Recommended Replacement Trailer Wheel/Tire in Size 5.30-12 for Highway Driving

Question:

I have a Harbor Freight heavy duty trailer with 5.30 x 12 5 lug rims. The rrims state not to exceed 55mph so wanting to replace tires and add a rim and tire for spare. Looking at AM30850 but which tire so all 3 are same/ Maybe the AM 10066 tire??

asked by: Doug

Expert Reply:

Usually wheels/rims do not carry a speed rating but trailer tires definitely do. Our trailer tires have a default speed rating of 65-mph unless we indicate otherwise in their specs. All tires and wheel/tire products in your 5.30-12 size are shown on the linked page.

Kenda wheel/tire # AM30850 that you referenced has the 5-on-4-1/2 bolt pattern and is rated to 65-mph. It has a Load Range C weight rating of 1,045-lbs maximum at its specified inflation pressure of 80-psi.

We have a Taskmaster tire # TTWSF53012C that has the same weight rating but has a speed rating of up to 81-mph. If you intend to do long-distance highway driving at higher speed limits then this item is a much better choice, and for not much more money. We do not have this pre-mounted onto a wheel, but you could have it mounted onto a wheel of your choice at a local shop.

The main reason a trailer tire fails is excess heat. This heat comes about from driving faster than the tire is rated to go, from under or over-inflation or from overloading it beyond its weight capacity.

expert reply by: Adam R