ST185 vs ST205

[sidechoke67]

I have a 17' Glastron I/O with a dry weight of 1,980 lbs on a 20001 EZ Loader trailer.

My current trailer tires are ST185/80R13 with a max load of 1,480 lbs, and need to be replaced.

I called West Marine, and the lady there walked through some computer program, asking me a log of questions on my current rim specs, and finally recommended I buy St205/75dx14 tires. Before I go and buy them, I wanted to ask if anyone knows of any reason why I can't go to bigger tires on my trailer? The 205's have an overall diameter almost 2" bigger than my old tires. There is room in my wheel wells for bigger tires...just wanted to check if anyone has any other advice.

I can't find any place locally that carries 185s....my options seem to be to either go smaller with 175s, go bigger with 205s, or order something on-line and get them mounted on my current rims.

Thanks !!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: ST185 vs ST205

My trailer has the 185's and I've had to buy replacements online as nobody around here sells the D rated versions. I'd just make sure that you won't have any width issues - rubbing on the frame or inside of fenders. Otherwise if they fit and have the right load rating then there is no problem.

http://www.etrailer.com/Tires-and-Wheels/Kenda/AM3S331.html $99 with rim
http://www.etrailer.com/Tires-and-Wheels/Kenda/AM1ST79.html $75 without rim

 

[ssobol]

Re: ST185 vs ST205

Need to be careful with the tire size. Even if everything looks ok when just sitting there (assuming the trailer fenders are attached to the frame not the axle) you need to be sure that there is enough room for the larger tire when the suspension compresses (bottoms is worst case).

You should be able to get a good idea on the suspension travel by looking at it. Measure how much it can move and then measure the tire/fender clearance and check the margin.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: ST185 vs ST205

In reality the diameter might look like a big difference, but its only .8 inches difference in radius. Is your current setup less than an inch from bottoming out?

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: ST185 vs ST205

In reality the diameter might look like a big difference, but its only .8 inches difference in radius. Is your current setup less than an inch from bottoming out?

Good point...I think I should be OK. Here is a picture of my current tire and fender.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: ST185 vs ST205

I find it hard to believe your local tire stores can't get the tires you want. You do realize that if you go with the 205's you also need new wheels?

 

[lncoop]

Re: ST185 vs ST205

I find it hard to believe your local tire stores can't get the tires you want.

Regrettably I don't. I was faced with the same dilemma last year. I called every tire shop and trailer shop within a fifty mile radius to no avail and finally threw in the towel and ordered a set. My regular tire guy mounted them for me.

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: ST185 vs ST205

You do realize that if you go with the 205's you also need new wheels?

Yea, I know that, thanks.

The ST205 tires that West Marine has stocked locally come on rims. From calling around, it looks like buying the tires pre-mounted on galvinized rims adds around $20 per tire. If I bought just tires, local tire shops charge around $15 per tire to mount. So, I would just as soon get them on rims, and keep the better of my two old tires for a spare.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: ST185 vs ST205

You can hand mount/dismount trailer tires with a home depot bucket and a tire iron. Handy skill to have, and a $$$ saver.

 

[NYBo]

Re: ST185 vs ST205

You can hand mount/dismount trailer tires with a home depot bucket and a tire iron. Handy skill to have, and a $$$ saver.

Do tell, preferably with pictures. I've busted a lot of tires in my time, but always had at least a manual tire machine (?) bolted to the garage floor. I preferred the old Coates 10/10, though.

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: ST185 vs ST205

Need to be careful with the tire size. Even if everything looks ok when just sitting there (assuming the trailer fenders are attached to the frame not the axle) you need to be sure that there is enough room for the larger tire when the suspension compresses (bottoms is worst case).

Yea...I ended up returning the 205s because the reduced clearance around the fenders made me too nervous. The 205s may have been fine - but, I didn't feel like spending the next couple of years worrying every time I hit a bump. With the 185s I had a couple of inches of clearance, with the 205s, I was under an inch at my closest spot.

Thanks for the advice - not sure if I would have spent as much time looking at the tire/fender clearance if you hadn't brought it up.

I did find a local place that has 185s eventually, and West Marine took the 205s back with no problem.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: ST185 vs ST205

Do tell, preferably with pictures. I've busted a lot of tires in my time, but always had at least a manual tire machine (?) bolted to the garage floor. I preferred the old Coates 10/10, though.

Don't have any pictures, but you break the bead with a jack (pref hi-lift) and a heavy object (usually my jeep) then use the tire irons to walk the bead off the rim. The bucket is for installing the tires - place rim on upside down bucket soap up the beads and jump on the tire to get the inner bead on, then use the tire irons to install the outter bead.

Alternately a vehicle makes a handy bead breaker - on the trail we just lay the tire on the ground and drive a jeep up on the tire sidewall with the valve core out.

Its how I mount and dismount the 35" mud tires on my jeep too