Trailer tire size info

37chief · May 14, 2013

I have 205/65D x 14.5 on my trailer. I can find 205/85 x 14.5 12 ply. Will the 205/65 be ok with a 205/85? Thanks for any info. Stan

Janicholson · May 14, 2013

Not even close. The 85 vs 65 specification is the issue. The aspect ratio of 65 is an expression of width of tire to the height from bead to tread. They must be the same. The most critical dimension is the standing height of the installed tire. If a 34inch tall tire is matched with a 35 in tire the taller tire will carry all the load. Tire height is non specified and critical on dual applications, and on drive axles. Some off road tires are speced that way but trailer tires are not as far as I know. Even finding a good number match might have a mismatch in standing height. Sorry for the difficulty, I think it is a way for manufacturers to sell more tires to keep height matching. Most tire companies (installers) will not put tires with new tread on a 4X4 that has more than 40% of the tread worn off of the remaining tires even if they are the same model of tire. Jim

37chief · May 14, 2013

What if I put the two 85's on one side? Stan

mkirsch · May 14, 2013

The trailer would lean towards the shorter 65 tires. That's no good.

You'd be better off putting the 85's on one axle and the 65's on the other. If the springs are connected by an equalizer shackle, it should work okay.

Russ from MN · May 14, 2013

Put the taller ones on the ditch side, it will make the trailer run more level! If your trailer has a good equalizer system it shouldn't matter, just might look funny. Must be old trailer house axles.

mb58 · May 14, 2013

Go ahead and use the different sized tires. I have mixed tires on my tandem axle cattle trailer. It works fine. No problem. The world is not perfect and we don't have to strive to make it appear so.

jon f mn · May 14, 2013

Run them how ever you want. If your using 14.5" those are trailer house axles and the suspensions on those have a lot of leeway. You will see many of them on the road with a mixture of tire sizes.

504-1 · May 14, 2013

I believe you have your sizes confused 14.5 rim size should be a 7, 8, like 8-14.5 most will say lowboy on the side. That was how they were 10 years ago when we sold them. If your rim size is 14,15,16 etc forget what I said

Trailer tire size info

37chief

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Janicholson

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37chief

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mkirsch

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Russ from MN

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mb58

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jon f mn

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504-1

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