Can a 13 Inch Trailer Tire Be Used as a Spare in Place of a 15 Inch Tire

Published 04/14/2015

Question:

Can I use a 13 inch spare tire for a 15 inch trailer tire ?

asked by: Ray S

Expert Reply:

In an emergency, provided that the bolt pattern of the smaller wheel is the same as the larger wheel and as long as the hubs accept the smaller wheel you should be able to bolt it on. But you also have to consider capacity since a 13 inch is going to have a lower capacity than a 15 inch.

You would need to get the trailer to a shop that sells trailer tires as soon as you possibly could if you find yourself in this situation. Ideally you would go with a 15 inch spare to match the regular size on the trailer. If you can tell me the tire size and bolt pattern of the wheels you have I will be happy to make some recommendations.

I have included a link to our help articles on trailer tires and wheels and how to measure bolt pattern for you.

expert reply by: Michael H