"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
08/29/2016 at 12:42 • Filed to: None
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"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
08/29/2016 at 12:42 • Filed to: None | 0
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My wife and I have recently become the curators of our local SCA group’s equipment trailer - basically a 5x8 U-Haul type enclosed trailer. I realize that this is a medieval re-enactment group, not a car enthusiast group, but I was a bit scared to see that the tires on this thing look rather medieval - not a good quality in a tire. Fortunately, I’ve been told that our group has money in the bank and that I should bring a replacement quote to a meeting for a vote, where it’ll likely be approved.
One side has a P205/65/15. The other side has a P195/65/15. Yes, they’re passenger car tires, not trailer tires. How big a problem is that? The issue I’m running into with my research is that 15" trailer tires seem to come in 205/75/15 at minimum. I’m concerned about rubbing the fender. The current tires seem to be handling the nowhere near maximum rated load adequately, despite being badly dry rotted. Could I get away with throwing a pair of affordable P205/65/15s on?
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 12:49 |
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You shouldn’t need anything more than a 195/65. I can’t see any reason to go with a bigger tire. In other words, there’s no reason to use the bigger tire as your index instead of a smaller tire - and for that matter, there’s not actually any reason to go with a car radial in the first place. Just buy trailer tires, broheim - unless rims are physically too wide from having come off a car, which they probably aren’t.
415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 12:56 |
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I never thought about it but there are big differences, like the sidewall etc...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech…
I’m a tire freak, as soon as they stop being rubbery and get hard I usually swap em.
HammerheadFistpunch
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 12:57 |
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It’s all about load rating, you can use passenger tires if they meet the load but they often don’t since trailers are often as heavy as cars with half the tires. But if it’s a light enough trailer...
That being said just get downsized st tires and call it good, they are cheaper
vicali
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 13:01 |
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Get some utility trailer tires, try costco, walmart, etc... the reason your seeing a lower limit of 205/75-15 is because when you ask for ‘trailer tires’ you get RV trailer tires - way overkill for your medievel needs.
please don’t drag that thing on a public road on those bombs.
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Justin Hughes
> 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
08/29/2016 at 13:03 |
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Yup, I read that article which is what got me thinking about real trailer tires. Then I started having trouble finding them in the proper size...
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Justin Hughes
> HammerheadFistpunch
08/29/2016 at 13:04 |
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Cheaper is better, and I’d rather use the right tool for the right job. I just need to find them in the proper size.
shop-teacher
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 13:06 |
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Trailer tires are typically meant to be able to spin faster than the tow vehicle’s tires, because they’re a small diameter. I’d get some actual trailer tires, they aren’t that expensive. Sometimes you can get them already mounted on new wheels for less than the price of ties and mounting locally.
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Justin Hughes
> vicali
08/29/2016 at 13:06 |
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way overkill for your medievel needs
I see what you did there!
please don’t drag that thing on a public road on those bombs.
Absolutely not. We just had to offload a bunch of stuff into our personal ramp trailer (with good tires) for an event this past weekend to avoid the twin ticking time bombs.
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Justin Hughes
> shop-teacher
08/29/2016 at 13:08 |
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I just need to figure out the six-lug bolt pattern of these wheels to see what we can find. I’d be fine with replacing the wheels, then putting a decent cheap tire on one of them to have as a spare (which we don’t have right now).
jminer
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 13:09 |
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How heavy is the trailer, and how far/fast/total miles does it get towed?
If it’s fairly light, doesn’t go far, and stays in town, just buy passenger tires in the smaller size. They’ll be dry rotted before you run out of tread. If you tow them a thousand miles a month down the interstate then buy trailer tires. Also not nearly as many trailer tires online as car tires, you’ll probably have to go to a tire shop to find what you’re after.
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shop-teacher
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 13:15 |
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Do you have a trailer shop nearby? I’ve got one around the corner from me, and they’ve always been able to answer my questions in about 3-1/2 seconds, because all they do is fix trailers and install hitches.
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Justin Hughes
> jminer
08/29/2016 at 13:25 |
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Not sure on the weight (once it’s registered I can take it through my local gravel yard’s scales to find out), but considering that I know what it carries, I know that it’s nowhere near its maximum rated weight. It’ll get towed around central MA a few weekends a year. It may see highways, but if I’m forced to I can keep my speed down. :)
ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 13:29 |
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If height is a concern, there is also a 205 width, 14" diameter st class trailer tire size that is common on boat trailers. The only real advantage st rated trailer tires offer is that they sometimes have considerably higher load ratings than their comparable passenger car or truck tire counterparts in similar sizes. They are not otherwise particularly high quality tires. If you can find a (say highway rib or highway all season class), light truck tire that has a high enough load rating in a size that will work, that would be superior choice. FYI, many a tire shop will get lazy and not balance trailer tires unless you specifically ask them to. While you’re at it, it might be a good chance to repack those wheel bearings if it hasn’t been done in awhile.
deekster_caddy
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 13:52 |
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When it comes to trailer tires, I’ve found that actual trailer tires aren’t really that good. I always use LT tires instead. Many years ago there was a run of chinese “Trailer tires” that really, really sucked and people had blowouts all over the place. My car trailer has load rating D light truck Goodyear Wranglers.
Yes, you can throw some affordable 15s on there and you’d be fine. I’d even mount them up for you if you want to make the trek out to me (north of Boston). I think you have my email add. - if not it’s my username here plus yahoo.com.
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jminer
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 13:53 |
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With that little travel you should be fine with whatever tire you put on there. Highway speeds alone aren’t a problem, it’s that extended highway can build up too much heat in the tire and eventually cause a blowout.
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deekster_caddy
> deekster_caddy
08/29/2016 at 13:55 |
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The other thing “Trailer Tires” are meant to handle better than P or LT tires is when you have a dual axle trailer and make sharp turns, and the tires flex very hard to the side. But in reality I’ve never had a problem with it. For this trailer it sounds like almost any tire would be just fine.
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deekster_caddy
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
08/29/2016 at 13:56 |
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Smaller tires will rotate faster, you want to know that the bearings are sized right for highway RPMs before you change the size too far. For a trailer that’s only used once in a while it’s probably not a big deal.
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> deekster_caddy
08/29/2016 at 14:02 |
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Right, but odds are very good that trailer *had* smaller wheels in the past and just had junkyard wheels/tires thrown on. Standard trailer hubs (which those appear to be) are good for way smaller than a 205/65 R15.
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deekster_caddy
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 14:02 |
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My last thought on trailer tires for this - if the tires look like that, somebody should repack the grease in the bearings before you try to put too many miles on it. Do you know if it has brakes?
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deekster_caddy
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
08/29/2016 at 14:04 |
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Hmm, good point. The thing that throws me off is the 6 lug pattern for the rims. That’s usually reserved for the heavier duty axles, and I would expect to see at least a 205/70 or /75-15 if not a 16" wheel. For what he’s going to do with it pretty much anything will be okay though.
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> deekster_caddy
08/29/2016 at 14:14 |
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I’m guessing the six-lugness is due to being very old or a momentary manufacturer’s fluke. Even my dad’s twin-axle that probably dates from the late ‘70s ( wheel cylinders in common with some Internationals and things about that time) has 3500lb axles that are normal five-lug with (I think) 14" wheels. I can’t imagine any good reason for a trailer as small as a 5x8 to have more than that going on.
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deekster_caddy
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
08/29/2016 at 14:20 |
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True, true. It also has wheel bolts instead of studs and nuts, so that dates it quite a bit.
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> deekster_caddy
08/29/2016 at 14:32 |
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The twin axle I mentioned has wheel bolts as well. Definitely most often seen a while ago.
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Justin Hughes
> jminer
08/29/2016 at 14:42 |
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Right. Unlike many other groups, ours doesn’t have our own camp at Pennsic, so it’s highly unlikely that our trailer would make the 10 hour each way trip to western PA from central MA and back.
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Justin Hughes
> deekster_caddy
08/29/2016 at 14:43 |
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“Somebody” equals “me” at this point, and yes - especially if the wheels are coming off anyway for new tires, it’s the perfect time to do it. No brakes, and it’s light enough (including all the equipment inside) to not need them.
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Justin Hughes
> shop-teacher
08/29/2016 at 14:48 |
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I went to my local shop at your suggestion, but unfortunately all they do is big rig work and no tires, so they weren’t too helpful. Good thought, though!
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shop-teacher
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 14:49 |
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Dang, sorry!
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deekster_caddy
> Justin Hughes
08/29/2016 at 16:51 |
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How far away is it? Would you want to haul the wheels to me in Reading? I can clean them up and make sure no leaks, and install the new tires for a very reasonable rate. I might even be able to deliver them and repack the wheel bearings with you if you aren’t comfortable with that procedure...
Plus, if this trailer is as old as I think it is, it would look cool behind my ‘73 Buick! ;)
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Justin Hughes
> deekster_caddy
08/29/2016 at 17:14 |
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We could discuss that. This isn’t my first trailer, so I can probably handle the bearings. I found these at Tire Rack:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.js…
It looks like there’s plenty of room for 205/75s, so I’m going to propose a budget for these at our next business meeting. If you can save us on the installation, even better!
Michael G.
> Justin Hughes
08/30/2016 at 09:53 |
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Load bearing aside. Passenger tires may have more trailer steer/sway. Meaning they have different plysteer residual aligning torque (prat) over a Special Trailer (ST) tire. And construction differences that will effect how it behaves under towing.
TireRack does a nice job here:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech…
I’d go with ST tires.
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Justin Hughes
> Michael G.
08/30/2016 at 09:57 |
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At this point that’s my plan. I measured the fender clearance, and I’ve got several inches with the passenger car tires on there now. There’s plenty of room to expand to a 205/75/15 ST tire. It’s not like gearing or speedometer error is an issue on a trailer. They’re even less expensive than car tires. Thanks!
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Michael G.
> Justin Hughes
08/30/2016 at 09:57 |
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{thumbsup}