About 6 years ago I bought a new enclosed trailer. I used it a few times then parked it. It's now been sitting for 4 years and I need to use it again. I'll be driving about 500 highway miles. Eventhough I've always had the tires covered and looking at them they look perfect, I'm afraid to use them so I'm buying new tires. I know from reading past posts that a lot of guys have trouble with trailer tires. All my local dealer says is that I should buy 8 ply tires but he wants me to research what brand I want.
Could you guys give me some brand recommendations, and brands to avoid? By the way, my original tires have less than 1000 miles on them.
I'd really appreciate any help you can give me.

Make sure they are always inflated to the correct psi (check psi at every fuel stop)

keep it 65mph or lower

change them out every 3-4 years (sitting in the sun is what kills them)

I use Maraton(Goodyear).. as many ply as you can buy

I am using Goodyear Endurance they are E rated and so far have been a great tire.

No matter what you buy get a temp gun and take the tire's temp at every stop. You'll notice if one starts to get hotter than the others. If one starts getting hot it's just a matter of time. Change it first chance you get..

All good comments by those in the know
I hate trailer tires
OP, what size tires and rim size and lug nut count are you using? What is the GVW rating on your trailer?
I've blown up and had so many trailer tires go bad I've lost count, I now figure on replacing mine every four years regardless of how many mile are on them. I replaced all of mine last year with a set of 225-75-15R E Maxxis brand rated for 2830 Lbs. each at 80 lbs. pressure , which are now made in China.
I run 85 Lbs cold in all my E rated trailer tires if they recommend 80 Lbs. cold, I do this due to a Tire Cooper store owners advice to me years ago on how to get the best wear and life span out of any tire regardless of size and application. It has work well for me That is other than on these stupid 15 inch trailer tires I have check on every 15 inch tires I could look up including LT (light truck)tires, none of them have as good, high, as a load rating as the 225-75-15 ST tires due
I would put 16 inch rims and tires on my trailer now but they won't fit
Good luck on your trip

Along with PLYs and LOAD range, check the sidewall for "SPEED" rating . . not rating sidewall, then it's max 60mph. They have ratings I believe, at 60mph, then 65mph, 70 and 81mph . . . note that I am towing at 75 or 80mph but having the "cushion" of maximum ratings, feels better than running 60mph on a 60mph rated tire.

They all suck. Buy 10 plys. Then either A: buy tires with the replacement warrantee. B: mail order for lowest price.
Doug

I had Carlisle 10 ply on my overloaded 24 foot enclosed trailer with 5-10 pounds over what was listed on the sidewalls and had lots of luck with them. My new 26 foot trailer is now rated just under 10,000 pounds and has 16 inch tires on it.

My last trailer (32" tag, 3 axle) had 15" tires and I ran Carlisles (load range E) with great success. A fellow racer around here has a tire program that just makes since to me. Every year he replaces two tires, before they go bad, that way the tires are never older than two years old (Three axle 48' GN/LQ). One pair new, one pair one year old and one pair two years old. He travels to a few far away races every year (350-500 miles) and a lot of local (75-100 miles). The pair of tires he pulls off goes to spares and the old spares he gives to local racer friends. Since he has gone to this he has had zero tire problems on the road. I agree 100% with those who say the sun is the main killer of tires, not speed or heat. And Always check the air pressure before every trip.

Brian

Buy a Tire pressure monitor system for the trailer tires and keep an eye on things as You roll down the road.

I called goodyear after three of their new trailer tires blew up on my trailer in one season. They gave me a song and dance about how trailer tires are not wear but time sensitive, when I told them it was three days after I left the tire shop when the first one blew, he said I most likely got a set that had been sitting in a warehouse too long, so he told me to always check the date of manufacture. I went to 16 inch 8 ply Light Truck tires and never had a blow out again. Just my experience. Several of my buddies did the same with the same results. I don't think the brand is all that important, just ask your dealer what he sells the most of and has good luck with.

isn't the main problem with using the 8-10 ply LT tires, DOT cops don't agree with that use ?

I run 10 lbs more than recommended pressure, they last much better.

I run a tire called “Westlake”, overseas I’m sure. 10 ply at 80 lbs cold. Dealer hear sells them to me for about $80.00 each. It’s 300 hundred miles one way to my local track, 10 times a year, with the occasional trip to Vegas or Arizona every year. I have went 3 summers on a set of these tires, compared to Carlyles and Goodyear’s junk, which I was lucky to get one season out of. I do cover them when parked and stores trailer in an unheated building during the winter. Jim

I have Duro on my car trailer and them seem to be ok tires. Not sure if they are China made or not. I have Westlakes on my camper but I don`t use the camper that much. I just changed them due to rot and they were about 5 years old. The sun and running them underinflated seems to kill them prematurely.

I don't recall the brand, but my trailer originally had the 15" rims, and those 15" tires just don't have the load ratings as the 16" tires, so I changed rims and tires to E-Rated tires that I think carry about twice the load as the old tires. Made driving with the trailer much nicer.

I’ve had Carlisle tires on my two axel Texas Rollback trailer for 10 years now, not a single issue. Trailer sits covered from the sun 24/7.
Perhaps I’m due for a new set...

I’m guessing he didn’t have the better 10 ply ones or ran then under inflated

I run them 5lbs over