Tire Size

[toolbox]

Well, I know that it is personal choice on what size tire/ rim combo to run, but I would like some advice.

Could a guy notice any difference in ride between these two options -

1. 15"x6" rim with 205/75/R15 tire

or

2. 15"x7" rim with a 225/70/R15 tire

Any suggestions? I am going to be running a 9 inch wide steel fender.

Dave

[norm perkiss]

Dave,
I'll jump in. I have 14x6" wheels. My wheel/tire combo barely tucks under the fenders. The tire side wall comes fairly close to the TD body and the rim is only 1/2" away from the idler arm. My fenders are aluminum tread at 10.5" wide.
Just my 2¢ but the 15x7" wheel/tire combintion may be too wide to fit under a 9" fender. Of course I could be completely wrong...
Norm
[img]http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=3270[img][/img]

[Gerdo]

I have 15x6 and 205/70R15 inside a 9" fender. I have about an inch inside and even the sidewall is inside the fender.

[madjack]

Dave,
I'll jump in. I have 14x6" wheels. My wheel/tire combo barely tucks under the fenders. The tire side wall comes fairly close to the TD body and the rim is only 1/2" away from the idler arm. My fenders are aluminum tread at 10.5" wide.
Just my 2¢ but the 15x7" wheel/tire combintion may be too wide to fit under a 9" fender. Of course I could be completely wrong...
Norm

...double ditto's on this one and...

Gerdo

I have 15x6 and 205/70R15 inside a 9" fender. I have about an inch inside and even the sidewall is inside the fender.

double diitto's on this one also.....

madjack

[SteveH]

Toolbox,

The narrower 15 X 6 wheel with the narrower 75 series tire will ride better. The wider wheel and tire will handle cornering better.

[toolbox]

Good call on the 6 inch wide rim, I was figuring that would fit better in the 9 inch fender.

Speaking of 15"x6" rims, do anyone know of an online source for this size rim? I am specifically looking for a rim that is chrome and a "mods" style.

I have had no luck in finding this size rim in anything other than white steel.


Thanks much - Dave

[madjack]

....40 bucks at tjtrailers

also any redneck trailer supply distributor will have them or try southwest wheel

madjack

[asianflava]

225 seems wide to me.

[bledsoe3]

Toolbox, I've got 15 X 7 chrome mods on mine. I think the question should be about the offset. I have 3+ inches of clearance from the trailer body. My problem now is finding a fender wide enough to cover the tire. If my wheel was offset and closer to the body, finding a fender would not be a problem. You can see the clearance here. http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=2872 and a view of the wheels here. http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=1992

[angib]

The wider wheel and tire will handle cornering better.

Until it rains. Then you've got a wide tire carrying, at the very most, about one quarter of its design load. Then the word 'aquaplane' suddenly has a meaning and narrow 13" tires start to look real good......

Andrew

[cracker39]

Andrew's comment brings to mind my putting wide 14" tires on Corvette rallye rims on a 63 VW bug. Hydroplaning is something I know about...WOW, did I have some scary rides in the rain.

As for Dave's tire/wheel choices, I will leave that to you who have the experience in that area. I'm just sticking with the same size tires/wheels I have on my boat trailer, the standard 13" white spoke wheels with ST175/80 tires. I've had no problems towing it in rain or dry conditions, and they will allow me to keep the fenders I'll build as narrow as possible on an already 5' wide chassis.

[Gaston]

I am thinking a 14 or 15x6 with a 195x50 tire on a chrome american mag. kinda looks like the stock wheel on my cruiser

[Chip]

toolbox,, ya got a few choices of older model autos that had a 4 x 4 bolt pattern,, Chevy Vegas and a few older small general motors had such a wheel,, other than running into a set in the junk yard, ya might have to change out the hubs to a 5 x 4-1/2 or 5x4-3/4. Ebay had some alum racing rims that were 4x4 bolt and either 14 or 15" size but how well they would hold up to street use is anyones guess. good luck on your hunt..

chipper

p/s just found my list,, vega and gm 80 and older,, skylark, starfire, astro and sunbird

[Steve_Cox]

The wider wheel and tire will handle cornering better.

Until it rains. Then you've got a wide tire carrying, at the very most, about one quarter of its design load. Then the word 'aquaplane' suddenly has a meaning and narrow 13" tires start to look real good......

Andrew

Andrew,

You have mentioned this enough times now that every time I drive in the rain I think of your words, and I haven't even finished my TD yet.
I know that in the future when I'm pulling my little trailer with the big fat tires I'll be terribly paranoid. I never learned how to hydroplane properly, seems it always involved spinning around and lots of screaming....
Regards,
Steve

[kartvines]

Being I am trying to restore my Scad-A-Bout I wanted to keep the same size tires, the only thing I did was get a slightly beefier tire so I went with a 5.30 X 12 they are the original 4 bolt.

Mike