Different size tyres on camper

Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011 at 20:39

ThreadID: 89518 Views:3540 Replies:4 FollowUps:5

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Member - Boobook

I have 33" tyres on my cruiser and 31" on my camper which has independant suspension, and will take the 33" wheels / tyres. The offset, stud pattern and clearances are all ok.

I would like to remove the spare on the trailer to save weight, and share the 33" spare on my cruiser as a spare for the vehicle as well as the camper when I go to the high country. I use 31" all round for touring so longer trips will be ok.

My question is this:-

Is there any reason that I can't have 33" tyre on one side of my camper and 31" on the other, as an emergency configuration until I get home ( a few hundred kms)?

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Reply By: olcoolone - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011 at 20:43

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011 at 20:43

Apart from you camper trailer going around in circles... old speed way trick, there is nothing wrong with it as long as you don't get it mixed up on the car...traction control hates it.

AnswerID: 467466

Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 05:52

Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 05:52

I guess that is the point olcoolone.

How will it tow?

Will it want to turn one way or track straight.

I can't see why anything would happen other than straight tracking with one wheel turning slower than the other. If they were on a solid turning axle it would be a different story.

Am I right?

FollowupID: 741627

Follow Up By: olcoolone - Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 20:03

Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 20:03

Just a bit of a joke... it will be fine, the only issue would be when setting up camp having to compensate for the lean but no big deal.

The only thing is you might come across a person in blue who doesn't like you for some reason and defect the camper.... wheels and tyres have to be the same left to right if on the same axle..... most wouldn't care but there's always one.

FollowupID: 741684

Reply By: NTVRX - Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011 at 21:15

Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011 at 21:15

So if you get a punture on the cruiser & a puncture on the trailer !!!! erggggh!!! I wouldn't remove the spare off the trailer. If you get stuck & have to mix wheels then that's all you can do to get out of trouble...isn't it?

AnswerID: 467472

Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 05:40

Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 05:40

NTRVX

This would be just for the high country. I have been going up there for years without a puncture and have a plug kit.

For longer trips I have 2 spares and would use 31" all round.

FollowupID: 741626

Reply By: Robin Miller - Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 08:08

Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 08:08

No Problems BooBook

Remember to drop pressure in 33 a bit so its rolling radius is closer to the 31

I get a bit lazy sometimes as I'm often changing wheels sets and just fit 4 33's to the car and leave the 32 size spare unchanged.

AnswerID: 467495

Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 08:20

Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 08:20

Just remembered , also answered similar question not to long ago and someone came back and said circumference of tyre still the same so rolling radius won't change.

To head that off check out this cute paper on indirect TMPS systems which includes graphs of rolling radius change and some equations which make some of us go starry eyed.

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv19/05-0082-O.pdf

FollowupID: 741630

Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 10:21

Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 at 10:21

Thanks Robin, I thought it would be ok. I generally run lower pressures on the tracks, so a little lower pressure on the bigger tyre would be a good idea. After a bit more research I now think difference is closer to 1.2" than 2" anyway ( 265/70 17 verses 285/70 17). Also there is one part of your response that's hard to believe. "I get a bit lazy sometimes as I'm often changing wheels sets and just fit 4 33's to the car and leave the 32 size spare unchanged."

With your record of diligence and meticulous research I am suprised at such a comment coming from you!

Thanks

FollowupID: 741640

Reply By: Rockape - Friday, Oct 14, 2011 at 17:58

Friday, Oct 14, 2011 at 17:58

Mate,
nothing wrong with what you want to do.

If you do put the 33 on the trailer, put it on the passenger side so the camber of the road then levels the trailer out better.

I would have no problem driving around Australia with that configuration. On bush tracks that are flat, there will be a little weight transfer to the 31 tyre. This probably would not cause any problems at all.

Happy tyres,
RA.

AnswerID: 467596