I totally rebuilt an 18-foot BriMar equipment trailer. Dual axle, 4-wheel brakes, new wood, paint, extended ramps (so that I can load cars - no dove tail, extended the ramps instead), DOT tape, new lights, the works.

The last step involves adding new wheels and rubber. Sticker shock - looks like each wheel-tire combo will run in the $160-plus range. Ouch.

The trailer currently runs radials, ST 225-75R-15, with an odd mix of E and D rated tires (mix and match). Three Carlisle tires, one "Brand X." Wheels are 6-lug, standard white spoked trailer tires. I'm not sure if they are E rated or not; no stamps on any of the wheels, so I don't know whether they will take 80 psi or not.

Questions/opinions needed:

1. I assume that there is no issue bumping up the next-biggest tire and rim size (235/16), since it looks like I'll have plenty of room under the fenders (we modified one fender so that we could take it off and open the driver's door when we load cars). As long as I have clearance, no issues, right?

2. Tire brand? I've read all sorts of bad things on the web about Carlisle tires. Maxxis seems to get good marks, as does Goodyear.

3. If I stick with the 15's, I need to find rims that will handle E-rated tires. After a fairly thorough web search, I came up ZIPPO with sources for E-rated rims (e.g., rims that can handle 80 psi for the full 2,840-lb load rating). Anybody have a good internet source for E-rated rims?

I'm not really picky about the rim style - standard white-painted spoke is fine, aluminum/modular would be a bit of overkill (this is a Bri-Mar equipment trailer, not a Featherlite show-car ferry).

4. What's the best on-line retailer? I've been to all the local trailer supply stores - your typical mix of inbreds and their responses, "we ain't got none of those in stock, bubba, but we done got some Carlisle tires out back yonder." Thanks, I think I'll go web surfing (yes, I understand all about warranties and the "benefits" of a local retailer - but I have yet to find a retailer locally that has a sales force with all of their teeth).

Thanks in advance for the advice. Unlike 99% of my other posts, I'm serious about this one, since I don't want a blowout with a load that involves either one of my cars or the RC30 -- I've too much invested, to risk everything on a cheap trailer tire.

(This Picture, I lifted from the Web. Not mine; mine looks better :-0 but you get the idea)

Bri-Mar Trailer.jpg
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