Getting my trailer ready for a road trip to the keys. I’m going to err on the side of caution and replace both of the hubs and tires (I’m going to use the old hubs/bearings for emergency parts). I’ve read mixed reviews on tire brands. Anybody that has made some long hauls have suggestsions? I’ve read nothing but bad things about both Goodyear Marathons and Carlisle.
Take a couple of cans of FixAflat with you.I know someone is going to jump on that and tell you that it will ruin a tire! I’ve asked that question also. The only thing it will mess up is the valve. I guess it can gum them up. Better to get somewhere and get a tire fixed than to sit along the road. I have had 2 tires go on 1 trip and only had 1 spare and no FixAflat. I always have a can with me now. Good idea to keep and take the old hubs. I have had good luck with Carlise radials. One thing you may want to do is take your boat and trailor to a truck stop and weigh it. Some trailors sold by dealers with the boat are just rated to carry the boat! You fill it with gas and gear and you will be over the trailor GVR or the tire rateing. Depending on how you have your trailor hitch set up 1 axle may be carrying more weight that the other. This could make you over weight on those tires. What you need to do is weigh each axle seperately. That way you can adjust your hitch up or down to even out the load. Makes your tires last longer.Get the total weight of the boat and trailor and then check the data plate on the trailor to see how close you are to weight rateing of the trailor.
The issue I have with fixaflat is that the wheel ends up way out of balance. Instructions say to roatate the wheel immediately upon ‘fixing’ it - should distribute the goo evenly inside the tire. I’ve ruined a couple of tires so far out of balance that they could not be rebalanced. Not even close.
Even so, there are times that I would sacrifice the tire and use the stuff to get down the road. Very convenient.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
Palmer! That is what I ment when I said it is better that sitting on the side of the road. If you can get it sealed and aired up you will have no trouble rotating the tire as you drive down the road! I don’t know how quick you have to be to get the tire spinning but you could put it in and then spin the wheel, while it is on the jack. That one bridge is either 7 or 17 miles long. I wouldn’t want to change a tire on it.
I agree. Just wanted others to realize they may be sacrificing the tire.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
I looked up FixA Flat on the www.ask.com. I asked if it would ruin a tire and the answer was, just the valve!
I pulled my 18’ down to Tampa last year and to Key Largo the year before. I had just replaced hubs/bearing to go to KL so I just pulled and repacked the bearings to go to Tampa. I bought new Towmaster Radials last Spring and so far I really like them. They seem to ride a little smoother and track better (maybe just my imagination). I keep a new hub with bearings already packed in a box when I go on long trips just in case. I am heading to Tavenier in April so I will be repacking my bearings and inspecting my tires here real soon.
I have a tandam axle trailer and have been replacing the pivot tires every 1.5 years or so. I need to replace my two front tires soon and am thinking of going from a trailer tire to a radial. Any thoughts?
2010 Sea Fox 225BF
2009 Suzuki 225
I replaced the bias belted trailer tires years ago with radial trailer tires and have never looked back. They run cooler and ride softer. I think you will like them.
18.5 Baycraft Flats Edition
Johnson 150 Oceanrunner
Wood Driftboat
I have to second what palmer said. I have been victim to fix a flat and green slime many times at work. They can help you get where youre going, but they will mess up the balance and cup the tire really quickly. That stuff sure gets a tire machine nasty quick. Really yucky stuff to work with, and it does ruin the tire if not immediatly fixed and cleaned out. Thanks to all you folks nice enough to warn me before I take the tire off!!! 
Key West 225cc Yamaha 225
Radials are great vs bias ply, but make sure you use trailer tires of the correct rating. Soft car tires will wonder around vs a hard trailer tire.
Key West 225cc Yamaha 225
Am I the only one who has blow-outs when a trailer tire fails? Fixaflat wouldn’t help me on my flats.
Only had one but it was a massive blowout. Nothing would have fixed it.
Looeswire! You have too much load on the tires. Do you have a tandam axel trailor. If you do, are the tires on one axle blowing out or are tires on both doing it. If it’s mostly 1 axle then look at the weight that is being carried on that one compared to the other. If one is over weight you can adjust it be changing the height of your trailor hitch, up or down. You would be suprised what 1 inch, t or -, will do to even it out. Also make sure the tires have the correct amount of air. Low air pressure will cause a tire to heat up which causes blow outs.
Loosewire pegged it. You ain’t gonna have much tire left. You better have a full spare bro.
I have towed Dilly Dally over 3000 miles, had at least 20 flats all bad, no way to salvage the tire OR THE RIM.
$100 for a spare will be your salvation! Trust me on this!
Carlisle seems to be the best tire I’ve had on my trailer(s). Tow Master was the worst.
Put some maxxis 8008 radials on and forget about trailer tire problems. Best tire made for trailers.
Thanks for the responses. I definitely think I’m going with the Maxxis tires. The only brand that I haven’t read anything bad about. I have been stuck on the side of 95 with a blowout before. Not fun.
Don’t forget to take a Hydraulic Jack and some boards. I took my boat last July to Cudjoe Key and had a flat on I-95 outside of Jacksonville. With that wild traffic, had to park somewhat in the grass to change it. jack would not go high enough so I walked down the interstate untill I found a board. Still had to use the board and a book to get it up high enough. Also got eaten up with fire ants as I layed down to change it…in 100 degree temp…
John