Trailer
Do You Need Special Trailer (ST) Tires?
If you've ever dealt with a blown trailer tire on the side of the highway with a loaded equipment trailer or landscape rig behind you, you already know the answer. Trailer tires are not interchangeable with the tires on your truck. Automotive tires — whether passenger (P) or light truck (LT) — are built with more flexible sidewalls to absorb road irregularities and provide a comfortable ride. That flexibility becomes a liability when you're towing. Flexible sidewalls allow the trailer to sway, and trailer sway at highway speeds is dangerous.
ST tires — Special Trailer — are engineered from the ground up for one job: holding a load steady behind a tow vehicle. Their stiffer sidewall construction resists the lateral forces that cause sway, and their internal structure is built to handle the sustained, static weight of a loaded trailer rather than the dynamic forces of a driven vehicle. If you're hauling equipment, livestock, cargo, or anything else of value, ST tires are the right tool for the job.
Bias vs. Radial Trailer Tires — What's the Difference?
ST trailer tires come in two construction types, and the right choice depends on how and where you're hauling.
Bias ply trailer tires use crisscrossing cords of polyester or nylon running diagonally across the tire carcass. This construction gives the sidewall exceptional strength and puncture resistance — a major advantage if your trailer spends time on job sites, gravel roads, or anywhere debris is a hazard. Bias tires tend to run hotter at highway speeds, so they're best suited for shorter hauls, lower speeds, and demanding terrain. Our Carlisle Sport Trail and Kenda Loadstar bias trailer tires are built for exactly these conditions.
Radial trailer tires use plies that run perpendicular to the direction of travel, typically reinforced with steel belts beneath the tread. This construction runs cooler, wears more evenly, and delivers a more stable ride at highway speeds — making radials the preferred choice for longer hauls and heavier loads. The Gladiator QR25-TS and Carlisle Radial Trailer HD are strong examples of what a quality radial ST tire looks like in the field.
How to Avoid Trailer Tire Failure
Don't overload. Every ST tire carries a load range rating stamped on the sidewall — LRB, LRC, LRD, LRE, and so on, each representing a maximum load capacity at a specific inflation pressure. The combined capacity of all tires on the trailer must exceed the loaded trailer weight by at least 20 percent. This is not a suggestion — it's the margin that keeps you out of trouble when the road gets rough or the temperature climbs.
Keep all tires the same size. Mixing sizes on a trailer axle creates uneven load distribution, accelerates wear on the smaller tire, and introduces handling instability. Replace in matched sets whenever possible.
Check your inflation every time. Underinflation is the leading cause of trailer tire failure. A tire running low builds heat faster than it can dissipate it, especially at highway speeds, and heat is what kills trailer tires. An underinflated tire flexes more than it should, generates excessive heat in the sidewall, and can fail without warning. Use a quality gauge every time before you hook up, not just when the tires look low. Overinflation is a lesser but real problem too — an overinflated tire loses its ability to absorb road impacts and becomes more vulnerable to cuts and sudden puncture failure.
What Are ST Tires Used For?
- Utility and Cargo Trailers
- Equipment and Flatbed Trailers
- Landscape and Contractor Trailers
- Enclosed Trailers
- Gooseneck Trailers
- Horse and Livestock Trailers
- Boat Trailers
- Portable Light Towers
- Portable Generators
- Portable Cement Mixers
- 5th Wheel and Enclosed Campers
Trailer Tires We Carry
At Farm & Trail, we stock trailer tires from brands that working customers actually trust. Our trailer tire lineup includes Gladiator QR25-TS steel-belted radials, Gladiator All Steel heavy-duty radials, Carlisle Sport Trail LH and Carlisle Sport Trail bias tires, Carlisle Radial Trailer HD and Carlisle CSL16 All Steel radials, Kenda Loadstar Karrier radial and bias options including mounted wheel assemblies, and Deestone value-tier bias tires for budget-conscious applications. We carry multiple sizes and load ranges across each line so you can match the right tire to your specific trailer and load.
If you're not sure what you need, call us at 877-203-4939 or use our contact form. We're familiar with the equipment our customers run and can help you find the right tire without the guesswork.