Dumb trailer wheel question

[Ageless]

Aspect ratio applies to radial tires. 5.30x12 is a bias ply

[rainjer]

I have 4.8 X 12 tires on my trailer. I bought one of them at Walmart and the other at a tire store. They have been on the trailer for 3-4 years. A couple monts ago I notice that the spacing between the tire and fender was different on each side. I first thought one of the springs was bad but when I measured the tire they were different hights. I have put around 6000 miles on them and never had a problem towing the trailer. I have 2 other tire mounted on rim and the spare on the trailer. They all are different sizes if you measure them.

Jeremy

[bve]

0.5 " isn't going to create too much trailer steer to make it not safe to pull in my opinion. As I worked on the farm in my school years, we always had odd ball spares on trailers, wagons and other machinery. For something that will only be used in an emergency I think you'll be okay.

Towing around the farm and on grid roads is not the same as towing on the highway. Why settle for an imperfect situation when correcting it is as simple as returning the wrong size in exchange for the right size? A doughnut spare on your car will get you by in and emergency, but it is neither ideal nor safe - thus the speed limitations placed on them.

In my opinion deal with it now while the tire is new and get a matching sized tire. Why 'settle' for 'almost' when there is no reason to?

As you can clearly read I did say "in an emergency." Also our farm machinery was driven on grid roads and we never had a problem at all. All I was thinking was, if he couldn't return it for some reason he could use it as a spare. If I was stuck on the side of a dangerous road, the last thing I would worry about would be 0.5" difference in tire height. i would be more worried about getting my family to a safe place to where the proper fix could be made.

As a person who has towed a wide range of things, from a little 4'x8' trailer to a heavy hauler with 85,000 lbs to extreme wide loads, I think I may be able to give some trailer and towing advice. I know I'm a newbie but I do have the knowledge to back up my comments and don't talk to just hear myself.

Vrodjason, you seem to be offended by my quoting you. Please don't think I am trying to attack your response - even though I quoted you. My point was and is to clarify to the OP (Alan) my opinion differs from your's and _anyone_ who is suggesting the difference is inconsequential. I agree the last thing I too would be worrying about in a dangerous situation is .05" tire size difference. I too clearly stated - "Towing around the farm and on grid roads is not the same as towing on the highway." - I did this to point out to Alan that he shouldn't consider the two equal.

I am not here to rub people the wrong way, only to learn and share knowledge and opinions. I don't question your ability to give advice I just don't happen to agree with you - it has nothing to do with you being a newbie - in fact had you not pointed it out I wouldn't have noticed. I've done my share of towing - no I haven't done 85,000 lbs or wide loads, however I still retain the right to use my judgement to disagree respectfully with you.

I don't intend to cause this thread to be locked for disagreeing with you or anyone, there is no need for that it is not in the spirit of T&TTT, and with that said I will not respond further to this thread.

I will however maintain and restate - since the tire is NEW replace it, take it back and order from the same vendor as the trailer and avoid the hassle of having to deal with it later - feel free to disagree it's only MY opinion.

[vrodjason]

bve,
You didn't rub me the wrong way and I never intended to sound angry in my reply to your post. I just like to argue. I like to call it "spirited jawing."
I'm on here to be apart of something that i have a growing passion for and I hope to make some good friends along the way. Its all water under the bridge to me. I hope we can "advise" together in the furture!

Jason

[bobhenry]

"I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it." voltaire

A rookie on my second outing 160 miles each way to a gathering I cut down a 12 inch tire.



The ill placed fender bolts cut it in two. Luckily I had had the presence of mind to remove one of the 8" tires and wheels from my HF motorcycle trailer and brought it along to act as a spare if needed. We towed well over 100 miles with one 8" and one 12". I noticed no ill handleing and the trailer towed fine. When we arrived one of the veteran campers drove me to wally world to purchase a 12" but they were out but had an 8" already mounted on rim so we changed out the remaining 12" and came home on the two 8". My point being is that in 100 miles I am sure I would have noticed if handeling had been compromised

[vrodjason]

bobhenry,
Wow, that could have become very bad very fast! Glad no major damage was done and you made it safely!

[bobhenry]

It did go bad fast just one big

BOOM !

And the best part NO JACK

Had 2 screw stabilizers so I stabilized the trailer and dug a hole under the tire to change it. Fun Fun Fun

[vrodjason]

It did go bad fast just one big

BOOM !

And the best part NO JACK

Had 2 screw stabilizers so I stabilized the trailer and dug a hole under the tire to change it. Fun Fun Fun

At least you were able to avoid an accident and no one was hurt!

[Frog]

Alan: Unless I'm missing something here, why not just return the Harbor Freight tire and wheel while it's new as suggested and order a replacement from Northern Tool. You'll have matching tires and wheels as well, and it will be easier to level the trailer if you do have to use it.

You might have to repair one of the tires on the road and want to switch the repaired tire to service as a spare. It would be better to have both road tires the same.

Just my two cents.

[Shadow Catcher]

One thing to remember is that tires have a limited life "The British Rubber Manufacturers Association (BRMA) recommended practice issued June, 2001, states "BRMA members strongly recommend that unused tyres should not be put into service if they are over six years old and that all tyres should be replaced ten years from the date of their manufacture." Environmental factors also need to be taken into account e.g. ozone, sun exposure, just sitting. The way to read date codes on your tire,
www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

[bohemian]

I have a question was the tires sized together while one tire was on the trailer with weight on it. and the other next to it without weight on it? also wouldn't the tires be slightly different if they were fill to different air pressures? Just curious. I thought I had the same problem one day. I had three identical tires. I placed the spare next to one of the tires on the trailer and thought they weren't of the same size. Then I thought about it and what I came up with is the tire on the trailer is flat on the bottom so the tire without weight on it is taller. And if the tire had less air pressure in it, it would be even lower in height.( flatter on the bottom) -Wayne