Selecting New Trailer Tires for Tandem Axle Travel Trailer with GVWR of 6400-lbs

Question:

What is the best tire you would recommend for a dual axle travel trailer with 14inch tires on alloy wheels, torsion flex axles, with a GVWR of 6,400 max where 600-700 is hitch weight? Thank you.

asked by: Jacques

Expert Reply:

Selection of the right trailer tires includes a couple of considerations to keep in mind.

These include the type of driving - is it mostly on the interstate? Or is it mostly on local roads or off-road? How fast do you typically drive...65-mph or as fast as the other guys? The reason these things matter is that they can guide your choice of trailer tire.

For mostly-highway travel at higher speeds radials are a better choice since they typically run cooler, flex more and provide better cornering. But if you typically do a good bit of travel on the scenic back roads and go off-road to get to your preferred campsite then a bias ply tire will be worth considering since these have stiffer sidewalls that stand up better to rough roads and heavier loads. The two linked articles on trailers tires will be useful.

All 14-inch trailer tires we offer are shown on the linked page. You have options in bias ply and radial types, and also in the various load range ratings, which is how much weight each tire can handle. There are also two tire sizes that will fit your 14-inch rims, 205/75-14 and 215/75-14. Typically the wider 215mm size will also offer a higher weight rating than the 205mm width. The size difference is about 4/10ths-inch more width for the 215mm size and also the same increase in overall diameter.

If we take your trailer GVWR of 6400-lbs and divide this total by the four tires that carry it, we see that each tire has to be rated for at least 1600-lbs. Having some safety margin requires more capacity than that, so a tire such as Taskmaster 215/75-14 radial # TTWTRTM2157514D in Load Range D would be an excellent choice. This tire is rated for 2200-lbs at its pressure of 65-psi and it carries an M speed rating, meaning it is good for up to 81-mph.

ALWAYS operate ANY trailer tire at its rated psi pressure as noted on the sidewall; within its weight capacity; and within its speed rating.

expert reply by: Adam R