LT unladen top speeds

[mjoekingz28]

When you look at a LT245/75-16 tires and see a 75mph top speed does that mean you cant have any fun on the interstate above that?

I dont know how else to word it without getting in trouble : )



Should I go 50F/80R on the air pressures even if there is an MT bed and no trailer?





Im worried a tire might pop. Also, unknowns are if it will handle squirreley or damage anything. Other than that, the dash goes to 110mph, but that could take a long time to get there. I just need to find out how to tell the limitations of top speed if the speed ratings are quoted for other purposes.

 

[svhanc]

S- rated tires are 112mph and T are 118.
What tires are you looking at?

 

[bullwinkle]

You'll likely be speed limited at 104 MPH. I've had LTs up there in short bursts, but I wouldn't run a sustained speed at over 85. 75 seems ludicrous, they're usually rated Q.

 

[SteveSRT8]

^^^Likewise. All our fleet Silverados are speed limited at around 100-105 or so...

 

[skyactiv]

Cheap tires don't have a full cap ply meaning the tread can peel right off if exposed to enough centrifugal force. Plus such tires usually have a B temp rating at best, which means the tires will unglue themselves if you try it when it's 90 degrees outside.

 

[RedOakRanch]

Unless chipped, GM trucks are limited to 99mph and Fords are 105mph. I've tested all I've owned!

 

[A_Harman]

My Dodge Ram diesel's speed limiter is 115 mph from the factory. With the GearVendor's overdrive, it busts right through that.
I had to fool the speedometer in order to go 135 mph at the Ohio Mile.

 

[CapriRacer]

A couple of thoughts:

LT tires do not get UTQG ratings. So they can not have a B temperature rating.

Most of the LT tires I have seen have R or Q speed ratings (99 or 106 mph). 75 mph would be L speed rating - and that is the default if the speed rating is not indicated.

Even if a tire has a speed rating, time decreases the tires ability to handle speeds. A fellow by the name of Baldwin (can't remember his first name!) did some research and found a) older tires can lose up to 2 steps in speed rating over time, and b) variations in loading and inflation pressure can lower speed ratings up to 2 steps.

I take that to mean that even a 106 mph speed rated tires isn't truly capable of 81 mph (a 4 step drop) in the long term.

And lastly, traveling above 75 mph in a pickup is just not a good idea.

 

[MNgopher]

Most LT's I've seen are R or Q rated as Capriracer posted. Not sure where the idea that they are limited to 75 mph comes from.

As far as doing above 75 in a pickup, the previous poster must not drive out west. The speed limit is 80 in several western states on the interstate (South Dakota and Wyoming come to mind). Done all the time, pickup or not. My pickup handles fine at 80 mph.

 

[bullwinkle]

Biggest thing is-don't cheap out on them. The Brdgestone Revo 2s on my Ram have been over 100 multiple times for short periods, but I've had Kumho LTs that couldn't handle 65-70 without vibrating the truck off the road. Get something decent & shop around, tires are one of (if not the) most important safety related parts on your truck!

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: skyactiv
Cheap tires don't have a full cap ply meaning the tread can peel right off if exposed to enough centrifugal force. Plus such tires usually have a B temp rating at best, which means the tires will unglue themselves if you try it when it's 90 degrees outside.
Nice generalization...any FACTS with that?

 

[Srt20]

I have 285/70/17 LT load range E Hannkooks. Sorry don't know what the speed rating is. They've been well over 100mph a few times.
Also on a trip from WI to WY, I drove 85 mph pretty much the entire way. The cruise control won't go past 85mph. I forget the miles, but it was over 1000.

Those tires last 72,000 miles on my truck before I replaced them for wear. Bought same tire again.
Dodge 2500 diesel 4x4. Unloaded weight of about 7500 lbs.