Trailer Tires E ply G ply 17.5?

firecatf7333 · Oct 4, 2013

I have a gooseneck 16' dump trailer I mainly use to transport firewood. Trailer and load weight about 14k, which is what trailer is rated for. It has 16" steel rims from factory and I have to keep replacing the 235-16 radial E ply tires every 12-18 months. (10-15k miles) The tires wear on the outside of the tire mainly, and also inside. The center of the tire will last longer. I think this is because I have to back into peoples driveway and turn with a load on. I can watch the radial tires turn on the pavment and grip the road. I think this is main reason they wear on outside corner quick. When the outside is worn down I flip tires and then get more lift out of them.

The goodyear g614 tires or a 17.5 rim/tire are expensive. Do you think they would wear the same on the outside edge?

fast_st · Oct 4, 2013

From what I've heard, trailer tires generally last longer and are better at resisting the side loads / scuffing when turning sharp. Are you running regular truck tires or trailer ones? you might try bumping your pressure out to make them slide a bit easier and wear more in the centers. I doubt there's any good way to cut down on sharp turns.

norite · Oct 4, 2013

Surely you have considered this, but in case you haven't, are the tires inflated to the maximum pressure given on the tire? Sounds like they may be underinflated to me.

FMD · Oct 5, 2013

firecatf7333 said:
I have a gooseneck 16' dump trailer I mainly use to transport firewood. Trailer and load weight about 14k, which is what trailer is rated for. It has 16" steel rims from factory and I have to keep replacing the 235-16 radial E ply tires every 12-18 months. (10-15k miles) The tires wear on the outside of the tire mainly, and also inside. The center of the tire will last longer. I think this is because I have to back into peoples driveway and turn with a load on. I can watch the radial tires turn on the pavment and grip the road. I think this is main reason they wear on outside corner quick. When the outside is worn down I flip tires and then get more lift out of them.

The goodyear g614 tires or a 17.5 rim/tire are expensive. Do you think they would wear the same on the outside edge?

What are the tires rated? What is the reccomended tire pressure of the tire. How old are the tires?

Can you post a photo of the tire wear? This sounds like a wear pattern called "river run". Any free wheeling axle (steer axle or trailer) can have this wear. I seen this on my steer tires and I went with a tire with a defense edge on the tire. With the defensive edge, it helps to asorbs the tight uneven turning radiaus and long extended free wheeling. I also seen guys go 10 psi above the reccomended pressures and rotate thier tires more often.

stumpjumper83 · Oct 5, 2013

whats the loaded weight of the trailer by chance?

Dualie · Oct 6, 2013

ever issue i have had with trailer tires was solved by going to Michelin XPS rib tires. The E load range Michelin's worked way better on my horse trailers than any of the G rated Goodyear or continental stuff. Switching to aluminum rims also seemed to help with blowing tires on the highway

gwhammy · Nov 25, 2013

Going to 17.5's on my triple axle gooseneck was the best investment I made. Been around three or four years now with maybe two flats. The wheels are flat lug nut style and made for 8000 lb. axles. I put them on 7000lb. axles by making spacers to slip over the studs that fit tight in the wheel hole. Also found 1 inch lug nuts for 7/16 studs to get a lot more surface area on the wheel. Never had one problem with this setup and I haul 12,000 most of the time with up to 24,000 some.

I found the wheels and tires on ebay out of Ok.

wheelman007 · Nov 29, 2013

17.5 is the only way to fly. Bite the bullet spend the money they will pay for them selfs. I run 17.5 westlake tires on my lowboy and horse trailer and have been very happy.

DoyleX · Dec 15, 2013

I third the 17.5 Check out this chinese brand GT 16 ply under $200. I run the 17.5 on my pusher axles, skid trailer and tag trailer

firecatf7333 · Mar 12, 2014

Well I'm finally getting sick of these 16" tires. What will be better, 19.5's or 17.5's?

Do I have to switch lug studs also?

Would 8 lug 19.5 international bud rims fit b/c I can get them for $50 each?

old-iron-habit · Mar 12, 2014

Mid sized radial tires tend to wear more on the outer edge when they are over inflated. The sidewalks are more flexible then the tread area so over inflation pushes them out curling the outer edge of the bead down. At least that is what the company's tire distributor told us. The correct inflation should work the best in any radial tire.

wheelman007 · Mar 12, 2014

They should fit the hub hole is different size depending on the axle there ment for. You have a better selection in the 17.5 tires and they work better on trailers. Just my personal experience. The GT is a good tire I have a 16 wheel lowboy and a tri axle lowboy both running that tire.

firecatf7333 · Mar 14, 2014

More rim and less rubber= less tire heat which= less tire wear......correct? IF so, then 19.5's would be better than 17.5's.

I'm worried my tires wear when I turn, which is alot since i'm not driving much highway. If the 17.5/19.5 wear the same when I turn i'm not gaining anything.

firecatf7333 · Mar 19, 2014

I found used goodyear g614 tires with 9/32 tread depth for $500 for 4 tires. Worth It? These tires retail for $400 each, while cheapos go for $100. If they are 4 times the price they gotta be a darn good tire.

Also these tires are 5-6 years old....mostly sat in a garage or outside. Would this be a problem? I didn't see any dry rot in the pics

DoyleX · Mar 19, 2014

Check the ply rating should be a 16 ply 4800lb rating. They also come in a lighter 14 ply 3400lb rating if my memory serves me.

rhawkins · Apr 13, 2015

Just thought some of you guys may have an interest in these 8 lug 19.5 tires and wheels I just put on my dump trailer. http://boarwheel.com They track much straighter than the 16 inch I had on there before. They also have almost no sidewall flex even when cranking it into tight areas. For about the same price ($350 new) as the 235/16 Goodyear G614 I got tire and wheel in 19.5s.

old-iron-habit · Apr 13, 2015

Just seen this thread. Radial tires will wear more on the outside edges if they are overinflated also. The sidewalls are softer than than the tread so the sidewalls bulge and push a larger load to the tire edge. Edge wear is also enhanced by turning sharp under load for the very same reason as stated in posts above. Keep us posted in how it turns out if you change tire size.

Dualie · Apr 14, 2015

let us know how the no name tires hold up.

Trailer Tires E ply G ply 17.5?

firecatf7333

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fast_st

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norite

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FMD

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stumpjumper83

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Dualie

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gwhammy

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wheelman007

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DoyleX

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firecatf7333

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old-iron-habit

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wheelman007

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firecatf7333

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firecatf7333

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DoyleX

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rhawkins

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old-iron-habit

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Dualie

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