LT tires for 5th

fj12ryder wrote:

StirCrazy wrote:

MNRon wrote:
StirCrazy - good comments here about LT vs ST specs and testing. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is that ST have stiffer sidewalls for the tire scrubbing that will happen on tandem and triple axle trailers. LT are designed with more margin and to higher standards, but they are designed for a different application than ST. I would recommend sticking to ST, and specifically recommend looking at Sailuns (that I have good experiences with - besides, much cheaper than a good LT tire).

yup and that's what I have always said myself, but I was looking into it as a few new rv's are coming out with LT tires, so it muddies up the water. I was going to go with sailun but after talking with them, they should be run at 110psi not at 80, so that would mean I would need new rims also. more to think about.

I've run Sailun's at less than 110 psi, but not as low as 80 psi. I ran mine down at 90-95 psi, with no issues and they lasted 6+ years and still looked good. I had a triple axle at the time and my load was about 5,000 lbs. per axle, so they were way over tired.

ya I was just going by what sailun told me. They said they should be run at full pressure for best tread wear, fuel economy and tire life.

fj12ryder wrote:

MNRon wrote:
StirCrazy - good comments here about LT vs ST specs and testing. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is that ST have stiffer sidewalls for the tire scrubbing that will happen on tandem and triple axle trailers. LT are designed with more margin and to higher standards, but they are designed for a different application than ST. I would recommend sticking to ST, and specifically recommend looking at Sailuns (that I have good experiences with - besides, much cheaper than a good LT tire).

I've heard that tons of times that ST tires have stiffer sidewalls, none of which I've ever seen in the real world. ST tires have wimpy sidewalls compared to good LT tires. The old ST dealer's story keeps coming up and refuses to go away, even though it's wrong. Repeating wrong data doesn't make it right.

they don't have thicker or stiffer sidewalls they have sidewalls made to take the twisting and such from sharp scrubbing turns better. people tend to explain/interpret that wrong

so when looking to switch if my tires I have now are 235/80R16.. what size of LT tire should I be looking for since that size is exclusive to st tires.

Your ST235/80-16 probably is a load E and may have 3400-3600 lbs capacity. As mentioned several times a same size ST won't have the same capacity as a LT235/85-16 E at 3042 lbs capacity.
However if your trailer has 5.2k or 6k axles then the LT235/85-16 E or the LT245/75-16 E both have 3042 lbs capacity have always been a good replacement.
The LT 235/85 is around 31.7" tall vs the LT245/75 @ 30.7".

Also as noted if your trailer has 7k axles then a 16" LT E won't work.

ST E have stiffer sidewalls than same size/load range LT E is simply internet myth.
And of course a 16" Sailun S637 load G has a much stiffer sidewall then a 16" LT load E.
Goodyears G614 LT235/85-16 load G is about the same weight as the Sailun and same stiff sidewall.

ST and LT both have the same bead unseating resistance tests/strength tests per FMVSS 571. Both pas those tests.

Sidewall design - try flexing a Sailun sidewall. I’ve had tire shops that have older equipment struggle with 3 techs to mount/dismount them. Definitely very stiff sidewalls.

Regarding pressures, you can find Sailun psi load tables and air down if you don’t need 4400lb per tire. Lately I typically have been running 95-100 psi on our 7k axles.

StirCrazy wrote:

MNRon wrote:
StirCrazy - good comments here about LT vs ST specs and testing. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is that ST have stiffer sidewalls for the tire scrubbing that will happen on tandem and triple axle trailers. LT are designed with more margin and to higher standards, but they are designed for a different application than ST. I would recommend sticking to ST, and specifically recommend looking at Sailuns (that I have good experiences with - besides, much cheaper than a good LT tire).

yup and that's what I have always said myself, but I was looking into it as a few new rv's are coming out with LT tires, so it muddies up the water. I was going to go with sailun but after talking with them, they should be run at 110psi not at 80, so that would mean I would need new rims also. more to think about.

I've run Sailun's at less than 110 psi, but not as low as 80 psi. I ran mine down at 90-95 psi, with no issues and they lasted 6+ years and still looked good. I had a triple axle at the time and my load was about 5,000 lbs. per axle, so they were way over tired.

MNRon wrote:
StirCrazy - good comments here about LT vs ST specs and testing. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is that ST have stiffer sidewalls for the tire scrubbing that will happen on tandem and triple axle trailers. LT are designed with more margin and to higher standards, but they are designed for a different application than ST. I would recommend sticking to ST, and specifically recommend looking at Sailuns (that I have good experiences with - besides, much cheaper than a good LT tire).

I've heard that tons of times that ST tires have stiffer sidewalls, none of which I've ever seen in the real world. ST tires have wimpy sidewalls compared to good LT tires. The old ST dealer's story keeps coming up and refuses to go away, even though it's wrong. Repeating wrong data doesn't make it right.

You should drive a little south the get a better deal. Just check Goodyear and the Goodyear Wrangler HT with USEF discount is $883 installed at my local dealer. $215 per tire before discount. I have a trailer that needs tires this year due to age. Not a bad price.

Thermoguy wrote:

MNRon wrote:
StirCrazy - good comments here about LT vs ST specs and testing. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is that ST have stiffer sidewalls for the tire scrubbing that will happen on tandem and triple axle trailers. LT are designed with more margin and to higher standards, but they are designed for a different application than ST. I would recommend sticking to ST, and specifically recommend looking at Sailuns (that I have good experiences with - besides, much cheaper than a good LT tire).

That is a good comment and why the dealers tell you to use an ST tire for trailers. But, in real world testing, I had a them take off a Hercules ST tire I had purchased to get me through my trip and to the tire dealer to replace all 4. When not mounted with my hands I could flex the ST tire, and couldn't with the LT. I'm sure all tires are different. Also considered Sailun tires, but found them to be more expensive than the LT tires I went with and didn't want to go to Walmart for service. Felt more comfortable working with a tire shop vs a chain store.

ya the sailun here would cost me about 1200 dollars installed, the cheapest LT tires are coming in at 1300 all the way up to 2000.00

MNRon wrote:
StirCrazy - good comments here about LT vs ST specs and testing. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is that ST have stiffer sidewalls for the tire scrubbing that will happen on tandem and triple axle trailers. LT are designed with more margin and to higher standards, but they are designed for a different application than ST. I would recommend sticking to ST, and specifically recommend looking at Sailuns (that I have good experiences with - besides, much cheaper than a good LT tire).

yup and that's what I have always said myself, but I was looking into it as a few new rv's are coming out with LT tires, so it muddies up the water. I was going to go with sailun but after talking with them, they should be run at 110psi not at 80, so that would mean I would need new rims also. more to think about.

That is a good comment and why the dealers tell you to use an ST tire for trailers. But, in real world testing, I had a them take off a Hercules ST tire I had purchased to get me through my trip and to the tire dealer to replace all 4. When not mounted with my hands I could flex the ST tire, and couldn't with the LT. I'm sure all tires are different. Also considered Sailun tires, but found them to be more expensive than the LT tires I went with and didn't want to go to Walmart for service. Felt more comfortable working with a tire shop vs a chain store.