Can a 15 Inch Spare Tire Be Used on a Trailer that Has 16 Inch Diameter Wheels On It

Published 05/06/2011

Question:

can i run a 15 inch tire as a spare on a TANDUM TRAILER THAT HAS 16 INCH TIRES

asked by: Norman

Expert Reply:

Yes, you could use a wheel as a spare that has a 15 inch diameter even though the rest of the wheels on your trailer are 16 inches in diameter.

The measurement that you will want to be the most aware of is the outside diameter of the tire that you will use as a spare in relation to the diameter of the tires that are on the trailer.

This Karrier ST225/75R15 Radial Trailer Tire, part # AM10256, is 28.4 inches. As long as the diameter of the other tires on your trailer close to this measurement this tire would work well for you. I attached an FAQ on tire sizes for you to check out that you could use to determine the diameter of your current trailer tires.

I also attached an FAQ on determining wheel bolt patterns to help you determine what the bolt pattern of wheel you would need for your trailer.

If you were to use a spare that is smaller than the wheels that are on your trailer I would recommend that you only use the smaller spare to get you somewhere safe, where you can put a full size wheel onto the trailer.

expert reply by: Jameson C