Trailer tires

[bigcountry78]

Well, my 6x12 utility trailer will finally need tires this spring. I guess 12 years on a set of tires is long enough. Right now it has ST215/75r15’s, which are the original tires. I’ve noticed that when the trailer has a decent load such as 2 atv’s or a heavier lawn mower, the tires seem to sway a bit. Would stepping up to a 225/75r15 help with that? From what I see, the 225 is maybe a half inch taller, and half inch wider? I’m wondering if the slightly wider tire would provide more stability? Pretty sure I have the clearance to step to a wider size.

 

[GXPWeasel]

Step up to a higher load range, in the same size. That's what I've always done on my trailer tires. The stiffer sidewall with the extra load range helps more than the width.

 

[nvrenuf]

I put tires on our little 2 horse trailer last year, original was 215 but I stepped up to a 225 because the weight rating was a bit higher for the same load range. No harm done as long they don’t rub.

Trailer tires SUCK. If they are reasonably priced they’re foreign junk, if they’re good quality they’re brutally expensive for something that hardly gets used.

 

[bigcountry78]

I put tires on our little 2 horse trailer last year, original was 215 but I stepped up to a 225 because the weight rating was a bit higher for the same load range. No harm done as long they don’t rub.

Trailer tires SUCK. If they are reasonably priced they’re foreign junk, if they’re good quality they’re brutally expensive for something that hardly gets used.

Yea, I don’t know why it’s so hard to get a quality trailer tire. I think the only reason mine lasted this long is because my trailer is stored inside.

 

[waterpirate]

Do not buy trailer tires that do not have a letter to designate the load range, unless it is your Cousin Ricky Bobbys bass boat. lol. We rock load range F on all our trailers.
Eric

 

[TotalyHucked]

A few years back, we started running either E or F-load truck tires on our trailers and it's worked out very well. Way fewer blowouts and they seem to last much longer and wear better. Especially for a small trailer, looking at car tires could be an option as long as they have the same or more weight rating

 

[Keith Seymore]

Subscribed.

K

 

[Grit dog]

Do not buy trailer tires that do not have a letter to designate the load range, unless it is your Cousin Ricky Bobbys bass boat. lol. We rock load range F on all our trailers.
Eric

Kinda tough to get F load tires for a 15” wheel.

 

[Grit dog]

A few years back, we started running either E or F-load truck tires on our trailers and it's worked out very well. Way fewer blowouts and they seem to last much longer and wear better. Especially for a small trailer, looking at car tires could be an option as long as they have the same or more weight rating

Same thing as above.
Anything less than a 16” wheel and you’re not going to find a heavy rated car/truck tire. (Except those obscure European 225 sumthin or other 15” Commerical tires). 14” nothing exists.

 

[Grit dog]

Well, my 6x12 utility trailer will finally need tires this spring. I guess 12 years on a set of tires is long enough. Right now it has ST215/75r15’s, which are the original tires. I’ve noticed that when the trailer has a decent load such as 2 atv’s or a heavier lawn mower, the tires seem to sway a bit. Would stepping up to a 225/75r15 help with that? From what I see, the 225 is maybe a half inch taller, and half inch wider? I’m wondering if the slightly wider tire would provide more stability? Pretty sure I have the clearance to step to a wider size.

You don’t mention load rating or pressure you’re running. But you can get 215 and 225 E load trailer tires with FAR more capacity than your trailer has.
For the last 15 years or so, I’ve been using Kenda Karrier tires on all my light duty trailers with 14-15” wheels.
Etrailer.com.
Reasonably priced and good quality.
Many road trips in the summer heat at 80+mph fairly loaded down (wake boat).
And the ones on my Sno machine trailer, I don’t replace as regularly. Last set made it 10 years stored outside before one got a tumor. They were junk by then though, understandably.

 

[bucket]

Kinda tough to get F load tires for a 15” wheel.

I've got a pair of these on my 10k enclosed trailer. Iirc, they are F-rated. Not near it right now to double check. But they were purchased just at a small town tire shop in Iowa. It's what they had in stock. They are the best trailer tires I've ever had.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Grit dog]

I've got a pair of these on my 10k enclosed trailer. Iirc, they are F-rated. Not near it right now to double check. But they were purchased just at a small town tire shop in Iowa. It's what they had in stock. They are the best trailer tires I've ever had.

You must be registered for see images attach

I stand corrected. Appears there’s a couple brands in that size that are 12 and 14pr load rated. And they’re extremely cheap for the load capacity.
Interesting. Never seen em before.

In the context of this thread though, OP probably just needs to air up his tires or buy some that he can air up more.
Probably doesn’t need tires that are rated 100% greater capacity than the trailer rating.

 

[Ricko1966]

Well, my 6x12 utility trailer will finally need tires this spring. I guess 12 years on a set of tires is long enough. Right now it has ST215/75r15’s, which are the original tires. I’ve noticed that when the trailer has a decent load such as 2 atv’s or a heavier lawn mower, the tires seem to sway a bit. Would stepping up to a 225/75r15 help with that? From what I see, the 225 is maybe a half inch taller, and half inch wider? I’m wondering if the slightly wider tire would provide more stability? Pretty sure I have the clearance to step to a wider size.

More air pressure and or higher load rating to help with the sway. Passenger car tires (any p rated tire) is going to be even worse on the sway due to softer sidewalls.

 

[Grit dog]

More air pressure and or higher load rating to help with the sway. Passenger car tires (any p rated tire) is going to be even worse on the sway due to softer sidewalls.

True story. And they don’t pull well unless you overfill them above the 35-40psi max load pressure.
Quick easy test is air them up to whatever load/pressure you’re anticipating going to and take em for a drive, loaded. They will behave similarly based on pressure.

 

[Radiohead]

I have an old Datsun truck bed converted into a trailer and using car rated tires, plus it's inherit imbalance due to construction, I found that out the hard way. Put 1200# of ¾minus in it and couldn't go over 40 without it swinging wildly.