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I just pulled the wheels on my trailer to check and grease the bearings. When I replaced the wheel I gave it a spin, and noticed that the tire was a little deformed... that is, a flat spot that lumped its way around.

I didn't look that closely on the other side, so maybe it was that way too. My trailer sits for months at a time, and was in storage over the winter. It trailed fine the 8 miles to my house from the barn without any apparent wheel hop.

I know that tires that sit too long do get flat spots, but I have always thought that once they get on the road and flex and warm up, they will reshape to round. These tires are maybe 4 years old, with 200 miles at the most on them.

My question is: Does a flat spot that I notice when spinning with no load indicate that the tire is bad, or just temporarily deformed from sitting?

Any thoughts?

Premounted tires/wheels are only about $45 for 5.70-8 LRange C so I may get another one anyway, especially since I see a crack in the rim around the stem. (I run tubes in them as a backup) and I may head out to Michigan in a few weeks with the boat. (I have a trailer mounted spare also)

John.

Correction... I meant 2000 mi not 200..

John, replacing that tire/wheel right now will save you a whole lot of potential headache. Just keep the one that is on there as a spare. I put a new tire on my old boat trailer and it was a bit out of round. It vibrated like crazy! Made for a not so fun trip home.

Evan

Evan.. thanks for your comments... I decided to get another wheel... I get load range C so I had to order it (Northern)... I may still try running the old one, but it is easy enough to keep an eye on it and change at my typical McDonalds stop on a vaca... I always feel the hubs and check things every few hours.

Good call..

Better safe than sorry.

Evan

One thing I like to do during winter storoage. I put the trailer (with the boat on it) up on jack stands so the tires are up off the ground. I do the same for the 67 beetle. The one thing to remember is to check the tire presure from time to time and give 'em a shot if needed.