Replacing tires on lightweight Euro trailer??

[Lusoluv]

I didn’t want to hijack the thread on Boeckmann euro trailers, so starting this one. I want to replace the tires on my St Georges trailer. Probably only have 5K miles on them, but now 6 years old and want stay ahead of dry rot, problems, etc. What brand do you folks who own lightweights (Brenderups, EquiTrek) buy? Was chatting to a trailer repair guy and he quickly said any good tire place (Cassidy, Discount Tire, NTB) can replace your new tires. Said I didn’t even need trailer tires, could use good car tires, since the balance and weight of my loaded trailer doesn’t come into the load range of “real” trailer tires. OK, that makes sense though I’ll probably get trailer tires.

What national brands do you recommend? The tires that the trailer came with are not sold here. I know Jim_in_PA is always a wealth of knowledge!! Here’s some technical data.
Current tires: KargoMax ST-4000 Size: 185/70R13 90N PSI: 40 lbs 23" diameter, Trailer weight: 1,640 lbs, Tongue weight: 132 lbs

I want a quality tire and don’t want to skimp, but with such limited trailering miles, I don’t need top of the line as my budgets isn’t unlimited. I went on Discount tire’s trailer tire page and there are 24 brands listed!!! Guidance from those who own/know these trailers is much appreciated!

[Jarpur]

When I replaced the tires on my Brenderup Baron, I bought the Michellin equivalent of the original tires (same size, etc.). The tire vendor (in this case, DIscount) gave me paperwork where I acknowledged that I had requested passenger tires for a trailer.

We keep Michellins on all our vehicles (but not our other trailers), so went with those for the Brenderup, too.

[clanter]

tires specific for trailers have stiffer sidewalls specifically to reduce sway

Typical passenger radial tires with flexible sidewalls can accentuate trailer sway problems. The stiffer sidewalls and higher operating pressures common with Special Trailer (ST) designated tires help reduce trailer sway. "Trailers will be more stable and pull better on tires designed specifically for traileruse.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret…jsp?techid=219

so my thoughts are using passenger tires on your trailer would be an issue. Even with our heavy steel trailers being towed by 1 ton dually we always used tires that were intended for trailers

[Lusoluv]

Thanks for the speedy replies already! Yes, Clanter, for an American trailer I would 100% agree, but Euro trailers are designed specifically NOT to sway. That’s why you’re instructed never to try and add anti-sway bars to these trailers. The guy who told me to buy car tires is a long-time trailer repair shop owner! He services my trainer’s big gooseneck. He also works on Euro trailers. The only reason I’m not taking my business to him is because he’s over an hour away from me.

My current tires are ST (special trailer) tires, mainly used/sold in Europe. I don’t mind paying for something similar OR good quality car tires, as Jarpur has done. I just don’t know the tire market that well and don’t want to take a salesperson’s word on it. When I replace my car’s tires, I buy the same brand/model that came with it. I can’t do this with my trailer’s tires since they’re not available in the US. Also hoping if I select a quality brand/model tire ahead of time, I can call ahead so tires are there and ready to be installed vs. going to tire shop and maybe having to get a different brand based what’s in stock.

[Jarpur]

Yes, Euro trailers are different. All of our American-style trailers have trailer tires on them, but the Brenderup came with original European tires that were passenger type.

The Brenderup trailer has caster and camber. Perhaps that makes a difference?

My trailer was a 2006.

[Manni01]

Not sure, I went to a tire place when I replaced mine and picked their cheaper recommendation. So far they worked well for my boeckman.

[Jim_in_PA]

@Lusoluv

Thanks for the speedy replies already! Yes, Clanter, for an American trailer I would 100% agree, but Euro trailers are designed specifically NOT to sway. That’s why you’re instructed never to try and add anti-sway bars to these trailers. .

The reason you can’t use sway bars is because of the inertial brakes. The same is true for WDH, but it’s not needed anyway because of the low tongue weight.

As to tires, match the size and also match or exceed duty cycle/load handling specifications of the OEM provided tires. I don’t have an opinion on brands and what’s available to you is going to be “local” supply.

[tangledweb]

Get what is already on there, that is ST 185/70R13 90N. ST stands for Special Trailer. The middle bit is the physical size. 90 is the load rating. N is the speed rating. You could get a higher load and speed rating, but don’t get lower.

There is no good reason to switch to passenger tires. Get tires that were designed for the job.

You probably could get exactly the same brand again (GT Radial) if you want to, but there is nothing special about that. They are sold in the US.

I think all 13" trailer tires are now made in China, so I don’t know how much quality varies between brands you’ve heard of and unknown ones.

[Lusoluv]

Yes, I certainly would get the same tire size and rating. The reason I might switch to passenger tires is because the trailer serviceman I spoke to says that’s what he puts on Brenderups. That’s what they come with: passenger tires. The weight of my trailer and my horse is lighter than the empty curb weight of my car. So the stronger sidewall and heavy tire isn’t needed. Plus, I’m finding the ST tire in my size is a special order so they’re more $$ than a better quality passenger tire.

[MegBackInSaddle]

Wouldn’t have minded a hijack, haha. Following this conversation, too. I’ve just about got myself talked into “needing” a Euro trailer.

[Lusoluv]

Meg, you do NEED a Euro trailer

[Willesdon]

@Lusoluv

Was chatting to a trailer repair guy and he quickly said any good tire place (Cassidy, Discount Tire, NTB) can replace your new tires. Said I didn’t even need trailer tires, could use good car tires, since the balance and weight of my loaded trailer doesn’t come into the load range of “real” trailer

You will still need trailer tires because car tires are not designed for the weight of the horses, even in a lightweight euro trailer. Car tires are just not safe. Perhaps you should contact the manufacturer directly, or the US agent, to ask them to suggest an appropriate replacement.

[joiedevie99]

Yes, Brenderup’s don’t take trailer tires. People who aren’t used to these trailers don’t understand them. I adore my trailer mechanic because he understands my B’up and takes good care of it.

[hosspuller]

I would go with Jim-in-PA 's tire recommendation. His explanation of why not to use sway bars & WDH is spot on. (I would add the details: Sway bars & WDH bars prevent the trailer from pushing on the hitch ball… ergo “Inertial brakes” )

Not the “…trailers are designed not to sway…” sales spiel.

[Lusoluv]

Yes, joiedevie99, my trainer’s trailer guy has serviced American and Euro trailers for over 35 yrs. When I questioned him about new tires, he could have directed me to get special order trailer tires from him. I would have done so based on his expertise. Instead, he explained the rationale behind passenger tires. I didn’t know Brenderups came with these tires, and never would have considered them unless a professional explained it to me. I talked to a tire store rep today and he agreed that passenger tires would be fine based on the loaded weight of my trailer. I feel much more confident going forward! Thanks.

[Gardenhorse]

Honest question here: If passenger tires are okay for your trailer, why didn’t it come with them? They have passenger tires in Europe, too, and the manufacturer or dealer made a decision to go with the ST tires.

[soloudinhere]

@Gardenhorse

Honest question here: If passenger tires are okay for your trailer, why didn’t it come with them? They have passenger tires in Europe, too, and the manufacturer or dealer made a decision to go with the ST tires.

I believe they are required to have trailer tires by law in Europe, hence the “special trailer” designation.

I was told by bockmann that passenger tires were just fine.

[Jim_in_PA]

The bottom line is that unless you actually have a Brenderup (which haven’t been sold in the US for many years now), you should use the same kind of tires that your trailer came with unless you can confirm other types are ok… Since it doesn’t have passenger tires…you shouldn’t buy passenger tires. If you want to be absolutely sure, contact Fautras/St Georges and get confirmation about what’s acceptable. soloudinhere did that for Böckmann, according to her recent post.

[Gardenhorse]

@soloudinhere

I believe they are required to have trailer tires by law in Europe, hence the “special trailer” designation.

I was told by bockmann that passenger tires were just fine.

Thanks, soloudinhere. Not an issue for me yet since my Bockmann is not quite a year old, but I would definitely check with dealer or manufacturer before making a change.

[Lusoluv]

When I said, “These trailers are designed not to sway”, that isn’t sales spiel. The design of horse-over-axle means the trailer carries almost 100% of the horse’s weight. My trailer puts 150lbs on the hitch when carrying 2 horses; I only haul 1. Also the trailer is slightly wider at the base and is aerodynamic.

Some trailers sway because they aren’t correctly aligned to the tow vehicle, and tongue weight for a steel 2 horse can be closer to 400+lbs. Trailers that lean too much on the vehicle cause sway and are hard to stop. Adding a WDH shifts some weight back onto the trailer wheels…Euro trailers’ design does that.

Saying “passenger tires are not designed for the weight of horses and a light trailer” is disproved by math. My car weighs 2844 lbs empty. It can carry 4-5 people with a max total of 3924 lbs. My trailer with my horse is only 2640 lbs. So if my trailer is unsafe with passenger tires, then my car is too!

I didn’t want to start an argument. That’s why I asked people who OWN these trailers for info. I know Euro trailers have their nay-sayers. 20 years ago I talked a friend out of getting a B’up. Later I did some research and changed my mind. To each his own I’ve heard from a trailer pro, tire pro, some folks here and other forums who’ve satisfied my needs for an informed decision.