cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Tire Tread on a TT

MikeDupont
Explorer
Explorer
Can someone explain to me how an aggressive/knobby/offroad tread on a trailer tire has any significant benefit while towing. Apart from a thick knob catching a nail or piece of glass that is shorter than the knob, i cant see this as an advantage during any towing, off or on pavement. I mean, youre dragging the thing anyway.

(beyond that it looks cool of course- thats a given 🙂 )
10 REPLIES 10

goducks10
Explorer
Explorer
If I owned a single axle off grid type TT I'd run BFG KO2's on it if I could find some that fit. That would make running 70-75 mph a breeze. I'd have the same on my tow vehicle as well.

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Or in short, they're just for looks. Which I'm not opposed to at all.
The little "off road" campers look kinda cool.
Mileage? LOL
I'm around 8mpg avg with the brodozer and current trailer pounding her down the road. I don't think I'd notice a difference from the trailer tires, although I agree they're not necessary and will have more rolling resistance.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

JIMNLIN
Explorer
Explorer
Can someone explain to me how an aggressive/knobby/offroad tread on a trailer tire has any significant benefit while towing.

I've owned three 5th wheel rv trailers since the mid '80s but non ever went off road other than pulling into a construction work site at times.

Having towed non rv trailers full time on paved highways what I've found from actual experience is a AT or MT with large lugs and voids used on a road trailer loose traction quick on dry and especially wet pavement during hard braking events.
And like someone pointed out they wear fast....simply not a good tire tread for a working trailer. This type of work the trailer needs a long lasting tread type/good highway traction in all kinds of weather.

Now a rv trailer used in off road conditions would require a tread with larger lugs and voids.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides

dedmiston
Moderator
Moderator
way2roll wrote:
I guess it is possible they can handle a lower psi on sand but where exactly would people take them that they need that much float?


Follow me. I'll show you where. :B

But I agree with you in principle, and airing down sucks. Having to re-inflate twelve tires is ridiculous.

2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • <\br >Toys:

  • 18 Can Am Maverick x3
  • 05 Yamaha WR450
  • 07 Honda CRF250X
  • 05 Honda CRF230
  • 06 Honda CRF230

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
I don’t seek “aggressive” tread on my TT but rather more puncture resistance which can be found on thicker aggressive tread tires.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

valhalla360
Nomad III
Nomad III
If you figured out a set of tires and rims that match the truck...that would give you a universal spare tire, so if you lose two truck tires, you could just throw the trailer spare on the truck.

But I've never seen a match like this.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

schlep1967
Nomad
Nomad
About the only off road advantage I can see is holding on a side slope to prevent the trailer sliding down the slope and not following in the tracks of the tow vehicle. And that wouldn't be a big advantage.
2021 Chevy Silverado LTZ 3500 Diesel
2022 Montana Legacy 3931FB
Pull-Rite Super Glide 4500

way2roll
Navigator II
Navigator II
Totally aesthetic to make the RV look rugged. It's marketing. Probably hurts towing MPG and I imagine they wear faster and are more pricey to replace. I guess it is possible they can handle a lower psi on sand but where exactly would people take them that they need that much float?

Jeff - 2023 FR Sunseeker 2400B MBS

MikeDupont
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks, i thought i was missing something. Seems like a lot of TTs these days like to push their 'off road' tires. About the only advantage i can think of (now that you mention desert) is possibly a wider footprint for soft sand/mud.

dedmiston
Moderator
Moderator
I can't imagine any benefit to aggressive treads on a trailer tire.

We camp mostly in the deserts where we ride, so we tow a lot off-road. We camp in pretty large groups and I've never seen anybody with off-road tires on their trailers.

You need good traction on your tow vehicle tires, but as far as the trailer goes, I think the only criteria are:

* Follow me in a straight line
* Hold air
* Don't pop and shred my fenders
* Look black and pretty and don't detract from my beautiful trailer

We pick up a lot of nails & sticks out there, so I've plugged a ton of tires. I don't keep a log, but I'd say I've plugged four truck tires for every one trailer tire over the years. Come to think of it, I've probably plugged ten off-road tires to every one truck puncture, and the holes in the off-road tires usually take multiple plugs. (The record I've seen in our group is seven plugs to stop the leak and get back to camp.)

2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • <\br >Toys:

  • 18 Can Am Maverick x3
  • 05 Yamaha WR450
  • 07 Honda CRF250X
  • 05 Honda CRF230
  • 06 Honda CRF230

Type a product name