Bass Fishing Tip of the Week 02/20/09: Trailer Tire Care

Trailer tires are one of the most neglected items in bass boat maintenance. Continued neglect can lead to being stranded in the boonies or even worse a bad accident! Here's some things you need to do to keep your boat on the road with no problems.

1- Keep your trailer tires properly inflated and follow the manufacturers recommendations. Most trailer tires have higher pressure requirements than the standard car or light truck tire. This prevents the sidewalls from flexing too much with the heavy load they are trying to maintain. Inadequate pressures can lead to the rim actually piercing the sidewall when flexed and a sudden blowout.

Proper tire inflation will also lead to better handling and gas mileage.

2- If the boat trailer is parked outside make sure you protect the tires from direct sunlight. A few towels, a couple pieces of plywood or any other object that will shade the tires will protect them from UV and other radiation from the sun that can lead to early "tire rot".

3- Use a tire protectant such as Armor-All for tires to keep the rubber in the tires pliable and more elastic. This will not only lead to longevity but makes the trailer look good.

4- Check the treads for excessive wear. If the wear is significant get them replaced. Not only do the treads allow better traction to prevent fish taling but worn tires can lead to easier penetration by the random nail or screw found on many highways.

5- Check for uneven wear. This usually indicates low tire pressure, too high of tire pressure, poor balancing or the axle needs alignment.

Take care of those tires and you'll be a much happier fisherman!

The Largemouth Herald