Trailer Tire and Wheel Assemblies
A trailer sitting unused for months is one of the most common ways tires end up dry-rotted or a rim ends up rusted through, and towing on either is a real risk on the highway. Tires4That stocks trailer tire and wheel assemblies with the tire already mounted, balanced, and ready to install, covering the sizes and bolt patterns used on utility, boat, cargo, and livestock trailers.
What To Look For In Trailer Tire and Wheel Assemblies
Trailer assemblies need to match on three fronts: tire size, bolt pattern, and load range, and missing any one of them can mean a wheel that doesn't fit or a tire that's underrated for the trailer's weight. Bolt pattern is the detail people get wrong most often — trailer wheels commonly come in 4-lug, 5-lug, and 6-lug patterns with varying bolt circle diameters, and a tire that's the right size on the wrong bolt pattern simply won't mount. Load range (commonly B, C, or D) needs to meet or exceed what the trailer is rated for, factoring in the total weight of whatever's being hauled, not just the empty trailer weight — running an underrated tire is one of the more common causes of trailer tire blowouts on the highway. Special trailer (ST) tires are also built differently than passenger tires, with stiffer sidewalls designed to resist the sway and heat trailers generate at highway speeds, so a passenger tire is not a safe substitute even if the size happens to match. If the trailer sits for long stretches between uses, look for tires with a solid reputation for weather and UV resistance, since sun and inactivity are harder on trailer tires than mileage is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's the difference between a trailer assembly and a regular tire?
A: A trailer tire and wheel assembly comes with the tire already mounted, balanced, and ready to bolt onto the trailer's hub, while a standalone tire still needs to be mounted on your existing rim, assuming that rim is in good condition.
Q: How do I know what bolt pattern my trailer needs?
A: Count the lug holes on your current wheel and measure the bolt circle diameter (the distance across the bolt pattern), or check your trailer's owner's manual. Common patterns are 4-lug, 5-lug, and 6-lug with several different bolt circle sizes within each.
Q: What load range do I need for my trailer tires?
A: Load range should meet or exceed your trailer's GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) divided across the number of tires, accounting for the full loaded weight you'll actually be hauling, not the empty trailer weight. Check your trailer's data plate for the rated capacity.
Q: Can I use a regular passenger tire on my trailer?
A: No. Special trailer (ST) tires have stiffer sidewalls specifically engineered to resist trailer sway and heat buildup at highway speeds. Passenger tires aren't built for that and are more prone to failure when used on a trailer.
Q: What brands do you carry for trailer wheel assemblies?
A: We carry trailer assemblies built with tires from Gladiator, Triangle and Kenda, across common bolt patterns and load ranges for utility, boat, cargo, and livestock trailers.