Finally getting around to working on this again. Ordered an NOS wheel for a full size spare, got all the parts to rebuild the hub, and priced out some modern 215/85-16 tires. Took off the old wheels tonight and looked at the military tires manufacturing date.
Now before I get to the date, I knew they were old, but they weren't all THAT bad. I have been using the trailer around town with some short freeway trips. As above, I've had a pretty hefty load in it also. I figured maybe a late 70's or early 80's replacement. Nope. They were original to the trailer! One 10/66 and one 1/67. Keep in mind the delivery date of the trailer itself was 1/67. The bearings on first sign appear to be newer, but I'm replacing them anyways.
Try getting any modern tire to look that good after 46 years. It's a shame they have to go away. I'll be taking my new and old wheels over for powder coating. Also looking at adding a stiffening rib to my reproduction landing leg. I see so many of these trailers with a bent leg. I know the rib wouldn't be original, but this is a resto mod anyways.
Also waiting for a friend of mine to add a larger press brake to his capital equipment list. Then I can get a lid made from a single piece of aluminum sheet.
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My 416 also has the original tires from the 1960s. When I got the trailer a few years ago, I was concerned about the old tires, as you are.
The sidewall cracks on mine were minimal, as yours seem to be. I found a Michelin tire crack guide online that indicated that the cracks were nothing to worry about. Those little cracks in your photos are the great so-what according to Michelin.
I have added many thousands of miles to these original tires. Most of the mileage is freeway driving at speeds up to 75 mp and with a good load in the trailer. There is also back road/off road use on them.
In between trips, they leak down to 25 psi. You cannot tell without a tire gauge as the sidewalls are very stiff on the original tires. I air them up to 45-50 for highway use and leave them at 25 for short local trips.
I was filled with trepidation the first time I took my 416 out with the old tires, and I even got a couple of conventional tires to replace them. But darn if the old military tires do not look just 'right' on an old 416. On the first trip, I was pulling over constantly to check the tires and feel how hot they and the wheel bearings were. Cool as cucumbers. That trip led to a second and that led to many more as I realized that there was nothing to worry about.
I do have a full-size original spare wheel/tire that I travel with but I have never needed it.
I am sure that many will criticize me for continuing to use the original tires and I agree that emotionally there is a compulsion to replace them. What would happen if one failed? That is an interesting question. I don't see the tread separating. I don't see the sidewall catastrophically failing. Perhaps a the inner tube would fail but even if it blew out the tires are so stiff that they are almost run-flats, giving you plenty of time to safely slow and pull off the road.
That all said, oxidation is causing the tiny cracks you see in the outer carcass, so anything you can do to keep the rubber clean and shielded from unnecessary UV, especially where you live, would be a good idea. I have read that ArmorAll-type products are not good for long-term life of the rubber, and if that is true you should either use a very native rubber/UV dressing, or none.
My observation is that you should be good to go with the tires you have now.
BTW,thank you for the tip on the molded wire. I will switch to that on all my trailers as I hate the slim-shady look of the stiff, flat wire.
