Recommended Narrower Tire for 2-Place Karavan Snowmobile Trailer

Question:

I was wondering if there was a better tire for a 2 place karavan snowmobile trailer other then the wide stocky ones that come on them. Im going to be driving cross country and thru mountains and would like to avoid blowing tire if possible.

asked by: Jeremy

Expert Reply:

My research indicates that Karavan used 205/65-10 tires on their 2 place snowmobile trailers, mounted on a wheel with a 5 lug on a 4-1/2 inch bolt circle.

You can certainly go with a taller tire, but you'll want to retain a bare minimum of 3 inches from the top of the tire to the inside of the fender or wheel well when the trailer is loaded so the tires don't rub.

For a narrower radial tire mounted on a galvanized rim with a 5 lug on 5-1/2 inch bolt pattern, I'd recommend the # AM31202 from Kenda. This tire is 2-1/2 inches narrower, but this wheel/tire combo would only raise your trailer height about 3/8 of an inch. This tire carries a D load range, which is good for 2440 lbs per axle. The tire's radial construction will provide a smoother ride.

The # AM3S160 wheel/tire you looked at could possibly work, but my fear is that it wouldn't provide enough fender clearance since that tire would be 3-1/2 inches larger in diameter than what you have now.

I've linked you to the wheel/tire combo I recommended as well as to a series of help articles about trailer tires.

expert reply by: Mike L