Tires - When To Replace

My 550 was new in August 2014. Now has in the neighborhood of 25,000 miles on the original tires. Tread is in good shape, but a friend with a Brand X teardrop tells me they should be replaced every seven years regardless of wear.

Is that right?

 

In my opinion, 10 years is a general rule of thumb, modified by conditions. If the trailer is stored outdoors, life can be shorter. Also, some tires are higher quality and can last longer, low quality, shorter life. Higher temperatures and the presence of Ozone shorten life. As Ken says, if the rubber shows signs of checking, it's time to replace.

In my experience Maxxis tires are high quality and long lived, though can be difficult to find.

 

Some experts say 5. Tires are cheap on a campinn. You’re not replacing 6 or 8 20 inch tires. Its easier to replace them than to repair damage from tread separation or blow out.

A tire guy I spoke with said that trailers with low miles are actually more susceptible to failure since the plasticizers don’t move around properly.

for me... 5 years sounds right, it’s easy to remember in 2025 I’m due....

 

The important take away is that tires can and do age out before hitting their max/rated mileage. Have a good look a them and don't be afraid to replace them regardless of mileage.

 

Every tire has a birth date—the day it has been manufactured and an expiration date that's six years from when it was manufactured. Many people forget about the expiration dates of their tires. Make sure that the tires you're using are not stocked on the shelf for years. I learned that the hard way when I used mud tires and wheels on my truck that's been sitting in my brother's shed for years. Even if the tires were never used, they are still considered several years old. If you wait any longer, you're gambling with the integrity of the tires.

 

This is a seven year blowout. Some trailer tire sites recommend 5 years. The spare came in handy. I recommend making sure you have a long handle lug nut wrench (I did). Thirty minute roadside change and then purchased two new tires.

 

Looks like one of mine 3 weeks ago. 4 years old. I THINK I hit something laying on the centerline as I came back into the right lane after passing someone. Spare was EXTREMELY handy to have on I-40 near Dollywood, TN on a Sunday afternoon.

 

Two of my friends had blow outs on their trailers this summer, in both cases tread looked new but when they looked at the tire dates they were 6 and 9 years old. One was a simple tire change, the other exploded into the interior of the airstream. 5 years seems like a good rule of thumb.

 

For the couple hundred for new tires, on a 5 yr rotation that breaks down to $40 per year for peace of mind. Money well spent not having to change the tires on the side of the highway.