Trailer tires

[Deryk the Pirate]

I fear that unless you got to a larger tire you will be pushing the recommendations. Might be able to get a 13 inch that will almost be suitable. If you find one that is close might think about filling it with nitrogen. That will help a little with heat.

At least i think that is what nitrogen does in tires

Randy

Randy, all of the 13" trailer tires I looked at are rated like 1300lbs and up...would car tires be rated for less weight?

[Wolffarmer]

The 13 inch tires on my trailer are rated 959 lbs. The 14 tires on my car is rated 1047. And the 14 inch tires on my Datsun pickup is rated 1290.

Randy

[Deryk the Pirate]

Ok, the random tire I looked at at pepboys http://www.pepboys.com/tires/details/Kumho/Solus+KR21/10012918/1975/VOLKSWAGEN/RABBITGOLF/0-4150015LSOHC/55/ is rated at 963 lbs which is about 200+ pounds above my loaded trailer weight. http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoLoadIndex.dos So Im guessing they should be ok...

[Wolffarmer]

They should be, carry a spare and run pressure at max or near to it. And looking around might find some with a bit higher load rating. I have never studied these low profile, wide profile, what ever they have now. I grew up with tires being 6.5x15 or like that then I was able to switch to metric 185x13. That is all I care about. I have been buying all my tires at one place since forever. Well, I guess my dad probably bought some there in the late 1950s. I just go in and "Hey Max, Randy, Sergio. ( who ever is there ) I need new tires" and they fix me up. Sometimes it is good to live in a small town and do business with people you grew up with.

Randy

[Deryk the Pirate]

Very true Randy, also to deal with ppl who know what their talking about lol. Most places I go shopping at I need to have studied up on the item because the employee's generally have no clue.

I will keep my eyes open tire wise... need to do something in the next 3 weekends... have a trip plannedfor the 28th out in Pa.

thanks

deryk

[High Desert]

Deryk, here are a few more sizes in 13" to look at, with load specs. They also carry a couple of 12" radials but the highest load rating was 908#, probably a litte light for your needs;

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Solus+KR21&partnum=87TR3KR21&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&tab=Specs

these are cars tires, the bias trailer tires can be searched from that page too.

[bdosborn]

I'm running Kumho trailer tires, which I guess are sold as light truck tires in other countries.I picked the Kumho because its more of a car tire than a trailer tire and each tire has a load capacity of of 2271#. My trailer weighs 2500# loaded so I bumped my safety margin up a bunch as I tend to run 75mph in the heat as well. I did a lot of web reading on trailer tire capacity after we had our blow out and came to the conclusion that you want at *least* a 20 percent safety margin in the load capacity of your tires and more is better. For you, that would be around 2040#.

[72FJ40]

I know I am joining this a bit late; trailer tires concerns have been a topic on more than one forum I frequent. After a lot of reading, my choice is: For my single axle utility trailer with 3500 lb axle, I use a good radial 14" car tire. Have done this for more than twenty years and never had a problem. Have pulled it with nearly max load a few times 400 to 800 miles one way distance; again, no problems. For 6x12 single axle Wells Cargo, I run 15", load C, radial trailer tires; it came with this spec setting and I have stayed with it. On the 18' t/a car hauler, I run 15", radial, load C, trailer tires. The side wall stress of a t/a needs a good trailer tire rather than car or truck tires. I have had one bad experience with the tires on the car hauler; having a blow out on I-30 near Mount Pleasant, TX in July with a loaded trailer is no fun----four new tires. Newest toy is a 6x12 Wells Cargo t/a; 2007 with original tires; it will get four new 15", radial, trailer tires in the near future.

For your Teardrop, my suggestion is a good quality car tire in 14 or 15" radial. What ever your bolt count and pattern, find what cars used that pattern and you can find a variety of wheels available. Just my thoughts based on a lot of years and a lot of miles with trailers; sorry to be so wordy.

Paul