Tire Pressure Monitor and Trailer tires

[Philsauto]

I am considering installing an aftermarket tire pressure monitoring system on my trailer tires. Having blown two tires in my short duration as a trailer owner, and seeing what damage can be done by whipping rubber, and also realizing that it is not easy to detect that a tire on the trailer has blown, this seems like a good idea. Has anyone else tried this? If so, what brand did you use?

[DA BIG ONE]

Many trailer tire dealers suggest changing out trailer tires every 2 years, uv damage is biggest threat, followed by low pressure and resulting blowouts.

Notice: trailer tires have no wear indicators because of 2 year changeout cycle.

[tanker]

Hi Phil, You can't go wrong, as anything that will help keep you going safely is a plus. I myself have not used these, but when on a trip I check my pressure each morning when the tires are cold.

I would suggest weighing your rig loaded as you would normally use it at a truck stop, it costs about $7.00 and it will give you your tow vehicles front axle weight, rear axle weight, and your trailers tandem or tridem axle weight. Now get an inflation chart (online) from the tire manufacture for the size you have. This will give you how much weight each tire can carry at different tire pressures, now adjust your cold pressure to what you carry. If you are overloaded then you have a choice on decreasing the weight, or going up a size (if they will fit) to allow for the weight you are carrying. Also check the speed rating of your trailer tires, most trailer tires are limited to 60-65 mph. I have my trailer tires balanced, most tire shops will say that trailer tires don't need to be balanced, however I do. Tire rotation on trailers should be done each year. When not in use cover the tires to protect from harmful UV rays from the sun. When storing your trailer over the off season take some weight off the tires. When stopping for a rest or fuel stop, check the tires temperature, I use a cheap digital thermometer, or use your hand to feel for excessive heat. In the summer when its hot the tires facing the sun while traveling will be several degrees hotter than those facing away from the sun. There are a lot of road hazards, pot holes, pieces of metal that have fallen from vehicles, etc. All of this should help you get many trouble free miles from your tires.
Hope this helps you.

[1999GMC]

I second having the trailer weighed. My trailer had load range c tires that were rated at 1820 a piece. The trailer has blown 4 tires. Different brand tires also. I went and had the trailer weighed. The sticker in the trailer said UTW was 5380. When I weighed the trailer empty it was over 7000. Fully loaded I weighed it and it was over 9000 lbs. So no wonder my tires were blowing. I was pretty close to limit totaly empty. I ended up putting 5200 lb axles, with 6 lug wheels, and Goodyear Marathon tires rated at 2500 lbs. each. And so far no problems in 2 years. I was blowing a tire about every 6 months until I upgraded.

[Philsauto]

The tires I have on the trailer are 10 ply, Load Range E and brand new, so they should be adequate to the load but I will look to have the trailer weighed. The one tire failed I think because it was old, and the second one because I hit something on the road and damaged it. But if I had known the tire was loosing pressure, I could have got off the freeway and either been able to save the tire or else at least find a better place to get it changed. I found a manufacturer of a system for trailers so I think I will try to get one and install it.

[RdTxTd]

I have the Doran PressurePro system with sensors on the 4 trailer tires only. I can add more for the tow vehicle, but haven't bothered. The other system I thought about was SmarTire. SmarTire is more expensive and mounts on the wheel inside the tire. PressurePro is cheaper and uses sensors that screw onto the valve stem. For a cheaper system, I have to worry about taking the sensors off when I park it so they don't disappear.

I can't compare reliability. Mine has been pretty good. It has lost the signal from the sensors a few times. Not often and not for long, it just blinks for a couple of minutes if it hasn't heard from the sensor lately. An antenna extension is available and might solve that problem...

The sensors send a signal about every five minutes as longs as the pressure is within a certain range. If one of them senses a pressure drop, it will send an alarm signal immediately.

The alarm has gone off a couple times. Once when I apparently didn't have the sensor screwed on well enough and it was working loose. It let me know when it was off far enough to sense a drop in pressure. I pulled over, tightened it, and got back on my way.

One other time I actually had a tire fail. The tire was about 5 1/2 yrs old and the sidewall just split. I happened to look in the mirror and saw some rubber sticking out the side - not much, just a piece of the outer sidewall at that point. By the time I got pulled over, the sensor was going off. The tire had not broken apart yet, the alarm did sound before that happened. I knew my tires were at that age...

I always check the pressure before a trip and have weighed enough times to know I'm well within the limits of my tires. I am glad I have the pressure monitor.

Dave