Trailer tires usually need replacing because of age or sidewall damage, not tread wear. If yours are cracked, bulging or visibly old, replace them before the next haul. Call Oklahoma City Tire Shop in Oklahoma City with the ST size code and load range to ask about availability.
Trailer tires age out before they wear out. A boat, utility or cargo trailer that sits most of the year can show deep tread and still have cracks running through the sidewall, and those cracks are the reason to replace it.
The date code after the letters DOT on the sidewall gives the week and year the tire was made. Read it on every tire, including the spare, before you decide anything.
Why do trailer tires blow out on the road?
Heat does it. A soft tire flexes more, runs hotter, and eventually the sidewall lets go. Overloading and old rubber produce the same result by a different route.
Check pressure cold, against the figure the trailer or tire calls for, and recheck before each trip. A trailer has no dash warning to tell you a tire is low.
Can a regular car tire go on a trailer?
Match what the trailer was built for. Tires marked ST are made for trailer duty and have stiff sidewalls that resist sway. A passenger tire can carry a different load rating, so a swap needs checking against the placard rather than assuming the size fits.
What should you say when you phone the shop?
Read out the size from the sidewall and the load range, and say whether the trailer has a single axle or tandem. Mention the wheel material if you know it, and whether the spare matches.
The shop at 1444 SW 25th St in Oklahoma City can then tell you what is available before you tow the trailer over.
How old is too old for a trailer tire?
No single date applies to every tire, so look at condition and the DOT date code together. Cracks, bulges or exposed cord mean replacement regardless of the date. A tire with good tread that has sat in the sun for years still deserves a close look.
Do I replace both tires on an axle?
Usually, yes. Mismatched tire heights on a tandem axle make one tire carry more than its share. If one tire failed because of age, the others bought with it are the same age.