trailer tire not holding pressure

[Herschel]

My reconditioned OEM trailer with double axle added by PO sits comfortably in my back yard on pressure treated boards. My X sits comfortably at it slip year round. Trailer is used about once every year or so to service engine or pressure clean bottom. I check the air pressure in the tires every quarter to insure they stay at 50 psi. All four main tires are Goodyear Endurance, purchased in either 2020 or 2022 mounted on galvanized rims. My spare is a 2010 on a painted rim and holds air fine. All four main galvanized rims are about 17-18 years old. Last week I checked my tires and one of the 2022 ones was totally without any air pressure. I had a similar problem a couple years ago, and determined it was probably the balancing weights on the rims. Had them remounted without balancing and was good until now. I think my rim is just too old. Since I clearly ought to have a newer spare, I ordered a new tire/rim combo from Walmart. My plan is to put my good Endurance on the old spare's painted rim, discard the old spare and the old galvanized rim. Two questions: (1) Has anyone ever had a galvanized rim fail due to age? and (2) My new Walmart spare is a "Free Country" brand from China. I know about "China bombs" from my RV forum discussions, but I figure as a spare, I can accept the convenience of a Walmart tire delivery to my door already mounted on its rim. Anyone have any experience with a Free Country brand tire?

[Wyb2]

Sorry for not directly answering the questions, but I think worth mentioning: if the rim doesn’t show any corrosion, check the valve stem. My father had all 4 tires go flat in one season on a cargo trailer after maybe 5-6 years of ownership. The tires were fine, but the rubber valve stems had all started to crack and leak air where they sealed against the rim.

[Herschel]

Sorry for not directly answering the questions, but I think worth mentioning: if the rim doesn’t show any corrosion, check the valve stem. My father had all 4 tires go flat in one season on a cargo trailer after maybe 5-6 years of ownership. The tires were fine, but the rubber valve stems had all started to crack and leak air where they sealed against the rim.

Thank you. Had not considered that. I'll ask my "tire guy" to check that. Very helpful.

[pitchpolehobie]

Simiarlyl Herschel had a "chinese-special" trailer-king tire blow out on my trailer 3mi from the exit to home on last trip. I didnt know they were crappy tires only 4 years old and well cared for. The shop i took to replacement said he has all kinds of similar stories. Same stories online pretty scary. On replacement we inspected the opposite tire and it had a big bulge that wouldve been an imminent blowout. He replaced all w a cooper-tire "Hercules" made in Findlay OH. Said hes never seen a blowout with those. The price difference was like 20 bucks a tire. I ended up getting a 4th spare w new wheel also.

[Herschel]

Well, the drama continues. Imagine that---boating drama! Not knowing if my leak was from a faulty rim, tire, of valve stem, I took my tire and submerged it in my pool and looked for where I could see any bubbles. Sure enough, there were a few small bubbles coming from a spot in the tire in the middle of the tread. The bubbles increased slightly when I pressed on the spot from which they first emerged. The leak was very slight, and my tire guy could not see exactly where to plug it. I took the tire to another dealer (Tires Plus), and she said that they were not allowed to patch trailer tires. So, for now I will leave the tire on my back porch and check the pressure every few weeks to see how fast it goes down, or if it does at all. I'll put my 2010 spare back on the trailer and wish for the best from my "Free Country" deal from Walmart. October will be the earliest I might need to pull the X out of the water, so there is some time to see how things develop.

[Russ]

I would work on locating and marking where the leak is and then taking it to a dealer willing to fix it. Maybe a patch instead of a plug.

[Herschel]

I would work on locating and marking where the leak is and then taking it to a dealer willing to fix it. Maybe a patch instead of a plug.

That was my hope. I put my finger right on the spot where the bubbles were coming from, then hauled the tire out of the pool, dried it off and put a short piece of blue tape over the spot. Took it to the tire guy and he could not see any place to put his plug "inserter." He poured water over it, but no bubbling. That is when he sent me to Tires Plus since they have a tank there, but they didn't want to deal with it. I will watch the pressure a few weeks, and if its slowly goes down, as I think it will, I'll take it to a third dealer I have used in the past. I still have the spot marked. I did get a new spare tire cover for S/V American Spirit's trailer, though.

[OverEasy]

Not to be a pessimist but bubbles coming from a general area, not specific to an exact puncture location, and being influenced by your finger pressure sends up th “Warning Will Robinson…Warning Will Robinson” alert for me….

It sounds like an in process delamination of the tread from the carcass especially being the middling portion of the tread.
This is not a good thing and it is not “fixable”, I’d personally call it a goner if it’s out of any warranty and cut my losses and time waste at this point and go get a new tire I’d also keep an eagle eye on any related tires too!

This is just my personal opinion… nothing more… nothing less… just my opinion.
You’re free to do what you t
Hint is best and safest for you, your family and anyone who would could potentially be injured were it fail or related

Best Regards
Over Easy

[Herschel]

Not to be a pessimist but bubbles coming from a general area, not specific to an exact puncture location, and being influenced by your finger pressure sends up th “Warning Will Robinson…Warning Will Robinson” alert for me….

It sounds like an in process delamination of the tread from the carcass especially being the middling portion of the tread.
This is not a good thing and it is not “fixable”, I’d personally call it a goner if it’s out of any warranty and cut my losses and time waste at this point and go get a new tire I’d also keep an eagle eye on any related tires too!

This is just my personal opinion… nothing more… nothing less… just my opinion.
You’re free to do what you t
Hint is best and safest for you, your family and anyone who would could potentially be injured were it fail or related

Best Regards
Over Easy

Thank you. That technical info is very helpful. I was holding out hope that since it was a Goodyear Endurance (my "go to" tires for my RV and the boat trailer) and just 4.5 years old, it might still have some value. This info you have provided makes it easier for me to fork over some more "boat bucks." The admiral will be thrilled1

[OverEasy]

Boy my FFT is getting worse
I swear the words made more sense that I thought I typed than what actually showed up!

This is what came out:
This is just my personal opinion… nothing more… nothing less… just my opinion.
You’re free to do what you t
Hint is best and safest for you, your family and anyone who would could potentially be injured were it fail or related

Should actually have been:
This is just my personal opinion… nothing more… nothing less… just my opinion.
You’re free to do what you feel is best and safest for you, your family and anyone related (other motorists / bystanders / etc) who would/could potentially be injured were it fail while towing or nearby should it pop or deflate.

I guess I really have to proof read better….

Best Regards
Over Easy

[Herschel]

Boy my FFT is getting worse
I swear the words made more sense that I thought I typed than what actually showed up!

This is what came out:
This is just my personal opinion… nothing more… nothing less… just my opinion.
You’re free to do what you t
Hint is best and safest for you, your family and anyone who would could potentially be injured were it fail or related

Should actually have been:
This is just my personal opinion… nothing more… nothing less… just my opinion.
You’re free to do what you feel is best and safest for you, your family and anyone related (other motorists / bystanders / etc) who would/could potentially be injured were it fail while towing or nearby should it pop or deflate.

I guess I really have to proof read better….

Best Regards
Over Easy

Well, the plot thickens. Went out to check the pressure in my trailer tires today. I try to do that quarterly. And SURPRISE, the tire is holding pressure. Maybe the air I thought I was getting from a spot on the tread when submerged was just air trapped in the tread. Maybe the tire is still good. Then with Hurricane Milton headed right for Orlando a this point, I may have a ton of bigger problems to deal with.

[Be Free]

It looks like Milton is going to be a "solid" cat4. It's time to double up on those dock lines, put out some extra fenders, and make sure none of your canvas can get loose!

[Herschel]

It looks like Milton is going to be a "solid" cat4. It's time to double up on those dock lines, put out some extra fenders, and make sure none of your canvas can get loose!

Yep, I always leave my lines doubled up. It's a Navy thing. I did bring the boom and mainsail into the cabin. Dodger is stowed below. Bimini collapsed and tied down. As long as the wind is coming from the south and the west, I am confident I'll be OK, but when it shifts to the northeast, the waves from Lake Monroe will come right up the channel. I have a house boat across the main dock from me in that direction. Plus a 32-footer as a windbreak on the west side of me. Hopefully, if the pier holds, both will shield me some. I, also, have two of those heavy duty twist ties around my furled jib to make it harder to unfurl if the furler jam cleat becomes compromised.

[dlandersson]

"Single up all lines" - Under Siege movie.

Yep, I always leave my lines doubled up. It's a Navy thing.

[Russ]

I, also, have two of those heavy duty twist ties around my furled jib to make it harder to unfurl if the furler jam cleat becomes compromised.

Very smart. A pet peeve of mine is furling headsails with the clew "tail" sticking out catching wind. We had a bad T-storm and a boat in our marina had the wind catch it and pull the sail out and ripped it to shreds.

Which is why I always take a couple of wraps of the sheets around the jib.

Tail catches wind


Safer wrapped