Last Updated on October 30, 2024
Top Horse Trailer Tires
Ensuring a Smooth Ride for Your Equine Companions!
Even for tire retailers that receive feedback from thousands of customers using different brands of horse trailer tires, it isn’t easy to know the best tires for horse trailers. There are many online horse enthusiast discussion forums and seemingly endless commentary from tire “experts” with opinions and personal experiences about a specific tire brand or horse trailer tire style.
However, this information can confuse the average horse-trailer tire shopper since there are inevitably conflicting views and individual experiences with any specific tire brand.
What follows is our best attempt to provide you with the key criteria to consider when buying horse trailer tires based on the concerns and experiences of horse trailer owners.
The article also features the best-selling horse trailer tires on www.tires-easy.com. These horse trailer tires consistently meet or exceed our customers’ expectations. Installing one of the recommended tires and performing good preventive maintenance can help keep your family, horses, and equipment safe on the roads.
1 ST (Special Trailer) tires for a Better, Safer Ride
One of the biggest debates about tires for horse trailers is whether ST tires are better than LT tires. The LT stands for “light truck,” and The ST stands for “Special Trailer.” The tire size is molded on the side of your tire, and an LT or ST precedes the numbers depending on the type. For example, ST235/85R16 or LT225/75R16. Both LT tires and ST tires can be used on horse trailers. However, ST tires are specifically designed for use on trailers and have some important safety advantages.
Because LT tires are designed to go on a truck, they must provide the proper traction, long tread life, and a good ride. Tires are always intended to work with the suspension of the target vehicle or equipment. A horse trailer has a much less sophisticated break than a tow vehicle.
Therefore, trailer tires absorb more road shock and take a pounding since they are shock absorbers in addition to carrying the load. To handle this, ST tires have much stronger sidewalls. The tire for any towing vehicle cannot have such rigid sidewalls because it needs to flex during cornering.
The tire on a horse trailer only follows the direction of travel, so it does not have to flex nearly as much. This means that compared to an ST tire, an LT tire can cause the trailer to sway more. This makes for a much less comfortable ride for your horses.
Suppose there is an LT and ST option in a particular size with a similar load-carrying capacity (more about that next). In that case, we always recommend the ST tires for horse trailers because of the sway factor, particularly on high-center-of-gravity horse trailers.
The Carlisle Radial Trail RH tire has the two most popular 16-inch horse trailer sizes and is one of the best-selling and most reliable tires. It is important to remember that most ST tires are speed-rated to a max of 65 miles an hour. In the last few years, a few manufacturers have introduced L, M, or J-rated ST tires, but a good safety rule is not to exceed 65 mph regardless.
2 Higher Tire Load Range to Lower Risk of blowouts
We all hear and read about tire blowouts. While the most common cause of blowouts is low tire pressure, the risk is always compounded when the trailer is heavily loaded. Horse trailers are often packed to maximum capacity with much more than the horse and one tack set.
A tire’s load capacity is the maximum weight it is engineered to carry when properly inflated and is always marked on the side of the tire. The load range on LT and ST tires is from C to F. The letters correspond to a “ply” equivalent (for example, C = 6 ply, D = 8 ply, E = 10 ply load equivalent). The higher the ply rating, the higher the tire’s load capacity.
In numerical terms, an F tire with a load range is designed to carry 3,858 pounds when properly inflated. The four-load range F tires will carry 15,432 pounds on a dual-axle four-tire trailer.
We recommend investing in the tire with the highest Load Range available for horse trailers. At a minimum, the tires on your trailer must always have a sufficient load range to cover the GVW (gross vehicle weight) specified by the trailer manufacturer. This information can usually be found on a plaque on the trailer frame or in the Owner’s Manual.
3 Go with a Quality, Reputable Horse Trailer Tires Manufacturer
While brand name quality is not always guaranteed, constant product reviews and feedback from thousands of users can give us a pretty good idea of overall quality and reliability. Not all tire manufacturers make specialty ST tires. Notably, Michelin, Continental, Pirelli, and Bridgestone ignore this segment.
The best-known brands and most significant market share in horse trailer tires are Carlisle, Towmaster, and Milestar. Not precisely household brand names, but proven brands for quality in the horse trailer tire segment. Here are the three best-selling horse trailer tires from hundreds of brands and models sold on www.tires-easy.com.
- Carlisle Radial Trail RH tire – the official trailer tire of the American Bass Anglers tour. The load range F ST235/85R16 is reinforced for a stable ride and long mileage.
- Towmaster SS tire – This tire has an F-load range ST tire size standard on horse trailers. It is specially designed for high-heat applications. This Towmaster tire is highly recommended if you live in the southern states and haul long distances.
- The Milestar Steelpro AST tire is super heavy duty and has a load range G tire in ST235/85R16. Instead of nylon and fabric casing plies, the tire comes with steel belts, like those in heavy-duty, over-the-road truck tires.
Frequent Tire Inspections and Tire Pressure Checks
Remember to inspect the tires on your horse trailer and towing vehicle before every long trip for the safety and security of your family and horses. If you frequent short trips, you will want to check the tires at least once a month. If your camper has sat unused for months, checking the tire pressure before use is even more important.
Air does escape slowly from tires when parked, typically in the range of 1 to 2 psi per month in colder climates. Even on a short trip, an under-inflated tire on a heavily loaded vehicle can be disastrous. It only takes a few minutes to do a thorough tire inspection, and the added peace of mind and safety make it well worth the effort.
Conclusion
Selecting the right tires for your horse trailer is a blend of research and understanding your unique requirements. The safety and comfort of your equine companions rely heavily on the quality and condition of your trailer’s tires. Investing time and resources into finding the best tires is an investment in your horses’ well-being.
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FAQs
What is the best type of tire for a trailer?
The best type of tire for a trailer is typically a radial tire. Radial tires offer several advantages over bias-ply tires, including better heat dissipation, a smoother ride, longer tread life, and improved fuel efficiency. They’re designed to flex more, reducing rolling resistance and offering better road contact.
What size tires do horse trailers use?
The size of tires a horse trailer uses can vary based on the trailer’s size, design, and weight capacity. Standard measures for horse trailers include 205/75R15, 235/80R16, and 235/85R16. However, it’s essential to check the trailer’s manual or the sidewall of the current tire for the recommended size.
How long should tires last on a horse trailer?
On average, tires on a horse trailer should last between three to six years, even if they show minimal tread wear. Factors influencing tire longevity include UV exposure, frequency of use, load carried, road conditions, and maintenance; regardless of tread depth, tires should be inspected regularly and replaced if they show signs of aging, like sidewall cracks.
What is the most common trailer tire?
The most common trailer tire size is 205/75R15. This size is widely used in various trailers, including horse trailers, due to its balanced load capacity, ride comfort, and compatibility with many trailer designs. However, the “most common” can vary based on region and specific trailer types.
