Roadranger
we pull RV/utility/stock/GN/5th wheel/implement/cargo trailers of all types since before radial tires. Finally the manufactors started making better LT radial tires for off and on highway use for trailers. Bias ply trailer tires are old tech and we stopped using them years ago as the radial outperforms the bias in all aspects. Some manufactors make a ST tire that we find they are about the same performer as a bias ply tire. We don't use them on any trailer as they are only 65 mph rated. As others suggested we found the 16" Michelin XPS Rib LT "E" and the 16" B F Goodrich Commercial LT "E" LT has out performed the bias ply and ST type tires in highway/pasture/gravel roads.
.............JIM

 

i bought a 2001 24 foot enclosed trailer.

has the standard steel rims on it.
the rims look to be in good condition.

but the tires are old dry rotted bias ply tires, 15 inch.

should I buy new rims when I buy new tires?

this thread is about 4 years old, what is currently a good radial tire?

 

I just got all new E-Rated radials to put on my trailer. You can check my long thread out in the towing section about how this came to pass.
The radials pull much better than the bias plys and they also held the weight much better than the D-Rated bias plys. They only cost about $25 more too. Definitely worth it.
Do yourself a favor too. Get some covers for the tires. I used to have the dry rot problem on the side of the trailer that the sun shines on all day. Since I got the covers I have no more problems with that....

 

04ctd-
If the current tires/wheels support your weight requirements, I would not change the wheels. Going to a radial ST or LT will get you a higher weight rating too.
As mentioned above, 16" steel wheels are a good option for more weight.
Obviously, the axle weight rating should be considered.
The 7.50/16 R or 235/85/16 E seem to be the prefferred mainstream choices.

 

I upgraded to 16'' rims and BF Goodrich Commercial LT tires on my Toyhauler this past February. Bought 5 of each from Discount Tire. Great decision, in my opinion. I feel very confident now going anywhere in any temp....even at full load.





..

 

I see this every day and it never ceases to amaze me how those camper-trailer manufacturers can still get away with supplying those tremendous trailers with wimpy 3500- and 5200-pound axles and fifteen-inch rubber.

In the summer's heat, it is a constant string of travelling tourists coming into our shop with tires in shreds.

Most of those camper-trailers are way overloaded sitting empty, let alone after piling everything under the sun inside and on top of them, plus five dogs and a pot-belly pig.

No way are those under-sized fifteen-inch tires gonna be able to stand it long.

You can up the wheel size to sixteen-inchers, but you still have those pretzel-thin 5200-pound axles, complete with much too small brakes.

Then, to make matters much worse, I guess on account of most buyers/owners not being from a truck-driving background, and probably to lessen the possibility of the trailer being drug over the hood of someone's car during a turn, they put the axles almost in the middle of the trailer, putting most, if not all, of the load on the already over-taxed tires/axles.

Those wheels/axles should be just ahead of the extreme rear of the trailer, where a large portion of the weight is transferred onto the truck.

 

I ended up with 225-75-25 Load Range D radials,

freestars, i think?

i have 5 lug 3500# axles, and the dealer said he could not get 16 inch on 5 lug,

so I just got new rims & tires, and got them balanced.

and I kept the old rims & bias ply tires.

so basically, for the cost of the new rims, i got 4 spares.

it towed AWESOME with the radials on it. no sway, no worries, no white knuckles. just straight and true.