Tires "age" and become unsafe, even if they have plenty of tread wear left on them. How old is too old? Well, opinions vary, but tires older than about 6 years are probably suspect. And be sure any tires you buy really are new, not just unused.
The date the tire was made is stamped on the tire, along with other information, such as tire size and recommended pressure. The first 2 digits of the number shown below indicate the week in which the tire was made (24th week, so mid-June) and the last 2 digits indicate the year (2002, in this case).
Exposure to sun will age tires faster, so if your trailer is not stored under cover, consider getting tire covers.
Make it a habit to check the pressure in your tires, including the spare, before every trip. Tires can be purchased with steel valves, which last longer, and may prevent a flat. Have your bearings checked every year.
Make sure your trailer tires ARE trailer tires. They will be marked "FOR TRAILER SERVICE ONLY" somewhere on the sidewall, and the size label will say something like 235R/16ST. In addition, be certain the load rating is adequate for the trailer you are using. As a general rule, I would NEVER use anything less than Load Range D on a horse trailer, and on a larger rig, Load Range E would be required.
It is not a blow out that starts a fire. A couple of things start fires in tires and wheels. One is a flat tire. With tandem wheels, one tire can go flat and the trailer can continue on. Continuing on a speed, however, will cause a lot of heat. Drive far enough, fast enough and that flat tire can catch fire and burn the entire unit up. You can drive with a flat for a distance, but you must slow down. Drive far enough to get yourself off the road and into a safe location where the tire can be changed.
The second cause of wheel fires and probably the more likely to happen is when a bearing burns out. Most of the time, the bearing fails and the entire wheel or pair of wheels in the case of tandem wheels flies off and in lost in the hinterland. But sometimes a fire erupts and both these fires and tire fires are almost impossible to put out without tons of water.
Keep an eye on your tires. If you see small cracks start to develop in the sidewalls, it is time to change them out. 6 years seems kind of short, but 10 years may be too long. Use your best judgement and inspect your tires on a regular basis for cracks and cuts caused by road debris.
What would you do if you had a flat, or other sort of breakdown? Carry your cell phone, and keep it charged. Put a copy of the NCDC roster in your truck - if you're going to or coming from a driving event, chances are good that other carriage drivers may be in your vicinity, and could come to the rescue. Not all roadside emergency services can deal with horse trailers. Consider a USRider membership - they will tow your trailer, and will help to find emergency stabling if needed.
07/14/2008