Choosing a Trailer Rim with Positive Offset to Increase Side Clearance

Updated 05/14/2020 | Published 03/08/2016

Question:

Hello, My boat currently has 14x6 rims with 215/75R14 tires. It sits just a bit too wide that I have to squeeze it in my 8 foot garage door. I want to change the rims and tires to give myself a bit of room on each side. I want to change the rims to these AM20304 14x5.5 with the +0.5 offset. I also want to change the tires to 185R14C Ranger R101 Thunderer. I have already tried the tires on my 14x6 rims with a 0 offset, and it got me about a 1/4 inch on each side. There was about 1.5 inches of room on the back side of the tires to the trailer frame. Do you see any problems with changing to these AM20304 rims to get my tires closer to the frame? That would give me even a little more room on each side! Thanks.

asked by: Jamie

Expert Reply:

Narrower tires and rims will certainly help you pick up some side clearance for fitting your boat trailer into your garage. A wheel with positive offset will also help by shifting the wheel's center closer to the trailer frame. Since you have 1-1/2-inches of extra clearance between the tires and trailer frame, 0.5-inch positive offset rim # AM20304 will give you a total of 1-inch additional clearance (1/2-inch on each side).

Be sure to use only special trailer (ST) type tires on your boat trailer (never use passenger tires) and always operate them at the full psi pressure rating noted on the tire sidewall. It is never appropriate to under- or over-inflate a trailer tire. These conditions can cause heat build-up, a tire's worst enemy, which can lead to failure.

Make sure your new tires have a load rating sufficient for the combined weight of your boat and trailer.

expert reply by: Adam R

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Bruce H.

5/12/2020

do you have rims with 1.5-2" positive offset

Chris R.

5/14/2020

Unfortunately we only have a few 14" wheels available that feature an offset, and like the Dexstar # AM20304, they all have a positive 0.5" offset. A great majority of trailer wheels have a zero offset just because of how they're designed to support weight.