I was getting some maintenance on my 4 GoodYear Endurance Tires. I told them to make sure they balanced and rotated them. The attendant said he would, but for my information he told me trailer tires don't need to be rotated. I assured him they do need to be rotated because only one set of tires(front axle)trails the tow vehicle on turns and the other one(rear axle)skids to some degree. So my question is; going forward, the front axle is the the trailing axle and the rear is the skidder, right? And in reverse the rear would be the trailing(even though it's leading now)and the front axle is the skidder....right? All this is assuming the WD hitch is set up so the front axle will have slightly more weight on it.Thanks!

Correct. Reality for most of us, we will blow up the tires from age WELL before they are worn out. BUT, if you do a lot of slow speed manuvering, backing turning etc, you will notice this sooner. I did not notice this on with set of majority worn tires on my rv trailer. My equipment trailer which does not spend a lot of time on the freeway, one noticed the accentuated rear wear. When you literally jack knife the trailer half a dozen times in 40-50 miles of during, getting a bobcat, trackhoe or equal on and off if it daily, park it back at shop. This WILL be an issue. Did I notice this on tv tires? Yes after 50k miles vs 10-20 on equipment trailers.You decision. I also have never balanced a trailer tire, not dual wheels.Personal choice on that on IMHO.Marty

blt2ski wrote:Correct. Reality for most of us, we will blow up the tires from age WELL before they are worn out. BUT, if you do a lot of slow speed manuvering, backing turning etc, you will notice this sooner. I did not notice this on with set of majority worn tires on my rv trailer. My equipment trailer which does not spend a lot of time on the freeway, one noticed the accentuated rear wear. When you literally jack knife the trailer half a dozen times in 40-50 miles of during, getting a bobcat, trackhoe or equal on and off if it daily, park it back at shop. This WILL be an issue. Did I notice this on tv tires? Yes after 50k miles vs 10-20 on equipment trailers.You decision. I also have never balanced a trailer tire, not dual wheels.Personal choice on that on IMHO.MartyI have them balanced because at America's Tire/Discount Tire, you pay balancing as it is included in the mounting and also in the regular rotating. So since I paid for it I make sure they do it

No, both axles scrub evenly. Unless you have torsion axles and don’t have the trailer setup level. And they don’t stay on the trailer long enough to go bad, they should be replaced every 5 years. So balance is all that is needed.

dodge guy wrote:No, both axles scrub evenly. Unless you have torsion axles and don’t have the trailer setup level. And they don’t stay on the trailer long enough to go bad, they should be replaced every 5 years. So balance is all that is needed.This.The trailer rotates about the center between the axles. But really most RVs spend 99% of their miles going down the road where there is negligible scrubbing. Far less wear than a car in city driving. As mentioned, you almost always age out a set of tires long before they wear out...so there is no harm in rotating them but I wouldn't spend money on it.

I wear mine out before they age out so I rotate and balance. The front axle of my camper has a bit less camber then the back (a replacement) so I rotate.

Rotating Trailer Tires | Good Sam Community

valhalla360
Navigator
Aug 27, 2021
dodge guy wrote:
No, both axles scrub evenly. Unless you have torsion axles and don’t have the trailer setup level. And they don’t stay on the trailer long enough to go bad, they should be replaced every 5 years.

So balance is all that is needed.

This.

The trailer rotates about the center between the axles. But really most RVs spend 99% of their miles going down the road where there is negligible scrubbing. Far less wear than a car in city driving.

As mentioned, you almost always age out a set of tires long before they wear out...so there is no harm in rotating them but I wouldn't spend money on it.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Aug 27, 2021
No, both axles scrub evenly. Unless you have torsion axles and don’t have the trailer setup level. And they don’t stay on the trailer long enough to go bad, they should be replaced every 5 years.

So balance is all that is needed.
Vintage465
Nomad
Aug 27, 2021
blt2ski wrote:
Correct. Reality for most of us, we will blow up the tires from age WELL before they are worn out.
BUT, if you do a lot of slow speed manuvering, backing turning etc, you will notice this sooner.
I did not notice this on with set of majority worn tires on my rv trailer. My equipment trailer which does not spend a lot of time on the freeway, one noticed the accentuated rear wear. When you literally jack knife the trailer half a dozen times in 40-50 miles of during, getting a bobcat, trackhoe or equal on and off if it daily, park it back at shop. This WILL be an issue. Did I notice this on tv tires? Yes after 50k miles vs 10-20 on equipment trailers.
You decision.
I also have never balanced a trailer tire, not dual wheels.
Personal choice on that on IMHO.

Marty

I have them balanced because at America's Tire/Discount Tire, you pay balancing as it is included in the mounting and also in the regular rotating. So since I paid for it I make sure they do it
blt2ski
Moderator
Aug 27, 2021
Correct. Reality for most of us, we will blow up the tires from age WELL before they are worn out.
BUT, if you do a lot of slow speed manuvering, backing turning etc, you will notice this sooner.
I did not notice this on with set of majority worn tires on my rv trailer. My equipment trailer which does not spend a lot of time on the freeway, one noticed the accentuated rear wear. When you literally jack knife the trailer half a dozen times in 40-50 miles of during, getting a bobcat, trackhoe or equal on and off if it daily, park it back at shop. This WILL be an issue. Did I notice this on tv tires? Yes after 50k miles vs 10-20 on equipment trailers.
You decision.
I also have never balanced a trailer tire, not dual wheels.
Personal choice on that on IMHO.

Marty

Forum Discussion

Rotating Trailer Tires

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

Tire Rotation Not Needed?

Rotate tires on TT?

Rotate the spare tire hoist?

Travel Trailer Tires

Best Travel Trailer Tires