Do you Carry 16 inch Wheels with a 5 Bolt Lug Pattern for a Cargo Trailer with 3,500 lbs Axles

Updated 12/06/2010 | Published 12/05/2010

Products Featured in This Question

Dexstar Steel Spoke Trailer Wheel - 16" x 6" Rim - 6 on 5-1/2 - White Powder Coat

(2455)

$82.52

Trailer Idler Hub Assembly for 3,500-lb Axles - 6 on 5-1/2

(91)

$101.28

Karrier ST235/80R16 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range E

(2232)

$218.26

Karrier ST225/75R15 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D

(2232)

$138.77

Steel Spoke Trailer Wheel - 16" x 6" Rim - 6 on 5-1/2 - Galvanized Finish

(723)

$118.36

Question:

Exploring ways to increase rated capacity on my 8.5x20 cargo trailer, equipped with 3500 lb axles. Currently have 205/65/15....load range C....which are not adequate. I have vertical room to fit 215/65/15 load range D, but no larger. Was looking at ways to go to a 16 wheel, 205/65/16 with a smaller profile tire...do 16 wheels come with a 5 bolt pattern ?,Thanks for the reply. Can you tell me whether 16 inch, 5 bolt pattern wheels are available anywhere? I do have ST tires, as stated, load range C, which I find flex too much at a 50 pound maximum inflation. I have found a 16 inch tire, load range D, that is listed as the same overall diameter as what I have now. I have no room for a 28 inch tire.

asked by: David

Expert Reply:

At this time we do not carry 16 inch wheels with a 5 bolt pattern or a lower profile tire. You would be best suited to stay with a 15 inch wheel and the highest rated tire available bias ply tire for 15 inch wheels, like the Karrier ST225/75D15 Bias Ply Trailer Tire - Load Range D, item # AM1ST96. This will give you a set of tires that are rated higher than the trailer axles so you will not have to worry about overloading the tires, unless the trailer itself is overloaded. Bias ply tires are constructed differently than radial and they have less flex in the sidewalls, so they should help with your There is no way to increase the capacity of the trailer axles, without changing them out to higher capacity axles.

The # AM1ST96 tires are rated at 2,540 lbs at 65 psi, which translates to 5,080 pounds per axle, substantially more than the 3,500 lbs that your axles are rated for. You will need to check your trailer for clearance, this tire is 8.4 inches wide and 28.1 inches overall diameter. Your current 205/65-15 tires are 8.07 inches wide and 25.5 inches tall, so there is quite a difference.

If this tire is too wide or tall we have the Karrier ST205/75R15 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range C, item # AM10244, that is 8.1 inches wide and 27.3 inches tall and has a weight capacity of 1,820 lbs at 50 psi. This tire would give you a tire rating of 3,640 lbs per axle, which is still greater than your axle rating, but it is a radial tire that will have more flex in the sidewall.

It sounds as if the tires on your trailer may not be ST (special trailer) rated tires. Just because they say load range C, this does not mean that they are trailer rated. To be a ST tire it would have to be labeled ST205/65-15, not just load range C. If this is the case you will get much better performance from a ST rated tire on your trailer as they are built with thicker sidewalls to handle the vertical load required by a trailer. You will also want to run the ST tires at full PSI rating to reduce sidewall heat and increase the life of the tires.

expert reply by: Robert G