Can I Change Trailer Tire Sizes Without Changing Wheels

Question:

I have a travel trailer with ST205x75x15 C-Ply on 15x5 15x4 1/2 bolts pattern. Looking to upgrade the tires to ST225x75x15 D or E-Ply, is this upgrade advisable or should I upgrade the wheels too. Concerned about the 5inch in wheel? Is it wide enough? Trailer weight is approx. 7612. Thanks

asked by: Robert C

Expert Reply:

I'll start this off by saying that you'll want to make sure that you have sufficient clearance from your trailer frame to determine if you can upgrade in tire size from 205/75r15 to 225/75r15; there is roughly 1.2" difference between the two tires but when you take into consideration the 3" to 4" required to allow for suspension clearance it may become an issue. Additionally, you're correct in assuming that upgrading to a 225/75r15 tire would required upgrading to a wider wheel-which it will.

With all of that being said, if you determine that you have enough clearance, the Loadstar # AM3S862 is a ST225/75r15 radial Load Range D tire and wheel with a 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern that is a great package to replace your current wheels and tires. The radial tires will provide better contact with the road which ultimately leads to more even tread wear, more stability and better traction compared to bias ply tires; they'll also run cooler which helps reduce heat related blowouts.

If you wanted to keep your current wheels and just upgrade the tires, the Taskmaster Provider # TR20515D are a 205/75r15 radial tire with a Load Range D that are a high quality replacement for your current trailer tires. They do have all of the benefits mentioned above that come with a radial tire and the 2150-lbs per tire capacity and a speed rating of 81 mph. This Provider tire is a fit for your 7600-lbs trailer.

If you're wanting to go with a Load Range E tire, you'll need to get the wheel and tire separately since we do not have a combined wheel and tire package that will fit your 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern. You can use the Karrier ST225/75r15 Load Range E # AM10303 with the Dexstar Mini Mod Trailer Wheel # AM20440 for a complete wheel and tire package and have them mounted at your local tire shop. You will still be limited to the 2150-lbs per wheel capacity, because of the 15" wheel and 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern, but the tires are technically rated higher. There's not really a huge benefit in doing this but does provide you with a bit of added peace of mind when it comes to the load bearing strength of the tires.

I've linked some video reviews on these tires for you to this answer.