Tire Recommendation for 3500 lb Cargo Trailer on Pavement/Gravel

Question:

Every year I travel to James Bay in Canada. The round trip is 1000miles of paved road but there is a last 400 miles stretch of sharp gravel road to get there. So that makes 800 miles of continous gravel. I need the best tires for these conditions. I also make a few 3 small 500 miles trips on steep paved roads la Malbaie, qc and Saguenay,qc. This year I want to go with my 6 x 10 cargo trailer single axle 3500lbs. I need the best tires for this trailer. I do mot mind the noise or gas consumption but it is very important I have almost garanteed puncture resistant tires because that 400 miles gravel road has absolutely NO service areas or any kind of assistance whatsoever...completely off grid. The James bay workers all have 10ply wranglers on their trucks.

asked by: Monique M

Helpful Expert Reply:

It looks as if you've looked at a 175/80-13 tire, part # AM10210 so I'll assume that's the tire size used on your trailer.

The problem lies in the fact that the highest rated tire we have in that size, # AM10210 has a 1650 lb load rating per tire, or 3300 lbs per axle which wouldn't be enough capacity for a 3500 lb trailer. I'd recommend going up to a 14 inch wheel and a Load Range D wheel/tire combo in 205/75-14 like part # AM32161 which carries a 2200 lb per tire/4400 lb per axle weight rating. A radial tire will provide a smoother ride, but will also work great on the gravel. The 205/75-14 tire is mounted on a 14 x 5-1/2 inch white spoke wheel with a 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern, which is common for a 3500 lb trailer.

Due to the remote area you'll be traveling through, I'd recommend having at least one, maybe 2 spare tires. carrying a bottle or two of tire sealant like # SLM10011 would also be a good idea. You might also consider having a compressor like # BDW41000 on hand for emergencies.