Tires and Bearings

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Tires and Bearings

Postby lrrowe » Fri Jun 10, 2016 9:13 pm

In many earlier posts I bragged on how I was up to 22 years on the set of tires on my utility trailer. Regardless, I figured I had better replace them to be safe. And I will have to admit committing the sin of not checking my bearings very regularly.
See the tilt of one of the wheels:
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If you think that can only spell danger with the bearings, you are exactly right. They were shot, with actually the rollers in the rear ones on one wheel being totally missing.
It was probably only a matter of miles before disaster happened.

The spindle was scored and took some sanding to smooth it out enough to slide the new bearings on to it. I did it, but I am going to shop for a whole new Dexter Axle assembly soon, complete with the shaft, spindles and hubs.

The other discouraging thing is that when I went to buy new tires, my local dealer did not have ready access to US made tires. I was in a hurry and had to settle on China tires, radials built by Hercules. I do not know anything about this brand and I will use the future to research US tires for when it is time to replace them.

One interesting point my dealer pointed out to me is that he could not, because of new federal laws, install passenger tires knowingly on to a trailer rim. Something to do with liabilities. So if he was honest with me (and I do trust him), I wonder how others got away with it? Maybe one has to just take the wheels in without saying they are for a trailer. I can do it as the rims I have are from Jeep products, but that would not be doable for those with smaller rims. But then again, not too many cares use tires that small anyway.
Last edited by lrrowe on Sat Jun 11, 2016 6:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Bob

First Post on Purchase of Trailer: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=60722
Hot water infloor and radiator heating project:[url]http://www.tnttt.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=54&t=62327[/

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Re: Tires and Bearings

Postby tony.latham » Fri Jun 10, 2016 10:37 pm

One interesting point my dealer pointed out to me is that he could not, because of new federal laws, install passenger tires knowingly on to a trailer rim. Something to do with liabilities.


Bob:

I'll be interested to hear the response on this. When I was ready to tire up my teardrop, I told the two guys that install tires at the local tire chain that I didn't want flats on my light-weight camp trailer, and they both agreed a six-ply LT.

Curious,

Tony
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Re: Tires and Bearings

Postby Gladtobehere » Sat Jun 11, 2016 7:49 am

I believe that ttrailer tires have a weight bearing capacity 50% more than car tires. LT tires are a closer match .

As a kid I saw many trailers at the side of thehighway missing a wheel. A blow out or blown bearing would take the pleasure out of my vacation. I much prefere to check bearings in my driveway in cool dry weather and 30 feet from a cold beer. :D
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Re: Tires and Bearings

Postby lrrowe » Sat Jun 11, 2016 11:12 am

Gladtobehere wrote:I believe that ttrailer tires have a weight bearing capacity 50% more than car tires. LT tires are a closer match .

As a kid I saw many trailers at the side of thehighway missing a wheel. A blow out or blown bearing would take the pleasure out of my vacation. I much prefere to check bearings in my driveway in cool dry weather and 30 feet from a cold beer. :D


Which is what I should have been doing. You can bet I will pay a lot of attention to my CT tires and bearings. I communicated with Dexter some time ago and they said they do use out sourced ( to me means China) bearings. All the more reason to watch them.
Bob

First Post on Purchase of Trailer: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=60722
Hot water infloor and radiator heating project:[url]http://www.tnttt.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=54&t=62327[/

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Re: Tires and Bearings

Postby H.A. » Sat Jun 11, 2016 1:10 pm

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Last edited by H.A. on Sun Jul 10, 2016 5:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Tires and Bearings

Postby lrrowe » Sat Jun 11, 2016 2:08 pm

You win so far. The tread, while still very thick, had hairline cracks starting to develp on the thread itself. I have a 3500 lb axle and very often carry 2000 lb plus weights, plus trailer weight (all steel, not light weight). So I ,decided not to gamble any longer, especially since I have no spare for it.
Bob

First Post on Purchase of Trailer: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=60722
Hot water infloor and radiator heating project:[url]http://www.tnttt.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=54&t=62327[/

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Re: Tires and Bearings

Postby Gladtobehere » Sat Jun 11, 2016 2:47 pm

I believe the standard advice in the rv circle is to replace tires every 7 years. Its not just tread wear but also side wall strength. When i see cracking of the sidewall near the bead I start to worry. Not sure how bad the UV was in 65, but I believe 7 years exposed to UV now will do serious damage to tire so I spent $15 per tire to get covers so the UV exposure is limited to road time.

I should add that I have a spare and the tools to change a tire on the side of the road. BUT, I don,t want to practice on the side of the road in full sun and 95 degree temps.
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Re: Tires and Bearings

Postby MtnDon » Sat Jun 11, 2016 5:30 pm

tony.latham wrote:
One interesting point my dealer pointed out to me is that he could not, because of new federal laws, install passenger tires knowingly on to a trailer rim. Something to do with liabilities.


Bob:

I'll be interested to hear the response on this. When I was ready to tire up my teardrop, I told the two guys that install tires at the local tire chain that I didn't want flats on my light-weight camp trailer, and they both agreed a six-ply LT.

Curious,

Tony



I would be very interested in knowing the federal regulation number that supposedly prevents a passenger tire from being installed on a trailer (by a tire dealer?).
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Re: Tires and Bearings

Postby lrrowe » Sat Jun 11, 2016 9:06 pm

I will try and get it from the dealer.
Bob
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First Post on Purchase of Trailer: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=60722
Hot water infloor and radiator heating project:[url]http://www.tnttt.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=54&t=62327[/

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Re: Tires and Bearings

Postby brx017 » Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:15 am

In regards to your Hercules tires, I worked a few years at a garage / tire shop, it's been about 5 years since I left. We didn't stock tires, as that wasn't our main business but we sold several sets a day. The wholesaler was only a few minutes down the road from us.

Anyway, when someone was dead set on buying a cheap tire, Hercules was what we recommended. I couldn't tell you the mileage you could expect to get from them, but I don't recall us ever getting any complaints as ride quality, noise, etc. And we never saw any delamination, broken belts, or anything like that out of them.

Also interestingly enough, smaller car tires like 12" to 14" are not cheaper than larger tires any more. I guess it's because they don't make as many of them as they did say 20 years ago. Economy cars used to come with 13" wheels, now most new cars have 15" steelies. So in the long run it may actually be cheaper to step up to say a 15" wheel on your trailer. I remember ordering 13s for one customer, and paying $10 more per tire at wholesale than what they cost for the same tire as a 15.

Just some food for thought.

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Re: Tires and Bearings

Postby lrrowe » Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:16 pm

Thanks for the encouragement regarding the Herculeas tires.
Bob

First Post on Purchase of Trailer: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=60722
Hot water infloor and radiator heating project:[url]http://www.tnttt.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=54&t=62327[/

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Re: Tires and Bearings

Postby Shadow Catcher » Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:08 pm

I replaced our China made Goodyear Marathon tires with Micheline Harmony passenger car tires each of which has a weight rating equal to the weight of the entire trailer. I don't know that I buy the you must.
I talked with a Goodyear Exec who indicated the China made tires are not as good and certainly the China Bomb reputation according to a Good Sam survey it is with good reason.
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