Will 14 Inch Wheels Fit On Axle With 5.30-12 Tires Currently?

Updated 07/21/2020 | Published 07/11/2017

Question:

Will a 14 inch rim fit on a 5.30-12 trailer axle 5 bolt pattern

asked by: Michael H

Helpful Expert Reply:

Wheels fit based on bolt pattern as well as height and width. Your 5.30-12 wheels are 12 inches by 4 inches and upgrading to a 14 inch wheel will come with an increased width of 5.5 or 6 inches to go with the extra 2 inches of height. If you have room between your frame for this increased width (which is 1/2 of the difference) then it will work. You will also need to account for the additional clearance needed for suspension travel with larger wheels so you need fender clearance as well which will be an additional 4 inches or so.

I recommend using a tire combination like the Westlake ST205/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire w/ 14" Silver Mod Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range D # 274-000053. This will give you a load range of 2,040 lbs at 65 psi and a speed rating of 75 mph. The tire will give you additional width and height. The section width is 8 inches and the diameter is 26.1 inches when inflated to max psi.

expert reply by: Jason S

Anthony H.

7/10/2020

Purchased these tires (274-000019) to replace 5.30-12 tires that originally came with my 5x8 kit utility trailer. Because of the extra width of the new tires, It does not seem that I have enough room between the side of the trailer and the tire to fit the tire on the hub. Would I need a new axle, as well? It looks like I currently have an axle that measures 72" from hub face to hub face and 58" from spring center to spring center. All of the axles I have looked at on etrailer are similar. It looks like I need an extra 5.5", but can't find an axle to match. Do I need to switch to an axle-less system to accommodate the width of the new tires? Would I need Regular or Wide to accommodate the Westlake tires (274-000019)? Thanks!

Chris R.

7/14/2020

If you really want to stick with those larger tires then a new axle setup is your only option. For a standard thru-axle that provides the extra length needed you may need to check with a local trailer shop or fabricator if you have any around. The Timbren Axle-Less Systems though are a good alternative - I would definitely go with a wide tire setup to ensure you get the clearance needed. If you can tell me what capacity axles are on your trailer I can make a specific recommendation.

Helpful Links

dept-pg-trailer_axles-sf-rubber_spring_suspension.aspx

Anthony H.

7/14/2020

@ChrisR 2k lb axle. 5x8 trailer with a gvwr at 1980.

Chris R.

7/18/2020

@AnthonyH Thanks for the info! The Timbren # ASR2KHDS01 would work really well here. It's a 2,000 pound axle setup but it's designed for larger hubs and wheels. For idler hubs (if you don't have brakes) you'll use part # 84545UC1-EZ.