Is Larger Fender Required When Replacing 5.30-12 Tires W/ 175/80D13 Tires On Karavan Boat Trailer?

Updated 06/04/2021 | Published 06/03/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Plastic, Single-Axle Trailer Fender w/ Top and Side Steps - White - 13" to 15"

(57)

$149.22

Loadstar ST175/80D13 Bias Trailer Tire with 13" Aluminum Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range C

(296)

$169.70

Question:

My 2005 Karavan Trailer Came With 12inch Rims And A 530-12 Hi Speed Tire Over The Years With All The Pot Holes And Bad Roads In California I Have Busted Axle Hubs, And Broken Well Maintained Bearings. I Switched My Spindles Over From 1inch 1/16 Spindles To 1inch 3/8. I Purchased Loadstar ST175/80D13inch Bias Trailer Tires With 13inch Aluminum Wheels 5 On 4 1/2 From E Trailer Order # . I Am Thinking That My Current Fender Size May Not Accommodate Those Tires, Front To Back Outside To Outside Is 37inch From The Center Of My 12inch Hub To The Top Of Fender Is 13inch What Do Your Conversion Charts Say ?? Thank You Also The Boat Is A Deep Vee Which Means The Taller The Tire The Closer It Could Get Because The Boat Gets Wider Up From The Frame

asked by: Mark G

Expert Reply:

Thanks for all of the measurements!

Since from the center of the hub to the top of the fender is 13" you will may run in to interference issues due to the increased height of the ST175/80D13 tires being 2-1/4" taller than your 5.30-12 tires.

Since the ST175/80D13 # AM3S158 you ordered is 24" tall overall it will measure 12" from the center to the top, which based on the 13" measurement you provided will only leave you 1" clearance which is not enough. Typically you want 3" minimum clearance.

Your fender is plenty wide at 37" so what I would do is remove the fender, and reattach it to the boat trailer a few inches higher so you get the proper clearance needed. You will only need to move each one up 2".

If you would rather replace the fenders then the Plastic, Single-Axle Trailer Fender w/ Top and Side Steps - White - 13" to 15" # PF11X35W you were looking at would work perfectly as a replacement as it is designed for 13" - 15" wheels.

I included videos of the products mentioned for you to take a look at.