Can 175/80R13 Trailer Tire Replace 155/65R13 Tire

Question:

I am looking for a boat trailer tire this size 155/65R13. Do you carry them or can you get them. The only size in a 13 inch rim you have is a 175/80R13. I am not sure if they will fit between the wheel and the fender. Without knowing how tall they are.

asked by: Darin L

Expert Reply:

Okay, so your 155/65R13 tire is actually a passenger vehicle tire, as there aren't trailer tires made in that size. You will definitely want to switch to trailer tires as you'll get much better life and performance out of them as they are made specifically to handle the rigors of a trailer. I can give you the specs of each tire so you can take some measurements to see if you have the room to mount a 175/80R13 tire, as they are quite a bit larger.

Keep in mind that with trailer tires, the general rule of thumb is you want at least 3" of clearance from the top of the tire to your fender and at least 1" of clearance between the inside of the tire and your trailer's frame rail. That said, here are the dimensions (when fully inflated) of each tire.

- 155/65R13: 20.9" Diameter, 6.1" Wide

- 175/80R13: 24" Diameter, 6.9" Wide

If you do have the room needed to add these tires, I recommend the Karrier ST175/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire # AM10199.

Otherwise, you will need to get a smaller wheel and tire, such as the ST145R12 which is 21.3" in diameter and 5.7" wide, the Kenda KR25 ST145R12 Radial Trailer Tire with 12" Galvanized Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 # AM31202.