Can 4.80/4.00-8 Trailer Tires be Replaced with 5.70-8 Trailer Tires

Updated 01/05/2016 | Published 01/04/2016

Question:

The wheels are off of an 1946 car. It had real old 4.80/4.00-8 Goodyear tires on it. Those tires measured about 15-1/2inch in diameter. Im looking at using 4.80/4.00-8 2 ply tires 16.3inch dia. or maybe 4.00-8 scooter tires on the rims. Could I use a 5.70-8 tire on these rims? Any suggestion on what I should use? I prefer to have a tire with a larger diameter than the 15-1/2.

asked by: G. G

Expert Reply:

Trailer tire sizes 4.80/4.00-8 and 5.70-8 both fit on the same size wheels so you could use either size provided that there is room enough to use the larger 5.70-8. It will be 2 inches taller and 1.2 inches wider than the 4.80/4.00-8. I have included links to the tires we carry in these 2 sizes. Both sizes are larger than 15-1/2 inches diameter (16.1 and 18.1 inches respectively).

Generally vehicle wheels/tires should not be used on a trailer and trailer wheels/tires should not be used on a vehicle. I am not sure of your application though. The old wheels you have are conventional steel wheels and in this case they could be used on a trailer provided you are using trailer tires.

expert reply by: Michael H