Availability of a 5.30-12 Trailer Tire for an Older Pop-up Camper

Question:

My older, small pop-up camper currently has a 5.30-12 with 4 on 4 steel wheels. I plan to make a long tow, 1500 miles +- over the summer and want to improve my odds against tire problems. It looks like a switch to an 8 ply radial tire is the way to go, but I only see them with an aluminum wheel. Are they sold with painted steel wheels to keep the price down a little?

asked by: Dan

Expert Reply:

We do have a 5.30-12 trailer tire on a steel wheel with the 4 on 4 bolt pattern. However, it is a bias trailer tire and not a radial tire. A bias trailer tire is going to perform well for you. It is # AM30780. This tire has a weight capacity of 1,045 pounds at 80 psi.

Trailer tires should always be inflated to the maximum psi rating as indicated on the tire. In this case the tire should be inflated to 90 psi. This will extend the life of the tire and reduce heat build up which is the main cause of trailer tire failure.

Trailer tires are made with a thicker side wall so they can handle more vertical load. If they are under inflated, this can lead to rapid excessive heat build up and cause the tire to fail. I have included a link to our FAQ article on trailer tires for you to view.

A 145/R12 tire is going to be nearly 1/2 inch wider than a 5.30 tire. If you have the space for the wider tire between the inside of the tire and the trailer frame then you can use this size. You can retain your existing wheels and just use a tire, # AM10130, that you have referenced.

expert reply by: Michael H