Another Set of Tires?

3/22/2016

To say I go through tires quickly is an understatement. I'm worse than NASCAR teams Hendrick or Petty. Maybe I ought to give those guys a call and see if they've got some extras laying around.

My "easily" accessible records only go back to 2011, so I don't have data from earlier than that, but since 2012, I have bought a new set of tires annually for one vehicle or another.

July 2012 - tires for my truck
August 2013 - tires for my car
January 2014 - tires for my horse trailer
July 2015 - tires for my car (again?!?!)
March 2016 - tires for my truck (again)

I had my truck's tires rotated in December when I had new brakes installed. At the time, the tires looked great. I drove Speedy to Expo in February and everything felt fine. In Early March, I took both horses to the vet and noticed a worrisome roughness on the way home. It was a sensation I felt the last time my tires needed to be replaced. I checked all eight tires (including the trailer's) and couldn't find anything that looked suspicious.

Since we're heading to Simi Valley this morning for a lesson, a trek of about 125 miles over California's busiest highway, I gave my tires another visual inspection yesterday morning. Thank goodness I did. The problem finally showed up - blown out sidewall.

This looks like trouble.

I keep my vehicles a long time which means I do a lot of regular maintenance and replacement of parts. The one thing that I can't prevent is weather damage. The sunny side of the trailer and truck have wheel covers to protect the tires, but when you drive less than 5,000 miles a year, weathering happens as the truck and trailer sit.

Plenty of tread left ...

I called my trusty tire guy and asked him to get some tires ready for me as I was headed his way. The truck rode so roughly that I drove the entire ten or so miles at no more than 30 miles an hour. It was only slightly embarrassing to wave drivers past me as my hazards flashed on and off and on again. I didn't care though as I've driven behind slower drivers who didn't have the decency to move over like I did.

New tread and no holes in the sidewalls.

Once my new tires were installed, I took advantage of Blue Truck's freedom and zipped into the corner gas station and drive through car wash. These things are not easy to do with a trailer following wherever we go.

Blue Truck loves a good shower.

I hooked Blue Truck back up to the trailer, "fixed" another little thing that's busted on my trailer (I have got to get that fixed sooner rather than later), and loaded some hay and tack. We're leaving fairly early today as long as the weather holds. Here's to solid tires with no blowouts!

Spit-shined and once again road worthy.

See you all tomorrow!

8 Comments

jenj

3/22/2016 06:54:15 am

Our truck needs new tires too - we've got 50K miles on them and it's time. WHYYYYY must truck tires be so expensive? Ouch!

emma link

3/22/2016 08:26:43 am

ugh i'm facing the same thing too... *sob*

Jan link

3/22/2016 06:54:23 am

That's interesting that you have to buy tires so often. I drive my truck less than 5000 a year too, but both truck's tires have held out under the tread gets low (the current truck's tires will need to be changed this year). I replaced all of the tires on my trailer two years ago- when not in use I make sure I cover them with RV tire covers. Maybe I should do the same for my truck! I know we live in different climates- maybe your hotter temps all year round contribute to new tires before the tread wears out?

Bakersfield Dressage link

3/23/2016 07:44:56 am

Our extreme heat is the most likely culprit. We get about 40 days a year that are over a hundred degrees and a whole bunch more days that are in the 90s. It is also VERY dry here. I think the combination of year round heat and dry (we've been in a massive drought for the past four years, and even with el nino, we've only just barely hit our pre-drought average here in Kern County) just takes its toll.

SarahO link

3/22/2016 09:34:22 am

Yikes, glad you got it sorted out before your trip today.

Tires are so expensive. I had to replace my truck tires last year which was a definite ouch to the bank account.

Now that I think about it though, I still have the original tires on my horse trailer, and that's from 2002! I had my trailer serviced recently, but I'm not sure if they looked at the tires specifically, I need to check that!

Bakersfield Dressage link

3/23/2016 07:46:26 am

My first set of trailer tires lasted about 6 years, so I am hoping these will go another couple of years too. Trailer tires are a little different than vehicle tires, so I hope that helps.

Hillary link

3/22/2016 01:03:11 pm

That seems like a long time for tires but I had the worst luck with tires before the truck. I was constantly getting flats, blow outs, etc I hope my truck tires will have a nice long life! I need to measure my trailer tires to get covers for them.

Bakersfield Dressage link

3/23/2016 07:48:06 am

I have bad luck too. I have had more flats on that truck than anyone I know! I guess when horses are involved you tend to drive places that the average person might not.

My husband bought my wheel covers without measuring - I think it's kind of one-size fits all thing.

About the
Writer & Rider

I am a lifetime rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
Welcome to my dressage journey.

Photo by Lori Ovanessian

Email Karen

About Speedy G

Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. We're currently schooling Third Level in preparation for the 2019 show season. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

August 2018

About Izzy

Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are schooling the dressage basics. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.

Second Show - July 2016

Bakersfield Dressage approved!

National Awards

USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

State Awards

CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
CDS Second Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

2019 Show Season

Show Rating
(***) CDS/USDF/USEF
(*) CDS
(s) Schooling
(c) Clinic
(t) Ride-a-Test Clinic
(Q) Must Qualify

2019 Pending …

4/12-14/19 - AA Clinic (c)
5/26/19 - TMC (*)
6/15-16/19 - El Sueno (***)
6/22-23/19 - SCEC (***)
6/23/19 - TMC (*)
7/13-14/19 - El Sueno (***)
7/28/19 - TMC (*)
8/10/19 - RAAC (Q) (***)
8/25/19 - TMC (*)
10/26-27/19 SCEC (***)

2019 Completed …

Qualifying Scores for 2019

Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Scores
Third Level Scores:
Score 1:
Score 2:
Score 3:

CDS Championship Third Level Scores:
Score 1:
Score 2:
Score 3:
Score 4:
Score 5:

Working Towards:

CDS Sapphire Rider Award
Third Level:
Third Level:
Fourth Level:
Fourth Level:

USDF Bronze Medal
First Level - 70.179%
First Level - 72.600%
Second Level - 62.879%
Second Level - 61.970%
Third Level -
Third Level -