Tiny trailer tires

[63Electra]

Man i love the feedback I get on here. Thank you guys!

Here's my dilemma....
I have a 1963 20' aluminum boat. It sits on a tandem trailer with 8" wheels. The size of the boat and the clearance I have between the tire and the fender prohibits me from going to a 12 or 13 inch wheel. I thought about raising the fender but it would be very close to the boat and I would definitely have to fab a new mounting design.

They do make a 10" wheel that's 10 ply, rated at 87mph and has a weight load of 1475 lbs. These will fit but I'm still reading that they are too small from other boat owners. The ratings are awesome on the tires but need some feedback. Not sure what I could do anyway besides replacing the axles with wider ones and getting different fenders. I was also told by a tire company that larger tires would be too close together and would rub if I went larger. So I'm sitting here thinking....what do I do? Help me out. Are the 10's ok or should I rebuild my whole trailer?

 

[GA_Boater]

Instead of pics if trailer tires, how about a pic of the 8 inchers on your trailer?

How much does the rig weigh as you tow?

 

[ahicks]

Don't fret about the "expert" comments regarding small tires. If you are smart enough to keep them properly sized, inflated properly, and service the wheel bearings regularly, there's a very small danger even when using them at x-way speeds.

I have done a LOT of towing using small tires and wheels, and in the 50 years or so I've been doing that, I have yet to have any issues while on the road. I do check the tire and wheel hub temps (with my fingers) soon after leaving on a trip, and continue to do that at rest stops and while fueling. It only takes a second.

By way of transparency, I was a service manager at a large RV dealership for 20 years early in my career. Lessons learned there helped to prevent having to learn them the hard way.... -Al

 

[Texasmark]

10 plies will carry like 60# of air pressure. You are at 3000# with a single axle. How much does your combined rig weigh? Take it to a truck stop and figure 500# tongue weight, set the trailer axle on the scales and get a number and add 500#. If less than 3000 go for it.

Main problem with small tires is the velocity and since these tires are rated at 87 and with any kind of sense you aren't going to be towing your toon at that speed you'll do fine.

Bearings are of the utmost importance and you need some kind of positive greasing mechanism. If you have a simple axle with no magic lubrication boring and all that get a set of Bearing Buddies. Install and grease per the recommendations. Use water rated trailer bearing grease. Some, like Mystic have it in a green 10 oz tube. if nobody stocks it in your area, google it and buy online. Get a separate grease gun for that.

Every time you go out check the position of the piston plate. It needs to be in the mid zone so that it can expand while on the road and when you hit the ramp and the axle submerges they have room to move in with the vacuum created with the lower water temp. The volume of grease inside the Buddy is what sets the piston position.

Every time you stop while trailering, go around and put your finger on the axle and ensure that it isn't hot to the touch. Keep a tire gauge with you and keep your tire "cold pressure" at the sidewall max rating. When pulling your trailer, keep tabs on road conditions where your trailer tires run and avoid pot holes and such best you can.

 

[alldodge]

I just bought a 15 batwing finish mower which uses 20.5x8x10 or 205 something (load range E, 10 ply) and everyone sells them. They are rated for the load and the speed. Only issue I see if if you get rim and tire they have a 8 inch wide tire mounted on a 6 inch rim. It works, but not the best

 

[63Electra]

My boat as it came from the dealer is 1000# then the weight of my 90 hp outboard. Based on the ratings of the tire they are overkill for my weight still so that's good. The advice on grease and temp is appreciated for sure! I have read about 30 articles/forums and everyone says they are way too small. But I feel like those people (best of intentions) have the option to upgrade due to the trailer clearance they have. I'm not so lucky.

Pictured are 8" rims. I'm going to upgrade to the 10" rims screenshot above. You can see how those will be about as big as I can go

 

[63Electra]

Yes I dragged it home 2 blocks without tires lol. Dont judge me!

 

[63Electra]

My dad has 14" wheels and just his wheel are the size of both my tire and wheel

 

[Scott Danforth]

the 8" wheels were probably original wheels and tires. they lasted 57 years.

you also have tandem axle under the boat, the boat and motor is about 1500# add #900 for the trailer the whole thing probably weighs about 2500#

the 8" tires were fine, new 8" tires would be fine and outlast your ownership. 10" tires would be fine

not sure what the problem is.

however your perception is that bigger is better. that is simply not true.

 

[63Electra]

It's not a bigger is better mentality, if you look up tiny tires on boat trailer everyone responds with "swap them out asap" and "trust me you will be replacing them all the time". I was just asking for feed back on using them. I agree the ratings are amazing. Just didnt want to spend $400 on new tires and then have to swap them out again.

 

[GA_Boater]

It's not a bigger is better mentality, if you look up tiny tires on boat trailer everyone responds with "swap them out asap" and "trust me you will be replacing them all the time". I was just asking for feed back on using them. I agree the ratings are amazing. Just didnt want to spend $400 on new tires and then have to swap them out again.

Everybody doesn't say put larger tires on.

It depends on how far you tow and if high speeds are involved. I have thousands of miles on 8" doughnuts and only a bent axle caused any premature wear.

 

[Scott Danforth]

It's not a bigger is better mentality, if you look up tiny tires on boat trailer everyone responds with "swap them out asap" and "trust me you will be replacing them all the time". I was just asking for feed back on using them. I agree the ratings are amazing. Just didnt want to spend $400 on new tires and then have to swap them out again.

the 50's vintage fishing boat I have from my father has early 80's vintage 8" tires on them (yes, the tires are about 35 years old). the trailer has made about 15,000 miles of driving going from fishing hole to fishing hole prior to coming down here to Florida a few years ago.

the only issues to date, are the rims must be re-painted again (original 50's rims) - then again the whole trailer needs painting. however I will most likely simply buy new tires because unlike my father, I wont be using two tire spoons for an hour to change the tires to save the $12

what kills tires is lack of maintenance, exceeding the load and exceeding the speed rating. although, not so much sure about the later as I have towed the boat with 8" donuts at speeds in the mid 80's for hours.

 

[roscoe]

No reason to go to larger wheel.

And, as you have found here, not "everybody says to swap them out."

A modern 8" wheel and tire with over 1100# of capacity, you'd be able to carry that rig on only 2 tires.
You will have 4, and 4400# capacity.
Properly inflated, you'd be good to go coast to coast over a dozen times.

https://www.etrailer.com/Tires-and-Wheels/Kenda/AM3H325.html

The bigger question is concerning the hubs, spindles, and bolt pattern.

There were some weird sizes being made back in the 50's and 60's.
Bolt pattern may be different.
Spindle size different, bearings obsolete.

If you are going to have to replace them, then new axles make sense.
And then use whatever tire/wheel size you want.

 

[matt167]

I work at a tire shop that deals in a lot of trailer and commercial tires overall. 4.80 and 5.70x8 are both available in load range D, and some even go higher... However you don't need a super duper tire as far as the plies. I would recommend just a good Carlisle trailer tire. Don't buy the Hi Run, Kenda or other cheapie to save $10.. I don't think Goodyear or Michilin make tires that small anymore, but if they do buy them. Run them 55-60 MPH and they will split and weathercheck before the tread is run out

Also, replace those rims as well.for your safety and the tire technicians. Putting 50-60 PSI in one of those puts a lot of pressure on the steel. And since you drove them flat, you made the bead smaller. old steel, rusted and damaged beads will equal a bomb at some point..

 

[JimS123]

I work at a tire shop that deals in a lot of trailer and commercial tires overall. 4.80 and 5.70x8 are both available in load range D, and some even go higher... However you don't need a super duper tire as far as the plies. I would recommend just a good Carlisle trailer tire. Don't buy the Hi Run, Kenda or other cheapie to save $10.. I don't think Goodyear or Michilin make tires that small anymore, but if they do buy them. Run them 55-60 MPH and they will split and weathercheck before the tread is run out

Also, replace those rims as well.for your safety and the tire technicians. Putting 50-60 PSI in one of those puts a lot of pressure on the steel. And since you drove them flat, you made the bead smaller. old steel, rusted and damaged beads will equal a bomb at some point..

I don't work at a tire shop but I have been towing trailers for 51 years now, so my comments are based on actual experience, not what somebody told me.

As far as I'm concerned. current Kendas are the best on the market and Carlisles are prone to problems.

I simply hate the chinacrap, but some are better than others. When Goodyear starts making USA made tires (jn that size) I may change my mind.

Just look at the warning on the side of the tire. When it says not to be used on a vehicle with passengers on board, it should make you think.

 

[63Electra]

I will be most likely going with the 10" wheels I would never use the 8" wheels that are on there. The 10's that I'm looking at have a 10 ply E rating on them with a speed rating of 87 mph. I would never pull faster than 60 mph. The 10's are more of a turf tire as they are 3 times wider than the 8" donuts. They do have street tread and are high speed tires. I have basically 2 choices. 3 ply or 10 ply. The 10 ply E rating is overkill but they are only $8 more.

 

[matt167]

I don't work at a tire shop but I have been towing trailers for 51 years now, so my comments are based on actual experience, not what somebody told me.

As far as I'm concerned. current Kendas are the best on the market and Carlisles are prone to problems.

I simply hate the chinacrap, but some are better than others. When Goodyear starts making USA made tires (jn that size) I may change my mind.

Just look at the warning on the side of the tire. When it says not to be used on a vehicle with passengers on board, it should make you think.

Kenda's have come rolling into our truck/ trailer bay blown up just the same as many. The Carlisle we install seem to only go flat from mechanical failure, like fenders getting bashed in and continue driving or damaged walking beam causing havoc. They are generally replaced from age or actually treadless.

Carlisle makes several grades of trailer tires. Most associate Carlisle with the Sport trail which is garbage. I should have put that in notation. The Radial Trail HD is what my shop carries and is a very good tire. We carry those as well as the Goodyear Endurance.. However the 4.80x8/5.70x8 might only be available in the Sport Trail, not sure. I'll have to look when I get to work

We have mounted Kenda car/ truck tires for people and they have a lot of lateral runout and take quite a bit of weight. They may seem like an ok tire but not to my shops standards which is higher than the rest.. on a boat trailer, the Kenda tires are probably ok... That warning is on any ST rated tire

 

[matt167]

I will be most likely going with the 10" wheels I would never use the 8" wheels that are on there. The 10's that I'm looking at have a 10 ply E rating on them with a speed rating of 87 mph. I would never pull faster than 60 mph. The 10's are more of a turf tire as they are 3 times wider than the 8" donuts. They do have street tread and are high speed tires. I have basically 2 choices. 3 ply or 10 ply. The 10 ply E rating is overkill but they are only $8 more.

you might as well.. make sure the shop installs a high pressure valve, and run the pressure maxed. This is against what many think, but your trailer has suspension. The higher the pressure, the less rolling resistance/ heat. less likely to explode.

 

[63Electra]

Yah the manufacturer says to keep them at 90psi