Trailer tires are marked ST on the sidewall and are built to carry weight, not to steer or corner like car tires. Indianapolis Tire Shop at 3351 W Morris St in Indianapolis handles trailer tires for Indianapolis. Call with the size and load range printed on your current tire.
Read the sidewall before you call. A trailer tire that says ST in front of the size is a special-trailer tire, and the load range letter next to it tells a shop how much weight each tire is rated to carry. Those two details narrow the choice faster than the make of the trailer does.
That matters because a trailer tire is not a smaller version of a car tire. It has a stiff sidewall to resist sway and carry a static load, and it never has to steer. Putting a passenger tire on a trailer because the size looks close is a mistake that shows up as sway and heat on the highway.
What do I need to know before ordering trailer tires?
Start with the placard or sticker on the trailer frame, which gives the tire size and the load the manufacturer intended. Match that, then compare it to what is actually on the wheels. Previous owners swap tires, and the ones on the trailer are not always the ones it was built for.
If your trailer has two axles, replace tires in pairs on the same axle so the two sides carry the load evenly. One new tire next to a worn one makes the worn one do more of the work.
- Tire size and the ST marking
- Load range letter
- Whether the wheel is steel or aluminum, and the bolt pattern if you are bringing loose wheels
- Whether the spare matches the rest
Can a trailer tire be patched, or does it need replacing?
Ask before assuming either way. A small tread puncture is a different job from a sidewall cut or a bulge, and a trailer that has been sitting with low air can have internal damage you cannot see from outside. A tire that ran flat for any distance should be inspected inside before anyone trusts it again.
Cracking in the sidewall and tread that looks fine on a trailer that rarely moves are both common. Sun and weather do their damage whether the trailer rolls or not, so a low-mileage tire is not automatically a safe one.
When can I bring the trailer in?
The shop runs Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM, Sat 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, closed Sun. Call ahead with the tire size, the load range, and whether the wheels are on the trailer or in your truck bed, so the right tire can be confirmed before you make the trip. Indianapolis Tire Shop is rated 4.5 from 85 Google reviews.
Can I put regular car tires on my trailer?
Not as a substitute for ST tires if the trailer was built for them. Car tires have softer sidewalls and are not designed for the constant load a trailer puts on them. Check the placard on the trailer frame and ask the shop to confirm what is approved.
Do I need to replace both tires on an axle at once?
Pairs are the safe rule, since uneven tires on one axle load unevenly. If one tire is damaged and the other is nearly new, ask the shop whether matching the pair makes sense for your setup.
What should I bring when I come in for trailer tires?
Bring the tire size and load range from the sidewall, and the trailer placard information if you can find it. If the wheels are off the trailer, bring them along. Calling ahead with those details lets the shop confirm availability before you drive over.