Tyre width change question

[Spare tyre]

I’m helping a non hands on friend with their trailer.

It’s a standard camping sort of trailer, used to carry a mobility scooter and a bbq, so the weight is very minimal

The trailer has recently been purchased but it turns out it sat in the south of Spain for 5 years or so, as a result the tyres are cracking on the side walls.

We’d like to replace them including the spare so three new tyres

The current setup is 145 80 R13

The local tyre place can do fitting at £42 each Or 126 for all three
naturally these will be ditchfinders that are loud etc, but for a light trailer I don’t think it’s that important compared to to the tyres on the car towing it


Interestingly the local scrap yard does part warns

For example a nexen with 6mm 165 65 R13 for £18 / £54 for all three

So my question is

Will the 165 width be fine with the existing rim? And will the tyre place happily do it?

The 85 or 60 difference I understand is no drama

I know this is PistonHeads, but a saving of £74 is a decent chunk

Thanks for the any input, I’ve never fiddled with tyre widths before without changing a rim

Edited by Spare tyre on Sunday 26th January 17:54

Edited by Spare tyre on Sunday 26th January 17:57

[Scrump]

The tyre diameters are close (80% of 145, vs 65% of 165) so no worries there.
Whether the wider tyres will fit on the rims depends on the rim width.
I suspect though that they will fit, and I suspect anywhere selling part worn tyres will have no qualms about fitting them.

[E-bmw]

Diameter differences are meaningless (provided they fit) as there is no speedo input.

Widths would be the same, as in provided they fit.

As the tyres probably don't brake, and will only be towed at relatively slow speed under very light load I would be prepared to ignore my usual caveat with tyres to fit the best I can.

One more thing for you to check though is how old they are as they will likely need to be thrown away well before they wear out, so you would want them to be as young as possible.

It is also a good idea with a little used trailer to cover the wheels fully from light when not in use to prevent UV degradation.

[Davie]

Scrump said:

The tyre diameters are close (80% of 145, vs 65% of 165) so no worries there.
Whether the wider tyres will fit on the rims depends on the rim width.
I suspect though that they will fit, and I suspect anywhere selling part worn tyres will have no qualms about fitting them.

Yup, 145 to 165 is fine assuming the 145 tyres weren't pulled in, ie to fit a much narrower rim... therefore the 165 may be even more pinched?

So really, the questions to ask are; how wide are the metal rims and is there sufficient clearance for slightly wider tyres, ie not going to foul the frame?

[Spare tyre]

Thankyou all, looks like it’s good to give it a go

I’d not thought of framing fowling, I’ll eyeball that

I know the scrap yard are meant to be pretty good at picking the fresher rubber, will head down and see what they say

[InitialDave]

If the wheel offset isn't so tight that the extra width will rub on the trailer frame/tub, I don't see a major issue.

[Hustle_]

I had 145/80s and looked into this.

The trailer wheels were 3.5J if I remember correctly! So I think the tyre fitter might rightly raise an eyebrow.

£42ea fitted is not a bad price

Also shop around for complete trailer wheel and tyre assemblies. I paid £50 each last time per tyre mounted on a new wheel.

[Hustle_]

Anyway, trailer tyres don't wear out, they die of old age. If the replacement tyres are already years old, they're effectively half spent.

[E-bmw]

Hustle_ said:

Anyway, trailer tyres don't wear out, they die of old age. If the replacement tyres are already years old, they're effectively half spent.

Hence why I said.

"One more thing for you to check though is how old they are as they will likely need to be thrown away well before they wear out, so you would want them to be as young as possible.

It is also a good idea with a little used trailer to cover the wheels fully from light when not in use to prevent UV degradation."

[Hustle_]

Alright no need to repeat the good advice a third time.

[E-bmw]

Hustle_ said:

Alright no need to repeat the good advice a third time.

But a second time was?

[Spare tyre]

Hello gents

Today we sorted the tyres out just shy of £26 one was a Pirelli in good shape the other I forget but was new

Both 2024 date stamps






I still won’t do part warns on my own car but for stuff like a camping trailer so far so good