Checking tires is a great idea...and also looking at the rest of the trailer. This past December I decided to repack the bearings on our snowmobile trailer...it sits around for 9-10 months without much use. Tires looked a little cracked so I ordered new wheels with tires already mounted.
When I went to swap them I noticed something strange with the axle mounting point onto the trailer frame. After a little inspection we found out the steel axle had corroded the aluminum frame and the axle was sucked up into the trailer frame, both sides
The axle company called it 'galvanic corrosion'...mix steel with aluminum and add the salt...recipe for disaster. Fortunately I caught it in time...we installed a new axle and two new aluminum frame rails.
As an added precaution I took the new wheels and tires off and installed the old ones for summer storage. They will go back on when the snow flies...
Trailer maintenance is greatly over looked by many. Following this experience I designed a client ad for the NYS Snowmobile Association magazine.
-wilma