Will an ST215/60-8 Trailer Tire Replace a 5.70 x 8 Tire

Updated 10/09/2012 | Published 10/08/2012

Question:

I know I will have to go from a 4 to 7 in rim. Is the back spacing different on these 2 rims? Is outside diameter different on these 2 tires?

asked by: Ted D

Expert Reply:

Most trailer wheels have a zero offset but backspacing is going to be different amongst different rim sizes and widths. a 215/60-8 tire will have an overall diameter of 18.3 inches. a 5.70-8 has an overall diameter of 18.1 inches so there is not much difference there.

The rim width is the big difference. a 5.70-8 fits on a 3-3/4 inch wide rim while a 215/60-8 fits a 7 inch. That 3-3/14 inch difference is quite a bit. When the tire is on the rim the larger size will be nearly 8.5 inches wide compared to 5.7 inches on the smaller size. You will need to make sure that you have about 3 inches of space between the trailer frame and the back of the 5.70-8 to go to the larger size.

I have included some links to tire FAQ articles for you.

expert reply by: Michael H