Is There a Benefit to Going to a Larger Tire Size

Question:

I am looking to buy a 8.5x16 trailer. However, they seem to only come with 15” tires. Is there a benefit to upgrading to a higher ply 16 wheel and tire package?

asked by: Mike

Expert Reply:

Yes and no. Yes because if you plan on loading your trailer up to the max GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) then larger tires will last longer simply because they won't be under as much stress. With that being said, as long as you aren't exceeding the weight rating of smaller tires and you are able to remain under the speed rating then the benefit will be minimal.

Another thing to note about upgrading the tire size is that you might not have the real estate to properly do so. We recommend having about 4" of clearance between your tires and fenders to account for suspension travel, and then at least 2" of clearance from the sidewall of your tires to the trailer frame.

If you have some room to upgrade then I recommend the Provider by Taskmaster in size ST235/80R16 Radial Tire # TTWTRTM2358016E with the 16" White Spoke Wheel #AM20741 would work great. This has an overall diameter of 30.79" and section width of 9.25". The wheel has a 6 on 5-1/2" bolt pattern as well so you'll also want to make sure your trailer has this bolt pattern otherwise you'll need to upgrade the hubs as well.

expert reply by: Jon G