Tires: Trailer Tire Options, northern tool and supply, wheels and tires

Question
I recently had a blowout on my tandem axle boat trailer. Although it totally shattered the tire, there was no further damage.  The tire is a ST215/75/14, radial, Carlisle (China), load range C. Is there a load range E available in a 14" trailer tire?  If not I'm considering modifying my trailer to 15" wheels and tires since I don't feel safe with the present tires (Carlisle reviews on the internet are extremely bad and replacement options are few. Recommendations?

Answer
Doug,

The very first thing you should do is weigh your trailer - fully loaded, worst possible condition (everything you can think that you would possibly carrying, including fuel, water, etc.)

Weigh the trailer hooked up then empty (the difference is the tongue weight - it ought to be 10% to 15% of the total.)

Then figure out what each tire sees as far as load is concerned.  If you can weigh each individual tire - Great!!, but each side at least.

Then add 15%.  Use that as the minimum load carrying capacity.

Then find a tire that has that capacity.  Most boat trailer places as well as some tool supply places will carry tires and rims.  Northern tool and Supply comes to mind as a place where they have trailer tires and rims.