Your Guide to Trailer Tire Maintenance

If you use a cargo or utility trailer for your hauling needs, we can’t overstate the importance of taking care of tires. Knowing tire maintenance should be a part of every trailer owner’s skills. Just a little proactivity can go a long way in protecting your tires, saving you time and money in the long run. Well-maintained tires also make your ride smoother and more fuel-efficient.

Proper Tire Inflation

Properly inflated tires make a big difference to your ride. They help optimize the distribution of the vehicle load, acceleration, and braking forces on the road. Not only does this improve the fuel efficiency of your cargo trailer, but it also provides a smoother ride. If your tires are improperly inflated, they’ll wear out faster.

To know the right amount of tire pressure for your tires, check the owner’s manual. Use a tire pressure gauge to check your tires each time before you take a trip. It’s best to check the tires in the morning when they’re cold to get the most accurate information.

One of the trailer upgrade options you have for tires is a pressure monitoring system. With this, you can get real-time information about tire pressure as you drive around. It allows you to quickly address any issue that develops, rather than wait for the problem to become obvious before you notice it.

Check the Tread

As you tow your cargo trailer around, the tire keeps getting worn down. Then a point comes when it becomes so worn down that it becomes a safety issue. Without proper tread on your tires, your rig won’t be able to maintain proper traction on the road and it’ll get very hard to drive safely. It becomes even more dangerous if the roads are wet, snowy, or icy. The 2/32-inch threshold is a commonly accepted measurement of too little tread.

Not only should you check your tires’ amount of tread, but you should also ensure that the tread is wearing down evenly on each tire. Improper inflation or bad wheel alignment can cause the tread to wear down faster. If only one of your tires is worn down, it could indicate that a bigger issue needs to be fixed.

Don’t Overload the Trailer

The more a utility trailer weighs, the more strain the tires are forced to bear. This leads to faster wear and tear. Try to avoid overloading and focus on the essentials. When you load up your trailer, try to distribute the weight evenly as well.

Proper Tire Storage

When you won’t be using your trailer for a long period of time, it’s a good idea to store your tires. Otherwise, they’re stored with the trailer weight putting prolonged pressure on them. Remove them from the rig and store them in a cover that blocks out UV rays.

Taking proper care of your cargo trailer tires is an important ownership responsibility. If you’re still looking for that perfect trailer for your hauling tasks, visit White Spruce Trailer Sales at one of our locations in Anchorage, North Pole, and Wasilla, AK, to see what we’ve in stock. We proudly serve all our customers in Fairbanks.