Can Trailer Tires with Load Range C be Replaced by Tires with Load Range E

Updated 04/20/2017 | Published 04/19/2017

Question:

I have a 25ft 5th wheel trailer and I pull a boat and carry a full tank of water. Originally it had ST 225/75R15 C rated tires. I ended up with E rated tires , can I run these tires on the original rims and would I need to run them at 80psi.GVWR 4218 kg 1950 kg per axles I live in Northern Ontario and we run on gravel roads but I may take it to Arizona this fall.

asked by: Dana

Expert Reply:

Trailer tires should also be inflated (while cold) to the maximum psi listed for the tire. Using them over or under inflated will cause them to heat up faster and increase the chance of failure. It is likely your tires with load range E should be inflated to 80 psi but go by what it says on the tire.

The entire weight capacity will be limited by the lowest rated component. So just because your tires have the higher rating doesn't mean everything else does. But using the higher rated tire isn't going to hurt anything either.

Since the new tires likely need to be inflated to 80 psi you want to make sure your valve stem can handle that. We have # AM20904 which is rated up to 80 psi.

expert reply by: Charles S