Can Wheel Center Pilot Hole Be Larger than Hub Bore on 205/75-14 Trailer Tire

Updated 03/05/2020 | Published 03/04/2020

Products Featured in This Question

Karrier ST205/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire w/ 14" White Spoke Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range D

(1548)

$208.66

Wheel Bolt, 1/2" x 2-1/4"

(14)

$5.04

Flange Wheel Nut - 5/8"

(39)

$14.25

CE Smith Trailer Wheel Lug Nut - Zinc-Plated Steel - 1/2" - Qty 1

(437)

$5.80

Question:

What if the hub is maybe 2 3/4 inches and the wheel opening is 3 1/4? Will this be an issue? Seems as if the lugs would hold it steady, its 5 lug 4.5 205/75/14 tire.

asked by: Ben

Expert Reply:

As long as your trailer wheel is lug centric, the hub bore being smaller than the wheel's pilot hole is not an issue.

The majority of trailer wheels, like the one on # AM32161 are lug centric - they are centered by the wheel studs, once the lug nuts are torqued to specs. On the other hand, the less common hub centric wheel uses the center bore (pilot hole) of the wheel to center itself on the hub.

An easy way to tell them apart is by seeing how the wheel attaches to the hub. If your hub has integrated wheel studs, and uses coned lug nuts, like # CE11051, you have a lug centric wheel.

If your wheel uses wheel bolts, like # 7-23, or flange nuts like # 95188, it's a hub centric wheel.