Upgrading Trailer Tire 175/80R13 from Load Range C to D Recommendation

Published 09/23/2014

Products Featured in This Question

Karrier ST175/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire with 13" White Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range D

(1575)

$149.74

Karrier KR03 ST175/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D

(2348)

$104.94

Question:

Currently have Westlake super ST175/80R13 7DER XCT load range C 6ply. Factory wt of single axle travel trailer is 2350lbs. Gross is 3000lbs. Tongue wt is 175lbs. Even though we watch what we store in the trailer during towing, I feel we are at the top end of the current tires. Trailer is aluminum lightweight Living Lite 13QBB. Trailer tows very good. Would like to upgrade to a better 13inch tire, radial, load range D and/or any other suggestions. I dont think I have too much to choose from. Appreciate your thoughts. Thanks,

asked by: Kevin

Helpful Expert Reply:

A load range C ST175/80R13 tire has a 1,360 lb rating when inflated to 50 psi. So that would give you a total tire capacity of 2,720 lbs. It sounds like your trailer will be around 3,000 lbs when totally loaded to it's max so upgrading to at least a load range D would be a great idea as this will give you 1,610 lbs of capacity at 65 psi.

For that you would want the part # AM10210.

Trailer tires should always be inflated to the max PSI rating listed for the tire. If a trailer tire is inflated to a lower air pressure than the maximum, the amount of weight that the tire can carry will be reduced. If a heavier load is put on the trailer tire than what is recommended for that air pressure, the sidewall of the tire could heat up and cause the tire to fail.

expert reply by: Jameson C