Factors to Consider When Adding Larger Tires and Wheels to a Trailer

Question

Question:

I just bought a used trailer with 5.70 X 8 tires and rims on it. Can I put bigger rims and tires on the trailer? It always seems to me that these smaller tires go bad a lot more than the bigger tires do. Probably because they are not running as fast as the bigger tires do at the same speed. If I can, will it do anything to the hubs? Thanks

asked by: Rick

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

You can add larger wheels and tires to a trailer as long as you have enough room for the larger size. The main clearance issues we find when putting larger tires and wheels on a trailer is from the top of the tire to the fender and from the inside wall of the tire to the trailer wall/frame.

The next factor that you will want to consider is the bolt pattern of the wheel. If your current wheels have a 4 on 4 inch bolt pattern, then the new wheels must have a 4 on 4 inch bolt pattern as well. I have attached an FAQ article on how to determine your bolt pattern for you to check out.

Finally, you will want to keep the weight capacity in mind. Larger tires will typically have a higher weight rating. Tires with a higher weight rating will not increase the load carrying capacity of the trailer, so you will still be limited to the weight capacity of the axle. Larger wheels and tires will not have an effect on the hub as long as the bolt patterns match and you remain under the weight capacity of the axle.

If you can tell me how much clearance you have from the top of the tire to your fender, from the inside wall of the tire to the closest part of the trailer and the bolt pattern of your wheels, I would be happy to make a recommendation for you.

expert reply by: John H

1

Travis L.

6/30/2020

I have a 2012 Keystone Passport Ultralite Grand Touring which currently has st205/75R14c tires. I would like to upgrade the tire and wheel size. Would upgrading to a st225/75R15e be ok? As long as the bolt pattern matched, do you think the 1" larger wheel and tire diameter/width would fit without rubbing?

Reply

Chris R.

7/6/2020

This really comes down to how much space between the tire and fender you currently have on the trailer. Unfortunately this isn't something I can determine. We recommend having at least 4-5" of space between the top of the tire and fender to allow for suspension travel. An ST225/75R15 tire like # AM32680 will cut into your existing clearance by a little more than an inch. If you have enough space to maintain proper clearance with this change then you're good to go.

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Barry

1/21/2021

@ChrisR I am looking at upsizing a trailer 8" wheels to new 15?", that I have on am other trailer. The prospect trailer is home built, not sure of the weight capacity. The steel seems solid, no rust but it is light. I do not like small tires due to the hub speed when going 60 plus. I have seen too many go up in smoke. (not mine) There are currently now wheel fender on it. The springs are inside the axle? This has a pivoting/ tilting frame Can I safely bump up to a 15"-16" tire or should I just loo for another? The trailer is $450, negotiable. Would love to hear back from you on this.

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Jon G.

1/21/2021

@Barry That's a pretty significant change it wheel size and I really think you're going to have a hard time finding 15" tire/wheel combos that will physically fit. We recommend having at least 4" of clearance between the tire and fender for suspension travel and then at least 2" of clearance from the tire sidewall to the trailer frame. For a 15" wheel you're looking at tires with a diameter of around 27" - 28" and a width of about 8" - 9".

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See All (8) Replies to Travis L. ∨

Ty N.

7/6/2020

if the rubber of the tire is much heavier than old tires this won't compromise my hubs? Found semi trailer tires for my rims on my trailer, 17ft dual tandem axle.

Reply

Chris R.

7/9/2020

As long as the tire properly fits the wheel, you don't have to worry about any damaging effects to the hub assembly. How big of a jump in size are you looking at?

Reply

Answer 1

The biggest advantage and reason most people go with a larger trailer tire is the increased weight capacity that the larger tires offer. The larger diameter offers a negligible amount of better ride quality for the trailer since the larger the tire…

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Answer 2

If a trailer tire and wheel each have different weight capacities then the lower-rated item of the two determines the overall capacity of the combination. You can certainly run a tire with a lower or higher weight rating than the wheel its used on…

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Answer 3

Just like the tires for your trailer, the combined load capacity of your wheels should at least match the loaded weight of your trailer. Ideally though they will have a larger combined capacity than your trailer weight to provide a nice safety…

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Answer 4

You do indeed have a 12 inch rim. When you measure the diameter of the wheel, you'll need to measure the diameter of he wheel where the tire bead meets the wheel. I've provided you a cutaway diagram of a wheel showing where the measurement…

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Answer 5

Generally speaking, it is not a huge deal to upgrade one size (12" to 13") so long as you have clearance but the other thing to make note of is the surface area on the hub. If you have a 2,000 lb trailer axle then your hub is likely only…

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Answer 6

Yes, you can change trailer wheel size from 13 inch to 15 inch on the same axle if that axle isn't a 2000 lbs axle. Most 2000 lb axles are not rated to use a 15 inch tire. Almost all 3500 lb and up axles can handle 15 inch tires which is most…

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Answer 7

I may have a solution for you, but I'm not aware of a 14" trailer tire existing with these specs (Load Range E and 14 ply). The highest rated 205/75r14 tire we have is the Westlake ST205/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D #274-000012…

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Answer 8

Changing to a larger diameter radial tire from a smaller bias ply type can offer several advantages. In general radial trailer tires run cooler than bias ply tires, especially when the tire is under a load. A tire that runs cooler will last longer. A…

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Answer 9

In order to choose the correct replacement axle for a trailer you'll first want to start with the weight capacity. The weight capacity can be found on the axle tag in the center of the beam. Then, you'll need to measure the hub face (center…

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Answer 10

With a few possible exceptions (large fifth wheels that use LT or Light Truck Tires), we recommended that only trailer tires be used on trailers because they have stiffer sidewalls which do a better job dealing with the vertical load tires experience…

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Answer 11

Slightly larger wheels will not have a bearing on your trailer in terms of gas consumption or wear and tear. More important is getting the correct tire for your trailer and always keeping it filled to the max psi. For example, the Kenda Karrier…

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Answer 12

If you want to upgrade your trailer tires both in terms of load capacity and size, your best option is to go with a 14 inch tire which would require you to replace not just your tires but also your wheels. To do this, I recommend looking at an…

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