buying trailer tires and wheels in Houston?

[doehunter]

I just looked on line at trailer tires/wheels.
Can anyone around the Houston area recommend a reasonable place?
I looked at Academy Sports and Outdoors on line, $140.00 for a tire/wheel combination.
My old ones are ST205/75D14, 1760lbs max load at 50psi.
Does that sound kinda light? It's a stock Mac trailer. 8 hp motor, not a lot of extra stuff inside yet but will be adding some camping gear.
Is there a rule of thumb on getting tires rated at some amount over the actual trailering weight?
Jim

 

[zjtr10]

Jim, I bought rims and tires from Discount Tire for mine. If I recall corrctly they were ~$150 each. I travel a lot so I like the idea of having a dealer close to where the tire crapped out. Stay away from anything steel as it'll rust quickly and be sure you get trailer tires not light truck or car tires.

Here's a link to the wheels we have. I liked the black accents on the wheel to match the black trailer & boat accents. http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fi...AZ&c=1&rcz=79765&pc=49387&wd=15&rw=&rc=TXLINT

We met at HPCC where our Mac was docked at the London Bridge.
John and Sue in Odessa

 

[doehunter]

Hey John,
I remember you well. Hope we get a chance to sail our boats together sometime.
did you get the fancy looking rims on the advertisement and tires for 150 ea?
I've never paid that much for tires before but I've never had a boat this heavy either.
I think the Academy rims come either powder coated or galvanized but the ones in that ad look better!
Jim

 

[Robspan]

I got galvanized rims from the Discount Tire in Kemah. I can't remember how much I paid. I want to say about $75 each. Well worth it. The original rims had rusted even though I hosed them down every time they went in the water.

The dry boat and trailer are supposed to weigh only 2200. Even when you add motor, sails, cooking equipment, rum, etc., I wouldn't think it would exceed the rating of the standard tires. Others may have more experience with this, though.

 

[doehunter]

Well I bit the bullet. @240.00 at DT, for 2 tires. No spare yet.
Well at least I can get it wet this weekend and not be nervous on the road.
? Should I carry max air pressure? The labeling says, max load 1760 lbs at 50 psi.
The tire store put in 46.

 

[Robspan]

My boat lives on its trailer but it stays in a mastup yard. I try to keep the pressure close to the max mainly because otherwise, the tires really bulge when I first pull the boat out of the water, before the ballast drains out.

 

[doehunter]

I did mine that way the 1st time and the car did ok, but I know Explorers are infamous for their weak transmissions. 2nd time I blew out the water ballast with an air mattress inflater, while I was getting the trailer in the water. It worked real nice!
The treads don't come up on the side walls very much. At 46 psi, there's not really any tread showing on the side of the bottom.

 

[Hobie2]

DH, your trailer/boat is so light you could buy passenger tires for it and be safe. alot of boaters prefer the P over ST's. ST's suck. but as long as you don't drive over 65 you'll do fine. ST's max speed is 65. otherwise they overheat and tread will peel off. also 205/75 you can replace the tire, not the rim. The more frequently you pull the trailer the longer the life of tires.

 

[doehunter]

Hobie2,
I guess I didn't really do my homework on this.
I just matched up what was already on my trailer from the PO.
I've never bought trailer tires before. what's the difference between ST and P?
Given my short wheelbase, and no trailer brakes, I do keep the speed down to 65 or less, USUALLY!,
The last time I went out I did catch myself at 70 a couple times, but not for long. The trailer gets out of hand, and starts wagging the car!
I probably don't have enough tongue weight. I have found that if I put very much stuff in the laz, I can't climb on the boarding ladder, because it lifts the trailer tongue off the ground. Eventually, I'll get around to making bigger access to the space under the V berth, then I can put heavy stuff there and get a better balance.
Jim

 

[Robspan]

I put the spare tire under the V shaped trailer strut with a short 2x4 going from the top of the tire to the center of the rim. Then I shove the tire and board aganst the strut. That supports the trailer when I climb aboard.

 

[Hobie2]

Hobie2,
I guess I didn't really do my homework on this.
I just matched up what was already on my trailer from the PO.
I've never bought trailer tires before. what's the difference between ST and P?
Given my short wheelbase, and no trailer brakes, I do keep the speed down to 65 or less, USUALLY!,
The last time I went out I did catch myself at 70 a couple times, but not for long. The trailer gets out of hand, and starts wagging the car!
I probably don't have enough tongue weight. I have found that if I put very much stuff in the laz, I can't climb on the boarding ladder, because it lifts the trailer tongue off the ground. Eventually, I'll get around to making bigger access to the space under the V berth, then I can put heavy stuff there and get a better balance.
Jim

There's a ratio of tongue weight to overall weight but can't remember what it is. But if you unhitch and tongue goes up its under weight. also trailer should be level. ST's have stiffer walls to carry weight and usually made in China...poor quality. A P is what you have on your car. They manage turns and heat better, as long as trailer is under weight limit. P's have a load of 1560 per tire.