Options To Gain More Tire To Frame Clearance On Trailer With ST175/80R13 Tires

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Question:

Hello, Ive got a utility trailer that has wheels on it that currently rub on the frame of my trailer. Im hoping to purchase new wheels and tires to resolve this issue while also increasing the load capacity. My current wheel pattern is 5 on 4/12. the tire size is ST175/80R13. Is there a wheel that I can purchase that will off set the tire away from the frame of my trailer? If not is there a spacer or product that can solve this issue?

asked by: Matt

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Expert Reply:

I have another option for you, but we do not have any 13" trailer wheels with offset to push the tire further from the frame, and do not recommend using any spacers as they can cause additional stress on the hubs which can wear out bearings and the tire prematurely.

There are two options to fix the rubbing issue.

Option one is replacing your wheels and tires with the Kenda Karrier S-Trail ST145/R12 Radial Tire w/ 12" White Spoke Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - LR D # AM31199DX which has the same 5 on 4-1/2" bolt pattern but is about 1-1/4" narrower than your current ST175/80R13 tires, but only have a load rating of 1250lbs and will be about 3" shorter than your current tires.

The other option is to replace your axle with a slightly longer one to give you the clearance you need. To determine the correct axle you will need to measure your current axle from hub face to hub face, and from spring center to spring center, and find the axle rating of your current axle which is located on the axle tag on the center of the axle.

For example the Dexter Trailer Axle w/ Idler Hubs - EZ-Lube - 5 on 4-1/2 Bolt Pattern - 89" Long - 3,500 lbs # 35545I-EZ-89 is a 3500lb axle that measures 89" from hub face to hub face and 74" from spring center to spring center as shown in the included diagram. To get the clearance you need I recommend an axle that is between 2-4" longer which will give you an additional 1-2" frame clearance on each side.

Keep in mind that using a higher rated axle or higher rated tires will not increase the carrying capacity of your trailer as you will be limited to the lowest rated components which would then be the frame of the trailer.

If you can tell me the dimensions and axle rating of your current axle I would be happy to make a recommendation for you.

I included videos of the products mentioned for you to take a look at.

expert reply by: Samuel C

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Answer 1

The minimum distance between the inside of a tire and the frame rail depends a lot on the setup of the trailer. But as long as the tire and the frame don't touch you would be fine. It's hard to give an exact figure as trailer setups can vary…

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Answer 2

You have already done most of the work in regards to knowing your bolt pattern and the Loadstar ST185/80D13 Bias Trailer Tire with 13" Galvanized Wheel #AM3S334 does have a 5 on 4-1/2" bolt pattern so the wheel is going to fit. Since you…

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Answer 3

For increased height and clearance on your utility trailer, you can use the Kenda Karrier ST175/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire w/ 13" White Mini Mod Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range D #AM31991. This will give you a section width of 7 inches and an…

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Answer 4

Generally speaking, larger tires can be added to a trailer as long as you have the needed wheel well and trailer frame clearance. I took a look at the specs for your 2016 Little Guy T@G Trailer and it looks like it came equipped with 175/80D13 tires…

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Answer 5

You can upgrade to larger tires but you will need larger wheels and also ensure you have the right amount of clearance. 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…

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Answer 6

Switching from a 4.80-12 size tire to an ST175/80R13 is quite a decent jump in size but it really just depends on how much room you currently have available both between the top of the tires and fender and between the side of the tire and trailer…

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Answer 7

You can certainly go with a larger wheel/tire combo, like the #AM3S050. This is a 175/80-13 tire on a white spoke wheel, which is about 3.5 inches taller and around 2 inches wider than your existing tires. Because we're talking a circular object,…

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Answer 8

I do have a recommendation for you to replace your 145R12 size tires with a tire that fits on a 13" wheel but you will need to note that you need to have extra room both in your wheel wells as well as between your tire and the frame of your…

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Answer 9

There are a couple of factors that will determine if you are able to use a larger size tire and wheel on your trailer. First you will want to make sure that your trailer hub will accept a larger size wheel. Many of the trailer hub assemblies we offer…

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Answer 10

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 11

We have ST145/R12 trailer tires with a load range E, the Kenda Karrier S-Trail #AM10140. If you wanted to go to a larger tire and wheel you could do so but you would need to ensure you have the needed clearance of about three inches from your trailer…

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Answer 12

The general recommended "sweet spot" for clearance between the side of your tire to the frame is 1-2 inches from the inside edge of the tire to the frame.

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Options To Gain More Tire To Frame Clearance On Trailer With ST175/80R13 Tires

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