LT verses ST tires

[Go Aweigh2452]

So, I figure since most of the ST tires are being made in China and I have read a lot of problems with QC... I was thinking if a good LT tire rated for 20% or more axle load rating would be a better alternative...

I have read several documented premature blow outs with many of the ST branded tires... granted they were on RV trailers but weight is weight...

In my search for 5th Wheels, many seem to think LT is the way to go for many reasons... made in USA, better QC, more users, etc.

The RV'ers also expect to change out tires at the 6 or 7 year mark vice watching the tread wear...

So, anyone have comments? pros cons...

[Papa Charlie]

Doug,
LT stands for Light Truck and there are different ratings B through F within this classification, with F as the heaviest load capacity. I have never heard of ST, there is SL for Standard Load, LL for Light Load and XL for Extra Load but these are passenger car tires. If you really want to find out the skinny on tires go to Tirerack.com. They cover just about any information on tires that you would ever want to know. Their prices are not bad even including shipping and they have installers on contract that they can send the tires to for you. But if nothing else they give you a lot of information, there are tire ratings by customers that are using them, and a great deal of other information on most national brands.

Here is a link to one of the tire specification explanation pages:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=195

[Fish-a-Palooza]

ST stands for Special Trailer. It's specifically made for trailers and has a much stiffer sidewall than an LT tire. The stiffer sidewall is necessary to reduce trailer sway as your going down the road at highway speeds and during emergency maneuvers. Anything other than ST has too much flex in the sidewall and can cause the trailer to get away from you.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Thanks guys... I think the reason this is coming up is that no US tire makers are making ST tires anymore. All are made in China or Taiwan where there is very little, if any QC. The LT's are made in USA under much stringent QC and it seems that all top end and heavy trailers run LT and the entry level trailers run ST. The current show stopper is that LT's are not currently made in the 15" or smaller tire size. That may change soon with many probes by trailer people asking for them. I am leaning hard on getting LT's for my replacements on the boat trailer.

BTW, this all started during my research for the FL trip coming up and looking at what I need to know to find a good trailer and or rental 5th wheel. I did consider taking the boat as our "RV" but got the look from the admiral... plus other stuff like getting the dog up and down the boat. It got too hard...

I'm researching FL RV's now... as well as asking the CDL trainers what they prefer for tires...

[Pegasis]

The current show stopper is that LT's are not currently made in the 15" or smaller tire size. That may change soon with many probes by trailer people asking for them.

I've been using LT rated tires on my Toyota since I purchased it. 235x70rx15 or 31x10.50x15

[The Peddler]

One of my closest fishing buddies used to own a Goodyear Tire and Service center in Gig Harbor. When I was buying new tires for my boat trailer he told me that the ST have the stiffer sidewall and are better suited for being "parked" for longer periods of time. FWIW

[SomeSailor]

They also don't flex as much and build heat. A good trait for trailer tires.

[kwb]

I will be the odd man out here and support use of the LT tires, just make sure that ply rating on sidewalls are better than 2, other trick is to go slightly lower profile - and run a 70 series instead of 75 or 85 that are common on a lot of trailers.

Also most trailers tires are C load range - get an E and the sidewall on the LT E will be much better than the ST C.

I have killed more trailer tires than I have bought for vehicles and if it is has an ST tire I will only run it until I need to replace it. I have a light duty flatbed with two 3500# axles but ran P205-60-14 for years, (never loaded so heavy to even max out the tires) It sits mostly now and I cheaped out and bought ST to replace those and I probably have less than 5000mi on those and they are about shot, if I used it for anything more than trips to Lowes when I need 12' or longer wood I would be back to the P tires.