Do Bias Ply Trailer Tires have Stiffer Sidewall than Radial Tires

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Question:

I have a few general questions regarding boat trailer tires Currently I have a set of 205/75R14 tires with a load range C, 6 Ply, tubeless, max load of 1760 lbs @ 50 PSI Cold, speed rating M. They are Rainier brand which came pre-mounted to a 14x5.5 rim which says max 2200 lbs on it but no brand or anything I am able to find. Max PSI of the rim is not listed anywhere. I bought these last year to replace the bias ply tires of the same rating which were on it when I bought it. Boat + Engine weighs approximately 2530 lbs. 20 foot Single axle steel trailer rated to carry 3500 lbs I assume is about 675 lbs so without any gear its about 3200 lb total on the tires but so far no issues with several long trips. Im thinking the weight on the tongue takes some of that load off the tires. 1 - Even at 50 PSI the tubeless radial tires appear to be a little flat when parked, like the bottom is bulging out a bit similar to if your car tire pressure was low, this was not the case with the bias tires that were on it 205/75D14 C, BSW. Is this cause for concern? 2 - Starting at 50 PSI cold if I jump on the highway I notice the pressure typically increases about 7-8 PSI and holds without increasing further and they come back down fairly quickly after parking. Is this pretty normal? If the max is 50 PSI cold what would be the approximate upper max PSI? I have a tire pressure monitor so I can watch the PSI and tire temp in real time. Tires appear much more normal less flat at this increased pressure when I reach my destination. 3 - In the interest of safety I am considering upgrading from these load C radial tires to load D radial tires of the same size but I see the max PSI cold is usually 65 for these size of tires. Is there a concern about the wheel or valve stem at that pressure keeping in mind if they are set at 65 PSI cold they will most likely head up and increase in pressure a few PSI? Id rather not change the rims if possible. Thank you very much!

asked by: Ben W

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Expert Reply:

So radial tires have a bit more flex in their sidewalls when compared to bias ply tire so I believe that's what you are seeing. With trailer tires you have to go with the max psi listed when cold and then allow it to fluctuate up and down with temperature without letting air out. As long as you are also under the weight capacity of your tire you are totally fine!

expert reply by: Jameson C

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Answer 1

As long as the tire you end up using has the capacity for the weight of the trailer when it's loaded you are totally fine. Size difference would not be a problem. So if your trailer will weigh up to 2,923 lbs a Load Range D trailer tire in the…

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Answer 2

The difference between an load range C and load range D tire in the same size is the capacity and psi rating. The two tires will still have the same dimensions and fit on the same wheel. The D rated tire has a higher capacity. For a ST175/80D13 like…

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Answer 3

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 4

Load range B trailer tires are going to have a lower capacity than C load range tires. Basically that, psi rating, and the ply rating are the only differences. A higher load range tire would last a little longer than lower load ranges of the same…

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Answer 5

The 5.30-12 tires, being wider, are going to make more contact with the road. This means that the noise, and heat build up will be higher than a 4.80-12 tire but the rolling resistance will actually be less because the tire is larger diameter. The…

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Answer 6

Since both a ST145/R12 size tire, like the Kenda Karrier S-Trail #AM10130, and a 5.30-12 size tire, like the Kenda K353 #AM10068, fit a 12 inch wheel, a ST145/R12 size tire can replace a 5.30-12 size tire. Keep in mind that these tires do have…

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Answer 7

Hey Jim! The Taskmaster and Westlake tires, like the Taskmaster ST235/75R15 Off-Road #TA45RR and Westlake ST235/75R15 Off-Road #WST54FR you were looking at, are made in China. A lot of people tend to shy away from trailer tires made in China but…

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Answer 8

The 12 inch tires that we carry are rated for 65 miles per hour. Any faster than that for extended periods and the excessive heat build up will cause tire failure. To get a tire with a higher speed rating you would have to go up in size. That also…

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Answer 9

Even though I cannot comment specifically on the grease you used because I am not familiar with it, I can tell you the best grease for trailer bearings is a a grease with a rating of GC-LB, which just means it is made to withstand very high…

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Answer 10

I have attached a chart you can check out that describes the torque needed per wheel size, wheel stud size and material. For an 8-inch wheel with a 1/2-inch wheel stud the torque is 75 to 86 ft-lbs. For a 15 inch steel wheel with 1/2 inch wheel studs…

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Answer 11

You do indeed have a 12 inch rim. When you measure the diameter of the wheel, you'll need to measure the diameter of he wheel where the tire bead meets the wheel. I've provided you a cutaway diagram of a wheel showing where the measurement…

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Answer 12

To determine the size of the hub assembly you need to purchase you have to determine which bearings are in the old assembly. If the old assembly has L44649 inner bearings, you would use the hub you chose #8-258-5UC1. If the inner bearings are marked…

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Do Bias Ply Trailer Tires have Stiffer Sidewall than Radial Tires

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