Recommendation for Finding Correct Trailer Tires and Wheels for New Boat Trailer

Updated 09/29/2017 | Published 09/28/2017

Question:

I just purchased a venture boat trailer for a 18 ft boat that did not have tires on it. The previous owner said he moved it with 15 inch tires. All I had were 13 inch tires to move it but with the boat on it the tires were low while hauling. What would you say is a good size to get for my trailer which will have a total weight of a little over 3,000lbs?

asked by: Anthony

Helpful Expert Reply:

When looking at tires and wheels for your newly acquired boat trailer, you will first want to determine the bolt pattern of your existing hubs. I have attached a great article that explains how to measure this.

After you have determined the bolt pattern you need for a wheel, I recommend looking for the plate that should be on the trailer frame near the coupler. This plate will often provide information on the trailer, including the tire size and Load Range that is recommended. If you are unable to find this information, then I suggest going with 15 inch tires like what the previous owner used.

If you find that you have a 5 on 4-1/2 inch bolt pattern, I recommend looking at an ST205/75R15 size tire like the Westlake # LHAW121. This radial ply tire is mounted to a 15 inch silver mod wheel and has a maximum load of 2,150 pounds at 65 psi. This will give you a combined load capacity of 4,300 pounds, assuming you have a single axle boat trailer with two tires. The tire also has a maximum speed rating of 75 mph.

Since you are unsure of the exact tire size that your trailer is designed to take, you will also want to ensure that you will have enough room around the wheel well and trailer for the tire you choose. This ST205/75R15 tire has an overall diameter of 27.1 inches.

I have attached a link that will take you to our available selection of 15 inch trailer tires and wheels that you can also look through. You can filter through the different available bolt patterns and tire sizes by using the facets on the left side of the page. I have also included a few additional articles on trailer tires that you might find helpful.

expert reply by: Chris R