Recommendation to replace the 4.80 x 12 tires and wheels

[guybb3]

What are you guys using to upgrade the 4.80 x 12 tires and wheels?

[K447]

Depends on the trailer?

[guybb3]

Depends on the trailer?

Single Jetski. Or do you mean the brand? I will look but not one of those beautiful aluminum Tritons!!

[casey67]

Single place trailers are fine with the 4.80x12 ( 4lug and 5 lug)

A dual place trailer with larger/heavier ski's could use the more HD 5.10x12, usually only available with 5 lug rims.

Menards sells all of them at a decent price.

[K447]

Single Jetski.

Or do you mean the brand? …

I meant the trailer design determines the physical space for the tires.

If you want to ‘upgrade’ the tires I presume you mean to a larger diameter wheel and tire combination. That larger tire must fit under the existing trailer fender.

And the new tire must not touch the fender even when the tire bounces hard over a road bump and the suspension jounce allows the wheel to fully compress the trailer suspension upwards.

On some of my PWC trailers, to accommodate a larger tire I have added aluminum plate spacers between axle and trailer frame (torsion axle). Which ‘pushes down’ the axle and allows more air space between tire and fender above. Other people have changed the fender mounts to gain tire clearance.

In some cases it works better to change the factory fenders for a larger size.

All depends on the trailer you have. And what size tire you want to fit.

[Mr. GP1800]

12 inch radials.

[guybb3]

Depends on the trailer?

It's a Yacht Club and yes I'm after what you are describing above. The 4.80 x 12 tires wear out too quickly and get flat too easily. I don't want to raise the height of the trailer more than I have to for obvious reasons.

[guybb3]

Single place trailers are fine with the 4.80x12 ( 4lug and 5 lug)

A dual place trailer with larger/heavier ski's could use the more HD 5.10x12, usually only available with 5 lug rims.

Menards sells all of them at a decent price.

Do you mean 5.30 x 12 as I cannot find any 5.10? I would think @ only 1.4 inches in diameter larger, I could raise the fender a little to make up for the height difference?

[K447]

It's a Yacht Club and yes I'm after what you are describing above.

The 4.80 x 12 tires wear out too quickly and get flat too easily.

I don't want to raise the height of the trailer more than I have to for obvious reasons.

Get flat too easily?

How much towing distance are you doing and at what speeds?

What size and weight is the PWC you are carrying on that Yacht Club single trailer?
How old is the trailer?

[K447]

Single Jetski - not one of those beautiful aluminum Tritons -

One advantage of the Triton single trailer with curved cross beams is that the PWC support bunks and hull sit lower relative to the wheel axle and fenders.

Which means that the wheels and tires can be larger diameter without lifting the bunks too high for launching.

I do not know what other brands of PWC trailer also offer a similar 'lowered' design, but you may want to consider upgrading to a trailer better suited for the type of trailer uses you are putting it to.

[casey67]

The 4.80 x 12 tires wear out too quickly and get flat too easily. .

Yeah, sorry. 5.30x12. The ones I've seen are same height as the 4.80.???

The tires shouldn't wear out quickly . Typically see them weather crack before wearing out.
Is your axle / bearings in good shape ? Not bent or angled in any way.Bent axle will wear tires REAL fast. Could use a tape measure to make sure front and rear of tire are perfectly even.

[guybb3]

Get flat too easily?

How much towing distance are you doing and at what speeds?

What size and weight is the PWC you are carrying on that Yacht Club single trailer?
How old is the trailer?

I'm talking the amount of flats I've had over the 22 years of towing, I think, is excessive. I have an RXTX300 so it is a lot heavier than my daughter's TRIXX. The bunks are angled, like yours so a little rise is not a big deal. The furthest we tow is about 130 miles and we try to stay around 70 on the highway.

Yeah, sorry. 5.30x12. The ones I've seen are same height as the 4.80.???

The tires shouldn't wear out quickly . Typically see them weather crack before wearing out.
Is your axle / bearings in good shape ? Not bent or angled in any way. Bent axle will wear tires REAL fast. Could use a tape measure to make sure front and rear of tire are perfectly even.

No, new trailer. I just figure I shouldn't have had to get new tires last year already for a 2019. Getting nicer tires for a little more money and having less aggravation is worth it.

[K447]

I'm talking the amount of flats I've had over the 22 years of towing, I think, is excessive.

-RXTX300 -

The furthest we tow is about 130 miles and we try to stay around 70 on the highway.

- new [Yacht Club] trailer.

I just figure I shouldn't have had to get new tires last year already for a 2019.
Getting nicer tires for a little more money and having less aggravation is worth it.

Larger diameter tires (and perhaps wheels) is an upgrade.

I think some of us are surprised you have managed to wear out a set of trailer tires in three years of towing. How much total distance did the original tires go?

130 miles per trip at 70mph, the original tires may have been operating at nearly maximum tolerance for combined speed and trailer weight. Tire load range and speed rating, not (yet) posted.

Basic ST trailer tires are rated for 60mph (or 65mph) when inflated to the maximum air pressure listed on the tire sidewall. Operating at higher cruise speeds the trailer tire air pressure can be further increased or the tire load rating derated.

Upgrading to better tires not only provides a larger overall tire but also the option of selecting a tire with higher ratings for maximum weight and/or maximum rated highway speed.

Despite your trailer being fairly new, it is possible the axle is not quite square to the trailer frame. Or the axle/trailer has been bent/damaged somehow and the tires are not tracking correctly. Sometimes this is evident in the manner of the tread wear pattern on each tire, sometimes it can be hard to tell just from the (reduced) tread wear.

[Mr. GP1800]

Almost any 12 inch trailer tire will be adequate for a single ski on a single trailer. If you want a better tire upgrade to a 12 inch radial tire. They roll better and ride smoother and wear better. I have several hundred thousand miles of towing a trailer and have never had a flat leave me on the side of the road. Maintain your trailer properly and issues will be rare if not completely non existent. Bigger is not necessarily better. Just use what’s rated for the load you are carrying and don’t exceed speed ratings for the tires

[guybb3]

Larger diameter tires (and perhaps wheels) is an upgrade.

I think some of us are surprised you have managed to wear out a set of trailer tires in three years of towing. How much total distance did the original tires go?

130 miles per trip at 70mph, the original tires may have been operating at nearly maximum tolerance for combined speed and trailer weight. Tire load range and speed rating, not (yet) posted.

Basic ST trailer tires are rated for 60mph (or 65mph) when inflated to the maximum air pressure listed on the tire sidewall. Operating at higher cruise speeds the trailer tire air pressure can be further increased or the tire load rating derated.

Upgrading to better tires not only provides a larger overall tire but also the option of selecting a tire with higher ratings for maximum weight and/or maximum rated highway speed.

Despite your trailer being fairly new, it is possible the axle is not quite square to the trailer frame. Or the axle/trailer has been bent/damaged somehow and the tires are not tracking correctly. Sometimes this is evident in the manner of the tread wear pattern on each tire, sometimes it can be hard to tell just from the (reduced) tread wear.

I will check the axle being perpendicular and the original tires were B rated. I replaced them with C rated. The wear pattern looked normal. I am looking @ the 5.3 x 12 D rated right now. Total distance on the 1st set? I don't have a clue. It just seems the tires on my old double trailer lasted longer!!