13” to 15” on 3225 tandem TM

[robtherod]

I have stock 175/80/R13 tires on my tandem 3225 TM. I know I need a 2” lift for height clearance to put on 15” tires. But what do I do about the tire width? Do I try to find a 175/80R15 ? From the 13” tire there is enough room to go to the frame without hitting it but the other side doesn’t have much room.

[Bill]

Does your TM have square wheel wells, or rounded / arched wheel wells? If square, your first move may be to rebuild them. Elsewhere on this forum, there are instructions, with pix, for single-axle trailers. I've never seen a 3225, but I assume it is a dual axle unit.

Bill

[robtherod]

Yes, they are square or rectangular and tandem.
3225 TM 2000

[Wavery]

Another consideration may be the distance between the front of the front tire and the frame member as well as the distance between the rear of the rear tire and the rear frame member. However, the tire never touched that frame in the next thousand miles that we had it.

My 1998 2720 had the square wheel wells and after I added the 15" tires, I had 1/8" between the front of the tire and the front of the frame member.

Have you considered going with load range "E" 14" tires?

[robtherod]

I wonder what 175/80/R13 tire out there will carry the most weight? Maybe just getting stronger 13” tires is the way to go because there will be 4 of them.

[Wavery]

I wonder what 175/80/R13 tire out there will carry the most weight? Maybe just getting stronger 13” tires is the way to go because there will be 4 of them.

I think that you may find 13" tires to actually be more expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/Maxxis-M8008-Radial-Trailer-Tire-ST215/dp/B0087PR080/ref=sr_1_4?crid=KPY1JNN2DTBH&keywords=maxxis+M8008+ST+trailer+tires&qid=1656356523&sprefix=maxxis+m8008+st+trailer+tires+%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-4

[robtherod]

Yes but will I be okay using them? I see some that are rated for 1660 lbs per tire x 4 = 6,640lbs.

[Wavery]

Here is a 13" load range "D" (1650# per tire).

The thing is, if you go from load range "B" or "C", you may have to go with a tire and wheel. The wheel has to be rated for load range "D" also. Do your research. The only way the find the weight rating on your current wheels may be to dismount one of the tires. Most trailer wheels have the weight rating on the inside of the wheel. You may get lucky and find the weight rating stamped on the outside of the wheel somewhere. The weight stamped in the wheel must be higher than the weight rating of the tire.

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Tires-and-Wheels/Kenda/AM31990.html

[robtherod]

I will check. Do 14” require a 2” lift too?

[Kidkraz]

Is there room between the two tires? Can ya post a picture of your rig?

[Shane826]

Someone on the TM Fans Facebook page swapped out their 13” wheels for 15” wheels on their 2001 3225 with no issues. I can’t remember what size tires though.

[Dodge trucker]

NO you do not need a lift kit to go from 13 to 15" WHEELS.
Tires with the same outer diameter are made for both wheel sizes. There are many many different size tires made for each rim size.
And even at that a 2" taller TIRE will only raise you up 1" as that 2" is spread around the center of the hub, so only 1" will be above the center and 1" below.