Hey guys,
I have a 12,000 lb rated equipment trailer and the tires are about shot. I would like to upgrade the tires from the stock ones. I think that there 78 Hr 15s or something like that. There only rated at 2500 lbs each. I have blown a couple tires due to overloading. I am looking for a heavier trailer but for now I would like to go with a better (higher rated) tire.
Thanks,
Topper

 

I just went through the tire shopping process for my Toyhauler. It came with OEM cheapo 15'' tires and they were 6 years old. I bit the bullet and payed for some 16'' rims, "E" rated BFG Commercial LT tires. I bought mine from Discount Tire........5 wheels, 5 tires, mounted/balanced, out the door for $1022.19. That may be more than you want to spend. But based on comments here in this thread..............
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=229236


....I think I made the right decision. Your tire choices are alot better on a 16'' rim. Best of luck in your search.

..

 

Thanks TEX,
I'll take a look at 16's.
Topper

 

If you can afford it, do exactly what TxCTD did. Lots of people have gone that route & been very happy.

 

I have a triple axle 18,000 GVW box trailer that needed tires. I put a set of six H2 wheels on it with the stock Dodge 265/70/17 E tires. I had five tires just sitting there from my H2 conversion on the truck and five older style H2 wheels. Just got one more of each and the correct nuts for a Chevy truck and I was in business.

By now you guys know I'm totally on board with the H2 thing. And they work great on trailers too.

 

Topper.

I recently put some new shoes on my 12K flatbed GN, I went to a tire shop that services a lot of horse trailers and they had some nice tires in E ratings in stock. I cannot remember the brand name off the top, but places that sell the large horse trailers could direct you to the right tire shop with good tires for hauling heavy. Some of those horse trailers far exceed my 12K GN and all of them run E rated tires.


If you have an 8-bolt trailer axle, you could get some take-offs from someone changing wheels/tires in the classifieds, I believe the bolt pattern is the same??? Have never checked it to see for sure, but if it is, that's a good place for rims/tires and they would be 17"ers. Should fit in the trailers wheel wells.


CD

 

I just found a 225/75-15 load range E for my trailer. Previously I had only been able to find range D. The trailer came with C range 205/75-15 and they just didn't last. "D" were a little better.

BOB

 

Texas CTD is spot on in his suggestion. I would advise anyone with the weight of your trailer - even less weight - to dispose of the 15's and go with 16" rims and E rated tires.

A Hitchhiker I once owned came with 225 or 235/75/16 Goodyear load range D HD tires. Blew 2 out in a month.

Replaced all of them (even the spare) with exactly what Texas CTD used - BF Goodrich E rated Commercials, LT245/75/16". Problem solved. And a blowout with these rigs can be a major problem!!

One other note: Inspect trailer tires OFTEN. Tires with significant checks or those showing unusual wear pattern should find the bottom of a nearby trash bin ASAP!! Generally speaking, it has been my experience that a top quality trailer tire of proper size and given reasonable care is good for 5 years - sometimes a little less. I have a rule of thumb - a 5 year old tire will not hit the ground under a TT/5er of mine. Tires just aren't that expensive.

Just my opinion. I realize opinions may vary.

 

Going to 16" rims will open up a lot of tire options for you.

I'm about a week away from a set of new 16" rims and tires for my fifth wheel. I have some 225/75/15 Chinese may-pops on it now.

I don't need any more capacity than the 2540lbs they each carry,but finding a ST trailer tire made anywhere other than China is tough.

Maxxis has a good reputation,but made in Thailand. Denman is another with a good reputation and they're made in Mexico.

I'd take either the Maxxis or Denman over anything China made,but thats only if the 16" option didn't exist.

I'm getting the TO2 wheels from here

http://www.gearworksmfg.com/trailer/trailerwheels.html

I'm likely going with Toyos Open Country H/T for tires. The BFG commercial T/A is an option as well.

 

Don't know if this is true, but I was told NOT to use truck tires on a trailer. I have 8-hole rims on my 5th wheel and thought of using a set of Dodge rims so it matches my truck. But I was advised "truck" tires grip too much on turns and can cause excessive wear, and "Trailer" tires grip less on turns so there's not so much stress on the trailer.

 

Light truck tires are fine. Many of the high end (heavy) travel trailers and fifth wheels come with LT tires as an option. Tandem and especially triple axle trailers tend to scrub the tires on turns,but if you rotate them they'll wear evenly.

Trailer wheels need to have 0 offset. Otherwise they put too much strain on the bearings.

 

FWIW.......The BFG Commercial LT Tires are made in the good ole USA.

Another reason I went that route instead of another set of 15'' Chinese "May-Pops".

..

 

38' GN 14k and I load it at 12500. Use Geotrack 16" 10 ply, I get them for 95 buck in McKinnley Tx or ex 148 I-70 at the Shell TS. The shell also has the hanook G rated tire, 150k+ mileage. Geotrack are like 3400@80psi. I get maybe 70k out of them, depends how heavy I haul, road and heat.

 

Sorry, ex 148 is in Mo on I70

 

I personally prefer the LT tires. However, a NM DOT inspector told me I must run trailer rated tires......so I went with Tow Master from Discount Tire. This was on my 20' utility trailer.