Re: Correct Trailer Tires?
Check your local rules and regulations first. Apart from that, radials are OK provided they cope with the load index.<br /><br />And they do provide better properties (which is why, by the way, they are used on cars).<br /><br />The LOAD INDEX is a numerical code associated with the maximum load a tyre can carry at the speed <br />indicated by its Speed Symbol under service conditions specified by E.T.R.O 1991, passenger car <br />tyres section 13, reproduced below. <br /><br />Note! Caravans and trailers: An increase of 10% over the load capacity quoted in the tables is <br />permitted when tyres are fitted to caravans and light trailers with a maximum operating speed <br />up to 100km/h.<br /> <br /><br />#60 is 250 kg, #93 is 650 kg, <br />#61 is 257 kg, #94 is 670 kg, <br />#62 is 265 kg, #95 is 390 kg, <br />#63 is 272 kg, #96 is 710 kg, <br />#64 is 280 kg, #97 is 730 kg, <br />#65 is 290 kg, #98 is 750 kg, <br />#66 is 300 kg, #99 is 775 kg, <br />#67 is 307 kg, #100 is 800 kg, <br />#68 is 315 kg, #101 is 825 kg, <br />#69 is 325 kg, #102 is 850 kg, <br />#70 is 335 kg, #103 is 875 kg, <br />#71 is 345 kg, #104 is 900 kg, <br />#72 is 355 kg, #105 is 925 kg, <br />#73 is 365 kg, #106 is 950 kg, <br />#74 is 375 kg, #107 is 975 kg, <br />#75 is 387 kg, #108 is 1000 kg, <br />#76 is 400 kg, #109 is 1030 kg, <br />#77 is 412 kg, #110 is 1060 kg, <br />#78 is 425 kg, #111 is 1090 kg,<br />#79 is 437 kg, #112 is 1120 kg,<br />#80 is 450 kg, #113 is 1150 kg,<br />#81 is 462 kg, #114 is 1180 kg,<br />#82 is 475 kg, #115 is 1215 kg, <br />#83 is 487 kg, #116 is 1250 kg, <br />#84 is 500 kg, #117 is 1285 kg, <br />#85 is 515 kg, #118 is 1320 kg, <br />#86 is 530 kg, #119 is 1360 kg, <br />#87 is 545 kg, #120 is 1400 kg, <br />#88 is 560 kg, #121 is 1450 kg, <br />#89 is 580 kg, #122 is 1500 kg,<br />#90 is 600 kg, #123 is 1550 kg,<br />#91 is 615 kg, #124 is 1600 kg,<br />#92 is 630 kg, #125 is 1650 kg,<br /><br />Weights are per tyre - calcultated as vehicle gross weight/number of tyres.<br /><br />Lbs to kg is x 0.4536<br /><br />Some tyres are available with higher load range under the spec 'Reinforced' (which normally is 6 ply while car/van tyres most often are 4 ply).<br /><br />Also note the speed codes:<br /><br />Letter Q 160 kmph or 99 mph <br />Letter S 180 kmph or 112 mph <br />Letter T 190 kmph or 118 mph <br />Letter U 200 kmph or 124 mph <br />Letter H 210 kmph or 130 mph <br />Letter V 240 kmph or 149 mph <br />Letter W 270 kmph or 167 mph <br />Letter Z over 270 kmph or over 167 mph<br /><br />The '195' specifies the tyre width, the '75' is the the profile heigth (as a % of the width), 'D' designates Diagonal (an R here means Radial) and 14 is the rim size in inches. There are also info on the max. pressure on the tyre side.<br /><br />Some designs are directional and therefore cannot be interchanged between sides (also a problem if carrying a spare).<br /><br />To make a perfect fit, the tyre width must match the rim width (within a fair range). On a car the profile should not be changed to keep gear ratio right (and speedometer). Ultra low profiles really improves handling but suffers in comfort as the amount of air between the road and the rim is reduced. A low tyre side copes with less absorbtion of bad road surfaces.<br /><br />On a trailer the profile should be chosen also with the handling in mind - you get a more straight run and better cornering on lower profiles yet you want the 'comfort' (protects the boat from shocks from a rough surface road).<br /><br />Depending on your needs, you may even consider trailer tyres with a M+S (Mud + Snow) rating as these tends to grip better on wet/slippery surfaces (the thing you want to avoid is a trailer wheel blocking as this can put the trailer out of control).
