How to Measure a Trailer Wheel & Tire

Welcome to Trailer Canada's
"How to Order a Trailer Wheel and Tire Video".

Here we are measuring a trailer wheel. We will begin by measuring the diameter of the pilot hole. Note that the pilot hole refers to the hole in the center of the wheel. It is important to keep in mind that when ordering your replacement wheel or wheel & tire for your axle, you will need to know several things; the wheel size diameter which is fourteen inches in this case, the wheel bolt pattern five bolt on four and one half, and the pilot hole diameter three point one nine inches. Here we are measuring the bolt pattern from a five bolt spring axle. If you have an axle with a five bolt wheel you will need to check the wheel bolt pattern or bolt circle. You can download the bolt circle template from our website. Measuring the bolt circle pattern will ensure that if you order an axle your wheel will fit onto the hubs. The most common bolt pattern on a trailer with five bolt wheels is five on four and one half inch bolt pattern. For axles with a six bolt wheel the bolt pattern is six on five and one half, and for axles with eight bolt wheels the bolt pattern is eight on six and one half.

We will now measure the rest of the wheel. We know that this particular wheel has a diameter of fourteen inches, a pilot diameter of three point one nine inches and a wheel bolt pattern of five on four and one half inches. Determining the width of the wheel and offset values comes next. In this case the width is five and one half inches with an offset value of zero inches. Which means the rim is neither set farther out - outset, nor is it set closer to the trailer frame - inset. In fact, it is typical of most trailer rims to have an offset value of zero inches, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer.
When ordering wheels and tires you will also need to know the tire size. The combined capacity of the tire should meet or exceed the rated capacity or the axle while the tire size will indicate the width of the rim needed. It is especially important to remember that automotive wheels have different specifications and are not designed for trailer applications.

Before you place an order for a trailer wheel or wheel and tire, we will need to know the tire specifications which you'll find embossed on the tire's sidewall. The bolt pattern, if it's a five bolt wheel and the pilot hole diameter. With this information you can place your order. Trailer wheels are commonly available in steel painted white in either spoked or modular styles. Aluminum wheels in various styles are availalbe in the most popular configurations.

Call Trailer Canada within Canada Toll Free: 888.645.6998.
Outside of Canada: 1.780.645.6998 or email parts@trailercanada.com

Get in touch with us either way for a quote or to process your order.


Production: Ron Belzil
Multi Media: Darrell Drouin
Script: and Creative Nathan Belzil
Many thanks to Marvin Bjornstad and Darren Pratch of Portage College

How to Measure a Spring Axle

Measuring Spring and Torsion Axle (PDF)

This is the first video in our Trailer Canada how to video series.
This video will show you how to properly measure a spring axle.
Please note all dimensions are expressed in imperial units which are inches and feet.

Before you get started we recommend that you gather the following: an assistant, a tape measure, two straight edges, bolt circle template which you can download in a PDF format from our website, a notepad, a pen and a digital caliper.

Here we are measuring the bolt pattern from a five bolt spring axle. If you have an axle with a five bolt wheel, you will need to check the wheel bolt pattern or bolt circle. You can download the bolt circle template from our website. Measuring the bolt circle pattern will ensure that if you order an axle your wheels will fit onto the hubs. The most common bolt pattern on a trailer with five bolt wheels is a five on four and a half inch bolt pattern. For axles with a six bolt wheel, the bolt pattern is six on five and one half and for axles with eight bolt wheels, the bolt pattern is eight on six and one half.

First thing we are going to do is measure the axle tube diameter. The axle tube diameter indicates to us the capacity of the axle. In this case we have a measurement of two and three eighth inches which means it's a thirty five hundred pound axle. Next thing we'll do is remove the wheels from the axle. This will expose the hub faces so that we can take an accurate measurement. We'll take our straight edges, put them along the hub face and we are showing a measurement of seventy three inches. So, seventy three inches is the hub face to hub face measurement. Make sure you write your measurements down so you don't forget.

Next, we're going to measure the spring seats. What we call spring center to spring center.
These are the spring seats. You must measure from center to center of the spring seats. Hold it right to the center of that hole. You'll need to specify whether the springs are underslung or overslung. This is an overslung spring setup and this is an underslung spring setup.
We are showing a measurement of fifty eight inches. So our spring center to spring center measurement is fifty eight inches and that gives us our basic dimensions.

Now you are ready to order an axle.
It is important that we get precise measurements from you so that the axle will fit.

Production: Ron Belzil
Multi Media: Darrell Drouin
Script: and Creative Nathan Belzil
Many thanks to Marvin Bjornstad and Darren Pratch of Portage College