Can 4.80-12 Tires Be Upgraded To ST145R12 Tires With Higher Capacity?

Question

Question:

I have a carry-on trailer with 4.80-12 tires rated at 990 lbs at 90 PSI. Could I replace them with Kenda S-Trail ST145R12 Radial Trailer Tire with 12inch Galvanized Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range D Item # AM31202 tires? I am looking for a tire with a wider tread and less tire pressure. Do you have any aluminum combos like this I want to haul water to my camp which is about three miles from the supply. The tank I have would hold about 1600 lbs of water I would also appreciate any suggestion you might have.

asked by: Art W

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

The Kenda S-Trail ST145R12 Radial Trailer Tire with 12" Galvanized Wheel # AM31202 will definitely meet your lower pressure and wider needs, but it will also be a little taller. With that said, you will want to make sure you have enough clearance to go with a larger tire. You will want to make sure you have at least 3" from the top of the tire to the bottom of the fender/wheel well and around 1.5" of space between the sidewall of the tire and side of the fender/wheel well. This one is less important than the height measurement, but you don't want things making contact either.

If you have the room for it, the # AM31202 will definitely be a great option. This has a Load Range D, which means it has a capacity of 1,220 pounds at 65 psi and an M Speed Rating (81 mph). This will be a great tire for transporting the amount of weight you need to.

If you want these same specs with an aluminum wheel, you can purchase the tire and wheel separately and then have them mounted at a local shock when they arrive. For this you would want the Kenda Karrier S-Trail ST145/R12 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D # AM10130, with the Aluminum Lynx Trailer Wheel - 12" x 4" Rim - 5 on 4-1/2 - Silver # LH45FR. This is the same S-Trail tire and a great looking aluminum wheel.

expert reply by: Lazer S

1

Answer 1

The 145/80-12 tires would be about an inch wider and an inch taller than your current 4.80-12 tires. The 1 inch height difference would raise your ride height by a half inch, and the wider tread would provide more pavement contact for greater…

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Answer 2

When mounting the Aluminum Lynx Trailer Wheel #LH45FR you'd need to use between 75 and 85 ft lbs of torque on the lug nuts.

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Answer 3

First, I do recommend verifying exactly how much clearance you have. The Kenda 4.80-12 Bias Trailer Tire with 12" Galvanized Wheel #AM30670 you are looking at is 20.7" tall while your Kenda 4.80/4.00-8 Bias Trailer Tire with 8" White…

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Answer 4

Yes, the trailer wheel and tire part #AM31202 that you referenced has an 81 mph speed rating. This has been verified.

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Answer 5

The Load Range E of the tire size 205/65-10 that you referenced has a 1,650 lb capacity when inflated to 90 psi. The only way we can safely recommend you run this tire is at it's max capacity. Otherwise the capacity would be diminished (to an…

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Answer 6

Due to it's construction, a radial tire has more flex and will allow for more ground contact which improves tractions and tread wear. It also gives the radial tire better stability and will normally run cooler which will help the tire last…

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Answer 7

I can help you determine if the Kenda S-Trail ST145R12 Radial Trailer Tire with 12" Galvanized Spoke Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range D #AM31202 will fit, though we would not have any way of knowing that off hand. Determining this is pretty easy…

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Answer 8

The Kenda Loadstar 4.80-12 Bias Trailer Tire with 12" Galvanized Wheel #AM30670 will have a load range of 990 pounds at 90 psi and will have a 65 mph speed. Bias tires will also run pretty hot at highway speeds and distances, which can and will…

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Answer 9

The Kenda trailer tire part #AM10130 that you referenced can fit all standard 12-inch trailer wheel sizes so it would work well on the 12-inch wheel you have on your Harbor Freight trailer.

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Answer 10

You would need a tire with more weight capacity. Basically you need to take the total weight of the trailer when loaded and ready to tow and divide that number by the amount of tires the trailer has and that's the minimum tire weight capacity…

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Answer 11

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 12

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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