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Should I Stay With 13" Wheels Or Upgrade To 14 Wheels?  

Question:

I am interested in purchasing a trailer that is for sale locally. It currently has 13inch four bolt wheels and tires. The owner has no idea what the axle rating is, but I am guessing 2500 lbs. I have a sand rail I wish to town on this trailer and it weighs 1500 lbs. Question: stay with 13inch and upgrade to a D rated tire or swap out the hubs and go to a 14inch tire? Pics attached

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Expert Reply:

I will start by sating that the wheels/tires on the trailer you are looking at do look kind of undersized. So you definitely can stay with a 13" set up like the Kenda Karrier ST185/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D # AM10208 and Dexstar Steel Mini Mod Trailer Wheel - 13" x 4-1/2" Rim - 4 on 4 # AM20242, which will give you 1,660 pounds of capacity (the wheel is rated lower than the tire in this case). However, you need to have at least 3" of space from the top of the tire to the bottom of the fender, so you look to have more than enough room for a higher capacity 14" wheel.

The Kenda Karrier ST205/75R14 Radial Trailer Tire w/ 14" White Spoke Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range D # AM32161 will be rated up to 2,200 pounds (at 75 psi) and has an M speed rating (81 mph). Going with something like this will require you to swap your hubs out for something with the 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern though. There will be 2 bearing combos that will fit this size of axle, so you will need to pull a hub off before deciding which hub is correct. If you have the # L44643 bearings, you will need the # AKIHUB-545-2-LF-1K. If you have the # L44649 bearings, you will need the # AKIHUB-545-2-LF-2K.

This will be the more expensive way to go, but I also think it will be the better way to go as well. The 5 0n 4-1/2 bolt pattern will be the most common one out there and the larger tire size will lend itself to better handling while towing.

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Lazer S
Trailer With 13" Wheels - A
Trailer With 13" Wheels - A
(click to enlarge)
Trailer With 13" Wheels - B
Trailer With 13" Wheels - B
(click to enlarge)
Trailer With 13" Wheels - C
Trailer With 13" Wheels - C
(click to enlarge)
Trailer With 13" Wheels - D
Trailer With 13" Wheels - D
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Miscellaneous Media

Dexstar Tires and Wheels - Wheel Only - AM20242 Review
Dexstar Tires and Wheels - Wheel Only - AM20242 Review - Video
Review of etrailer Trailer Hubs and Drums - Pre Greased Hub - AKIHUB-545-2-LF-1K
Review of etrailer Trailer Hubs and Drums - Pre Greased Hub - AKIHUB-545-2-LF-1K - Video
Review of etrailer Trailer Hubs and Drums - Pre Greased Hub - AKIHUB-545-2-LF-2K
Review of etrailer Trailer Hubs and Drums - Pre Greased Hub - AKIHUB-545-2-LF-2K - Video
Kenda Tires and Wheels - Tire with Wheel - AM32161 Review
Kenda Tires and Wheels - Tire with Wheel - AM32161 Review - Video
Review of Kenda Tires and Wheels - Tire Only - AM10208
Review of Kenda Tires and Wheels - Tire Only - AM10208 - Video
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