Tire size Q

[ntsqd]

Those of you towing on like, plus sized trailer tires (say 31's +), do you find the tires to be bouncy or otherwise more 'active' going down the road?

I'm totally sympathetic to wanting the same size tire on everything, but it seems like that ends up with too much tire on the trailer, particularly on the smaller trailers like a TrailBlazer or a 1/4t military.

 

[Desertdude]

I am running LT 255 85 R16's on one of the M101's - SOA - with a slightly extended toungue - with the trailer fairly loaded, going down the road is smooth as silk. It sits level with the 80 series 4" lift.

I dragged it accross Death Valley over a few mnts and down a few shelf roads it did OK... but would really push the vehicle a bit, bobbing and weaving over some of the more challenging terrain. This is where the straight axle suffers.

 

[PhulesAU]

33x12.50 on mine, running 18psi. the trailer loaded weighs +/- 900 lbs. very smooth on leafs.

 

[RunninRubicon]

33x12.50x15 BFG AT on mine. I run 30psi down the highway but off-road I air -down to what ever the Jeep is. 15-20psi. I don't notice it bouching but I have a very supple suspension and air-shocks to cool that kind of action.

 

[ntsqd]

Thanks for the replies. Just seemed like such a large tire would result in the bouncy's. It's all in the "tune", as usual.....

 

[Martyn]

We tend to favor BFG or Goodyear tires as the side wall construction is a lot thicker and stiffer. Sometimes customers insist on a nationwide tire store brand and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

When it doesn't it's because the side wall is too soft and makes the trailer sway, which may be what you are referring to. The other cause for sway is not enough tongue weight. A trailer should have at least 10% of it's weight on the tongue.

 

[spressomon]

I run GY MT/R 315/75R16...same wheels and tires as my LC...on my Horizon. It runs just fine. The only issue I have is I need to get the ******** end of my LC up about an inch to make it all level and to allow better clearance for my swing out Slee tire carrier...but getting another inch out of the IFS in front to match is another story alltogether

 

[ntsqd]

Martyn,
Not so much sway as 33-12.50's on the Venturcraft I've been long term loaned seem excessively large for such a tiny trailer. Was thinking that they'd tend to behave as poorly damped balloons. I'm inclined to borrow a pair of the 33-10.5's off my yota for the trip to Oregon.

 

[FEF]

The trailer I used had 32's. If I had to do it again, I'd go with tall/skinny (something like a 33x9.5). In sand, just deflate for more surface area, if needed.

Hope this helps

 

[ntsqd]

Update on this. As it happened I didn't get around to borrowing the 33-10.50's off Patch for the trip. Towed it ~2200 miles including out onto the sand with 30 psi in the trailer's 33-12.50's. That's were they seemed to want to run on the pavement and the only issue with the sand was the Sub's 50 psi - and then only in the really chewed up stuff.
I still think it's excessive tire width for such a puny trailer. The Sub's mileage noticeably dropped, and it was more than I would have expected given the size & weight of the trailer. Plan is to talk to the owner about our changing them to 33-9.50's or maybe even 30-9.50's.

 

[CodyLX450]

I'll be trying out my 39x13 tires on a military trailer soon. If I don't report back on the ride after posting pics...

We'll know it was a terrible idea.

:REExeSquatsHL1:

 

[dizzyspots]

I was running 31x10.50's on my Trailblazer thru Baja (south of Puertecitos) on the first trip...ran 30x9.50 on the next trip...on road and off road manners seems way better...on road I use 35 psi ( very little contact patch= better mpg) and on the washboard, I dropped them to 10 psi ( the light weight of thhe trailer, even when fully loaded doesnt seem to move the sidewall)

Also in a trailing vehicles video...the trailer moved up and down a lot, but tires never left the ground Mike

 

[WFTW]

I've got 40x14.5x17 tires on my Jeep and trailer. From what I understand, the harder the compound of the tire, the better (less side wall flex).