Can a Trailer with 12 Inch Tires and Wheels be Upgraded to 14 Inch Tires and Wheels

Updated 03/24/2014 | Published 03/23/2014

Question:

Hi, I have a HF 4x8foot trailer that cam with 12 inch tires. After doing research I realize that 1. I probably should have upgraded to get something of a bit more quality 2. With that said I am not going to get rid of this trailer, however I would like to change the size of my wheels to a 14 inch wheel. I have read horror stories about wheels welding themselves to the bearings because the tire just cannot handle high speeds with a lot of load even if that load is at or just under capacity. My question is will I have to get a new axel/suspension system in order to accomodate the bigger wheel? Thanks!

asked by: Caressa

Expert Reply:

You do not necessarily have to change the axles or suspension to go to a larger tire size. What you will need to do though is determine how much space there is from the inside tire side wall and the trailer frame and how much space is available above the tire (if the trailer has fenders that could interfere with a larger size). Then you can determine if a larger tire will even fit. If you could look at the tires you have now and tell me the size I can tell you how much larger a 14 inch would be.

I will also need to know the bolt pattern of the wheels to determine if any of the 14 inch tire and wheel combos have the same bolt pattern. I have included a link to a how-to article that will explain how to measure for bolt pattern.

Changing just the tires and wheels will not increase the trailer capacity. If you wanted to increase the trailer capacity you would have to change out the axle, tires and wheels, possibly the hubs, the suspension would have to be upgraded, potentially the coupler, and most likely the frame. In other words you would be better off just getting a different trailer!

Speed creates heat, heat is the number one enemy of tires. Especially trailer tires because they have a thicker sidewall compared to passenger vehicle tires. The tires that we carry are rated for up to 65 miles per hour. From what I understand, this is actually amongst the highest for trailer tires.

expert reply by: Michael H