Changing From a 235/80-16 Trailer Tire to a 235/85-16 Trailer Tire

Question:

I am thinking of upgrading my horse trailer tires from 235/80/16 to 235/85/16. Will I be able to use the 235/80/16 as a spare?

asked by: Clay

Expert Reply:

For starters, a 235/85-16 tire is going to be .9" in diameter larger than a 235/80-16 tire. This means that you will need an additional .45" of clearance between the tire and fender on each side of the trailer in order for this new size to work for you. They both have a 9.3" width so there will be no change here.

The old 235/80-16 tire is not going to be good to use as a spare as there is almost an inch difference in diameter which will cause some issues on your trailer if used in conjunction with the new 235/85-16 tires. You might be okay with limping it home a few miles but anything more than that I would not recommend.

If you are looking for new 235/85-16 tires, I recommend using the Karrier Radial Trailer Tire pat # AM10501. Karrier tires are our premium tire manufacture and they come with a 2-year warranty. This tire in particular has a long range F rating (3,960 lbs) and a speed rating M (81 mph).

I have attached a review video of this tire for you as well.

expert reply by: Conner L