Can 215/75R15 Tires Be Replaced with ST205/75R14 Tires and Wheels on Car Hauler

Updated 09/20/2019 | Published 09/19/2019

Question:

I currently have a set of 4 Commander All season P215/75/R15 100S M+S tires that came stock on my 2001 DCT tandem axle car trailer. They are starting to dry rot and I have no spare. Im thinking of replacing with these significantly cheaper 205/7514 on rims if I was to buy 5 so that I had a spare. They are also slightly higher load rating being 65psi D instead of 35psi C my current tires. I mainly haul a 2k lb tractor frequently and the slightly smaller diameter tires may make loading easier too. Will the smaller diameter cause any unforeseen issues? How likely will the new tires last as long as these old ones have? Will they be ok doing 70+ on the hwy or when I use it to pick up lumber or sheet goods? Thanks,

asked by: Ryan

Expert Reply:

You can replace the tires on your car hauler with a set of smaller ones like the Kenda Karrier ST205/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire w/ Wheel # AM32161 without issue as long as they still provide the needed combined weight capacity. This particular tire and wheel combo features a maximum load of 2,200 pounds at 75 psi, giving you a combined capacity of 8,800 pounds for all 4 tires.

Just make sure that this number meets or exceeds the loaded weight of your car hauler and you're good to go. Just for reference the new tire will be about 1.4 inches smaller in diameter/height, but only half of this difference will actually work to drop the height of the trailer since the other half is above the axle.

This Kenda Karrier Radial Tire has a maximum speed rating of 81 mph, so you won't have any issue going 70+ on the highway. This is an excellent trailer tire with double steel belts, full nylon plies, and a computer-generated tread design for superior traction so as long as you make sure to keep them properly inflated (to their max psi), don't overload them with the weight of the trailer, and stay under their 81mph speed limit they should last you for a long time. It's important to keep in mind though that we recommend replacing trailer tires every 6 years, regardless of how they look.

I have attached a short video review on this tire and wheel combo and a great FAQ on trailer tires that you might find interesting.

expert reply by: Chris R