Regular vs Aluminum Rim

[Ssmookler]

I just recently looked at my spare tire on my 86' 25' Sovereign. It was a real pain getting it out from under the trailer and noticed that it has a regular car/tire rim rather than a matching aluminum rim like my four other tires on the AS. This may be a dumb question but will this spare rim fit on the wheel or will I need to replace it with an aluminum rim?

Thanksin advance
Steve

[Ssmookler]

I meant to title the post Regular vs Aluminum Rim. My fingers were on the wrong key

[dwightdi]

You can use the steel wheel but you will find the two piece Airstream nuts will not tighten up on the steel wheel. The Aluminum wheel is thicker that the steel wheel and the closed end nuts will bottom out. You need to buy some open ended steel nuts at auto store and keep a set in the trailer. We had the problem occur at the WV rally. Airstream should supply them, when they deliver the trailer. They should be smarter than they demonstrate.

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by dwightdi

You can use the steel wheel but you will find the two piece Airstream nuts will not tighten up on the steel wheel. The Aluminum wheel is thicker that the steel wheel and the closed end nuts will bottom out. You need to buy some open ended steel nuts at auto store and keep a set in the trailer. We had the problem occur at the WV rally. Airstream should supply them, when they deliver the trailer. They should be smarter than they demonstrate.

Good heads up. I had not even thought of that issue.

[A W Warn]

The lug nuts for my Safari's aluminum wheels work fine with my spare steel wheel.
The two piece lug nuts work fine on the steel wheels on my Excella.
Check out the fit before buying new.

I had my first flat on a trailer last fall, after 40+ years of towing. I never considered the lug nuts would not work with the spare. Guess I was lucky!

[Stefrobrts]

Originally Posted by Ssmookler

I meant to title the post Regular vs Aluminum Rim. My fingers were on the wrong key

Fixed that for you

[Streamracer]

One thing that I carry along with spare lug nuts are a couple of studs. I've never needed them but have heard of one getting stripped.

[jcanavera]

I've had the steel wheel on when I swapped out a set of tires years ago. The steel wheel supplied as the spare cinched up just fine with the existing nuts used by the Alcoa wheels.

Jack

[turk123]

Just a note, I recently replaced all five tires on my new trailer. The steel rim for the spare would not balance. In fact, it was way out of "round" and wobbled on the tire machine. The mechanic tried everything thinking it was the way it was mounted on the machine. After isolation the problem, they proved to me the wheel was way out of line and could not be balanced. Cheap china steel rim.

Has anyone put an aluminum wheel on the spare and does it fit OK on the rack underneath the trailer? I had a heck of a time removing the steel wheel. Put a few scratches on it. Am I going to have the same problem with the aluminum wheel?

[Jammer]

Aluminum rims are particularly prone to corrosion from road spray when used as frame mounted spares. I would stick with a steel rim.

[greghoro]

Originally Posted by dwightdi

You can use the steel wheel but you will find the two piece Airstream nuts will not tighten up on the steel wheel. The Aluminum wheel is thicker that the steel wheel and the closed end nuts will bottom out. You need to buy some open ended steel nuts at auto store and keep a set in the trailer.

You need 1/2" x 20 threads per inch lug nuts with a 3/4" hex outside

Note, the two piece Airstream nuts are junk, you should replace them with a solid lugnut. Something like Gorilla 41188 or equivalent.


Greg

[Slats]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

I had my first flat on a trailer last fall, after 40+ years of towing.

So, what tires have you been rolling on for those 40+ years?