Minimum Tire to Fender Clearance Needed for Upgrading to Larger Wheel and Tire

Question:

Im looking at increasing my tire and wheel size on my tandem 18foot landscape trailer due to multiple blowouts from overloading the tire capacity. I currently have 205/90D15s. Whats the minimum distance from the tire tread to the fender? I dont think the trailer frame being too close will come into play here...

asked by: Ryan O

Expert Reply:

Generally speaking you will want to have 3 inches from the top of your tire to the fender of your trailer to accommodate for suspension travel. Having a little more wouldn't hurt, but I wouldn't recommend any less than 3 inches.

You could go up to a 16 inch wheel and tire combo on your trailer like with the Contender part # AC16R6SMV which would work great but you'd have to have a 6 on 5-1/2 inch bolt pattern to do that's the only bolt pattern that fits both a 15 inch wheel like you have and a 16 inch that you are wanting to go to. This wheel and tire has a capacity of 3,520-lb max load at 80 psi, a speed rating of 81 mph, and an overall diameter of 30.79 inches.

expert reply by: Jameson C