Trailer tire rotation?
I am not sure if this is the right section to post, of not feel free to move it. i am getting ready to prep my 2013 Coleman 27BHS for this year's first trip. I am going to break down each hub and ...
Forum Discussion
budwich wrote:
I have a related question about rotating tires. From the brief discussion, it appears some do, some don't. I was wondering about any "rule" about "cross rotation" (ie. from side to side), which will result in "reverse spin". With bias ply tires (ST), will this hasten failure? I have an "minor issue" with different size tires on one side (215's) versus 205's on the other (for what ever reason). One 205 is showing slight outside wear and was wondering about moving it to the other side but am concerned that the "reverse rotation" may cause undue stress on plies resulting in failure. Tires are carlisle with about 3-4 years on them and were on the used 2007 tandem axle trailer when we got it last year. We put about 12000 miles on last year and they run fine.
Back when all tires were bias-ply, we always cross-rotated them. Early radials (Michelin, Pirelli, Dunlop) got the same cross-over rotation, but contemporary belted bias ply tires would take a directional "set" that led to roughness for the few hundred miles after being crossed to the other side.
Most modern "radial" tires are belted bias-ply, with a very low angle (less than 5 degrees) compared to the zero degree bias of a true radial. Some of these have enough of a "set" problem that rotation practice does not usually cross from side to side, but again that is more of a NVH issue that a tire damage issue. Certain high performance tires are unidirectional, but nothing we put on trailers.
