When people talk about trailer specifications and maintenance, tires don’t always get the attention they deserve. What often gets overlooked is that trailer tires are key keeping things running smoothly. They’re the only connection between your trailer and the road, and that makes them essential to safety and performance.
Knowing the basics for trailer tire specs and maintenance, like load ratings, tire sizes, and how important proper inflation really is, can make a big difference. It helps your trailer carry more safely, reduces the chance of unexpected breakdowns, and keeps your operation on track with fewer interruptions.
Two tire maintenance tips that can make a big difference:
- Keep Tire Pressure in Check
Maintaining proper inflation helps tires perform at their best. It extends the life of your tires, improves retread success, and lowers the risk of blowouts. - Size and Load Ratings Count
Using the correct tire size and load rating ensures your trailer can carry heavy cargo safely while supporting fuel efficiency and long-term durability.
Want to learn more? Take just a few minutes to see how mastering a few tire maintenance basics can keep your fleet moving. Let’s get to it.
Designed to Carry the Load
To start, it helps to understand what trailer tires are made to do and why they’re so important to your fleet’s performance.
Trailer tires are built for the job, designed to handle heavy loads while maintaining stability, traction, and fuel efficiency. Manufacturers put serious effort into engineering these tires, finding the right balance between long-lasting durability and low rolling resistance.
“Bridgestone heavy-duty trailer tires are uniquely designed for the trailer position in several ways,” says Robby Hamby, Director of Commercial Product Strategy at Bridgestone Americas, a supplier of trailer tires for Great Dane. “These include a unique casing design, an optimized tread depth, and a specialized tread pattern. This allows Bridgestone to maximize the tire’s rolling resistance and wear life while still carrying the required load and maintaining casing durability to maximize the number of retread lives for the trailer position.”
The strength of a tire starts with its casing, built from layers of rubber-coated steel cords that directly affect how much weight it can handle. For fleet managers, choosing the right tire means striking a balance between durability and fuel efficiency to match your day-to-day demands.
Size Matters
But strength isn’t the only thing that matters. Choosing the right tire size plays a big role in how well your trailer performs. The Tire and Rim Association provides guidelines for which wheels work best with specific tire sizes, helping fleet managers ensure their wheels can handle the tire’s load and pressure requirements.
Pro tip: Work closely with your equipment provider to select a tire size that can handle your trailer’s heaviest loads, while also considering clearance and the correct rim fit.
Maximize Fuel Efficiency with Proper Inflation
Once you’ve nailed down the right size, the next step is making sure your tires are properly inflated. After all, even the best tires can underperform without the right pressure.
Maintaining proper tire inflation is also one of the easiest and most effective ways to increase your fleet’s efficiency. The right PSI not only improves performance but also protects the tire casing, increasing retread potential and extending tire life.
This becomes even more important with dual tire assemblies. Even just 5 PSI can cause uneven load distribution between your tires, raising the risk of blowouts and premature wear.
“There are a lot of variables when it comes to tires, between choosing the right tire for your operation and the right pressure for your loads to get the best tire life. Fleets that go with a tire pressure across all their tires because they’ve always heard it was the right pressure can get strange wear patterns over time. Knowing all the variables and working with your tire supplier to help pick the right tire and the right pressure for your operation is very important,” said James Brown, Senior Manager of Warranty and Customer Service at Great Dane.
Pro tip: Here’s another key element to fuel savings – your drivers. Take just a few minutes to learn how simple driver training can help decrease your fuel costs. Read on.
Smarter Savings with Tire Retreading
Before you replace worn tires, consider this: retreading can stretch your tire budget further without sacrificing performance or safety.
In our article, The Economics of Tire Retreading, we show how retreading can cut your tire costs by 30-50% compared to buying new tires. That could mean savings of up to $1,600 per trailer, while effectively doubling the life of your tires.
Pro tip: When paired with a thorough inspection and repair process, retreaded tires deliver the same quality and safety as new tires, making them a smart, cost-effective choice for your fleet.
Want to improve performance across your fleet?
Let our team help you find the right trailer for your operation. Contact our team today.
