Any recommendations on a rim and tire size?

[Ken B.]

I'd like to change out my tires and rims on my Tractor Supply trailer for something taller and more retro looking. My tire's now are 12's with a lug pattern of 5x 4.25's. I'd like an all steel solid rim that I can paint and or add vintage hubcaps to. I'm looking to go to a 14 inch rim. What width rim should I get? I'm not looking for anything wide. I hope to be able to add a set of the way cool fiberglass fenders. Is a 14x5 rim a decent size? Coker Tire on the net has a smoothie steel rim for about 50 bucks each which don't sound too bad. The offset should be zero? When completed I really want my teardrop too look older than it really is and I think in order to do that I need to start with the rims and tires. Thanks for any help or advice. Its greatly appreciated! Ken

[brian_bp]

5x4.25" seems like an uncommon bolt pattern for trailers... is this actually 5x4.5", perhaps? The 4.25" pattern will limit the choice of wheels, but as long as you have a source I guess that doesn't matter.

The offset for most trailer axles seems to be nearly zero, or sometimes 0.5" (the Dexter D35 axle on my travel trailer uses 0.5" offset). It is possible to measure the originals, and then assume (perhaps incorrectly) that they were right. Less offset (wheels more outboard than standard) is proabably okay within reason, but of course clearance to suspension and fenders must be considered.

The rim width really depends on the tire. I would pick a proposed tire size, and see if desirable wheels are available within the requried range of rim widths for that size of tire - the rim width range should always be given in the published tire specifications. 14"x5" does sound reasonable to me.

[Bill_Storey]

Ken, on my TS no floor, I was told the bolt pattern was 5 x 4.5, and I bought a pair of 15 x 5 rims for it. A 205 or 215 should fit on them and leave 1.25 - 1.5 clearance to the frame rail. I said "should fit" because with the holidays I haven't the spare money to get the tires, so I can't be for sure.

[emiller]

15" rims, I have 14's and wish I had put 15's again. If I ever get some money and I end up keeping this trailer I will put 15's on.

[prohandyman]

When completed I really want my teardrop too look older than it really is and I think in order to do that I need to start with the rims and tires.

Ken
It has stated on this forum many times - "Old tears needs big tires"!
I dont know why but the bigger tires just look cool on small and/or older tears. So you are spot on when thinking bigger rims and tires. IMHO
The original Kits had 16" war surplus Jeep rims!

[Ken B.]

You are correct, they are 5 on 4.5's. If anyone has any more info on what they used and where they got them let me know. Thanks, Ken

[doug hodder]

Tall and narrow were what was typically used on the older trailers. Here's another option for a retro look. Artillery wheels, these are 15 x 6, 5 on 4.5", maybe older than the look you want however. PS...I think you're right...tires and wheels along with the fenders really sort of set the tone for the age of your tear...just my opinion. Doug

[Ken B.]

Hi Doug. Did you get them from Coker Tire or elsewhere? They look sweet!

[doug hodder]

Tires are from Coker...rims are from Wheel Smith in Santa Ana Ca. They come raw steel, you need to paint or powdercoat. Those were coated. Doug

[brian_bp]

Doug, your wheels are 15" x 6", but what is the tire size? On a 6" wide wheel, they might be relatively wide tires.

Since the trailer doesn't need huge tires, but wants large diameter, I would be looking for a tall and skinny tire. I remember that real (original, not Golf-based) Beetles used 15" wheels, so I did a quick search and found that they might have used 165R15 tires, which would likely be 165/78R15 or 165/82R15 in the current fuller specification schemes (the "standard" aspect ratio changed over the years).

I did another quick search for "165R15", and the first match was back to Coker Tire! They come with wide or narrower whitewalls, have lots of load capacity for a 2000 lb (loaded) trailer, and use a 4" to 5.5" or 4" to 6" wide wheel (depending on the tire model)... so 5" is a decent width.

I didn't look into the 14" tire choices, and I don't know how easy it is to find 165/78R15 tires from normal (i.e. not retro specialists like Coker) suppliers, but there are some possibilities, anyway. The Kumho PowerStar 758 might still be available in 165/80R15, for instance.

[doug hodder]

Brian...I have 205 75 R 15's on mine. For me, I was going for the appearance on the wheel and what filled out the fender for a tire. I don't think that wheel was available in anything narrower than the 6", can't remember for sure right now. I probably could have gone with 16's but decided that this was going to work for me in terms of dollars and "sense" . I had to draw the line somewhere. Doug

[brian_bp]

While a 6" wheel width seems appropriate for a 205 mm tire section width, if anyone is going with a skinny tire (such as the 165 mm), the same WheelSmith Artillery wheels do appear to come in a 15"x4.5" (although one would need to confirm with WheelSmith if that width comes in a 5x4.5" bolt pattern, and what the offset might be).