Can 15 Inch Tires and Wheels be Put on a Trailer with 14 Inch Tires and Wheels

Updated 04/29/2015 | Published 04/28/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Loadstar ST185/80D13 Bias Trailer Tire with 13" White Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range D

(2865)

$157.94

Karrier ST205/75R15 Radial Trailer Tire with 15" Galvanized Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range C

(2538)

$210.45

Question:

I have an 02 regal 2465 cruiser on a tandem trailer. Currently have 14 in wheels and tires on it. Want to go to 15 in. Boat weighs 6000 lbs. what do you recommend?

asked by: Tony W

Expert Reply:

You can go to a larger size tire on your boat trailer as long as the larger size will fit. If you went to a 205/75-15 tire size the width would not be an issue but it will be 0.4 to 0.8 inches taller than a 215 or 205 size 14 inch tire, respectively. There would need to be greater than 0.2 to 0.4 inches above the existing size to go to a 15 inch, which seems very likely.

The most common wheel bolt pattern for a 205/75-15 is going to be a 5 on 4-1/2 inch. I have linked a help article that explains how to measure for bolt pattern.

For a 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern wheel and tire combo, load range C we have several options but for a boat trailer I recommend with an aluminum wheel, # AM32404, or a galvanized wheel, # AM32397, for the corrosion resistance. These tires are rated for 1,820 pounds at 50 psi so 4 of them would have a total capacity of 7,280 pounds. Please note that going to a higher capacity tire will not increase the capacity of the trailer.

expert reply by: Michael H