How to Replace a Trailer Tire
Here’s our simple, efficient technique for replacing trailer and travel trailer tires:Step One: Loosen the Lug Nuts
Before you do anything else, you need to loosen the lug nuts on the existing tire. You can do this using any appropriately sized spanner, wrench, or socket wrench. Pro tip: Due to their extended length and width, 4-way tire wrenches give you more leverage. They’re an excellent way to loosen and tighten lug nuts with less effort. Loosening the lug nuts may sound like a reasonably self-explanatory process. However, removing them in an incorrect order can lead to some of the lug nights being harder to remove. For that reason, you should always aim to loosen the lug nuts in the following order:- There will typically be five lug nuts. Four of them will always appear to be in sets of two, and the other will appear to be separate. Start with the single one around the center of the tire rim’s top. Loosen it enough so that it’s no longer difficult to turn, but not all the way.
- Next, move down to either the bottom left or right lug. Again, loosen it only enough so it’s easy to turn.
- The next nut is the upper nut on the opposite end of the lower nut you’ve loosened. So if you loosened the lower left nut first, now loosen the upper right, or vice versa.
- Loosen the remaining upper nut.
- Loosen the remaining lower nut.
2- Jack up the Trailer
Now that the lug nuts are loose, it’s time to prepare for wheel removal. This means lifting the trailer to remove the pressure from the tire. Bear in mind that something like an enclosed trailer tire carries more load and may be more robust. This can mean that it’s harder to work around the tire in some cases.
Simply place the jack securely under the wheel axle of the trailer, ensuring that it’s securely placed. If needed, place a stone block or other sturdy, flat surface underneath the jack to secure it. Place a wheel chock behind the other tire to prevent it from spinning too wildly.
Use the jack to lift the trailer just far enough that the tire spins freely on the axle.
Pro tip: In our experience, hydraulic jacks are far easier to use than standard manual jacks. If you want to make the process as simple as possible, invest in a hydraulic jack.
3- Finish Removing the Tire
Now that you have the tire moving freely, it’s time to finish removing the lug nuts. Since all the nuts are now loosened, you can simply start at the top and work your way around. With a four-way lug wrench, you can slot the wrench into place and spin it in the appropriate direction. It will loosen the nuts for you.
As you remove all the nuts, put them aside, you’ll need to put them back later. Now, you should be able to pull the tire free without much effort. You can set it aside, as you probably won’t need it again.
4- Install the New Tire
Now, you’re ready to install the new tire. We have found that it’s a simple, five-step process:
- Roll the new tire into place.
- Align the tire holes with the holes for the lug nuts.
- Insert the lug nuts and finger-tighten them.
- Release the jack so there’s pressure on the tire.
- Finish tightening the nuts using a wrench.
That’s it. That’s how to replace a trailer tire. Remember to ensure that you choose the correct tire for your type of trailer.
How to Replace a Trailer Tire on a Rim
When you need to replace only the rubber part of the tire, or your new tire didn’t come with a rim, then the process for replacing a tire is somewhat different.
For the purposes of this explanation, we’re going to assume that the tire bead is already broken and that the tire is ready for removal.
This is how we found you can do it without fancy machinery:
- Place the tire on a flat surface, with the rim pointing upwards.
- Use a lubricant, like dishwashing liquid, to lubricate the area where the inner diameter of the tire makes contact with the rim. This will make it easier to slip the tire off.
- Use a pair of tire levers to lift the tire’s upper lip over the rim. You’ll have to lift it a piece at a time, moving around in a circle till the entire upper lip is over the rim. Once that’s done, the first half of your tire is loose.
- Flip the tire over so that the part that was facing upward faces downwards.
- Use the tire levers and additional lubricant (if necessary) to remove the tire hub. Simply lift the rim over one portion of the tire lip at a time till you can pull it free. You may also want to use a hammer to help you move the tire levers around the rim.
- Congratulations, you’ve now removed the old tire from the rim.
- Lubricate the bead of the tire thoroughly.
- Position the tire on top of the rim, and apply steady pressure universally until the first lip goes over the tire rim.
- Lubricate the bead again.
- Using your body weight and a pair of tire levers, apply pressure to the tire until it’s mostly in position.
- Now, gently use the tire lever to slip small portions of the tire lip over the rim, moving around until the entire bead is in place.
- Now, you’re ready to balance your tire and adjust the air pressure.
How to Change Your Trailer Tire: Choosing New Tires
Now that you know how to change the tire on your trailer, you’re ready to select the best tires for your use. There are several options here.1- Buy the Same Tires that you Have Now
Naturally, the easiest option is to simply buy the same brand and type of tire that you have now. If you take one of the existing tires to a tire store, they’ll be able to provide you with the exact same type. Of course, this isn’t the best option if you found that your previous tires wer low-quality. Remember that unique or custom trailers (Race car trailers are a good example) may require a specific type of tire, so stick to the same load rating.2- Use the ST Designation
Another option is to simply look for tires with an ST designation. Any tire with an ST at the beginning of its code is made to be used on a Special Trailer. These should serve admirably. However, you should still take care to buy the appropriate size, as well as a trusted brand.3- Do Additional Research
It’s always a good idea to talk to other people with trailers, visit forums, and generally glean the wisdom of other people’s experiences. Doing so will help you avoid many pitfalls that others have already encountered.How to Replace a Trailer Tire: Why Tires Need Replacement
There are various reasons why you may need to replace your trailer tires.
In our experience, some of the most common reasons include:
- Leaks – If your trailer tire has picked up enough (or serious enough) punctures and cracks, it will be difficult to patch. In these cases, it’s best to replace the tire entirely.
- Leaking Air – Irrespective of whether your tire is in use or not, it’s consistently losing small amounts of air. If this isn’t corrected regularly, the tire may eventually reach a point where it needs replacement.
- Aging – When a tire has been in use for a long time, it simply becomes too old. These tires generally become brittle and less resilient.
- Weather Damage – When a trailer is outside permanently, constant exposure to weather conditions like sunlight and storms has an adverse effect on the tires. They can lead to damage and disintegration.
- Bad Retreads – It’s possible to retread a tire. However, when this isn’t done properly, the tire may begin to disintegrate much sooner than you’d expect.
These are just a few of the reasons why you may need to replace a tire. Many other forms of damage, accidents, and life events may take a toll on your trailer tires as well.
Wrapping Up: When to Change Tires
Knowing when to change your trailer tires is a different skill set than knowing how to do it. In our experience, there are three main factors that you need to consider when deciding whether to replace your tires.
First, consider the age of your tires. If they’re more than five years old, it’s time to consider replacing them. Even if they don’t seem like they’re about to fall apart, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Secondly, you should check for punctures and cracks regularly. When your tires have large punctures or several cracks, it’s time to replace them.
It’s always better to err on the side of caution since you definitely don’t want to get caught in a situation that’s beyond your ability to manage. If you replace the tires in the comfort of your own garage, you can rest easy knowing that they’re unlikely to go through a blowout.
That’s everything you need to know about how to change a trailer tire. If you’re in the market for a trailer, or have additional questions, feel free to contact us.
Resources
Boatus.com How to Change a Trailer Tire – Accessed 04/04/2024
Apple Drains – How To Change Your Trailer Tire in 5 min. – Watched 04/04/2024
