Just thought that I would share.

[Paul Wirtz]

I have four Carlisle Radial Trail HD Trailer Tires on my 2009 226 travel trailer.

As we all know tires are expensive and really important to take care of so that we have a fun trip to where we are going.

I have spent over 30 years as a automotive tech and a service manager at a car dealership. I know the importance of tire rotations.

Trailer tires are no different. They will wear different depending on which axle they are on, and in order to get full life they require rotating.

I personally was not sure of which pattern I should use as trailer tires do have a different construction than automotive tires.

I want to bring the rear tires forward and then cross them to the other side and the front straight back. In car land this is the preferred pattern for none directional tires.

I reached out to Carlisle the tire manufacturer and they agree with my pattern.

I just thought that i would share.

thanks

Paul

[NorCal Eagle]

Interesting. I was under the impression that rotating the tires on a trailer wasn't necessary (the biggest priority being regular inspections and tire pressures).

Reason for not rotating them is none of the tires are steering nor are driven (power going to them from a motor). The alignment, so far as I know, is fixed also. That said, I suppose there is no harm in rotating them?

[Paul Wirtz]

Yes there is no power going to them.

But remember as you turn you will drag the front axle tires around the corner.

Plus all trailer axles with have some toe out and forward caster built into them. But they will never ever be exactly the same as the other axle

[Jagiven]

Thanks for sharing Paul.

NorCal, I think tire wear from tire scrub is still prevalent on TTs. At our old house the street was an old "oiled" pavement, sealed every few years with hot oil and sand. I never had any tire wear. Our new place, has modern asphalt pavement, that is chip sealed, with pea gravel every few years. I wiped out my old TT tires within 2 years of backing in to my driveway. I now change my approach (blind side vs driver side) and rotate my tires. My tires tread looks new after 2 full seasons of use.

[Paul Wirtz]

Too add to your point when you come off the highway the tires are hot, so when they slide as you turn hard they will wear fast.

I have a triple axle car trailer and if I am not careful I could flat spot the front tires very easily if I turn tight enough.

[NorCal Eagle]

Originally Posted by Paul Wirtz

Yes there is no power going to them.

But remember as you turn you will drag the front axle tires around the corner.

Plus all trailer axles with have some toe out and forward caster built into them. But they will never ever be exactly the same as the other axle

Valid point.

I'm curious now to go measure my tread depth, inner-center-outer across the tread of each tire to see what the differences are.

[Paul Wirtz]

I am Canadian. Lol.

I use a 25 cent coin and use the moose’s nose.

Lol

[Quantum]

Makes sense. I doubt the front axle and rear axle have the same weight on them, due to trailer loading, WDH setup, etc. I noticed a bit more wear on my rear tires than the fronts (Carlisle imprints their name on the centre rib of the tread pattern) and the imprint on the rears was less prevalent than on the fronts. I will rotate them before my next big trip.

My trailer is already up on blocks to keep the weight off the tires and springs for the winter, so to swap the tires at this point is pretty quick.

[NorCal Eagle]

Originally Posted by Paul Wirtz

I am Canadian. Lol.

I use a 25 cent coin and use the moose’s nose.

Lol

LOL that works too. I have some tire and alignment tools from past racing days. You can never have too many tools.

[Joan617]

We just got weighed last week, axle by axle, left and right. We are 1,300# heavier on the driver's side of the trailer. It was not unexpected with all the kitchen appliances on that side, but sobering none the less to see it in print.


First thing I though of was the need for frequent tire rotations.
Angus

[Paul Wirtz]

Wow! That is crazy hey.

Can you shift some weight to the other side?

[geezerbob]

My right rear tt tire wore differently ( the only one to do so) than the other 3 tires. I'm putting on new good year tires next year and I plan to rotate them as miles go by like the first person who post on this topic. Sorry I didn't look back to see who that was I didn't want to lose my post (long story)
Bob

[geezerbob]

That would be Paul Wirtz

[Paul Wirtz]

Just an other thought,or point.

On both the tow vehicles and trailers tires I always use Nitrogen rather than air in my tires.

Nitrogen is more stable than air so the tire pressures do not grow (as much). When the tires get heat in them when traveling down the highway.

Most tire shop will charge for this but it is well worth the money

Thanks

Paul

[Cincinnati Kid]

Originally Posted by Paul Wirtz

Just an other thought,or point.

On both the tow vehicles and trailers tires I always use Nitrogen rather than air in my tires.

Nitrogen is more stable than air so the tire pressures do not grow (as much). When the tires get heat in them when traveling down the highway.

Most tire shop will charge for this but it is well worth the money

Thanks

Paul

I use a blend that has 78% Nitrogen. That seems to work for me.

[Nature Ist]

Ha Ha

[Subaru297]

Originally Posted by Cincinnati Kid

I use a blend that has 78% Nitrogen. That seems to work for me.

Haha. Awesome! and +1

[gypsmjim]

First of all, never use air, always use nitrogen. The science says other wise but the practical experience says it all.

Secondly, if you HAVE to rotate, front to back, never criss-cross, regardless what Carlisle says because they probably don't have a clue. They just build tires, not use them.

Lastly, why bother to rotate them at all unless you are a road warrior. Most ST tires fall apart in 3-4 years, long before they wear out.

Just my opinion. That's what I do. Y'all should do what your own personal experience tells you.

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by gypsmjim

First of all, never use air, always use nitrogen. The science says other wise but the practical experience says it all.

Secondly, if you HAVE to rotate, front to back, never criss-cross, regardless what Carlisle says because they probably don't have a clue. They just build tires, not use them.

Lastly, why bother to rotate them at all unless you are a road warrior. Most ST tires fall apart in 3-4 years, long before they wear out.

Just my opinion. That's what I do. Y'all should do what your own personal experience tells you.

X2 on the rotation. But I check my tires regularly both at home before leaving and on the road. I often top them off. Don’t know how I’d do that with nitrogen.

[Cannon]

When I raced stock cars we ran nitrogen because of high speed and heat buildup. As little as a half pound will change the way a race car handles. In a trailer tire at hwy speeds it dose not make enough difference for me to drive 20 miles out of my way to pay someone for air. Mine came with nitrogen when new and I ran it the first year. Since then I just use air and can tell little to no difference in tire temp. on my TST507 TPMS. I think it's just a sales pitch when it comes to passenger cars