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I've heard a lot about it but haven't really heard any reasons for it. I'm assuming they last a good bit longer? I get 6 months out of bias ply tires and they're worn to the threads. Radials i'll get 1.5 years
what's the purpose of using LT tires on trailers?
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Because most trailer tires are made in China junk.
Nick1994
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Originally Posted By: Blkstanger
Because most trailer tires are made in China junk.
+1
Because most trailer tires are made in China junk.
+1
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So is 30,000 miles out of the question? My radial trailer tires probably went 10,000 miles, these cheap bias ply I have on make it like 3,000 miles. This is a tandem axle trailer.
Nick1994
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Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
So is 30,000 miles out of the question? My radial trailer tires probably went 10,000 miles, these cheap bias ply I have on make it like 3,000 miles. This is a tandem axle trailer.
I suppose it's possible, but depends on the weight of the trailer and the types of tires. Load Range E?
So is 30,000 miles out of the question? My radial trailer tires probably went 10,000 miles, these cheap bias ply I have on make it like 3,000 miles. This is a tandem axle trailer.
I suppose it's possible, but depends on the weight of the trailer and the types of tires. Load Range E?
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Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
So is 30,000 miles out of the question? My radial trailer tires probably went 10,000 miles, these cheap bias ply I have on make it like 3,000 miles. This is a tandem axle trailer.
I suppose it's possible, but depends on the weight of the trailer and the types of tires. Load Range E?
Might as well use load range E tires, but I'm not going to spend $1000 on trailer tires. They do make cheaper load range E tires in the $120 a tire price range. Although I'm not sure if this would put me in the same boat as I am now.
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
So is 30,000 miles out of the question? My radial trailer tires probably went 10,000 miles, these cheap bias ply I have on make it like 3,000 miles. This is a tandem axle trailer.
I suppose it's possible, but depends on the weight of the trailer and the types of tires. Load Range E?
Might as well use load range E tires, but I'm not going to spend $1000 on trailer tires. They do make cheaper load range E tires in the $120 a tire price range. Although I'm not sure if this would put me in the same boat as I am now.
I've always heard LT tires had stiffer sidewalls for less sway.
The argument I have heard is that the LT tires are more durable. ST tires are designed for more flex when one of the axles scrubs on turns, they also tend to be more forgiving when curbed. I don't think you are going to get an up or down answer on this, its hotly debated on a lot of RV sites.
I have never come close to wearing a set of ST tires out, last set of China bombs were 5 yr and 3 months old and I had one come apart in the middle of Atlanta, lets just say that was an experience I wouldn't want to repeat.
I have never come close to wearing a set of ST tires out, last set of China bombs were 5 yr and 3 months old and I had one come apart in the middle of Atlanta, lets just say that was an experience I wouldn't want to repeat.
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Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
So is 30,000 miles out of the question? My radial trailer tires probably went 10,000 miles, these cheap bias ply I have on make it like 3,000 miles. This is a tandem axle trailer.
Sounds like you have a trailer issue? 3000 miles????
So is 30,000 miles out of the question? My radial trailer tires probably went 10,000 miles, these cheap bias ply I have on make it like 3,000 miles. This is a tandem axle trailer.
Sounds like you have a trailer issue? 3000 miles????
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
So is 30,000 miles out of the question? My radial trailer tires probably went 10,000 miles, these cheap bias ply I have on make it like 3,000 miles. This is a tandem axle trailer.
I suppose it's possible, but depends on the weight of the trailer and the types of tires. Load Range E?
I'd think how much turning was involved would matter on a tandem also. Lots of tight turns and I bet tandem tires take a beating.
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
So is 30,000 miles out of the question? My radial trailer tires probably went 10,000 miles, these cheap bias ply I have on make it like 3,000 miles. This is a tandem axle trailer.
I suppose it's possible, but depends on the weight of the trailer and the types of tires. Load Range E?
I'd think how much turning was involved would matter on a tandem also. Lots of tight turns and I bet tandem tires take a beating.
OK, so my colleague Roger Marble, aka Tireman9, and I have been spending the last 5 years observing, advising, and discussing travel trailers, ST tires, and what was making them fail so often.
So here's my take: Travel trailer manufacturers skimped on tires. Not only did they do a poor job of sizing them - both from the point of view of how much their trailer held,, but also from the engineering perspective - but they also sourced inexpensive tires - and because this is such a niche market, most of the ST tires were produced by Chinese tire manufacturers. Plus ST tires have a speed limitation of 65 mph - information which was not passed onto the consumer. These Chinese tire manufacturers were not familiar with the US market and thought that if they met the Federal Regulations, they would be good to go. They were wrong.
The result was many tire failures - and the worst were the large trailers with 16" ST tires. Owners of such vehicles searched for a solution and LT tires provided that - at least for one very popular size - replacing ST235/80R16's with LT235/85R16's. As you can see, the LT tire is ever so slightly larger - and generally fit without issues. But more importantly, it was a change to a name brand. That seemed to work. The problem was that this became a mantra, and the ones "mantra-ing" were ignoring the fact that there is no real LT alternative for pretty much all ST tires except 16".
Another popular switch was to P235/75R15 XL's.
I suspect NHTSA (National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, the federal agency who regulates vehicles and tires) talked to the travel trailer manufacturers and informed them they had to do a better job or start facing recalls.
A couple of years ago Maxxis, a Taiwanese tire manufacturer, entered the market and seemed to produce a better ST tire. It's hard to assess how well these worked because Maxxis never supplied tires directly to the trailer manufacturers, so the quantities were small.
This year, Goodyear introduced their Endurance line of ST tires (to replace the infamous Marathon series), and it is way, way too early to make a judgment.
The net affect has been a reduction in the number of reports of failures in travel trailer forums.
So there you have it. I suspect the problem is more or less over for new trailers.
But if you have an older trailer, I highly recommend you weigh it fully loaded and by tire position if you can - and if you can't, you need to account for side to side and front to rear variation. I have been using 10% for if the weights are axle by axle, and 15% if both axles are weighed together. Plus another 15% for good engineering.
I also recommend that before every major tow, the operator should do a tire inspection - inflation pressure and rub a GLOVED hand around the circumference, looking for bulges.
Plus, tires on trailers don't wear out, they age out.
So here's my take: Travel trailer manufacturers skimped on tires. Not only did they do a poor job of sizing them - both from the point of view of how much their trailer held,, but also from the engineering perspective - but they also sourced inexpensive tires - and because this is such a niche market, most of the ST tires were produced by Chinese tire manufacturers. Plus ST tires have a speed limitation of 65 mph - information which was not passed onto the consumer. These Chinese tire manufacturers were not familiar with the US market and thought that if they met the Federal Regulations, they would be good to go. They were wrong.
The result was many tire failures - and the worst were the large trailers with 16" ST tires. Owners of such vehicles searched for a solution and LT tires provided that - at least for one very popular size - replacing ST235/80R16's with LT235/85R16's. As you can see, the LT tire is ever so slightly larger - and generally fit without issues. But more importantly, it was a change to a name brand. That seemed to work. The problem was that this became a mantra, and the ones "mantra-ing" were ignoring the fact that there is no real LT alternative for pretty much all ST tires except 16".
Another popular switch was to P235/75R15 XL's.
I suspect NHTSA (National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, the federal agency who regulates vehicles and tires) talked to the travel trailer manufacturers and informed them they had to do a better job or start facing recalls.
A couple of years ago Maxxis, a Taiwanese tire manufacturer, entered the market and seemed to produce a better ST tire. It's hard to assess how well these worked because Maxxis never supplied tires directly to the trailer manufacturers, so the quantities were small.
This year, Goodyear introduced their Endurance line of ST tires (to replace the infamous Marathon series), and it is way, way too early to make a judgment.
The net affect has been a reduction in the number of reports of failures in travel trailer forums.
So there you have it. I suspect the problem is more or less over for new trailers.
But if you have an older trailer, I highly recommend you weigh it fully loaded and by tire position if you can - and if you can't, you need to account for side to side and front to rear variation. I have been using 10% for if the weights are axle by axle, and 15% if both axles are weighed together. Plus another 15% for good engineering.
I also recommend that before every major tow, the operator should do a tire inspection - inflation pressure and rub a GLOVED hand around the circumference, looking for bulges.
Plus, tires on trailers don't wear out, they age out.
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Originally Posted By: CapriRacer
Plus ST tires have a speed limitation of 65 mph - information which was not passed onto the consumer.
^^^This.
Plus, how many tires got a screw or nail in them, lost pressure and then blew? And then the owner blames the tire...
I have run the Chinese radials as well as the GY Marathon radials (made in Canada) on my triple axle trailer. I have not seen any difference.
Plus ST tires have a speed limitation of 65 mph - information which was not passed onto the consumer.
^^^This.
Plus, how many tires got a screw or nail in them, lost pressure and then blew? And then the owner blames the tire...
I have run the Chinese radials as well as the GY Marathon radials (made in Canada) on my triple axle trailer. I have not seen any difference.
My reasons for using LT instead of ST on trailers:
1. ST tires seem to be a neglected segment of the industry, left to the low cost players in the market who make little to no effort on R&D or quality control. Most seem to come from poor quality manufacturers, typically based in China, and some of their models have reputations for blow outs. Even if you can find a brand name, the story seems to be the same.
2. ST tires by definition are speed limited to 65 mph, unless otherwise indicated. Even if I tow at 65 mph, I would much rather have a tire that is capable to 100 mph or beyond (extra safety margin), versus being right at the limit for hours on end.
3. ST tire weight limits are typically engineered with little to no margin of error. LT tires need to have a big safety margin built in. (Perhaps Capriracer can clarify and/or correct this)
4. No real cost difference. For the two trailers I used them on, the first one, I replaced a hard to find ST size (making those tires more expensive), with a slightly easier to find size, with the added benefit of greatly increasing the load capacity (trailer manufacturer picked tires barely capable) as I had to upsize, and had an additional benefit of moving me away from bias ply to radial. No real cost difference for the rubber. My newer large trailer, while I didn't have the need to greatly increase my load capacity or move away from bias ply, I actually got the tires for far less cost versus ST, done through some careful shopping - sourcing Coopers that were rebranded for a chain, and taking advantage of a 25% off sale along with additional bonus savings with in-store credit.
5. Peace of mind. With proper tire maintenance, I don't really worry about the LT tires, but even with proper maintenance, I am always worrying using ST tires.
For the LT naysayers, they sometimes raise these points, but I can easily counter them:
1. ST tires are less likely to have a flat spot from sitting for long periods. My counter is that even if LT tires develop these, they quickly disappear within a few miles, and are nothing like the flat spots that developed in years gone by.
2. The rubber in ST tires are more resistant to UV during extended parking, as LT tires need to be in use to release the compounds that resist UV. Not a problem for me in the summer, and during storage, simply cover up and/or use something like 303 Aerospace Protectant.
3. LT tires aren't made for trailers. True, they are engineered to a higher degree for light trucks. On top of that, some major tire manufacturers recommend their LT tires for trailer applications, and there are many trailers that come with LT tires from the factory.
There may be some applications where there just isn't an LT option, but there there is, I don't see any good reason why to stick with ST tires.
1. ST tires seem to be a neglected segment of the industry, left to the low cost players in the market who make little to no effort on R&D or quality control. Most seem to come from poor quality manufacturers, typically based in China, and some of their models have reputations for blow outs. Even if you can find a brand name, the story seems to be the same.
2. ST tires by definition are speed limited to 65 mph, unless otherwise indicated. Even if I tow at 65 mph, I would much rather have a tire that is capable to 100 mph or beyond (extra safety margin), versus being right at the limit for hours on end.
3. ST tire weight limits are typically engineered with little to no margin of error. LT tires need to have a big safety margin built in. (Perhaps Capriracer can clarify and/or correct this)
4. No real cost difference. For the two trailers I used them on, the first one, I replaced a hard to find ST size (making those tires more expensive), with a slightly easier to find size, with the added benefit of greatly increasing the load capacity (trailer manufacturer picked tires barely capable) as I had to upsize, and had an additional benefit of moving me away from bias ply to radial. No real cost difference for the rubber. My newer large trailer, while I didn't have the need to greatly increase my load capacity or move away from bias ply, I actually got the tires for far less cost versus ST, done through some careful shopping - sourcing Coopers that were rebranded for a chain, and taking advantage of a 25% off sale along with additional bonus savings with in-store credit.
5. Peace of mind. With proper tire maintenance, I don't really worry about the LT tires, but even with proper maintenance, I am always worrying using ST tires.
For the LT naysayers, they sometimes raise these points, but I can easily counter them:
1. ST tires are less likely to have a flat spot from sitting for long periods. My counter is that even if LT tires develop these, they quickly disappear within a few miles, and are nothing like the flat spots that developed in years gone by.
2. The rubber in ST tires are more resistant to UV during extended parking, as LT tires need to be in use to release the compounds that resist UV. Not a problem for me in the summer, and during storage, simply cover up and/or use something like 303 Aerospace Protectant.
3. LT tires aren't made for trailers. True, they are engineered to a higher degree for light trucks. On top of that, some major tire manufacturers recommend their LT tires for trailer applications, and there are many trailers that come with LT tires from the factory.
There may be some applications where there just isn't an LT option, but there there is, I don't see any good reason why to stick with ST tires.
Originally Posted By: CapriRacer
Owners of such vehicles searched for a solution and LT tires provided that - at least for one very popular size - replacing ST235/80R16's with LT235/85R16's. As you can see, the LT tire is ever so slightly larger - and generally fit without issues. But more importantly, it was a change to a name brand. That seemed to work. The problem was that this became a mantra, and the ones "mantra-ing" were ignoring the fact that there is no real LT alternative for pretty much all ST tires except 16".
Exactly what I did with the fifth wheel I bought last year.
When I did this a few weeks ago, my oldest son helped me. We took the wheels to a tire shop to do the swap. When we came back to get them, another customer had his trailer tire blowout in for a replacement. Except for the brand name, it was exactly the same as the tires I turfed, right down to the manufacturing plant. I pointed it out to my son and told him that was the reason we changed to truck tires.
I also did an upgrade to my tent trailer tires that few thought there were options for: moved from ST185/80D13 LRD to 185/R14C LRD. I did have to do an "axle flip" for more clearance and of course get 14" wheels, but it was worth it for me. The abnormal wear on the OEM tires disappeared on the new tires.
Owners of such vehicles searched for a solution and LT tires provided that - at least for one very popular size - replacing ST235/80R16's with LT235/85R16's. As you can see, the LT tire is ever so slightly larger - and generally fit without issues. But more importantly, it was a change to a name brand. That seemed to work. The problem was that this became a mantra, and the ones "mantra-ing" were ignoring the fact that there is no real LT alternative for pretty much all ST tires except 16".
Exactly what I did with the fifth wheel I bought last year.
When I did this a few weeks ago, my oldest son helped me. We took the wheels to a tire shop to do the swap. When we came back to get them, another customer had his trailer tire blowout in for a replacement. Except for the brand name, it was exactly the same as the tires I turfed, right down to the manufacturing plant. I pointed it out to my son and told him that was the reason we changed to truck tires.
I also did an upgrade to my tent trailer tires that few thought there were options for: moved from ST185/80D13 LRD to 185/R14C LRD. I did have to do an "axle flip" for more clearance and of course get 14" wheels, but it was worth it for me. The abnormal wear on the OEM tires disappeared on the new tires.
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Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
One thing I think you need to mention motor_oil_madman is that this is a landscaping trailer that will be pulled everyday, and tread will wear more than most trailers.
As CapriRacer said, 235/85-16 Load Range E tires seem to be the best. My dad had a triple axle gooseneck trailer a few years ago that as tires would go bad he was replacing them with that size in an LT Load Range E tire.
Since you are having a custom trailer made, is it possible for them to space the axles so that those large tires can be used? They would be totally overkill for the application but it also means they would probably last years and years.
What's the weight of this trailer going to be loaded? Possibly have it made as a single axle but a large one put in instead of 2 smaller ones? The larger size tires can handle 3,042 pounds each so about 6,000 pounds max. If the trailer will never go over 4,500-5,000 pounds and a 5,200 pound axle is used that may be the way to go. Then only 2 tires to replace. But the trailer might be too long to only have one axle and could fold like a taco, depends on how it's made.
As CapriRacer said, 235/85-16 Load Range E tires seem to be the best. My dad had a triple axle gooseneck trailer a few years ago that as tires would go bad he was replacing them with that size in an LT Load Range E tire.
Since you are having a custom trailer made, is it possible for them to space the axles so that those large tires can be used? They would be totally overkill for the application but it also means they would probably last years and years.
What's the weight of this trailer going to be loaded? Possibly have it made as a single axle but a large one put in instead of 2 smaller ones? The larger size tires can handle 3,042 pounds each so about 6,000 pounds max. If the trailer will never go over 4,500-5,000 pounds and a 5,200 pound axle is used that may be the way to go. Then only 2 tires to replace. But the trailer might be too long to only have one axle and could fold like a taco, depends on how it's made.
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