Posted 2014-03-28 7:34 PM (#158299) Subject: Different Sized Tires
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
Have a bad tire on my trailer that need replaced, tires are currently 80's. I have an 85 that I can replace the bad tire with...will this be a problem?
Posted 2014-03-28 10:35 PM (#158302 - in reply to #158299) Subject: RE: Different Sized Tires
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Its not a good idea to mix tire sizes. It's best to replace both tires on the same axle, if you can't size match one or the other. If you have to, use comparable tires on each axle, with the differences being between the axles. Use the single odd sized one for a spare.
Posted 2014-03-28 11:57 PM (#158303 - in reply to #158302) Subject: RE: Different Sized Tires
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by gard on 2014-03-28 10:35 PM
Its not a good idea to mix tire sizes. It's best to replace both tires on the same axle, if you can't size match one or the other. If you have to, use comparable tires on each axle, with the differences being between the axles. Use the single odd sized one for a spare.
Posted 2014-03-29 8:23 AM (#158307 - in reply to #158299) Subject: RE: Different Sized Tires
Elite Veteran
Posts: 821 Location: Tenn/Ala.
I respectfully disagree. On a torsion axle suspension system like most of the readers here will have, having an axle with taller tires than the other, means that the taller tired axle will bear more of the weight of the trailer- all else being equal.
On a motor vehicle, I agree with your assertion. In the case of a trailer however, I'd have to think that I'd need the 2 tires on the same side rather than the same axle. Frankly- I'd rather have all 4 the same, but that's a different story.
Now- if you have spring axles, then throw out all I just said.
Posted 2014-03-29 2:54 PM (#158317 - in reply to #158299) Subject: RE: Different Sized Tires
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Most trailer owners run their rigs with the nose slightly elevated. This puts more weight on the rear tires than the front. Switching from an 80 series tire to an 85 series results in a small difference in it's height. This difference will be almost unnoticed if the tires are mounted on the front axles. It will result in the front axle carrying slightly more of the weight, than when the smaller tires were installed. This will load shed some of the rear axle's weight and more equal the loads between the axles.
Different Sized Tires
