Hello
Our 2005 Macgregor trailer is being serviced (seems evening needs renewing!) and we also need to replace the tyres as they may be the originals or close to it, although not worn or perished.
My question is whether others have replaced tyres with special trailer tyres or simply radial car tyres? Any recommendations on brand would be appreciated.
Regards
Natalie
‘Lupus’
Hi Natalie,
ST trailer tires have stiffer sidewalks than car tires and this helps reduce trailer sway. I’d stick with trailer tires. Sway is no fun.
Leigh Ross
Crieff
0777 558-4561
1990 MacGregor 26S Ptarmigan
1992 MacGregor 26S Pelican
Thanks Leigh.
Re trailer tyres- can’t be too careful with tyres. They only last 6-7 years used or not.Had a motorway blowout - not funny . Tyre pressure 90- 95 PSI. Had my 3 tyres replaced in Denmark,can’t remember the brand but stronger than the tyres that came with trailer. First signs of trouble is trailer wobble,so urgently need to slow down to maybe 20 M P H.
Hi Natalie,
Always use trailer tyres, and when not in use keep them out of direct sunlight whenever possible. Move your trailer frequently even in the winter, so that the bit of the tyre that's in contact with the ground is not constant, especially if your boat mostly resides on the trailer.
There's some good stuff written elsewhere in the forum about tyre pressures if you feel you need it. As many of us are brushing off our trailers getting ready for a long trail to Windermere soon, it's a good idea to include tyre health in our checklists
Regards, John Richardson 'Sonny' 26M
Hi re trailer tyres- have found the invoice for my Danish supplied tyres. THEY ARE HANKOOK 155/70R12 RA08.
pressure 95 PSI.hope this helps.
More re trailers . I had my brake cables replace with stainless,as the originals seize up and you can’t move the trailer. Also check the brake overrun adjustment. If you service your trailer grease all nipples - there are two under the front. I have had the overrun brakes seize up not a d I y job to fix.
I agree that trailer tyres are a must. I agree with John about keeping tyres out of the sun. Even a black bin bag can protect them and do keep them up to the recommended pressure which is higher than most car tyres. Can't remember any brands but a web search will find suppliers and fitters. Their major business is caravans so look under them.
Good Luck
Simon Armitage
Sowenna 26M
On a two wheel trailer the loading is VERY high. Check the load index and the maximum pressure on any tyre. Car tyres don't normally go anywhere near high enough.
For a standard 1.6 tonne two wheel Mac trailer the load index should be 100 or higher.
In fact a typical Mac plus normal equipment is probably a good bit over 1.6 tonne. So I'd be looking at Load Index of 102 or more.
For a four wheel trailer a load index around 90 or 92 is needed.
C rated (or commercial) tyres normally used for vans and trailers have more plys in the sidewall (6 or 8 ply typically) and are rated for higher pressure use. They will have correspondingly higher load indices.
I used 165/80R13C94/92 on my four wheel trailer. Shame I didn't use an even heavier lock!
Dave.
Dave Newton Sailbadthesinner
Thank you all!
My blowout was through the tread-not the sidewall. The tyre was no longer round.