Trailer has sat awhile, should I be scared about my tires?

Hmmm. So you all are saying I should have replaced my flatbed trailer tires before they were 13 years old? I finally did because the 2 that sat facing south when parked developed some small sidewall cracks.

Granted, a blowout on it would be less drama than on a TT and wouldn’t ruin a vacation and it was mostly used for local trips.

I find it hard to believe that “blowouts” on 2-3 year old tires of any type is anything but a road hazard or overloaded/under inflated tire in most cases. Remember, one small screw can turn “properly inflated” to “under inflated” as you drive. Several year old tires are another matter.

In the end, tires are relatively inexpensive compared to the overall cost of RV’ing. Do whatever givers you piece of mind.

ST tires do go bad after 4-5 years. We had blowouts on the driver side of a 4-year old TT. They were dated less than 5 years old.

We now put LT tires on our fifth wheel and we will let them go 5-6 years.

If the ST tires are 5 years old, dump them for new ones IMO.
As far as sitting goes, both of my trailers sit for about 350 dyas a year. The other 5 they are actually being used and they both sit for 8-9months without being moved.
IMO the greater issue is age, not regular use.

also how and where was the trailer stored?
if bad dranage gravel, dirt grass, etc the tires can dry rot. ( in one storage season) inspect before every trip.
no need to wreck your rig do to a bad tire.
most trailer made tires can do good for 5 years no problem. but best if in a place they do not sit in water hole, and are shaded from the sun.
read the dot numbers it is a code for date of manf,
no reason to "oil" a tire does no good other than making your wallet lighter.

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Just traded my fifth-wheel for a 2014 travel trailer. Checked tires and they are XX/12. Spare is same as 4 tires. Have appt for 4 new tires next week.
Not chancing this one. My fiver, first trip out, 3 year old tires, 1 blowout on way down and 1 blowout on way back. My last trip out with fiver, tires were now 2 years old and a blowout. NOT overloaded. CAT scale. Not speed,
drive 55-60. Aired to correct pressure. Quality of tires.... sad.

Check date code, if within 2 years give or take, air up and check for cracks in tires. Safe side? 4 new tires.

Most ST tires age out after three years. I recall one mfgr. even stating that in their literature. My experience after going into the fourth year was two blowouts, at which point I bought new tires. Some folks have reported getting many more years out of theirs. After having bought into Sailuns, which are ST tires, I'm wondering if the three year caution applies. Same goes for the new GY Endurance tires. I know almost for certain the Trailer Kings I removed were very flimsy and probably would not have gone even three years.

JFK, an RV owner that doesn’t cover their tires? Holy cow. ST and LT, a difference? Time for OP to do some reading.

Ok, I looked up LT and ST tires.
Mine are ST.
I will check the age of them.

groundhogy wrote:
Dont know what LT or ST is.

Look! The sidewall, just like every tire made will give you a wealth of information.

groundhogy wrote:
Ok, Im not near the trailer at the moment, but what Im hearing is that it depends on how old the rubber is?

How many years old rubber would start to make you guys nervous?

If their ST tires I would not go over 4 years. If there LT tires 6-7 years.