"...10 ply TRAILER tires are the only
safe way to go..."
"Ply ratings" are an old designation
based on the way tires were made before Nylon cord started to be used in the
50's. Now all tires must have a letter load rating on them. Most car
tires are load range B. Most large truck tires are load range E (sort of
like the old 10 ply rating)
The load rating you need depends on
the weight carried. If you have a half ton pickup, anything above load
range C is probably a waste of money. With a one ton truck you need bigger
tires and probably load range E.
If you are pulling a two horse
trailer, you probably need B tires. The biggest gooseneck LQ may need
E.
The bottom line
is:
1. Find out what the weight of the
loaded vehicle is. You probably can go by the GVW on the nameplate.
Scales are also an option.
2. Do the math and figure out
the weight on each tire. Remember that the front of a truck has less
weight than the back. You need 4 (or 6) matched tires, strong
enough to be on the back.
3. 90% of the weight of a tag along
is on the axles. About half of the weight of a goose neck is on the
axles.
4. Go to a good tire dealer and ask
his recommendations. Check his load range recommendations with your
calculations, and the original equipment tires on the vehicle. If a
trailer is old, do not go by the tires put on by previous
owners.
5. Inflate the tires to the proper
amount.
6. You can go to a higher load
range, but not a lower.
7. Higher load range tires, inflated
to their maximum will ride a bit harsher.
8. Tires also have a speed
rating. Except for agricultural tires rated for <35 or so mph, we
better not be driving our horse trailers fast enough to get into trouble with
speed rating.
9. Check again that you have the
proper inflation pressure. Even Firestone tires usually only blew out when
underinflated.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
