Trailer tires - how long can they sit?

[SkipHiLad4me]

I replaced the tires on my trailer about 2-3 years ago and have since used it very little. The trailer has sat in a shaded area under some pine trees for much of the past 2 years. I used it last November and it has essentially sat in the same spot since then. I know this is very, very bad for the trailer and tires I know… I know…

At what point do you get concerned about dry rot or weak spots in the tires from sitting for so long? Will definitely do a thorough check of flooring, electric brakes, etc before hauling a horse again. Wheel bearings were packed when the tires were replaced. Do I need to replace my “brand new” trailer tires again?

[veezee]

Have your trailer tires checked and get an inspection on your trailer to ease any worries and take care of any issues. We have found over the years that if we keep the tires covered when living in CA and other climates that it has saved our tires for much longer than we expected. The tire covers are worth it considering the option of having to replace tires sooner.

Hope this helps.

[ladymcts]

I was in a somewhat similar position … having bought my first horse and spent more time “not riding” than riding in those first five years. I went about five years with the tires that barely ever got used. I wanted to argue with the trailer guy that there was no tread wear, but he went and showed me where they were showing some crackling around the edges.

So I hope that helps answer a little bit … not more than five years, but that’s no guarantee that yours don’t need replacing now.

[jawa]

My mechanic told me that it was much better for tires if you were able to park on gravel or pavement, as opposed to on dirt or grass. He said the constant exposure to moisture through the soil was hard on tires and would cause them to degrade faster.

[Hinderella]

I don’t have an answer for you, but as Jawa said, it’s best to park the trailer on a dry surface. For my trailer I purchased a stall mat and cut it in half and I park the tires on that.
You may be able to tell from a close inspection whether there is dry rot or cracking. Even if there isn’t, I would think you would at least want to get a new spare, just in case.

[ryansgirl]

[QUOTE=jawa;7374160]
My mechanic told me that it was much better for tires if you were able to park on gravel or pavement, as opposed to on dirt or grass. He said the constant exposure to moisture through the soil was hard on tires and would cause them to degrade faster.[/QUOTE]

^ This. You need to park it on something other than grass/dirt. I park mine on patio bricks (easy and cheap to buy and move). This keeps the moisture away. I also use tire covers to block the sun’s rays whick combined with moisture will ruin the tires in no time at all. Its not the tread wear you need to worry about - its the rot/cracking, etc. from the elements. I get my trailer inspected every year and along with everything else they thoroughly check the tires. My trailer gets used maybe once/twice a year but i do take it out empty a few times a year and drive it around to get things “moving”.

[SkipHiLad4me]

There’s nowhere other than the grass to park it at the barn so I guess I need to invest in some patio pavers to go under the tires. I’m afraid it’s probably too late for this set of tires unfortunately. I would feel fine just towing the trailer with the tires as is but I’m quite nervous about hauling the weight of a horse at this point, based on how long they’ve sat idle.

I can’t believe I let this happen. Trailer tires are not cheap

[Jim_in_PA]

The person who inspects/services your tires can check them over and tell you if they are still serviceable. It is not universal that tires will deteriorate in any specific time period…it’s just a general rule of thumb that after x years they may need the be replaced. It’s always a good idea to move a trailer around a little, too, so that one spot is never always on the ground, regardless of the surface.

[secretariat]

You should be concerned about bearings in this scenario as well; the grease tends to extrude to the top of the bearing due to pressure. I recommend moving the trailer (for tires, bearings, brakes, et. al.) once a month. If nothing else, just run it around the block. This lets the tires “lubricate” themselves, redistribute the bearing grease, and keep the other moving parts from freezing up.

[jbonifas]

Tires last about 5 years with out much use.