Magazine for the professional tire industry
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Commercial Tire Dealer™ Service trailer tires Tell customers who think they are just like car tires that trailer tires must dissipate heat and carry heavier loads By Ann Neal K nowledge is power, especially for independent tire dealers who realize that more product knowledge about service trailer tires powers more sales. Service trailer tires are used to tow everything from boats to livestock to family campers and landscaping equipment. Familiar to all, trailer tires are misunderstood by most. Manufacturers and distributors agree there are plenty of opportunities to improve understanding of this specialized tire. What a trailer tire is not "I see the same mistakes every day," says Richard Hogg, specialty tire research and development manager for Carlisle Transportation Products, a division of Carlisle Companies Inc. "Tey look at a trailer tire like a passenger tire. Tey look at the tread as a measure of the life of the tire and disregard the irregular duty cycle of trailer tire performance requirements. As trailers sit in storage, ofen exposed to damaging sunlight for extended periods, the internal structure of the tire is damaged. Passenger, light truck and service trailer tires are very diferent and engineered for very different purposes." Who thinks trailer tires are just like car tires? Usually it is the customer in front of the service counter who is towing a boat, camper or horse trailer. But Carlisle uses a high-strength belt sometimes the person package and polymer technology behind the counter does, to reduce trailer sway and imtoo. prove heat resistance of its Radial A trailer tire is deTrail RH trailer tire. signed to carry heavy loads as it rolls behind the vehicle pulling it. Its sidewalls are stif to reduce trailer sway. In comparison, the sidewall of a passenger or LT tire is fexible for handling, cornering and braking purposes while providing a smooth ride for the vehicle's occupants. "It seems some dealers are not as well versed on trailer tires as they are on other products," says Doug Addis, sales manager www.moderntiredealer.com Understanding the application, load, and use of trailer tires helps dealers recommend the correct tire with the proper load carrying capacity for a customer's needs. for Maxxis International – U.S.A. "Our experience indicates consumers are geting a lot of their misinformation on trailer blogs and forums, which are not reliable sources. Trailer owners are concerned about their tires and are frustrated about where to go to get the right answers." Independent tire dealers are the natural choice, according to Eric Yang, automotive marketing manager for American Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. But there could be a catch. "Te consumer will generally trust the dealer to select the right tire for consumers. Unfortunately, dealers may also not have the most accurate information about the trailer tires and do not educate the consumers correctly." Don't go by the tread Trailer tires of any type can fail even if there's plenty of tread. Oxidation of the rubber, not miles driven, wears out trailer tires. Carlisle recommends replacement every three to fve years. "Tink of an older ALSO IN CTD Are retreaders too passive?: Less than half of them have plans to expand . . . 62 DLS Retreading and Continental: A 'force multiplied' — New dealer and tire maker work together to capture Carolina retread market share . . . 64 Commercially viable . . . 66 57