• Don't overlook the trailer tires when towing your boat.parking remorques ?? bateaux image by Unclesam from Fotolia.com
  
  It's easy to forget about maintaining the tires on your boat trailer, but tire failure can lead to a serious accident, especially if you are towing your boat on the highway. An accident could seriously damage your vehicle as well as your boat, not to mention other vehicles and personal injuries. There are a number of small things you can do to ensure safety and reliability.
  
  

Pressure

• Unlike automobile tires, trailer tires are designed to be inflated to the maximum pressure rating. Underinflated tires are subject to sidewall failure, as the tires can bulge out at the sides. Tire pressure should be checked when the tires are cool, not after they have been run. Improper tire inflation is the leading cause of trailer tire failure, according to DiscountTire.com.
  
  

Usage

• Obey your tires' speed rating. Never exceed 65 mph. When launching your boat, keep your tires submerged as little as possible, especially in salt water, which can degrade your tires. Inspect your tires before every tow and err on the side of caution when signs of wear are evident.
  
  

Longevity

• Unlike automobile tires, trailer tires are designed to be replaced within three or four years, regardless of the amount of tread remaining. The sidewalls will crack and show age long before the tread wears out since they are not used every day like car tires. In the event that one of your tires on a dual-axle trailer fails, both tires on that side should be replaced; the tire that didn't fail likely was overloaded during the time the other failed.
  
  

Cleaners

• Some household and automotive cleaners should not be used on trailer tires. They can deteriorate the protective wax on tires, which in turn accelerates the decomposition of the rubber compound. Regular car wash soap should be used, reports Title-3.com.
  
  

Storage

• Sunlight causes wear and tear on your tires. If you store your trailer stored outside use tire covers to shade the tires. The covers come in a variety of styles, including the snap-on style used for Covercraft TireSavers. They will protect from dirt, grime and ultraviolet rays, which can break down the rubber in the tires.
  
  If you are storing your trailer for an extended time, over the winter for example, use trailer jacks to prop the trailer up. This will reduce the likelihood of flat spots forming on your tires from being sedentary for a long period of time. If you don't have trailer jacks, move the trailer regularly.