Old tires?

[waynefi]

How can I tell if my tires are getting old? They have about 30000 mi on them. The tread still looks OK. The sidewalls look OK, but I don't really know what to look for. These are Karrier Loadstars.

[wiskeyVI]

What about using a good Light Truck Tire, load range E?

[Terryallan]

valhalla360 wrote:
I believe the industry recommends 5-7yrs...of course if you overload or otherwise abuse them, sooner would be a good idea.

Trailer tires rarely wear out. You don't burn off a lot of tread rolling along at a steady speed.

no. But they ROT pretty quick setting still. Rot is the enemy. Tires oil as they roll, and flex. If the tires are sitting, and not rolling, no oiling takes place, and they rot. EVEN tires that have neve been mounted.
When I buy tires, For the TT, or for the TV. I specify NEW tires. Don't try to put year old tires on any of my vehicles. I won't pay for them. I always check the build date before I allow any tires to be mounted on my vehicles.

[Lynnmor]

waynefi wrote:
I must be really lucky, since I've gotten almost 8 years and 30000 miles out of a pair of cheap Chinese tires.

You might do well buying lottery tickets.

[waynefi]

I must be really lucky, since I've gotten almost 8 years and 30000 miles out of a pair of cheap Chinese tires.

It helps that the trailer is light, and when I'm not camping it is parked in a shady spot.

I'm surprised that so much of this is about years, not miles. I don't replace car tires after 3 years, I look at miles and tread.

[js218]

Been on the road since 10/16, 128,000 same tires on my 26' enclosed car trailer, but they are 16" Michelin truck tires.

[sgfrye]

AJR wrote:
After 30,000 miles on TT tires. I would by a new set of the same tire.

agree 100 percent

[JIMNLIN]

No..... HD hasn't been unlucky when we look around the net at rv and non rv trailering forums and on NHTSA tire complaints website. Very common in fact.
The OP has a small tandem axle TT at 4600 gvwr which is one reason he has good luck with those Loadstar ST tires. Around the net they have a typically bad rep for tread separations

This from Carlisle :
Time and the elements weaken a trailer tire.
** – 3 to 5 years is the average life expectancy of a trailer tire,regardless of mileage.
– It is estimated that in approximately three years, roughly one-third of a tire's strength is gone
– After three years, depending upon storage and conditions of usage, consider replacing trailer tires even if they have tread depth remaining.
– After five years, trailer tires should be replaced in all cases.**
...............................................

I've never seen a ST tire makers website that says 5-7 year replacement time in the period others mentioned.
No doubt the new gen ST class tires introduced the last few years will last longer than the older maypops they replaced.

The OP dot date code will determine when its time for new rubber on the road.

[ScottG]

All of my TT tires tha blew out of otherwise failed weren't old at all.
They were just Carlisles, and 1 Maxxiss.

Maxxiss covered the failure, Carlisle never did.

[valhalla360]

Huntindog wrote:
In 3 years a ST tire has lost 33% of its strength.

None of mine ever made it 2 years.

Can you provide a source?

Going back to traveling with my family as a kid, never had any tire fail at 2yr...you must be incredibly unlucky if every tire fails by 2yr.

[colliehauler]

valhalla360 wrote:
I believe the industry recommends 5-7yrs...of course if you overload or otherwise abuse them, sooner would be a good idea.

Trailer tires rarely wear out. You don't burn off a lot of tread rolling along at a steady speed.

I go by this as well 5 to 7 years. A lot depends on exposure to the sun UV rays that dries tires out. A blow out can cause a lot of expensive damage.

[Huntindog]

In 3 years a ST tire has lost 33% of its strength.

None of mine ever made it 2 years.

[valhalla360]

I believe the industry recommends 5-7yrs...of course if you overload or otherwise abuse them, sooner would be a good idea.

Trailer tires rarely wear out. You don't burn off a lot of tread rolling along at a steady speed.

[Lwiddis]

You are being toooo thrifty. I change every three years. I can fix a tire on the road but I don’t want to do so.

[Terryallan]

donn0128 wrote:
DOT date code.
ST tires replace every 4 years.

Or in my case LESS. Every TT tire I have ever blown was in it's 4th year. and I have scattered 3 across the interstate. 3 years is now my limit.

[AJR]

After 30,000 miles on TT tires. I would by a new set of the same tire.