What is the Largest Size Can I Upgrade My Trailer Tires To?

Question:

Hi, I just bought a pop-up camper and when I was towing it home, I noticed that the trailers rear is a lot lower to the ground then I would like since my trucks hitch isnt low enough. I think getting slightly bigger tires would look nicer and fill up the wheel wells a bit more and could potentially fix the issue with the rear end of trailer riding so low. So my question is, whats the largest size I can fit on to the trailer without and rubbing on the wheel wells?

asked by: Jerry K

Expert Reply:

When upgrading a tire size you always want to consider tire clearance. The actual distance between the inside of a tire and the frame rail depends a lot on the setup of the trailer. But as long as the tire and the frame don't touch you would be fine. You should have at least 2-3 inches from the sidewall to the trailer and at least 4 inches from the tread to the underside of the fender. You will need to take the measurements of the larger tires to measure and compare in order to ensure you have the proper clearance.

You will also want to be sure that whatever tires you choose are rated for the weight capacity of your trailer. For example, the Kenda 4.80-12 Bias Trailer Tire with 12" White Wheel has a wheel and load capacity of 1,250 lbs. The outer diameter of these tires when inflated are 20.7" and the section width is 4.9".

Sometimes the tire size and recommended load range will be located on the specs tag at the front driver side of the trailer. On campers it is usually on the body of the camper. The weight of the axles and trailer are printed on that tag too, this infomation should be used to ensure that your new tires and wheels can support the weight of the trailer.

If your pop-up camper has a 2,000lb axle, not all 2K hubs can handle wheels larger than 12 inches. For example # 8-259-5UC1-EZ can handle up to a 12 inch wheel, but # 8-258-5UC1-EZ can handle up to a 14 inch wheel because it has a larger wheel mounting surface.

Please ensure that the tires and wheels you choose have enough clearance and enough capacity for the camper.

As long as tire clearance and tire overload are not a factor, you should be able to upgrade your tires to a larger size.