When you’re towing, you need to make sure you’re properly equipped for the job. You can’t rely on just any auto or trailer equipment to work well. You need to make sure you select the right trailer, the right gear, and the right tires for the job and the load you’re towing. And trailer tires are a critical part of your towing system. Choosing the right set of trailer tires will help you tow effectively and safely. But how do you know which tires are the right fit and the best option? You’ll want to look for trailer tires that can deliver the best towing performance at the right load weight. To make your search simpler, you can discover our picks for the best trailer tires right here.
The Best Trailer Tires
Carlisle Radial Trail HD Trailer Tire
First to make our list is Carlisle’s 15-inch trailer tire. This radial tire is designed with the highest safety standards in mind and offers excellent heat resistance and improved tread wear. The Radial Trail HD tire has been proven to last longer than its Radial RH counterpart, thanks to optimized rolling resistance.
Each of Carlisle’s tires can bear 2,150 pounds, making them well-suited to the vast majority of towing applications. The tread is also engineered to prevent uneven wear, improving long-term handling and safety. These tires are carefully crafted to give you the peace of mind you need in any trailer towing situation.
Maxxis M8008 ST Radial Trailer Tire
Each of Maxxis’ radial trailer tires can carry up to 2,830 pounds. The tread is coated with an advanced compound, which decreases rolling resistance, improves fuel economy, and extends the life of the tire.
Each tire is also double steel belted, providing extra rigidity for towing stability. The shock absorbing technology certainly makes for a smooth ride. All this adds up to a tire with excellent handling performance. Users report that these components work great as RV tires and love the fact that they continue to perform even in hot conditions. This tire is a great all-around option.
Boat Trailer Utility White Spoke Trailer Wheels
If you plan on towing a boat, these trailer tires could be the perfect option. Each 13-inch tire is carefully designed to support the weight of your boat and ensure it’s transported safely.
Each tire can support around 1,360 pounds, rendering them capable of supporting a diverse array of water-craft. This tire set offers excellent value for the money too. Users report that they hold up very well against everyday wear and tear even with off-road use. The tread boasts an attractive design that lasts long. Finally, the fact that these tires come as a complete set — ready to attach to your boat as they are — has earned them a spot on this list.
Trailer King ST Radial Trailer Tire – 225/75r15 117l
As the name suggests, Trailer King provides useful solutions to all your trailer towing needs. Its radial tires possess a center groove that allows consistent tracking and improved stability. Each tire can bear up to 2,600 pounds.
The tire’s shoulder is designed for improved heat dissipation, lengthening the tire’s lifetime and allowing even wear for continuously good tracking. The nylon overlay also provides excellent strength and durability, and each tire comes with a warranty, demonstrating the faith that Trailer King put into their products.
2 New Trailer Tires ST 205/75r14 8pr Load Range D
With its 14-inch diameter, this tire is slightly smaller than many of its competitors. They can be purchased in sets of two, each of which can hold 3,042 pounds. Each tire is also fitted with a nylon overlay across its tread, creating excellent traction and even tread wear.
The scuff guard on each tire helps to prevent dirt and debris from causing damage, allowing it to last much longer. Users report that they’re easy to mount and the tread lasts well — all for a better price than most mainstream tires.
Carlisle Sport Trail LH Bias Trailer Tire
These tires are ideal for short-distance hauling everything from cargo to boats. They’re compatible with most utility, cargo, and boat trailer brands, adding to their versatility. Despite their smaller size, each tire can carry a surprisingly heavy weight of 855 pounds, making them ideal for most light to medium load applications.
Thanks to their tough sidewalls, these tires are especially well suited to off-road applications. The smooth tread and deep groove design facilitates handling, traction, and stability on the road and off.
Silver Mod Trailer Wheel With Radial St205/75r15 Tire Mounted
The Silver Mod Trailer wheels include both a steel wheel and tire, making it a great option if you need to replace an entire wheel. Each tire is mounted and ready to be installed on your trailer.
Each wheel can carry up to 1,820 pounds, making it perfect for multiple applications. The six-ply design holds up well against everyday wear and tear, while the rigid sidewalls remain stable at speeds of up to 65 mph. Users report that these wheels are great quality and excellent value for the money, and they handle dirt and grit roads with ease.
Trailer Wheel & Tire ST205/75D14 205/75 D
eCustom Rims are a simple, yet effective set of trailer rims and tires. Each set of two pre-mounted tires is durable enough to handle thousands of miles of towing and offers great stability, too.
The tires can hold up to 2,205 pounds, and users love their durability and ease of use — especially considering the low price point. Whatever you’re towing, these utility trailer tires are a safe bet.
Million Parts Set of 2 15” Trailer
If you’re looking for a fully road-ready set of trailer tires, the Million Parts Set of 2 15” Trailer Tires are a great choice. These tires are more than ready to roll — they’re made with built-in rims for easy installation so you can hit the road in no time. Constructed out of high-class rubber material with premium workmanship, these tires offer quality and reliability. The built-in rims give each tire extra strength and support, helping to keep the tires’ shape and form.
Each one of these trailer tires can carry up to 1,820 pounds of weight. The rims measure 15 inches in diameter and 6 inches in width, making for the perfect size for many different trailers. You’ll also get great stability and grip with the unique tire tread pattern. That tread prevents slipping even on the slickest roads.
Best Trailer Tires Buying
There are plenty of options out there for trailer tires. And each set of trailer tires can offer something different. From different types of tires to sizing and load rating to compatibility, you have a lot of choices. How are haulers supposed to choose the best from the rest? We’re here to help. This buying guide can address your concerns, common questions, and what makes some trailer tires better than others. It’s your guide to finding the best trailer tires for your towing and hauling needs.
What Makes the Best Trailer Tires?
Certain qualities can make trailer tires better equipped and better for your towing needs. The tires you choose will really depend on what you’re pulling and hauling, as well as any other preferences you might have. However, quality trailer tires do share some traits. Here are a few indicators you can look for when shopping for a new set of tires.
Compatibility
When purchasing trailer tires or wheel rims, the first thing you should check is whether the components you have in mind are compatible with your trailer. Each trailer should come with an owner’s manual where this information can be found – otherwise, you should be able to get a recommendation online or from your local mechanic. When checking compatibility, your main concern should be the size of the tire. This will need to match the size of the wheel, and adequately support the trailer.
Load Rating
Each trailer tire can only bear so much weight. In the examples above, the upper weight limit for each tire has been noted, but trailer tire load range is more commonly expressed as a letter from B to F. Tires which fall into the B load range category can handle the least weight, while tires in the F category can handle the most. Which type of tire you need will depend upon what you plan on towing, but generally speaking, a higher letter rating indicates a tough, high-quality tire.
Durability
Tires that are long-lasting tend to offer better safety as well as better value for money. You can’t always tell how long a tire is going to last by the manufacturer’s description alone, but you can consult a trusted mechanic or check out reviews – especially if you’re buying your tires online.
Speed
If you’re haling farm equipment down a bumpy country road, chances are you won’t be traveling as fast as someone who’s towing a car down the highway. These two applications will probably need two different sets of trailer tires. Tire manufacturers should be able to give you some indication of the speed that their product can cope with. Make sure you’re choosing a tire which can handle the speed you require.
Bias Ply vs. Radial Trailer Tires
One of the main decisions you’ll need to make when choosing any tire – from travel trailer tires to passenger car tires – is whether to choose Bias Ply or Radial construction.
The difference between these two types of tire lies in the way the cord inside them is positioned. Each type of tire has its benefits, but today Radial tires tend to be the norm. Below are a few key features of each tire construction, so you can make the appropriate choice for your trailer:
Radial Tires
- In Radial Tires, an inner steel belt layer runs at a 90-degree angle from the tread center line
- Radial tires run cooler than their Bias Ply counterparts
- The tread on Radial tires tends to last longer
- The steel belts in Radial tires make for a tougher construction overall
- Radial tires offer a larger footprint
- Radial tires have less rolling resistance, meaning better fuel economy
Bias Ply Tires
- In Bias Ply tires, an inner layer of cross-hatched nylon and steel cords sit at a 30 to 45-degree angle from the tread center line
- Bias Ply tires tend to have stronger sidewalls than their Radial counterparts
- Bias Ply tires tend to be less expensive than Radial tires
- Bias Ply tires often run straighter than Radial tires
How to Maintain Your Trailer Tires?
Tire maintenance is vital if you want to haul safely and effectively, especially since they tend to wear out much faster than the tires on passenger vehicles because of the weight they bear even when stationary. Below we outline some top tips for keeping your trailer tires in the best possible condition:
Air Pressure
Underinflated tires are dangerous. As well as damaging or fuel economy, they can lead to poorer braking and handling. Underinflated tires on a trailer may also be unable to properly support the load you’re towing.
Be sure to check and adjust the air pressure in your trailer tires regularly, especially before setting out on a long journey. Remember that tires can lose pressure even when they have been stationary.
Tread Wear
As with all tires, you should check the tread on your trailer tires regularly to ensure it’s up to standard – particularly before embarking on a long journey. You can easily check the tread on your tires is thick enough by inserting a penny or quarter into the tread. Position the coin so Lincoln’s or Washington’s head is upside down and facing you. If your tire tread is deep enough, part of the head should be covered.
Tires should be replaced when your tread reaches around 3.32” thickness.
Safe Storage
It’s fairly common for trailers to be stored outdoors for long periods of time, which can result in a surprising amount of damage. One of the main causes of damage to tires that are stored outdoors is sunlight. UV radiation emitted from the sun can cause tires to degrade, running the risk of cracked or crumbling rubber. This is easy to prevent by covering your trailer with a tarp. A simple covering such as this will also keep the wheels dry, preventing the risk of corrosion.
Trailer Tires Safety and Facts
With any kind of journey, safety should be a top priority, and towing is no different. The following trailer safety tips should help keep your travels running smoothly:
- Be sure to rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles – this helps to ensure even tread wear, which leads to better overall handling
- Keep tire pressure at the manufacturer’s recommendations and check it regularly
- Be sure to regularly check the tire tread depth, as mentioned earlier
- Regularly grease the bearings on your trailer
- Ensure the lug nuts on your trailer are always tightened to the correct torque
- Check that all the lights on your trailer are in good working order on a regular basis
- Whatever you’re towing, be sure to distribute the weight evenly across the trailer
- Before any journey, walk all the way around your trailer to visually double-check everything is in safe working order
These simple steps will help to prevent any trailer-related accidents. These incidents are more common than you might think, as the following statistics, compiled by the communications firm, Beckett, demonstrate:
- Between 1988 and 2008, over 15,000 people died in the US as a result of accidents involving trailers towed by passenger vehicles
- Every year in the US, over 20,000 people seek medical assistance because of incidents involving utility trailers
- These accidents cost the US economy an estimated $2 billion every year
- The vast majority of trailer-related road accidents are preventable
With these facts in mind, taking good care of your trailer and tires becomes even more important – these simple safety procedures can save lives.
