17.5" Tires?

Harold_J · Mar 11, 2009

I've seen 17.5" tires/wheels available on some trailers in the 14-16K GVW range either as standard or an option. The option seems to add $900-$1000 to the price and I guess that might include a heavier axle, larger wheel studs, etc.. Would these be a good choice for a 16K gooseneck approx 20'+5' tail?

Diamondpilot · Mar 11, 2009

Never seen that size personally. I would look into how much it will cost in 5 years to replace that odd ball size tire.

Chris

herringchoker · Mar 11, 2009

17.5" is heavy duty stuff. My old 35 ton tandem low boy had 10.00x15 tube-type with 3-piece rims that I converted to 11R17.5 tubeless (demountable "Dayton" rims on dual spoke wheels). The 15" tires were no longer readily available and the 17.5" was the new standard. But that's about 10 years ago. Now I've retired to the smaller stuff.

Renze · Mar 12, 2009

In my former job, we used to put a lot of smaller single axle flatbed 5th wheel trailers on 215/75 R17.5 duals, and the medium tandem lowloaders on 205/65 R17.5 duals.
Availability was never an issue, as lots of distribution trucks used that size.

They had less rolling resistance, better puncture resistance and wear resistance than the lower 195/65 R16 we also used.
they might be more expensive but if you tend to wear tires before they get dry rot, they are definately cheaper in the end.

LRH · Mar 13, 2009

The 17.5 is a very common tire on low cab forward trucks everywhere but North America. The Nissan UD is the only one that uses it here on most except the 12,000 GVWR model which gets 215/85-16's

Renze · Mar 13, 2009

LRH said:
The 17.5 is a very common tire on low cab forward trucks everywhere but North America.

All distribution trucks of 6 to 12 ton i've been around, had 17.5 inch tires. Mostly 235/75 R17.5

That size is also popular for heavy duty lowbed machinery trailers. For the medium duty ones we built, we used 205/65R17.5 with axle loads up to 7400 kg.

The 235 tire is as cheap as the 205, because there are sold so many in Europe. The 235/75 R17.5 has totally replaced the old 15 inch heavy duty tires, mounted on 3 part rims.

Harold_J · Mar 13, 2009

One of the trailers I looked at had 215/75 R17.5 16 ply Load Range H.
These replaced 235/80 R16 LR E for almost $1000 more and included heaver wheels and 5/8" wheel studs on the axles.

Renze · Mar 13, 2009

Harold_J said:
One of the trailers I looked at had 215/75 R17.5 16 ply Load Range H.
These replaced 235/80 R16 LR E for almost $1000 more and included heaver wheels and 5/8" wheel studs on the axles.

These will be much more stable than the 16" pickup truck tires and last twice as long, never blow. IMHO worth the money.

Builder · Mar 13, 2009

Diamondpilot said:
Never seen that size personally. I would look into how much it will cost in 5 years to replace that odd ball size tire.

Chris

Odd ball size?

I'm shocked our resident trailer expert has never seen them. Heavy duty trailers are commonly equipped with 17.5's. They are ridiculously heavy duty and last forever. The ones on my trailer are load range H !!

I have them on my Cam Superline

Diamondpilot · Mar 13, 2009

Builder said:
Odd ball size?

I'm shocked our resident trailer expert has never heard of them. Heavy duty trailers are commonly equipped with 17.5's. They are ridiculous heavy duty and last forever.

I have them on my Cam Superline

I have never seen them but that does not they are not out there. To be honest I have never seen anything but standard 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, and a few 16" rims and tires on trailers.

Chris