Are Your Trailer Tires Off-Road Ready?

Five tips to ensure smooth travels this wheeling season

by

Words by Al Henderson

Overlanding and trail-riding enthusiasts have long been waiting for the early signs of summer to kick-off the wheeling season. If you’re one of the majority who is craving a dirt-filled, dusty environment where many wouldn’t dare to venture, fine-tuning your off-road trailer for that first weekend trip is essential. It’s no secret that these trailers take a beating and inspecting the axles, springs, lighting, and electrical wiring to ensure your trailer is in top-tip shape is vital to successful getaways in the bush.

The trailer tires deserve special attention as well and neglecting these unsung heroes will just spell trouble on the trails or on the highway to them. In efforts to properly get ready for that first off-road excursion, the experts from Kenda’s North American distribution division for tires, wheels, and assemblies, Americana Tire and Wheel, share five simple tips to ensure your off-road trailer tires are ready for the dirt roads.

  1. Give the Trailer Tires a Double-Take: To start with, check to see if your tires look like they are supposed to. Closely inspect to see if there are any irregularities, differences since you stored them in the fall, or if there’s any foreign debris in the treads. You might even start with a thorough wash so any damage will be more apparent. This step is important especially if you didn't do a pre-check before placing your tires and/or trailer in storage.
  2. Adhere to the Recommended PSI: Change in temperature and sitting idle results in the loss of tire pressure for any tire. They can lose an average of three percent of air pressure per decrease in temperature of 10°C (50° F). Even at a constant temperature, tires will lose about that much pressure per month during storage while inflated. Towing your trailer with underinflated tires places added pressure on the shoulder of the tire, which can lead to handling issues and/or uneven wear. So, be sure to avoid this by always checking the PSI, and inflating them to the recommended pressure by the manufacturer.
  3. Put a Nickel to the Tread Test:  Even though a worn tread can be easily seen, one quick way to ensure a worn trailer tire is by taking a nickel and placing Queen Elizabeth II’s head upside down and facing the shallowest groove on the tire. If Queen Elizabeth II’s crown is visible above the tread, you only have 2/32" or less tread depth left. Some trailer tires also have tread wear indicators, which are the raised sections with intermittent spacing in the bottom of the tread grooves.
  4. Make Sure All Systems Are Go: Checking your trailer’s systems before any trip during the season should be standard practice. Be sure to properly connect all electrical wiring and ensure that all running lights, accessory lights, brake lights, hitch components, and 12-volt connections are secure and functioning properly.
  5. Know Your Load Capacity: Always be sure of the exact amount of weight that your vehicle can tow and manage the weight in the trailer. While off-road trailers can easily be towed by a variety of vehicles, you must always consider the weight of gear and equipment that is stored in the trailer during travel. The weight of tools, recovery gear, spare parts, coolers, to name a few items, adds up quickly. Towing a vehicle with too much weight can cause your tires to wear unevenly, which can result in the need to replace them prematurely.  Always check your owner’s manual for proper load restrictions.

After a long winter and spring, it’s understandable that many off-road enthusiasts want to hit the road and trails as soon as possible. Even if you took some delight in some winter off-roading with your trailer, it’s still important to take a few moments to check the essential components as well as the tires.  By performing the tasks on this simple list, you can ensure your time on the road will run smoothly.

Al Henderson is a Sr. Engineer for Kenda American Technology Center and the lead engineer for all trailer tire development. Henderson joined Kenda in 2015 and has designed the Kenda Klever R/T light truck tire, which is Kenda’s highest-rated and most reviewed tire, and the Kenda Nevagal 2 bicycle tire.

He also serves as a committee member of the Tire and Rim Association and the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers.

About Americana Tire and Wheel

Americana Tire and Wheel (ATW), a division of global tire manufacturing leader Kenda, is its premier North American distribution arm serving original equipment manufacturers and distributors in the towable trailer, utility, RV, marine, and agricultural industries.  Providing quality tire, wheel, and assembly solutions across a wide range of steel and aluminum wheels, ATW offers a controlled approach throughout the value chain from design, manufacturing, and quality control to distribution and aftermarket service – enhancing both the performance and value of towable, utility and RV platforms. www.americanatire.com.

About Kenda

Founded in 1962, Kenda is a global leader in tire development and manufacturing. With over 12,000 employees and factories worldwide, Kenda continues to expand product offerings in the automotive, bicycle, powersports, trailer/specialty, and wheelchair markets. For more information visit www.kendatire.com