Which is Better for Highway Use 4.80-12 or 5.30-12 Trailer TIres

Question

Question:

Was wondering if the wider 5.30x12 kenda tire would be better suited for highway driving than the 4.80x12 kendas I have now. Does width not make much difference, say like tire diameter does? I know not to exceed 65 mph on both size tires but just want to know if one would do better on the highway than the other I.e. smoother ride, less rolling resistance, heat build up. I have a 4-5 hour drive coming up pulling my 4x6 carryon trailer hauling my 450lb ATV. Should I stick with my current 4.80x12 C load tires or switch to the 5.30x12 B load tires?

asked by: Miles D

0

Expert Reply:

The 5.30-12 tires, being wider, are going to make more contact with the road. This means that the noise, and heat build up will be higher than a 4.80-12 tire but the rolling resistance will actually be less because the tire is larger diameter. The wider a tire is the more contact it makes with the road and the more contact with the road the more you are going to feel bumps as you travel.

A 4.80-12 tire will be 20.5 inches in diameter whereas a 5.30-12 tire will be 21.9 inches. You would need to make sure that the is more than 3/4 of an inch above the 4.80-12 tire to be able to use a 5.30-12.

The smaller 4.80-12 is 4.9 inches wide. The 5.30-12 is 5.6 inches wide. So you will also need to make sure there is room between the side of the existing tires and the trailer frame.

As long as you have the tires inflated to the maximum psi as indicated on the tires then staying with the 4.80-12 is perfectly fine. The load range C that you have is actually rated higher than a load range B 5.30-12 tire.

expert reply by: Michael H

0

John

6/15/2024

I have 5.3x12 load range C tires. What is the max load capcity and speed? The tire says high speed on it. Thank you?

Bud M.

6/15/2024

@John To verify your exact load capacity and speed rating I will need to see what is stamped on the tire near the size to decode the ratings. While the load capacity of the 5.30R12 Radial Trailer Tire # TT53012C is likely the same at 1,050lbs the speed rating can vary. The tires speed rating is usually given in a letter format after a 2 or 3 digit number just after the tire size.

Answer 1

Since both a ST145/R12 size tire, like the Kenda Karrier S-Trail #AM10130, and a 5.30-12 size tire, like the Kenda K353 #AM10068, fit a 12 inch wheel, a ST145/R12 size tire can replace a 5.30-12 size tire. Keep in mind that these tires do have…

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Answer 2

The two tire sizes you referenced, 4.80-12 and 5.30-12, both fit 4-inch wide rims, but they differ in their overall diameter. A 4.80-12 tire/wheel when fully inflated will have a diameter of 20-1/2-inches while the 5.30-12 size will be just under…

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Answer 3

Hey Lee, so in general the radial tire construction is preferred over the bias ply. You'll get a more stable ride and generally a little less heat build up. If you will be under the weight and speed capacity of your current tires I think…

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Answer 4

The most common tire size people go to from the 4.80-12 is the 5.30-12 like the Taskmaster 5.30R12 Radial Trailer Tire #TT53012C. This will give you a width increase of 1/2 inch and a diameter increase of 1.4 inches. This tire also has a speed rating…

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Answer 5

Hi Frederick! We do indeed have the Kenda Karrier S-Trail ST145/R12 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range E #AM10140 pre-mounted on a few wheels and I have all four of those listed below: Kenda Karrier S-Trail Radial Tire with 12" Aluminum AM01 Wheel…

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Answer 6

Yes, the Kenda Karrier S-Trail ST145/R12 Radial Trailer Tire #AM10140 referenced in your question will fit the same 12 inch wheel with a 4 inch width that your existing 4.80-12 size tires are mounted to. Just note that the ST145/R12 tire will be…

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Answer 7

That's a good question, and the answer is that your current 5.30-12 tires are not safe for traveling at highway speeds. What you likely have on your trailer now is a bias ply tire, which is not good for highway use because they are stiffer and…

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Answer 8

Load range B trailer tires are going to have a lower capacity than C load range tires. Basically that, psi rating, and the ply rating are the only differences. A higher load range tire would last a little longer than lower load ranges of the same…

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Answer 9

As long as you have the needed wheel well and trailer frame clearance, there is no reason that you couldn't go to a larger tire size from your existing 5.30-12 tires. The next size up from what you have is going to be with an ST175/80-13 size…

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Answer 10

Yes, a 5.30 x 12 tire will fit the same rim as a 4.80 x 12 tire. Both tire sizes fit on a 4 inch wide rim. There are a couple of things to consider when changing tire sizes. First, the larger 5.30 will be approximately 1.4 inches taller than the 4.80…

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Answer 11

The closest metric trailer tire size to a 4.80x12 is going to be a 145/80-12. The typical diameter of a 4.80x12 tire is 20.5 inches. On a 145/80-12, it is 21.3 inches. So the metric size will be a little over 1/4 inch taller. Make sure to measure the…

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Answer 12

Hello Mark, thanks for getting in touch. The 145/R12 tires and the 4.80-12 are similar but not exactly the same size. The 4.80-12 tires are 4.9" wide and 20.7" in diameter when fully inflated. The 145/R12 tires are going to be about…

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Which is Better for Highway Use 4.80-12 or 5.30-12 Trailer TIres

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