Radial tires for original M416 trailer wheels?

[Calaski8123]

So I'm trying to decide what tires to buy for my M416 trailer project.

I have decided to stay with the original wheels. They were in good condition and I had them powder coated. I measured the wheel and it's 16 inches x 5.5 inches wide.

The closest tire size is 215/85/R16. This size will fit a rim that's 5.5 inches wide. (How are people running 235/85/16 tires on these rims? Those tires need a rim at least 6.5 inches wide)

Anyway, I went to the tire shop and the guy is trying to steer me away from passenger, AT and LT tires. He says I need a trailer tire like the Hercules H901 on a trailer because it needs the tough sidewall. He says the vehicle tires will not wear well and will become a problem. I asked about off road and he said the trailer tires are 14ply, very tough and very heavy and will do well off road. Is this true or will they bounce all over?

Not much selection for trailer tires in that size. I also don't like the look of any very plain.

Then I read that an E rated LT tire is 10 ply and will perform well on the trailer and also have some ability to air down a little.

Then I read other guys go for the 8 ply regular LT or AT tires for airing down. But are the ok for pulling a trailer? How are they on the highway?

So what is the truth?

215/85/16 seems a good size with different options. The LT tire with E rating seems a good middle compromise between the extra ply toughness and ability to off road.

What are people running?
How are they off road?
On highway?
Towing a load on/off road?
How do they wear and handle?

Sorry but there's so many conflicting posts and info out there.

I'm considering these (LT, E rated):
Cooper Discoverer AT3
Kuhmo Road Venture AT51
Hankook Dynapro AT2 RF11
Arturo Trail Blade AT

I need some help from people who are actually using these tires? I'm building a camping trailer and plan to do some moderate off roading (East Coast).

Jim

 

[NatersXJ6]

Trailer tire will likely be way too stiff for what you want. Look at their load capability and realize that you are putting them on a trailer that will rarely if ever weigh over 1800-2200 lbs total. Your stuff will be shaken like pushing a grocery cart over those little domes on the sidewalk 24/7. Not good.

On my AT Chaser, haven’t weighed it, I’m running 33x10.5 E rated tires and run them at some absurdly low pressure to keep them from being too stiff. I don’t recall the exact number, but around 20 psi.

In my opinion, LT C rated tires are fine for a light trailer. The bigger advantage of the ST tire is that they don’t tend to get flat spotted as easily in long term storage.

 

[rnArmy]

You asked.

I'm running an LT235/75/15" C-rated M&S tire on my lil' trailer on 15x7" rims (they also sell the exact tire in a "P" rating, but I wanted something a little more heavy duty). Fully loaded, I believe the trailer weighs in around 1200 lbs.

Looking at the tire's sidewalls (I just went out and looked), it says I have five plies in the tread, and two plies in the sidewall (I thought that was a weird number for the tread - 5, but oh well). They are rated at 1985 lbs. at 50 PSI.

I wish I could have got them in a "D" rating, but that might have been overkill (but might make me feel better). Would still be a two-ply sidewall.

However....

How are they off road? They work just fine. I air them down to about the mid-teens so they compliment the suspension. You don't want to beat up the contents of your trailer, or the trailer itself by the tires being too stiff and causing the trailer to bounce and shake.

On highway? Again, just fine. I run them at around 25psi on the road. Lots of times if I'm overlanding and switching between pavement and off-pavement, I just keep them on the lower side and forget about it. Folks run these LT "C" rated tires on vehicles that weight two tons or more. Again; fully loaded my trailer's around 1200 lbs.

Towing a load on/off road? The only time I'm towing my trailer is when it is loaded. Again; just fine. Never had a issue, never had a flat, never lost a bead, never cut a sidewall, etc. They track straight and true.

How do they wear and handle? I've put a lot of miles on my trailer; I've wore out a set of tires or two - I think I had bent the axle one time after some previous spirited driving off-road, so the tires were wearing worse on the inside half of the tread (3500lb axle). I had them flipped on the rims so the side with more tread was now on the inside until I got home (I was running the TAT at the time). Then once home I got a new axle (Dexter this time 3500lb axle) with a little bit of a camber to it (previous axle was straight), and new tires (same exact ones as before so the spare still matches - LT 235/75/15). We'll see how they wear.

At one time I was running a set of Goodyear Wrangler Radials P235/75/15 on the trailer (first picture). Never had an issue - I swapped them out for the LT 235/75/15 (second picture) just to have a little heavier duty tire.





My opinion:

You don't need a really heavy-duty tire for these little military trailers. Yeah; if you were putting tires on a car hauler or something with dual axles and such you'd want a "true" trailer tire with double digit plies.

I think your desired size of 215/85/16" is a fine choice for going skinny. I think 6 - 8 plies would be more than plenty. Ten plies ("E" rating) would be a bit stiff, but just don't air them up too high and you will be fine. 85 series tires seem to run a lot of plies as I recall, so finding a non "E" rated 85 series tire might take a little work (will probably be lucky just to find one in a "D" rating, but I haven't looked).

(328) TJ and trailer - YouTube

I'm running LT285/75/16" tires (33") on my half-ton truck and Jeep TJ (same size but different brand tires). Both are running "E" rated tires. Definitely overkill on the Jeep (wish they sold these in a "D" rating), and slightly overkill on the truck too (again, wish they sold this other tire in a "D" rating). Both vehicles used to run ******** Cepek FC-II 285/75/16 tires, and they were a "D" rated tires. A sweet spot between "C" and "E" rated tires for heavier vehicles that went off-road. "E" rated tires for your (or mine for that matter) trailer - definitely way more than you would need, and in some ways a hinderance unless you air them down even on the highway.

 

[Calaski8123]

I ended up with Falken Wildpeak AT3W s. They're getting mounted tomorrow. I got a great deal on them, $215 installed.

 

[rnArmy]

I ended up with Falken Wildpeak AT3W s. They're getting mounted tomorrow. I got a great deal on them, $215 installed.

What are they rated.

 

[Calaski8123]

E. That's all the LT's I could find in that size come in. Tire guy (different one) said they'll be good. 30 psi empty and 50 loaded. Supposed to have very good sidewalls for rocks