Can 205/75-14 Tires And Wheels Be Changed To 225/75-15 Combos On Toy Hauler

Updated 05/12/2016 | Published 05/10/2016

Products Featured in This Question

Karrier ST205/75R15 Radial Trailer Tire with 15" White Wheel - 5 on 5 - Load Range C

(1556)

$199.63

Karrier ST205/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D

(2230)

$170.14

Question:

I currently have 205/75/14 tires on my toy hauler rated at 1760lbs per tire. I want to upgrade to a 225/75/15 tire with new rims that are e rated to 2800lbs each. I measured for clearance and I currently have 7inch between tires and 3inch to top of fender. Will I be OK for the size difference?

asked by: Damien

Expert Reply:

With the size tire and wheels you said you want to use on your toy hauler, you may have some problems with clearance. You want a minimum of 3-inches clearance from the top of the tire to the fender when the trailer is loaded.

The overall diameter of your 14-inch tires is 26.106 inches. If you change to the 225/75-15 tires and wheels, the overall diameter is 28.288 inches. That is more than 2 inches more of overall diameter and would really reduce the clearance for the tire to the fender by more than an inch. You run the risk of the tires hitting the fender with the clearance the 15-inch tires would provide and I cannot recommend that.

We do not have a 14-inch tire that has an E load range rating.

I recommend changing to a load range D tire is you are wanting to increase the capacity of the tire. for a tire like the Karrier ST205/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire, part # AM10235, the maximum load rating for this tire is 2,080 lbs at 65 psi. This would give you a higher rated tire without changing wheels.

Changing to a higher rated tire will not increase the load carrying capacity of the trailer axles.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L