Trailer tire question

Status
Not open for further replies.

Cvivor

.
Oct 4, 2010
6
Macgregor 26X Boston
Replacing my st215/75/14 tires with st205/75/14 because of price. Norhtland Tool has a great price mounted. I tow my 26x twice a year, spring launch and fall haul. I travel a total of maybe 100 miles a year. My tire salesman tells me NO, I need to replace with the same size mounted, others tell me I should be fine because I am replacing both.
What do you think?
 
Jul 7, 2004
8,480
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
I can't see why it would matter as long as the load rating is the same.

I would recommend covering them to prevent rot from UV. I have to replace my spare due to rot. I'm relocating the new one to a sidemount carrier instead of the original bottom mount. so i can cover it too.

Don't use petroleum based products like ArmorAll on them.
 
May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
you want to reduce the width of the tire, but the same diameter over all?

I would want to know the load rating of the 205 tire. probably less thus the dealer's resistance.

I know if you go to a taller tire (say 215x 80) the tires might rub the fender.

if you tow with the boat unloaded, (removing all the extras), you might get away with it.

But this is not the place I'd suggest you save a few dollars. (especially if its a single axle trailer)
 
Dec 8, 2007
303
-mac 26M -26M tucson-san carlos mx
no proplem as long as total weight of boat and trailer do not excede tire load rating.
 
Jun 4, 2006
133
Macgregor 26X Gray Hawk, KY
Check Load Rating

I just have replaced my ST215/75R14 Carlisle Load Range C with Carlisle ST 205/75R15 Load Range D tires and rims. The tire has a smaller foot print but has the same diameter and will carry an additional 250 or so pounds.

I tow a bunch, probably 6 to 8 thousand miles a year. You should be fine for what you tow.

Ken
 

Cvivor

.
Oct 4, 2010
6
Macgregor 26X Boston
There is a 100lb less with the 205/14. It is rated at 1760, 215/14 is 1860.
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
No, you missed the size change. A ST215/75R14 Load Range C is 1870 lbs.
A ST205/75R15 Load Range D is 2150 lbs but less than 1/2" larger diameter.

http://www.carlisletire.com/products/trailer/radial_trail/index.html
Yep I figured that the 205/15 wheel/tire is only 3/16 of an inch larger in dia. than the 215/14 wheel/tire so should in theory only be 3/32 of an inch closer to the fender,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
Sep 5, 2007
689
MacGregor 26X Rochester
Just a me-too post, I suppose, but my first inclination is to go a bit higher in load capacity for that trailer. There was a poll here or on another Mac forum requesting the loaded weight of the 26X on it's trailer, and those under 4000 lb weren't under by much, with some being a fair bit over. The axle is 3500 lb (with the appropriate bearings), and IMO at least, it's too light for the job, as were the original tires. The previous owners of mine added an axle, so mine loaf at about 1000 lb per tire (1760 rated) - also good for the bearings.

For infrequent short trips you're not tempting fate that much, but for the sake of a few bucks, I'd go with a bit higher capacity tire, and certainly not less than same load rating as what's on there now. Too many stories of folks who can't keep tires on their trailer.

I should mention that the tires on the original axle on my trailer date back to the year the trailer was made (1998), and they're Carlisle ST205/75D-14 load range C (1760 lb at 50 psi). I'm guessing, from the date code on the newer tires on the added axle that the originals spent 5 years as the only tires under that trailer. I just replaced them with new tires on galvanized wheels, and will replace the other two next spring when the budget resets, as I don't trust tires that old. So I suppose, marginal or not, the 205's with load range C would work for you. I just don't like loading tires right to the max as a matter of routine when it's cheap enough to add some safety margin.

In other words, I have no idea what I'd do if I was you. :neutral:
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
.....In other words, I have no idea what I'd do if I was you. :neutral:
The answer....

I just have replaced my ST215/75R14 Carlisle Load Range C with Carlisle ST 205/75R15 Load Range D tires and rims. The tire has a smaller foot print but has the same diameter and will carry an additional 250 or so pounds.

I tow a bunch, probably 6 to 8 thousand miles a year. You should be fine for what you tow.

Ken
Of course for Ken I'd have to say that if he tows 6-8 thousand miles a year that a second axle would be a good upgrade and would add to safety a lot ;),

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
Jul 7, 2004
8,480
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
Slightly off topic: what type of jack do you all carry in your tow vehicles? Good tires and spares are useless if you can't raise the axle.
 
May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
if you go with th 15" rim you need to actually buy a wheel, so there goes the savings.

-my expediton has a big scissors jack and thats what I'd use...
 
Sep 5, 2007
689
MacGregor 26X Rochester
I have a 12 ton low-profile bottle jack I got cheap at Harbor Freight for another purpose, and it will work fine for tire changing on the trailer, so that's what I'll carry. But if I had to buy a jack just for that purpose, I'd probably just get a $25 scissor jack. They go pretty low (like 4"), so you can get under the axle under any circumstances other than a lost hub, but even then, you can jack the frame in stages until there's enough room under the axle for the jack.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00926108000P?mv=rr

That, or one of those super cheap tiny floor jack wanna-be's that come in a plastic case that's easy to store and transport. They go pretty low, so getting under the axle shouldn't be a problem.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00950113000P?prdNo=11&blockNo=11&blockType=G11#reviewsWrap

I don't know what the "2 ton" rating really means, though. You'd need something in the neighborhood of 1 ton or so at the jack to lift the wheel, possibly a bit more with the trailer leaning.

But in the back of my mind, I can't help think that simpler is better, so the scissor jack is probably best for this sort of work. Won't creep, either.

But I'm sure my 12 ton will handle it. :D
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Slightly off topic: what type of jack do you all carry in your tow vehicles? Good tires and spares are useless if you can't raise the axle.
We have one like this...


...with us. You should also have a piece of plywood in case you are jacking on gravel or dirt so that the jack can move some as it goes up. I need to check to see if I still have the plywood in the vehicle or not :redface:,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
Status
Not open for further replies.