Matching dimensions are not enough
A trailer tyre may look as wide as an existing car tyre while needing to perform a different job. Before buying, obtain the trailer documents, approved size and required load capacity. A photograph of the current fitment helps identification but cannot rule out an earlier incorrect purchase.
If replacing the whole wheel, check its specification too. The wheel-and-tyre assembly must be suitable as a combination. Bolt pattern and diameter are only part of that assessment; a matching number in an online listing is not approval for every axle. Where information is unclear, establish compatibility through the trailer manufacturer or a qualified specialist.
Describe how the trailer is used
An occasional garden trailer has a different working pattern from a commercial trailer loaded every day. Record the loads actually carried and the periods between uses. Low mileage can mean age and condition determine replacement before the tread is worn away.
Loading must stay within the vehicle and axle limits. A higher load index does not increase those limits. Heavy items also need suitable distribution and restraint; tyre selection cannot replace correct loading. If you often operate near a limit, establish actual weights rather than estimating from the volume of the load.
Check Tempo 100 separately
If the combination is intended to operate under Germany's Tempo 100 arrangement, every relevant condition must be satisfied. Tyres are only one part. Age and speed-category requirements apply alongside other requirements for trailer and towing vehicle. Check before ordering so that a physically mountable tyre is not unsuitable for the intended use.
An existing sticker does not remove the need for later checks. Record manufacturing dates and reconsider the age requirement before the next season. Rules in other countries remain separate: the German marking does not automatically establish permitted speed on every journey abroad.
Use the handover to resolve questions
After fitting, ask which cold pressure applies to the actual application and what follow-up checks are specified. Keep the invoice with the complete tyre description. Where a spare is carried, explicitly ask whether it remains compatible with the current combination. An old spare can easily be forgotten when the main tyres are replaced.
Before subsequent use, inspect for visible damage, incorrect pressure and unusual wear. If the trailer behaves differently, investigate rather than attributing everything to its new tread. Bearings, brakes and wheel fastening are not problems that another tyre automatically repairs. Clear records also help the next workshop distinguish a tyre change from an unresolved mechanical symptom.
