Are There 14 Inch or 15 Inch Trailer Tires Less Than 8 Inches

Question:

Kyle S. I was needing a 195 tire in a 14 inches. You recommended a 175 13 inches. Why not a 185 13 inches. Wouldnt that be a better, heavyweight tire? Thanks.

asked by: Doug F

Helpful Expert Reply:

We may be able to help you out, although the reason you cannot find 14 or 15 inch tires that are smaller than a ST205/75R14 is because that is the smallest size, and they are 8 inches wide.

For a narrower tire you will need to get smaller, 13 inch wheels, either ST175/80D13 which are 6.6 inches wide and 24 inches in diameter or ST185/80D13 which are 7.2 inches wide and 24.4 inches in diameter. You also need to ensure you have the matching wheel bolt pattern and load capacity. If you are unsure of your wheel bolt pattern you can refer to the help article on how to determine wheel bolt pattern I linked for you.

If you have a 5 on 4-1/2" wheel bolt pattern, which is the most common, the best option for a ST175/80D13 tire is the Loadstar ST175/80D13 Bias Trailer Tire with 13" Galvanized Wheel # AM31242 because it is galvanized for rust protection and has a load capacity of 1,610 lbs, which is the highest available for this size wheel and tire.

The best option for a ST185/80D13 tire is the Loadstar ST185/80D13 Bias Trailer Tire with 13" Galvanized Wheel # AM3S334 which has a load capacity 1,710 lbs.

I have added links to video reviews of both tire and wheel combos for you to check out as well.

expert reply by: Kyle S

Doug F.

8/1/2019

Kyles reply was great information. I have another question. Someone else said he had trouble with bias ply heating up at highway speeds and someone else recommended radial tires because they run cooler. What is your thought on this? I dont believe I will be taking this boat farther than 2 hours drive from home Homemade trailer and older boat.

Kyle S.

8/1/2019

That is a smart question, and radial tires are definitely better if you are going to be traveling on highways because radials do run cooler. If you were just traveling locally bias would be a fine option but since you are going to be driving for an extended period of time, I do recommend radials. The only issue is that there are not as many options for 13 inch radial tires as there are for 13 inch bias tires, and I assume you will need load range D tires for a larger pontoon boat trailer. So for a 175/80R13 tire with a wheel that has a 5 on 4-1/2" bolt pattern the best option is the Karrier ST175/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire w/ 13" Aluminum Wheel # AM32001HWTB because it is an aluminum wheel which resists corrosion and it has a 1,610 lb load capacity. .

Doug F.

8/5/2019

Kyle S. I was needing a 195 tire in a 14 inches. You recommended a 175 13 inches. Why not a 185 13 inches. Wouldnt that be a better, heavyweight tire? Thanks.

Kyle S.

8/5/2019

A 185/80R13 tire and wheel would be a great choice, and in the previous follow-up I recommended the Castle Rock ST185/80R13 Radial Tire w/ 13" Jaguar Aluminum Wheel # LHACXSJ101G which is also an aluminum wheel and has a 1,710 lb capacity. This is the only ST185/80-13 radial tire and wheel, but it is designed for optimal rust resistance because it is an aluminum wheel so it is going to be perfect for your pontoon boat trailer.