Steve Dawson

While coming back from a great weekend at Eagles Canyon Raceway, a tire blew out on my open Trailex. Being a towing newbie, I didn't recognize the sound of the blowout, but when the tread started flailing against everything on that side of the trailer I knew I had a problem. Working slowly across lanes, I got to an exit and confirmed the problem.



Luckily the fuel bottle survived (otherwise things could have gotten very ugly). Fender took a beating, but maybe can be straightened. The wire for amber marker light on the front of the fender was ripped off and shorted against the chassis. This blew a fuse in my tow vehicle and took out the trailer lights. We turned on the track car's 4-way flasher to have some lights and practiced what we would say to the officer if stopped for running without lights.



Tires are the original Goodyear Marathons. Plenty of tread, but too many years (5). Replaced them with Goodyear Endurance tires. Carl Carbon at Trailex confirmed their standard tire now is the 215/75-14 Endurance. I'm thinking 4 years would be a good replacement interval.

Servicing the wheel bearings while all the tires are off and replacing the battery for the break-away system.

jerome951

Glad you escaped relatively unschathed..
5 years doesn't sound like too long for trailer tires, even if left out in the baking sun...
Were you running the pressures (or higher) recommended by Goodyear for your weight??

Steve Dawson

40 PSIG, per the Trailex placard.

dan212

You 5 Years is time to replace regardless of tread appearance.
Check the tire sidewall for recommended pressure. They are not all the same, but running under inflated will cause failures.
When they go, they rip apart like your pix - obliterated.. .

I switched to E rated tires and always carry TWO spares

certz

I replace mine every four years regardless of mileage or appearance. I have seen far too many try to stretch it to five and have blowouts. I am sure there are people that get five and beyond but trailer tires are not that expensive and cheap insurance as far as I am concerned. I replaced six on my stacker prior to this season and I think it was less right around a thousand - less than a set of race tires. Also, I bought a trailer TPMS so I will know when one fails or is getting low.

Steve Dawson

The Endurance is E-rated. The Marathons that came on the trailer were D.

RE: inflation
The sidewall specifies 65 PSIG for MAX load. Here's Goodyear's chart:



At 40 psig (Trailex recommendation) the load limit for my 215/75-14 tires would be 1660 x 4 or 6640 lbs.
Trailex open is rated for 4400#, plus 1000# for the trailer itself, so about 5400 lbs. at max trailer capacity.
I'm guessing I run closer to 4000 lbs. (2600 car, 1200 trailer and accessories, 200 wheels and tools).

Jon D

FWIW Goodyear Marathons were/are know to blow at any age. Old news in the RV world. Goodyear Endurance have a good reputation and seem to have solved all the blow up issues. Been running Endurances on my Airstream for a few years. No issues in over 10,000 miles.

85Gold

I always run max pressure as it cuts down on tread squirm. I agree 4 years maximum and GY Endurance FTW. You also might consider a TPMS system for the trailer. I run the Tire Minder and it has warned me of a tire going flat for a bad valve stem.

Peter

Steve Dawson

Good to hear the Endurance lives up to its name.

Not a bad idea - ride harshness is not an issue and maybe get slightly better fuel economy. No downside to running max pressure?

I've started looking into TPMS. Good suggestion.

85Gold

No downside besides a little harsher ride mostly when empty. Upside is tires run cooler and I always carry 2 spare tires.

Peter

Kein_Ersatz

TPMS for piece of mind and if a blow out is a result of low pressure or high pressure/temp, you will get some warning. When getting new tires is the perfect time to get in stem TPMS system.

Trailer blowouts do do a number on the fender and wiring. 2 spare policy for long hauls is also a good idea.

Steve Dawson

I heard that. Besides damage to the fender, the marker light wiring was ripped out. It shorted out to the frame and blew a fuse in the tow vehicle.


Fortunately the main fender extrusion massaged back into place. I still have to straighten the edge strip (that could be a challenge). New marker light arrived.

Frank 993 C4S

Just to overstate the obvious. TPMS saved me with a slow leak from a nail. Was able to pull over before the tire blew.

badabing

Most blowout are caused by low pressure. You pick up a nail while rolling down the road and the tire loses air and overheats until the rubber undergoes a reversion process and falls apart.

The same applies to all those road gators you see littering the highways from tractor trailers.

TPMS in the trailer tires would eliminate a large number of incidents.

I have a system for my trailer and have put several friends on the same.

Go for the oem style valve stem sensors such as offered by Dill Air Systems (no affiliation)

Mussl Kar

Check trailer pressure with the same awareness as you check pressure in track tires on you car. 3 years on a trailer tire and toss them. Think about what you will loose if BOTH tires on a side fail! Just not worth it.
Don't ask me how I know.
Anybody that tows their car to a track is going to have "Trailer Stories". You just told your first story. The first of many.
DO NOT LET ANYBODY DISTRACT YOU WHILE LOADING OR UNLOADING, CAR OR ATTACHING TRAILER TO TOW VEHICLE.