Should I Stay With 13" Wheels Or Upgrade To 14 Wheels?

Published 12/22/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Loadstar ST175/80D13 Bias Trailer Tire with 13" White Wheel - 4 on 4 - Load Range C

(2699)

$123.20

Trailer Idler Hub Assembly for 2K Axles - 13" to 15" Wheels - 5 on 4-1/2 - Pre-Greased

(1442)

$43.02

Trailer Idler Hub Assembly for 2K Axles - 13" to 15" Wheels - 5 on 4-1/2 - Pre-Greased

(1441)

$47.27

Kenda Karrier ST185/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D

(2229)

$127.02

Dexstar Steel Mini Mod Trailer Wheel - 13" x 4-1/2" Rim - 4 on 4 - Black

(3012)

$45.19

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

(1484)

$202.95

Replacement Trailer Hub Bearing - L44643

(2074)

$3.50

Replacement Trailer Hub Bearing - L44649

(2074)

$14.16

Question:

I am interested in purchasing a trailer that is for sale locally. It currently has 13inch four bolt wheels and tires. The owner has no idea what the axle rating is, but I am guessing 2500 lbs. I have a sand rail I wish to town on this trailer and it weighs 1500 lbs. Question: stay with 13inch and upgrade to a D rated tire or swap out the hubs and go to a 14inch tire? Pics attached

asked by: Tony

Expert Reply:

I will start by sating that the wheels/tires on the trailer you are looking at do look kind of undersized. So you definitely can stay with a 13" set up like the Kenda Karrier ST185/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D # AM10208 and Dexstar Steel Mini Mod Trailer Wheel - 13" x 4-1/2" Rim - 4 on 4 # AM20242, which will give you 1,660 pounds of capacity (the wheel is rated lower than the tire in this case). However, you need to have at least 3" of space from the top of the tire to the bottom of the fender, so you look to have more than enough room for a higher capacity 14" wheel.

The Kenda Karrier ST205/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire w/ 14" White Spoke Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range D # AM32161 will be rated up to 2,200 pounds (at 75 psi) and has an M speed rating (81 mph). Going with something like this will require you to swap your hubs out for something with the 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern though. There will be 2 bearing combos that will fit this size of axle, so you will need to pull a hub off before deciding which hub is correct. If you have the # L44643 bearings, you will need the # AKIHUB-545-2-LF-1K. If you have the # L44649 bearings, you will need the # AKIHUB-545-2-LF-2K.

This will be the more expensive way to go, but I also think it will be the better way to go as well. The 5 0n 4-1/2 bolt pattern will be the most common one out there and the larger tire size will lend itself to better handling while towing.