How To Be Sure A New 6 On 5-1/2 Lug Wheel Will Match My Trailer

Published 10/02/2026

Question:

I have an older horse trailer with six lug steel wheels. I can send you a picture but the paint is flaking really badly I was looking at getting new tires and having the wheels powder coated but I think it might be cheaper just to buy five tires and wheels are already mounted and I’ve seen some like the Kenda tires on black wheels. I wanted to verify that these would fit I can show you a picture and get you the actual bolt pattern to make sure everything would be right. I put five of them in my cart and it looks like it would be about $880 with free shipping

asked by: Temple T

Expert Reply:

Hi Temple!

With trailer wheels, a 6 bolt wheel should be the exact same as any other 6 bolt wheel. The 6 on 5-1/5 bolt pattern has been a standard for quite a long time, but if you wanted to confirm the fitment, you could take a quick and easy measurement. All you need to do is measure from the center of one lug hole to the center of the opposing lug hole (see included image). If you get 5-1/2", you are good to go! If you get a different measurement, let me know. Honestly, you should get 5-1/2" though.

The Kenda Karrier KR53 ST225/75R15 Radial Trailer Tire with 15" Black Mod Wheel - 6 on 5-1/2 # KE72EV follows this measurement and it will be a perfect wheel/tire combo for it. I also like black wheels on trailers, so I think it will look good as well! Plus the Kenda Karrier tire is one of our most popular options as they are well made and tend to last a good long time.

What kind of riding are you typically doing? I grew up riding bikes in the mountains of Southern California and saw a lot of people out doing trails rides on horses. Always looked like they were having a good time! ^___^

expert reply by: Lazer S

Measuring 6-Bolt Pattern
(click to enlarge)

Temple T.

10/2/2026

Hey thanks for the answer. Yeah it looks like the powder coat would be 125 per wheel and then of course about 180 per wheel for the tires so look at it somewhere between 13 and $1400 to do that and that’s a lot of effort or just get five wheels arrive to my door for under 900. I don’t really ride I don’t have any horses it’s technically a horse trailer but I used it for livestock I have cattle and goats and occasionally move Goats around or taking cattle to Butcher

Lazer S.

10/2/2026

@TempleT Wow, I was not expecting you to say it would be that expensive! You would think powder coating would be less expensive these days since it's being done on basically everything now. The more you know I guess. I've always wanted to try my hand at butchery. Haven't had the chance to do it yet and would probably start with something smaller than cattle, but I do love to cook and being able to do all aspects of preparing the food is something I want to do down the road, Some day anyway. Hopefully you weren't affected by that screwworm thing! But anyway, good luck with everything and let me know if there is anything else I can help with! ^___^

Temple

10/2/2026

@LazerS yeah I was pretty surprised at the price too. This is my regular powder cutter I’ve had them do a lot of work for me because the wheels are kind of in bad shape and I think they’re gonna have to really sandblast everything I think on these five wheels the prep costs what’s driven it up. I’ve had multiple handrailings done for $300 total No so far no screwworm problems. Thanks for the concern on that. You are absolutely right it’s wonderful to be able to eat what you’ve grown knowing everything that ever went into their body and mine are pretty much grass and Hay fed and the last two months I’ve finished them off with about a 19% sweet feed that really put some muscle on

Lazer S.

10/2/2026

@Temple Sounds like some quality beef! I'm going to have to get me a steak to cook this weekend now. Especially if I can find some delicata squash to go with it! ^___^ (if you haven't had delicata squash, I highly recommend it)