Upgrade Your Jet Ski Trailer: The Ultimate Wheel & Tire Guide

If you’re a PWC owner, you know that the trailer is often the most overlooked part of the setup. Most affordable trailers come with standard galvanized steel wheels—they’re functional, but let's be honest: they’re a bit plain.

In our latest project, we teamed up with eTrailer.com to show you the easiest way to transform the look of your jet ski trailer while improving its performance. Here’s everything you need to know about choosing and installing new wheels and tires.

Why Upgrade?

For our 2021 Continental double jet ski trailer, we wanted a more premium look without sacrificing the "beefy" feel. We opted for Kenda wheels with Loadstar tires.

Key Benefits of the New Setup:

• Wider Profile: Perfect for sandy areas like the Dunedin Causeway, preventing the trailer from getting bogged down [01:05].

• Beefy Sidewalls: Extra rubber acts as a shock absorber, protecting your Sea-Doos from potholes and highway vibrations [01:15].

• Aesthetic Appeal: Switching from galvanized steel to alloy wheels completely changes the trailer's "curb appeal" [14:35].

Choosing the Right Size

Before you buy, you must identify your current specs.

1. Tire Size: Look at the sidewall. Our trailer uses 205/65-10. The "10" represents the 10-inch wheel size [03:16].

2. Bolt Pattern: This is critical! Most lightweight trailers use a 5-on-4.5" bolt pattern. To measure an odd-numbered pattern (like a 5-bolt), measure from the center of one bolt to the outside edge of one of the two opposite bolts [05:08].

Safety & Maintenance Tips

• Check the Date Code: Trailer tires should generally be replaced every 5 years, regardless of tread wear. Look for the four-digit code (e.g., "2925" means the 29th week of 2025) [07:06].

• Max PSI is Key: Unlike cars, trailer tires perform best at their maximum rated PSI. For these tires, that means filling them to 90 PSI for optimal load carrying and safety [08:25].

• Load Rating: Ensure your tires can handle your skis. Our setup handles up to 3,000 lbs across the axle, which is plenty for two full-sized Sea-Doos [06:24].

The Installation Process

Swapping wheels is a DIY-friendly job that takes less than an hour:

1. Loosen the Lug Nuts: Do this while the wheel is still on the ground for better leverage [09:17].

2. Jack it Up: Use a jack stand for safety—never rely solely on hydraulic jacks [10:06].

3. Maintenance Check: While the wheel is off, inspect your leaf springs and grease your hubs. We even swapped out our rusty dust covers for brand-new zinc-plated ones [13:00].

4. The Star Pattern: When tightening, always use a "star pattern" to ensure even pressure.

5. Torque Specs: For alloy wheels, we tightened ours to 90 ft-lbs [14:10].

Final Results

The difference is night and day! The new alloy wheels give the trailer a modern, rugged look that matches the quality of the skis it carries.

Ready to upgrade? Check out the full video and find all the parts at http://eTrailer.com.

Watch the full video here: New Wheels & Tires for Our Jet Ski Trailer