed trailer Over the last 10 years racing my Camaro and you can't feel much difference in the way it drives. Dual axle, of course.

The first time it happened a buddy in a chase car called my cell to ask how long we were planning on driving on 3 tires.

[John T.]

Re: Trailering question

Ihave the Marathons with no problems. Many of the "experts" say 5 years is all you can safely use a trauler tire.

John

[Dick W.]

Re: Trailering question

.
(I assume the temperature is a predictor of shredding)?

Wrong, high temps are a sign of under inflation or overloading. I probably would not get concerned at temps of 175 degrees, maybe a little higher, at interstate speeds during the summer time.

Age is the killer of any tire. Dave S. probably got away with tires that old as he keeps his trailer inside, away from sunlight (one of the killers of tires)

[Duke W.]

Re: Trailering question

If your trailer sits outside definitely get some tire covers. Continuous exposure to UV will significantly shorten the useful time life of any tire regardless of mileage.

Keep the cold pressure at a level suitable for the total load, which in many cases will be the maximum cold pressure placarded on the sidewall.

Check pressure every morning when towing, and "thump" them with a rubber hammer at every stop. If one is low it will sound/feel different.

That's what I was trained to do the summer I drove sightseeing buses when I was in college. We checked the outside tire of duals with a gage as part of our "preflight", then thumped both tires. If the inside tire sounded/felt the same as the outside at proper pressure, we were good to go.

Duke

[Larry E.]

Re: Trailering question

If your trailer sits outside definitely get some tire covers. Continuous exposure to UV will significantly shorten the useful time life of any tire regardless of mileage.

Keep the cold pressure at a level suitable for the total load, which in many cases will be the maximum cold pressure placarded on the sidewall.

Check pressure every morning when towing, and "thump" them with a rubber hammer at every stop. If one is low it will sound/feel different.

That's what I was trained to do the summer I drove sightseeing buses when I was in college. We checked the outside tire of duals with a gage as part of our "preflight", then thumped both tires. If the inside tire sounded/felt the same as the outside at proper pressure, we were good to go.

Duke

Duke or Anybody that might know: What type of material is best for Tire Covers---Vynil or Cloth?? Thanks in Advance

[Gordon W.]

Re: Trailering question

Regarding tire covers, I don't think material matters. A tire shop recommended to me to even just use a sheet of plywood to keep the sunlight off the trailer tires at the storage yard. After suffering a number of tire failures with proper inflation I am convinced it was my failure to keep the tires out of the sun that caused premature death.

[Duke W.]

Re: Trailering question

Duke or Anybody that might know: What type of material is best for Tire Covers---Vynil or Cloth?? Thanks in Advance

A light weight T-shirt will protect human skin from burning due to UV, and the same will work for tires. You can buy some fancy - and likely expensive - custom fit tire covers, but a piece of carboard from a TV shipping box that you can cut to a shape to jam between the fenders and the ground will work just as well - maybe better.

The only trouble is that cardboard doesn't handle rain very well, but applying some water sealer to them might help, and use a piece of wood at the bottom to keep water from wicking up from the wet pavement.

Duke