How to Determine if Trailer Wheels are Hub or Lug Centric

Question:

I recently purchased a 1952 Spartanette Royal trailer. I am preparing to move it from a location where it has been sitting on tires that could be 40 years old. Surprisingly, the tires hold air, however, I want to have backup tires ready on new hubs ready to replace the old tires if necessary during the move. Im paying $100/hr for towing and I do not want to waste a moment mounting tires on the existing rims that are badly rusted anyway. Ive found that the tire size needed is 225/75/15 with 6 on 5.5 hubs, however there is a choice of pilot hole sizes one at 4.5 and one 3.65. It seems like default bigger would be better, as I am assured they would not be too small, however I do not want to waste any money on buying hubs that would not center. How can I find out if hubs are hub-centric or lug-centric? What would you do in this case? Thanks for your advice!

asked by: Shannon

Expert Reply:

Simply put, if the hubs have studs that pass through the wheels, and lug nuts are used to fasten the wheel to the hub, you have a lug-centric wheel. As long as the pilot diameter of the wheel you use is larger than the portion of the hub that passes through the wheel, you will be just fine.

A hub centric wheel will use lug bolts that pass through the wheel from the outside and thread into the hub. The pilot diameter of the wheel needs to be just a bit larger than the outside diameter of the hub bore, so the hub bore can pass through the wheel. A portion of the trailer weight is carried by the hub bore, not just the wheel studs.

When you determine the nature of the lug nuts or bolts and the pilot diameter needed, let me know and I would be happy to recommend a wheel/tire combo for you.

expert reply by: Mike L