Tire Question

[Photomike]

First let me say I tried doing a search for information but came up with way too many threads to check.

I am looking at new tires for my trailer. I bought new tires and rims last year (15" rims) as a package and wore them out after 1500km as the axle was bent. So the trailer is in having a new axle put on it this week. But now I need the new tires. I have trailer tires on it now (think they are 205/75R15), I want to go a little larger like a 235 but cannot find a trailer tire around here at that size (I do not do a lot of heavy off road so do not need a huge tire). I thought of using a Light Truck tire but saw on another site a number of posts saying only use a trailer tire as they are specially made, but they were talking about travel trailers so I am not sure if that is a valid thought for this type of trailer. Seeing that a lot of people on here do similar things that I do with there trailers thought that I would ask here.

The trailer only carries max 800lbs:

3 bikes on roof
generator
Inflatable Kayak
Cooler
Life Jackets
Barbecue
Small tool box
Group 27 Battery
Folding Chairs
Misc games, parts, ropes, etc.

Thanks,

 

[Paladin]

Should not be a problem at all.

Trailer tires are generally built with incredibly stiff sidewalls and high load ratings for their size. This because, most trailers use the smallest tire they can get away with for a number of reasons, so the little tires have to bear a lot of weight, and be stiff for stability (trailer sway).

We are a special case because we tend to use larger tires on lighter trailers. An LT tire should easily do the job. I recommend using an E-load rated tire to get the stiffest sidewall you can, but it's probably not necessary.

I'm using... IIRC they are 235/75/15 LT-C A/T tires on my 2000lb trailer. They laugh at the loading, but the sidewall is a little softer than I'd like.

 

[RubiconGeoff]

I tow an 800lb Lifetime Tent Trailer behind a Geo Tracker. I upgraded it to 31x10.5 All-Terrain light truck tires, load range C. I prefer the softer sidewalls because the springs on lightweight trailers are so stiff, the trailer really gets beaten up on unpaved roads. When I air down the tires on my Tracker, I also air down the tires on the trailer so everything glides smoothly over the rocks and potholes and washboards.

If you were hauling a heavy load, then I would not recommend a load range C tire. But if you're like me and you're towing a lightweight trailer over a variety of road and trail surfaces, I'd recommend a "floatation" tire.