Will a Higher Capacity Trailer Tire Last Longer on a 4x8 Trailer Harbor Freight Trailer

Question

Question:

Ive been running a 4.80x12 Load Range B on my 4x8 Harbor Freight utility trailer. I use it to haul my quad which weights approx 400 lbs. Between the quad and trailer weight Im probably less than 700lbs. The tires Ive been running over the past four years are Kings. Ive kept the air pressure at 40psi max is 60psi however they dont seem to last much over 1 1/2 years. The second rib and fourth rib wear more than the inside, middle, and outside. Most of my driving is on the freeway and at speeds between 55 and 60. Im thinking of going to a higher quality brand and higher load capacity c to reduce the wear from highway heat. Would you agrre and if so, what would you recommend for a high-quality tire Load Range C?

asked by: Gus M

0

Expert Reply:

The first problem is that you are running lower air pressure than what the tire is rated for. Trailer tires should ALWAYS be inflated to the maximum air pressure as indicated on the tire.

The reason is that trailer tires are constructed with a thicker sidewall than passenger vehicle tires. Because of the thicker sidewall, if the tires are under-inflated there will be more heat build up and than can cause the tires to fail and as you are seeing wear out quickly.

If your trailer weight is around 700 pounds and you are using load range B, 4.80x12 tires rated for 785 pounds each, like # AM30580 , they have more than enough capacity. Going to a higher capacity tire would not be beneficial.

You will just need to make sure the tires are properly inflated to the maximum psi rating and keep them covered when not in use. This will give you the maximum life out of the tires. For a load range B we have # AM10060 rated for 785 pounds at 65 psi or a load range C # AM10062 rated for 990 pounds at 90 psi. The tires we carry are rated for up to 65 miles per hour. I have linked our tire FAQ article for you to view.

expert reply by: Michael H

0

Answer 1

The only trailer component that determines the speed rating of the trailer is the tires. All you have to do is simply replace your current tires with one that is rated for highway use, like the Kenda Loadstar #AM3S120 that you referenced, and you are…

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Answer 2

Yes, a 5.30 x 12 tire will fit the same rim as a 4.80 x 12 tire. Both tire sizes fit on a 4 inch wide rim. There are a couple of things to consider when changing tire sizes. First, the larger 5.30 will be approximately 1.4 inches taller than the 4.80…

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Answer 3

Yes, the Kenda Karrier S-Trail ST145/R12 Radial Trailer Tire #AM10140 referenced in your question will fit the same 12 inch wheel with a 4 inch width that your existing 4.80-12 size tires are mounted to. Just note that the ST145/R12 tire will be…

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Answer 4

You are correct, the 5.30x12 is the SAE nomenclature, while the 145/80-12 is the closest metric equivalent. The two are approximately the same size with the 5.3x12 being about a tenth of an inch narrower and a quarter of an inch taller than the…

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Answer 5

Typically on a trailer the only part that has a speed rating is the tire itself, though you will need to contact the manufacturer of the trailer to confirm this. Based on the tag shown in your picture your trailer uses a 4.80-12 so for a high speed…

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Answer 6

It sounds like you are looking at a tire similar to the Westlake ST205/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire # 274-000012. The speed rating you mention of "L" is a max of 75 mph. If tires have this higher speed rating, they are labeled L or M (81 mph).…

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Answer 7

From my research on the Harbor Freight 4x8 folding trailer uses 4.80-12 tires on a 12 inch wheel for the 1195 lb capacity trailer and a 5.30-12 for the 1720 lbs capacity trailer. It is a good idea to check your existing tires to see which size they…

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Answer 8

The speed rating limitation for a trailer will come down to the tires, it has little to nothing to do with the axle, hub, or wheel size. That said, smaller tires generally do have lower speed ratings but you do not need to upgrade the wheels on your…

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Answer 9

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 10

The 5.30-12 tires, being wider, are going to make more contact with the road. This means that the noise, and heat build up will be higher than a 4.80-12 tire but the rolling resistance will actually be less because the tire is larger diameter. The…

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Answer 11

The difference between an load range C and load range D tire in the same size is the capacity and psi rating. The two tires will still have the same dimensions and fit on the same wheel. The D rated tire has a higher capacity. For a ST175/80D13 like…

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Answer 12

Since both a ST145/R12 size tire, like the Kenda Karrier S-Trail #AM10130, and a 5.30-12 size tire, like the Kenda K353 #AM10068, fit a 12 inch wheel, a ST145/R12 size tire can replace a 5.30-12 size tire. Keep in mind that these tires do have…

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Will a Higher Capacity Trailer Tire Last Longer on a 4x8 Trailer Harbor Freight Trailer

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