Motorcycle Racing Forum

Racing Discussion => Racing Discussion => Topic started by: Steviebee on May 10, 2004, 07:57:50 AM

Title: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Steviebee on May 10, 2004, 07:57:50 AM
A.  Why do trailer tires explode ?

B.  It's a dam good thing i bought a spare this year.

Tire went kaableeewey  last night.  It was only 1 year old and i checked the pressure before i left for the weekend. ??

Is this just a normal thing ?
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Woofentino Pugrossi on May 10, 2004, 08:16:46 AM
Most trailer tires are bias ply tires. Also they are normally smaller so they do heat up rather quickly if you are doing over 70 with one.
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: gpracer171 on May 10, 2004, 08:30:06 AM
I have had similar probems on a past trailer. It had small 12 wheeles and needed to rum 90 psi (yes 90). I also discovered that it was rubbing under a heavy load. Check for that, but 9 out of 10 times is is exceeding the load rating combined with low presure and driving too fast for too long.
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Protein Filled on May 10, 2004, 08:49:47 AM
Also, make sure you use tires that were meant for a trailer. Car tires won't last very long on a trailer.
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Steviebee on May 10, 2004, 09:10:26 AM
The tires were the ones that came on the trailer,  so they were the right ones.

The tire said 47 psi  (i think, i dont remember exact)  but i put in what the tire said.

The trailer had one bike and gear, so it shouldnt have been overloaded. (6x12 with a 3500 pound axle)

And it was raining so i dont think i over temped the thing.

Im thinking i must of hit something ??  or a screw from the track ??

I'm just curious how often this happens to other guys,  i never started towing till last year.
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Protein Filled on May 10, 2004, 09:19:04 AM
I blew out 2 tires last year. Granted, they were pretty used up with lot's of miles...
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: tzracer on May 10, 2004, 10:21:08 AM
I've lost one tire. I've had various trailers for about 24 years. You probably hit something that cut the side wall of the tire (most blow outs are side wall - assuming the tire was correctly manufactured).
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Eric Kelcher on May 10, 2004, 11:38:09 AM
You can get LT (light truck) tires that work very well and are radial tires for trailer use. I have had to step up to real serious tires for our trailer after numerous blowouts in the summer months if it was june-sept it was a given that we would have a blow out if loaded (loaded is 15k). We used to get real cool blow outs at night 110 PSI and when they blew lots of orange flames. We never wondered if we had a blow out it was quite evident. We upped axles/tires/wheels and now it is "rated"as a 20k but we never upped the tags or really need to carry that much just safety margin.  
The other thing not mentioned is side push from sharp turns that really tears on the rim and sidewall. Another is the accidental bump of a curb that may look like nothing but tire has started delaminating from the inside.

If you need a 16" tire the heaviest duty one on the market is from Goddyear it is called the G614 RST
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Steviebee on May 10, 2004, 12:21:01 PM
QuoteAnother is the accidental bump of a curb that may look like nothing but tire has started delaminating from the inside.

Are you serious ?  Because  while i was at the gas station on the way to Blackhawk near Chi i had to have the trailer tire roll over the corner of the curb around the gas pump island.  I figured going real slow wouldnt hurt it.

See i dont know any of this stuff.


"Good judgement comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgement"   Rita Mae Brown
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Steviebee on May 10, 2004, 12:25:15 PM
Oh wait, now that i think about it,  it was the other tire ..
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Eric Kelcher on May 10, 2004, 01:01:23 PM
Yep Steve a real sharp blow like a pot hole or curb will tear up a tire fast especially a tire that is heavily loaded or with low air presure. normally a "knot" appears on outside of tire after hard hit not instantly but over next couple hours for minor hit.
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Pierre - Team PMR on May 10, 2004, 01:25:51 PM
so....why do brake lines rupture??....yup, my truck's lines did on the way home.  SteeveBee, Thanks for stopping and helping.  I wish I could have returned the favor with your blown tire.  Guess you should get that AAA insurance after all, eh?

Glad you made it home ok
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Steviebee on May 10, 2004, 01:40:55 PM
I guess u got home ok to P.

Eric,  even if i drove over the curb at .2 mph ?  It wasnt the tire that blew up anyways.
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: Decreasing_Dave on May 10, 2004, 06:10:01 PM
The sun will dryrot your tire real fast.

By chance, was it the tire that sets on the southside of the trailer when it's parked in your yard??

Tire covers are key if your trailer sits for any period of time.  Even a piece of plywood could be leaned against the tire to block the sun's rays.

Also, your comment about the rain is irrelevent and maybe even completely false.  Tires heat from the inside out.  The tire at speed was heating up and the cool water was chilin' the outside.  This action may cause the bias ply tread to delaminate from the tire.  Then BOOM!!  You can usually tell if this was the way it went because the tread would be separate from the tire.
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: stumpy on May 10, 2004, 07:16:38 PM
 Geez, Steve glad you had a spare, I just got a spare myself last week. Hope this inspires others to do the same. Could make of a long night if you didn't have one. Next time try a M2 on the rear they work great ;)



Stumpy
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: GSXR RACER MIKE on May 10, 2004, 07:27:04 PM
     I'm not even going to get started on my bad luck, but I do have experience on this subject, except I loose the whole wheel and tire along with ripping out the studs on the trailer. :o

     I had a rear tire on my F-250 SuperDuty blow out in Nashville on my way back from the R.O.C. last fall, that thing souded like a shot gun when it exploded! That tire was 'E' load rated and should have easily been able to handle the load that I was pulling, I still don't know what destroyed that tire?
Title: Re: Why do trailer Tires Explode ??
Post by: lil_thorny on May 11, 2004, 12:09:03 PM
Quote    I'm not even going to get started on my bad luck, but I do have experience on this subject, except I loose the whole wheel and tire along with ripping out the studs on the trailer. :o

     I had a rear tire on my F-250 SuperDuty blow out in Nashville on my way back from the R.O.C. last fall, that thing souded like a shot gun when it exploded! That tire was 'E' load rated and should have easily been able to handle the load that I was pulling, I still don't know what destroyed that tire?

Mike, I don't know whether to laugh or feel bad...you are a bad luck-o-thon..who's mirror did you break?
I'm glad that you are ok after your get off in 6. The other rider was me.......  JUST KIDDING!!! ;D

see you in the woods..... JUST KIDDING!!! AGAIN!!!
I'm sorry, I really do feel bad...you go out of your way to help people, and bad things keep happening to you, I don't get it.

Benj.