On a little PWC trailer. Loaded at maybe 2000 lbs, MAX. Tires wear down in as little as 1000 miles. Zieman trailer. Towed a little faster than 55, but still.

They tend to cup in a pretty ragged pattern on the inside. It trails straight, and I cant see any other problems. Bad tires?

Ive had this problem elsewhere...Why do trailer tires seem to go 10x faster than truck tires...........

tx

I would assume the cupping is from improper inflation. What size tires are these? If they are little tires like 14 inchers, you need to remember those tires are turning a ton more than truck tires. I wont own a trailer with those tiny tires.

I think they are 15 inchers. But Ill check.

They are aired up to 5 psi under max.

Im headed out to Powell in a week, and dont want to put on new tires to find ruined ones once I get there....http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif

You can put a chalk line across the tires and then pull forward a few feet to see if the chalk line only dissappears in the middle or on the outside. If proper pressure is set the chalk line will disappear evenly across the tire.

Is the trailer at weight limit or under?


If over the axle weight limit, the axle bows down and puts the load on the inside of the tire.


Also out of balance wheels will bounce going down road and since they are smaller and turning at higher speed it will show faster.


Get some LT tires and have them spin balanced.

Thought cupping was from bad shocks. The tires bounce down the road instead of staying on the road during bumps.


You mentioned that the cupping was on the inside. That would have me looking at whether the axle is bending and splaying out the wheels under load. A marker across the tread and a check on the wear pattern of the mark should show that.


Does the trailer have shocks? Think I have seen some of those PWC trailers without shocks

I had the wheels balanced, and they were out of balance pretty good. The wierd thing is that it cupped on both the inside and outside of the tread.

There are only two leafs per side. The trailer shouldnt be overloaded. I see them running all over the place. It is a good Zieman trailer.

I guess it does plenty of bouncing, but Im not sure how to get that to stop. Ill mark the wheels and see tomorrow........

Duro tires is what was on there.

I had the wheels balanced, and they were out of balance pretty good. The wierd thing is that it cupped on both the inside and outside of the tread.

There are only two leafs per side. The trailer shouldnt be overloaded. I see them running all over the place. It is a good Zieman trailer.

I guess it does plenty of bouncing, but Im not sure how to get that to stop. Ill mark the wheels and see tomorrow........

Duro tires is what was on there.


Sounds like under inflation to me! Edited by: snoman

IIRC, they were up to 5 psi within max.

Two more questions, the rated load of tire vs actual load and type of axle (solid or torsion)

8 ply tires. Im not sure of rating, but the trailer cannot weigh more than 2k lbs.

Solid axle with two leafs.

13 inch rims.

tx

8 ply tires. Im not sure of rating, but the trailer cannot weigh more than 2k lbs.

Solid axle with two leafs.

13 inch rims.

tx

Load rated at maybe 1090 lbs per tire?

One is rated at 1100, and the brand new one is rated at 1300 lbs.

One is rated at 1100, and the brand new one is rated at 1300 lbs.

You are close to maxed out with the 1100lbs one. Alway use more tire and axle than you think you will ever need and it will be pretty trouble free.

Check the alignment of the axle, just because it tracks straight doesn't mean it isn't out of alignment. I pull a 48foot Landoll Trailer and the tires did the same thing and the undercarriage was shot on it. I realize we are discussing two different types of trailers, but its a thought.

Check the alignment of the axle, just because it tracks straight doesn't mean it isn't out of alignment. I pull a 48foot Landoll Trailer and the tires did the same thing and the undercarriage was shot on it. I realize we are discussing two different types of trailers, but its a thought.

Good Point ! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

Does the traieler have brakes? Are you locking up the wheels(you might not be aware of it) Probably not the cause though.

Check the equalizing ling between the axles (looks kinda like a wishbone. Make sure it is free under load and had been lubed. If one get cocked it will throw the axles out of alignment with each other.

To clarify, "cupping on the inside" do you mean the inside edge, or the middle of the tire?

If both axles are wearing the tires on the inside edge, the the trailer has been sevierly overloaded some time in its life and the axles are bent.

This happened before I started pulling it, so I don't Know the full extent, just what they have told me.


The overload issue was very possibly the cause, I run heavy alot. I haul all of our oversize equipment, usaully 90K - 97K Gross, but I have crossed the scales at a certain Ford plant at 108,000 LBS. So overload is a very good possibility.