Davey 1000
New Member
I know that this reply is ten years overdue but it may help others.
As to five studs on 5.5" PCD allegedly this was used by Ifor Williams prior to 1988 but in 1988 IW went over to 6.5" PCD the same as Land Rover Series, Defender and Discovery 1. Trailer suppliers can still supply a pressed steel wheel as a substitute for the old 5.5" PCD 6.00 R9 Michelin steel braced radial wheel and tyre but the load rating is inferior. The Michelin had a Load Rating of 109 at 116 psi and this is a hard act to follow in a tyre of that overall diameter. The 155/70 R12 8 ply rated tyre is supposed to have a Load Rating of 104 but the results obtained do vary between brands. Try to choose tyres rated for 95 psi if the boat is heavy. There are other tyres which will fit the 4.5J 12" rim without standing taller. The best one is probably the 185/60 R12C in 8 ply rating. Whilst its Load Rating is still only 104 the same as the best 155/70 R12 tyres it looks to be a better tyre. They are however expensive. Note that with tubeless tyres the problem of sea water getting inside the wheel does not occur but tube-type wheels can rust from the inside.
If the size of the wheel (the overall diameter) is not restricted there is actually a great deal of choice in wheels that are studded 5 x 5.5" PCD as these are used on the Lada Niva and a great many other 4 x 4s
http://www.ladaniva.co.uk/baxter/resources/StudPatternList.htm
If a 13" rim can be found the strongest commonly available tyre is the 185/70 R13C. These have a Load Rating of 106. Note that supermarket airlines are usually limited to 65 psi for safety reasons so if ones trailer tyres need more the owner will need to have his own compressor.
Now that those 109 rated tyres have been discontinued one really needs three axles to build a trailer that is reliable at 3.5 tons gross.
Left handed studs on the left hand side are a good idea when the weight is on the high side but since hub-centric wheels and hubs were introduced on cars these are now seldom seen. If ones trailer has lug-centric wheels, the old type where the weight is carried by the wheel nuts, left handed studs are an excellent idea! Classic Leyland Mini wheels are lug-centric and these can give trouble if more than 500 kilos are loaded onto one axle. Whilst 6 ply and 8 ply tyres can be bought the weak point is nut loosening on the left hand side. One solution is to install slightly longer wheel studs and use a Nylock jam nut on top of the wheel nut (a plain jam nut will also work fine) As a get-you-home emergency measure superglue will stop the nuts from coming loose (thread-locking adhesive is often hard to obtain but Superglue is commonly available)
As to five studs on 5.5" PCD allegedly this was used by Ifor Williams prior to 1988 but in 1988 IW went over to 6.5" PCD the same as Land Rover Series, Defender and Discovery 1. Trailer suppliers can still supply a pressed steel wheel as a substitute for the old 5.5" PCD 6.00 R9 Michelin steel braced radial wheel and tyre but the load rating is inferior. The Michelin had a Load Rating of 109 at 116 psi and this is a hard act to follow in a tyre of that overall diameter. The 155/70 R12 8 ply rated tyre is supposed to have a Load Rating of 104 but the results obtained do vary between brands. Try to choose tyres rated for 95 psi if the boat is heavy. There are other tyres which will fit the 4.5J 12" rim without standing taller. The best one is probably the 185/60 R12C in 8 ply rating. Whilst its Load Rating is still only 104 the same as the best 155/70 R12 tyres it looks to be a better tyre. They are however expensive. Note that with tubeless tyres the problem of sea water getting inside the wheel does not occur but tube-type wheels can rust from the inside.
If the size of the wheel (the overall diameter) is not restricted there is actually a great deal of choice in wheels that are studded 5 x 5.5" PCD as these are used on the Lada Niva and a great many other 4 x 4s
http://www.ladaniva.co.uk/baxter/resources/StudPatternList.htm
If a 13" rim can be found the strongest commonly available tyre is the 185/70 R13C. These have a Load Rating of 106. Note that supermarket airlines are usually limited to 65 psi for safety reasons so if ones trailer tyres need more the owner will need to have his own compressor.
Now that those 109 rated tyres have been discontinued one really needs three axles to build a trailer that is reliable at 3.5 tons gross.
Left handed studs on the left hand side are a good idea when the weight is on the high side but since hub-centric wheels and hubs were introduced on cars these are now seldom seen. If ones trailer has lug-centric wheels, the old type where the weight is carried by the wheel nuts, left handed studs are an excellent idea! Classic Leyland Mini wheels are lug-centric and these can give trouble if more than 500 kilos are loaded onto one axle. Whilst 6 ply and 8 ply tyres can be bought the weak point is nut loosening on the left hand side. One solution is to install slightly longer wheel studs and use a Nylock jam nut on top of the wheel nut (a plain jam nut will also work fine) As a get-you-home emergency measure superglue will stop the nuts from coming loose (thread-locking adhesive is often hard to obtain but Superglue is commonly available)
