I just purchased a 2013 raptor toyhauler. I have been reading all the posts about tires along with all the either good information here. Here is my question: the toy hauler I bought comes with ST tires. They are made by General. When we negotiated the price, they threw in a complete 5 yr king pin to brake lights full service warranty. I thought that was a good deal. But when I asked about replacing the ST tires with LT three, I was told that it would void the warranty. The keystone rep told me that LT were made for the two vehicle, not for a trailer. He said that's why STs are called Special Trailering tires they are made specific for trailers. Is someone blowing smoke up my skirt? Should I risk voiding the warranty by changing to LTs? I have not yet actually taken delivery of the unit nor have I actually gotten the warranty in my hands to see exactly what it says about tires. I am going to be pulling this rig with a 2014 Ram 3500 drw, with the new air bag suspension, Cummins motor and Aisin tranny.

Bombfixer wrote: Is someone blowing smoke up my skirt? Should I risk voiding the warranty by changing to LTs? Sounds and smells like smoke to me....But, the only way to know for sure is to get out your magnifying glass and carefully read the fine print in the warranty.

The Keystone rep was trying to cover the companies collective arses. There is no way in heck a warranty could be voided simply by upgrading to a better quality tire. I guess you need to ask him if this extended warranty then will cover tire damage when the cheap chinese junk that his company supplied blow apart and damages your brand new trailer. I guarantee his reply will be that will not be covered. My next question to him then, then how can you claim changing to a better tire will void the warranty. If it did in fact void the extended warranty, then I would consider the warranty basically useless and forget it in lieu of more money off on the deal.

Maybe the "5 yr king pin to brake lights full service warranty" includes the tires? Good luck.

Typical salesman, doesn't have a clue. With LT tires, you won't need the warranty for tire issues cause you won't have them.

Then why did my Keystone Montana come with Lts? The certification label on the left front of trailer does not list ST or LT or load range E just the size. LT Es are going back on it as replacements pretty soon.

clarification on LT vs ST tires please | Good Sam Community

dedmiston
Moderator
Sep 07, 2013
mpfireman
Explorer
Sep 07, 2013
B.O. Plenty wrote:
mpfireman wrote:
ST tires are made with stiffer and additional plies in the side walls, thus when turning ,your trailer's 2nd or 3rd axle being stationary causes these other tires to slide around corners. LT tires lack these added plies. But again many RV owners have switched from the ST tires to the LT tires. It's your rig, so you have to make that choice. ST tires also contain additional rubber compounds that are designed to withstand long exposure to the sun, thus they say, less sidewall cracking.
Pure BALONEY! Obviously you have never compared a ST tire and a LT tire side by side. The sidewalls on an ST tire are like a bicycle tire in comparison. The only reason they are on there when new is because they are CHEAP and the manufacturers don't want you to know that...Stop drinking the Kool Aide! If you ever ran a set of LT tires on your rig you would never go back.

B.O.

Wow, somebody got out of bed on the wrong side this AM. We all read different materials and articles, thus there is a wide opinion about different tires. Their advantages and disadvantages. Everyone has their opinion on makes, sizes, ETC, I hope that won't change.
John___Angela
Explorer
Sep 07, 2013
lincster wrote:
Typical salesman, doesn't have a clue.
With LT tires, you won't need the warranty for tire issues cause you won't have them.

:) :) Yah they are all MORONS. :)
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Sep 07, 2013
joebedford wrote:
So what IS the difference between a 32lb ST235/80R-16 and a 60lb LT235/85R-16? Yes, the truck tire is slightly bigger but that doesn't account for nearly double the weight.

That question would be easier to answer if you linked/referred to specific tires. Sixty pounds sounds like you might be talking about a Michelin Rib, which has a lot of steel in it. That would account for part of the extra weight in that case. It's also regrooveable, so there's likely substantially more uncut material in the tread area.
joebedford
Nomad II
Sep 07, 2013
CapriRacer wrote:

I have an idea. Why not ask someone who designs tires what he thinks?

And the answer is that for practical purposes, there is no difference in the casings between an ST tire and an LT tire.
So what IS the difference between a 32lb ST235/80R-16 and a 60lb LT235/85R-16? Yes, the truck tire is slightly bigger but that doesn't account for nearly double the weight.
CapriRacer
Explorer II
Sep 07, 2013
B.O. Plenty wrote:
mpfireman wrote:
ST tires are made with stiffer and additional plies in the side walls, thus when turning ,your trailer's 2nd or 3rd axle being stationary causes these other tires to slide around corners. LT tires lack these added plies. But again many RV owners have switched from the ST tires to the LT tires. It's your rig, so you have to make that choice. ST tires also contain additional rubber compounds that are designed to withstand long exposure to the sun, thus they say, less sidewall cracking.
Pure BALONEY! Obviously you have never compared a ST tire and a LT tire side by side. The sidewalls on an ST tire are like a bicycle tire in comparison. The only reason they are on there when new is because they are CHEAP and the manufacturers don't want you to know that...Stop drinking the Kool Aide! If you ever ran a set of LT tires on your rig you would never go back.

B.O.

I have an idea. Why not ask someone who designs tires what he thinks?

Glad you asked. It's actually been a while since I was actively designing tires, but the principles haven't changed in the meantime.

And the answer is that for practical purposes, there is no difference in the casings between an ST tire and an LT tire.

But part of the problem here is trying to compare apples to apples. There is hardly any overlap in sizes - and size does indeed change the strength of the casing, which in turn affects the uninflated stiffness.

It also affect the way a tire reacts to load (ie - sidewall bulge) in that a tire with a larger load carrying capacity will bulge less with the same load.

And did I mention that there may be differences from brand to brand? Not huge ones (certainly not on the bicycle tire level), but enough for people to perceive differences.

And I sure hope no one is trying to compare a steel ply tire with one made of polyester.

Flame on!
kedanie
Explorer II
Sep 06, 2013
Well, I'm impressed. Put this topic on the 5er forum and it would have been blown up beyond belief by now. I guess you guys understand the problem over here and don't need to call each other names.

Bravo!!!!

Keith
N-Trouble
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
B.O. Plenty wrote:
mpfireman wrote:
ST tires are made with stiffer and additional plies in the side walls, thus when turning ,your trailer's 2nd or 3rd axle being stationary causes these other tires to slide around corners. LT tires lack these added plies. But again many RV owners have switched from the ST tires to the LT tires. It's your rig, so you have to make that choice. ST tires also contain additional rubber compounds that are designed to withstand long exposure to the sun, thus they say, less sidewall cracking.
Pure BALONEY! Obviously you have never compared a ST tire and a LT tire side by side. The sidewalls on an ST tire are like a bicycle tire in comparison. The only reason they are on there when new is because they are CHEAP and the manufacturers don't want you to know that...Stop drinking the Kool Aide! If you ever ran a set of LT tires on your rig you would never go back.

B.O.

Was going to say the same thing... Sidewalls on every ST tire I have looked at are always bulging under load but LTs show very little if any bulging.
Ric_Flair
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
TucsonJim wrote:
Ric - I'm sure you meant ST, not LT???

yes. thanks and fixed
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Sep 06, 2013
Ric - I'm sure you meant ST, not LT???