Can a 205/75-15 Trailer Tire Fit In Place of a 185/80-13 Trailer Tire

Updated 05/14/2014 | Published 05/13/2014

Products Featured in This Question

Dexstar Solid Center Steel Wheel - 13" x 4-1/2" Rim - 4 on 4 - White Powder Coat

(54)

$69.64

Karrier ST205/75R15 KR03 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D

(2348)

$123.60

Question:

My boat trailer currently has a 185/80/13 tire on it. They are getting pretty worn and Im in the market for new ones. I do a lot of traveling and was wanting to go up to a 15inch rim if possible. How much bigger is a 205/75/15. I do have a couple inches of room between the tire and fender.

asked by: Tyler

Expert Reply:

As far as height, a 185/80-13 tire will be about 24.4 inches tall. A 205/75-15 tire will be 27.1 inches tall. This is a difference of 2.7 inches, meaning that the larger tire size will be 1.35 inches closer to the fenders.

But you also have to worry about the extra width. A 185 has a section width of 7.2 inches. A 205 has a section width of 8.1 inches. This means that the larger size will be nearly a full inch closer to the trailer frame.

If the height and width are fine then you just need wheels that have the proper bolt pattern. I have included a link to a how-to article explaining how to determine bolt pattern.

Going to a larger tire size will not increase the capacity of the trailer. Also, the higher capacity tires could cause a stiffer ride than the standard size that was on the trailer. I have included a link to our informational article on trailer tires as well. I recommend going with radial tires such as # AM10245 if you go to the larger size. Radial tires track better and run cooler than bias ply tires.

expert reply by: Michael H