What is better 12" wheel or 16' motorcycle wheel for a trike trailer?

[Mr. C]

I am looking at trailers for my Goldwing SA Champion trike. There seems to be two basic wheel and tire combos. 12" wheels with trailer tires or the 16" motorcycle wheel and tire. Which is better? Both have high speed bearings, and bias ply tires and carry the same weigh loads. Seems like the 16" would run cooler. Any feedback on this? Thanks for your thoughts.

[mhgoldwing]

If the 16" you refer to is the Bushtec, then my only problem is availability if you have a problem.

My trailer has 8" and covered many thousands of miles without issue. That said, I would prefer the 12" tires; less rotations per miles, and don't feel the small bumps as much.

Big advantage to the 12" trailer tire is availability almost anywhere in U.S. To me that's huge.

Whether it runs cooler is a moot point to me since these size tires are normally carrying a minimum of the weight they are designed for. If proper inflation is maintained I cannot see them running hot at all. My 8" covered 6300 miles in one trip last year loaded to the brim and stayed cool with no issues.

[slick rick]

Bushtec tires are a little hard to come by but I carry a can of slime just in case one goes down . I don't think you'll have to be concerned about wearing 'em out just dry rotting .


I personally like the Bushtec tire and wheel look but that's what I have so I have to feel that way ,,,TO EACH HIS OWN !!!!

[DakotaTG]

Rolling Resistance. That is the key difference here. The 12" tire is generally wider than the 16" motorcycle tire. The wider the tire the more rolling resistance it has. Less resistance equals a little better mileage on the vehicle. I myself have an Aluma trailer with the 4.80 x 12 tire I pull behind my TriGlide and I hardly even know it's there but the trike mileage does go down about two mpg depending on how fast I am running. If I'm in the 55 to 65 mph range it only decreases mileage about 1 mpg but in the 75 to 80 mph range it's around 2 mpg. The motorcycle tire being narrower will have less rolling resistance and probably not affect your mileage as much.

2011 Merlot and Black TG

[Livin2Ride]

I think the biggest advantage to the Bushtec type of wheels and tires is their diameter. The taller the tire/wheel combo the better it will ride becauce it will roll over irregular surface spots with less inpact to the trailers ride. I won't get into the suspension diffferences. If you just think about it smaller tires/wheels fall into depressions that the larger ones will roll right over with minimum disturbance to the ride of the trailer. I've had 3 trailers, 1 with 8 inch wheels, 1 with 12 inch wheels and my current Bushtec. You can tell the difference just by rolling them around by hand. Also, Bushtec tires are not hard to come by, just call the factory and they will overnight one to you, but to me the best part is they are just like a bicycle wheel and are a tube type wheel that you can remove the tire from the wheel with 2 screwdrivers patch the tire and install a new tube (which I carry) and be on the road again in 30 minutes, if you would ever have a flat. Just MHO

[oneup]

my trailer has car type 16s on it.. but if your worried about 12s just remember the mini car first built in 1959 and in production till the 70s with 10 inch wheels never had a problem.. they were second fastest thing around a corner, only just beaten at the time by Aston martin..
many old 10 inch wheeled minis are still pounding the streets all over the world today.