12 inch RADIAL trailer tires?

[The Famous Grouse]

Can anyone point me to an online source for 12 inch RADIAL trailer tires? Please note that I'm only intrested in radial tires. If the description doesn't specifically say radial, there's a 100% chance it's just a bias ply tire.

I've looked at Tirerack, Discount Tire, and a few others and they only list radial tires in sizes 13 inch and larger.

I'm tired of wearing out a set of bias ply tires every 2 years on my fishing boat trailer. These tires simply cannot handle the mileage I do and the harsh road conditions. I do long trips to Canada averaging 1000 miles or more per trip, and I really believe that I'm simple exceeding the design life of these cheap bias ply tires. I strongly suspect that they are engineered to last about 1000 miles, which for the average weekend fisherman would be 5-7 years of use. I can barely get 2 years.

Grouse

 

[alilley]

Re: 12 inch RADIAL trailer tires?

i am byno means an expert here but i do spend a lot of time on the road (i drive a truck) but i would think that if you are wearing out tires in less then 3000 miles you might have other issue here that might need a looking into. the first thing that i can think to ask is are they wearing out all the way across, just in the middle, or just to one side or the other maybe both? this is just a thought here

trying to find a 12" radial tire might be a real bear. what about trying a local tire shop they might have an answer for you if it is even made or not.

what about going to a larger wheel that has the same bolt pattern lets say maybe a 15" then you would be able to find all kinds of tire for that. something else to consider here......if you go to a taller tire then the said tire will spin slower and get less wear, that is part of the reason that big trucks have such tall tires................just a few things to think about, if it helps it helps if not well no hard feelings

 

[Brewman61]

Re: 12 inch RADIAL trailer tires?

The internet is at your disposal. You can do several things to help yourself. One is to Google your subject. Another is to pick some prominent trailer tire manufacturers and hit their web sites- they possibly have that information. Have you asked Discount Tire or TireRack if they can get what you want? If these two places can't, then probalby nobody else can either.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 12 inch RADIAL trailer tires?

Goiing to 14 or 15 wheels and tires is probably way overkill in your case but 13 inch wheels and radial tires are very standard items on current single axle trailers. You might have to raise the fenders a tad for additional clearance but it may be well worth the effort. There are passenger car 12 inch radials. While that is not a recommended tire for a trailer, the all up loading on those tires would have a bearing on whether it is acceptable or not. If the load (trailer, fuel, boat, engine, gear, etc) is less than 75% of the load capacity of the tire when inflated to the maximum sidewall pressure then I would consider using them. If loading is pretty close to the maximum then all bets are off.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 12 inch RADIAL trailer tires?

I know of a guy a work who had a ford festiva with 12" tires, he was going sell them to me for my trailer but the load rating was like 800lbs per tire and I needed the 1050lb rating.
If your boat is light enough not to overload radial car tires I bet you would be in great shape.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: 12 inch RADIAL trailer tires?

Appreciate the input.

I have thought about going to 13 inch because as you mention there's a lot more choice in radials once you hit that magic number. But then there's the cost. 4 rims + 4 tires + mounting. I carry 2 spares on this rig because we hit some pretty remote places and tearing up a tire could easily occur more than once if bad luck really hit.

I'm as confident as I can be that the trailer is set up rigth. The wheels rotate smoothly, no bearing grab, I do bearings every 3 seasons. Bearing buddies, tires always a just a couple of pounds below max cold pressure. If I had some bearing issues or bad alignment, I'd think the symptoms would be obvious by now, I've had this rig for over 10 years.

The problem is heavy loads and LONG distances on crushed granite roads. This isn't a new problem, BTW. I noticed 10 years ago that bias ply tires don't last for this kind of use. As I said, the average guy who puts 150 miles a year on his trailer would never notice because his tires sun rot before the tread gives out. My treadwear is even on the tires, it's just that they turn into racing slicks by 2500 miles. Well, it's not totally bald, but I've read and been told that if you can see obvious treadwear on a trailer tire, it's PAST due for replacement.

I have done the Google search and in theory there are 12 inch radials out there. Carlisile lists them, so does another maker, I have it bookmarked. I was hoping someone could suggest a national tire chain that they knew would be able to get them, but looks like I'll have to pound the pavement.

Grouse

 

[Snowfish]

Re: 12 inch RADIAL trailer tires?

We can get 10ply 12inch Radials at our store. Local small trailer business. Price wise it's about a wash compared to going to 13's.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: 12 inch RADIAL trailer tires?

Took 5 minutes on google to find a few places you can buy them
http://www.smalltires.com/products/...=aa7ae139-201c-4b20-9c65-2c373ff3e8d6&Size=12
http://www.trailer-wheels.com/Carlisle-ST145R12-Radial-Special-Trailer-Tire-Load-Range-D_p_539.html
http://www.etrailer.com/Tires-and-Wheels/Kenda/AM10130.html

Or on a rim
http://www.trailer-wheels.com/ST145...Galvanized-Steel-Spoke-Trailer-Rim_p_917.html
http://www.etrailer.com/Tires-and-Wheels/Kenda/AM31208.html

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 12 inch RADIAL trailer tires?

no reason you couldn't run 13's and keep your 12" spares