Can Utility Trailer go From 8 inch Trailer Tire Size to 15 inch

Updated 03/24/2026 | Published 03/22/2026

Question:

Hello, I have a question about tires. I have a small utility trailer with a 48” wide bed. It has a straight axel with a 5 bolt 4.5” pattern hub. The axel dimensions are: Hub face: 60.47” Spring center is: 47.11” The trailer comes with either 4.80-8 or 4.80-12 tires, but I want to go up to a 15” tire ST205/75/R15. I am replacing the fenders so that I’ll have enough clearance there, but would I have enough clearance from the trailer frame to the tire?

asked by: Dave A

Expert Reply:

Hey Dave, you want to have at least 1 inch of clearance between the inner sidewall of your tire and the frame of the trailer. So what you'll need to do is determine how much clearance you have now with the current size tire that you have and compare that tire's width to the size you are wanting to go with to see what you'd be left with.

Current section width you have on your current tire size is 4.6 inches and the ST205/75-15 is 8.1 inches. That is a difference of 3.5 inches which would then need to get divided by two since half of the tire width is on either side of the wheel center line. So you'd end up losing 1.75 inches of clearance between the sidewall and the frame of the vehicle. This means you'd need to currently have 2.7.5 inches between the sidewall and frame to be able to go to the size you are wanting.

If you have the clearance needed a wheel and tire like the part # KE94WV would work great as it has a 5 on 4-1/2 inch bolt pattern like would be needed as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C