Help with tire replacement size

I bought Loadstar 15 inch LRD's already mounted on 2500 lb rated wheels from Eastern Trailer. Very good pricing and I didn't have to pay for mounting, which was ridiculously expensive where I lived at the time. Then I sold the 14 inch tires and wheels on Craigslist (no one really wants used unmounted tires but the mounted ones sold right away) and recovered more than the cost of the wheels that way.

Originally posted by Pod_Geek Originally posted by LongRanger Thanks for the advice everyone . If you're going to replace those new Westlakes and are anywhere near me (CO front range) I'll give you $100 and will come and pick them up.

I think the reason for a lot of blown tire problems on travel trailers is that the manufacturers often install tires that have little to no load safety margin above the axle rating. My 179 came with 14 inch load range C tires rated at 1750 lbs on a 3500 lb axle. Zero safety margin.

Based on reading I've done I'd recommend about a 25% safety margin above axle rating or more. I wound up with 15 inch load range D's with about a 2500 lb rating, or about 42%. The wheels I selected also have a 2500 lb rating (Wheels have load ratings too, if you can find them). So look at the actual load capacity of the tires, not just the load rating.

If you go to too high load rating tire it will be stiffer than you want which could cause more shaking and vibration than is good for your trailer. So there is such a thing as having too high a tire rating.

I'm personally OK with Chinese tires but everyone is free to make their own brand decisions.

I wouldn't worry too much about tire contact patch size on trailer tires. They aren't drive wheels and don't provide a whole lot of braking capacity either. Trailer tires are designed for high pressure and low rolling resistance to improve fuel economy.

Thanks for the advice everyone .

The tire size you are proposing to buy is slightly narrower on the tread surface than the ones you are replacing:  235 vs. 225.  That results in a slight reduction in surface area contact of the tire on the pavement.  It would probably never make any difference, but in theory, there would be a measurable reduction in braking/traction friction on the road surface.  Both Goodyear and Carlisle make excellent trailer tires. Like Pod_Geek, our trailer came with Westlake tires.  They are ok, but I have had some issues of them losing air on a cross-country trip with resulting excessive tread wear.  I plan on replacing the Westlakes with either Goodyear or Carlisle.  [I should have been more careful checking the pressure every morning in he rest areas where we made our overnight stops, but I confess to being a bit lazy and it's such a hassle squished between the tractor/trailer rigs on each side in the parking lot.]