boat trailer tires

[picksbigwagon]

I have made it two years on the mismatched car tires on my boat trailer. I know I have read many threads here, and I know that Goodyear makes a pretty good trailer tire. How much am I looking at to replace my trailer tires? Also, do I take my trailer to the goodyear dealer or do I/can I buy the tires at the dealership and I install them at my home? I believe my current tire size is 13 inch, can I go to a 14" tire safely?

Thanks for the help

[Sandmannd]

I know you can buy unmounted trailer tires at Fleet Farm, don't think they are goodyear though. There was a place I got some for my utility trailer in New Brighten. Good price, got a tire and rim for a hundy.

[Tom7227]

You have to know what the configuration of the bolts on the hubs are and then how much clearance you have at the fender when the trailer is loaded. Go to a tire shop and see what they tell you to get and then shop around if you can afford the gas to do it.

[john.wells]

You can do the job yourself, but for the money I would have the pros do it. From what I have found, the cost of a tire on its own isn't much less than one already mounted on a rim from places like FF or Northern Tool. You get an added benefit of a nice new rust-free rim and a new valve stem. IF you decide to do the job yourself, you are going to need 2 long pry bars, a valve core removal tool, a high volume air compressor, rubber tipped blow gun, lots of soapy water, a wire brush or wheel, and a high tolerance for dirty B.S. backwrecking work. The first step is to remove wheels from trailer. 2) let air out of tires. 3) remove valve core from stem. 4) break tire bead from rim-easier said than done-I have found that driving over the tire while being extra careful not to hit the rim works best. 5) load tire bead up with soapy water. Use one pry bar vertically stuck through hole as a mandrel, put other pry bar horizontally against vertical one. Get under bead, and work the lip of bead over rim. Do same to both sides, one side at a time. 6) Clean rust and scale off of bead surface with a wire brush, or ideally a wire wheel. If you want, do the whole thing and paint, but you really only need to clean the bead area of rim. 7) inspect valve stem. If it is cracked or brittle, replace 8) Position tire above rim and get as much of bead nestled in place as posible. Use soapy water again, and use pry bars in similar fashion as when you removed the tire. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO TEAR THE TIRE!!! Repeat on other side. 9) When tire has been successfully loaded onto rim, it is time to seat the bead. Have air compressor fully charged. Set tire in upright position and put blow gun tip into valve stem. Make sure core is removed, and blast air through valve stem until beads pop into place, AND ONLY ENOUGH TO SEAT THE BEAD!!! People have been injured or killed by this part of the process. This is probably the most frustrating part, as sometimes the bead will set right away, more often than not it doesn't. You kind of have to work the rim most times to get just enough contact for the air to push the tire to a bead set. 10) Install valve core and fill tire to recommended pressure. 11) Put wheels back on trailer, torque to specs (if known). 12) Take used tires to tire shop and pay them to take away from you. Also, if you want they can balance the wheels for about the same fee as if they did the whole dang process.

[picksbigwagon]

John, that's a lot more involved than I was thinking, I was thinking a tire on a rim from FF or Northern and putting it on my self, but if the dealer can do it within say 15% of that price, i will go to the dealer.....Didn't mean to have you type that much, sorry 'bout that

[john.wells]

That's OK, I have nothing better to do. I broke my ankle a few weeks ago so here I am! It really isn't that difficult to do, but it is dirty and can be frustrating. For the money, though, it is best to have someone else do it. As far as the type of tire you need, if your rims are in fairly good shape, you can get a new set of radials for cheap. I wouldn't worry about going to a 14 inch wheel, no real need unless you want to improve travel height a little. Just be sure that whatever tire you get has an adequate weight and speed rating.

[RainyEye]

I'd have to suggest the Goodyear Marathons, I've had them for 4 years and the tread wear is very even and I have had no problems with them. It won't cost that much extra to have them mounted and balanced as well.

[walleyeaddict]

I also run goodyear marathons...gonna need a new set this year also!