It's not just UV
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carole
I have a question for many of the bright people on this site. Yesterday, we took off a tire on our 2619 TM. Took out the spare and placed it on the TM. This tire has never been on the road. Does the wear factor apply to this tire just like it was used for the past few years. It has the same build date as the one we took off. I understand it is a good idea to replace tires about 5 years because of the UV. Having the trailer stored inside out of the weather, etc. Does this extend the life of the tire?
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UV is generally the primary culprit in tire damage but oxidation damage (primarly caused by ozone but also resulting from just being exposed to oxygen) is also a cause of trailer tire failure.
All tires last longest if they're regularly exercised...the flexing during normal operation brings fresh antioxidants (the carbon black and oils embedded in the tire) to the surface. The problem with trailer tires is they sit for extended periods (often months) without being used...during which time the antioxidants on the tire surface are used up and oxidation damage occurs...and an unused spare will potentially have the most oxidation damage. So even though your spare has never been on the road and subjected to damage from road hazards, loading, possible hot running, etc., it's still potentially suffered from significant oxidation damage, most likely to the interior tire carcass walls.
Storing the trailer inside certainly minimizes damage from UV and weathering type oxidation and may reduce the damage from ozone and general oxidation. One tip that I found on the Goodyear website was to take the trailer's weight off the tires during storage and then reduce tire pressure to about 10 psi. The underlying reason is that taking the weight off the tire minimizes the tire bulge (a place where the carcass is deformed and more subject to oxidation damage). Reducing the pressure during storage lessens the amount of interior oxidation damage.
I store my trailer inside my garage, live in an area with low ozone levels, and take most of the trailer's weight off the tires during winter...and my tires still look absolutely brand new after 4 towing seasons. Nonetheless, I'm replacing all of them (including the never used spare) after either the 5th or 6th towing season.
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Ray
I use my TM as a base camp for hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, and climbing Colorado's 14ers
The Trailer: 2002 TM Model 2720SL ( Mods: Solar Panels (170 Watts), Dual T-105 Batteries, Electric Tongue Jack, Side AC, Programmable Thermostat, Doran TP Monitor System)
The Tow Vehicle: 2003 Toyota Tundra V8 SR5 4X4 w/Tow Package (Towing & Performance Mods: JBA Headers, Gibson Muffler, 4.30 gears, Michelin LTX M/S Tires, Prodigy Brake Controller, Transmission Temperature Gauge)
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