Hi all...We have a 2012 Voltage 3795 that has already "lost" two of the factory tires. The first one developed a bulge on the sidewall - so we replaced it. The second just had tread seperation (while we were driving on the interstate). Thinking of replacing all six tires (and the spare) with new ones. Our local tire centers have "house" brands (which scare me), most have stopped selling the Good Year Marathon because of failure, and I'm not reading rave reviews on the Carlisle (which we had with no incidents on our first travel trailer). I guess my question is...what tire is good for such a heavy unit (19,000lbs). Seems I hear a lot of failures on ST (trailer tires), but minimal on LT (ligth truck tires). Can I use LT tires on this trailer?BTW..hubby is overly anal about tire pressue (we carry a compressor and he checks each time before the trailer moves.

Wow..are you saying that your 19,000 lb. trailer came with ST tires? I guess they can get away with it because it has 3 axles and also some of the weight goes on your truck.But,.... I still would not run any ST tires on a rig that heavy.

Stay away from China made tires and also from Goodyear Marathon. Most people replace their St tires with LT tires for better performance and life. I just replaced my factory china bombs with some Maxxis LT tires a couple weeks ago. I'm expecting a much better tow.Whatever you get, make sure they BALANCE them. Most rv manufacturers do not balance their trailer tires, which causes premature wear. this is what wore my china ones out so fast.

You probably shouldn't use E-rated LT tires due to load ratings. If you obey the load ratings you're probably stuck with either E-rated ST tires, lousy tires IMO, or G-rated LT tires if the wheels are rated for the higher pressures. Or you can change to 17.5" wheels and tires. Ya pays yer money, ya takes yer cherce.

Here is the tire that I would put on it- http://www.gosailun.com/Tires/Sailun/All%20Position/335 These tires are for 110PSI rims.

There is a lengthy article in Trailer Life, June 2013 page 50. It explains the difference between ST verses LT tires, and how they can have an effect on your trailers handling. ST tires contain chemical compounds to resist weather and ozone cracking. Your tandem or triple axle trailers put a tremendous amount of side load on the tires when turning, as ST tires have stiffer sidewalls that LT tires. Did you know that ST tires are designed to run at a max speed of 65 MPH? ( Unless Stated Otherwise) Plus higher speeds result a build up of heat in the tire, that have a direct impact on it's lifespan. Different tire MFG recommend a different life expectancy from there tires. Carlisle states that one third of the tires strength is gone after 3 years, thus they recommend replacement of tires regardless of tread depth. Other tire MFG are in the range of 7 to 8 years. I for one go by the 6 year rule. The end of the article states, follow the RV, MFG guidelines as to your tire size and choice, LT or ST.

ST or LT tires? | Good Sam Community

46 Replies

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 22, 2013
wilber1 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
azdryheat wrote:
Maxxis are not made in China and seem to doing well according to what I've read in this forum.

According to Voltage, each axle is rated at 7,040 pounds and the tires are rated at 3520 (totaling 7040 per axle). The 3 axles and 6 tires give a total weight hauling capability of 21,120 pounds, which is 2,120 pounds over the 19,000 GVWR of the trailer and this doesn't count what's on the hitch. One might go so far as to say that airing up the tires to the 80 pounds max load rating listed on the sidewall is most likely over filling the tires, which also may cause a failure since the tires don't need to carry 21,120 pounds.

If the trailer has a pin weight of, say, 3500 pounds then the tires only need to hold up 15,500 or 2583 pounds per tire, which, again, does not need 80 pounds of air.

So it seems to me that Voltage has over built the trailer for hauling the given weight and that is commendable.

Running a tire at a lower pressure will generate more heat because the tire will flex more. The reason your tires have their maximum weight rating at 80 PSI is because they are less likely to fail at the higher pressure, not more likely. The biggest cause of tire failure is running them at too low a pressure.

As long as tread wear is even, I run my trailer tires at max sidewall pressure. I would always want to ere on the side of being too high as long as I am not over the max sidewall pressure.

Running a tire at the proper pressure is the correct thing to do. That is why they have weight/air pressure charts.

Just because the tire says MAX PRESSURE 80psi does not mean that is what you should run.

Most RV's are at or near the Max tire rating and should be ran at Max psi but not all!

What is the proper pressure for a trailer? How many trailer manufacturers publish recommended pressures for different loads? Mine didn't. How many have charts from the tire manufacturer that give load ratings at different pressures for their particular tires? How many know exactly how much weight their axles are carrying?

What is the benefit of uprating from say a D to an E and then running at the max pressure for the D? At 65 PSI the E will have about the same load rating as the D anyway. Heat is the biggest cause of tire failure. Under inflation is the biggest cause of tires overheating.

I run recommended pressures in my vehicles because the vehicle manufacturer gives them to me.

azdryheat made a comment about his rv having more tire than was needed and he could run less than the MAX psi. I said most do need the MAX.

The benefit of going from a Maxed out D to a E and running the same psi if that is what the inflation chart says for the weight is that the E is a much stronger tire and will hold up much better.

I went from E to G on my last RV and ran 85 psi for 5 years with perfect tread wear and not even a flat.
wilber1
Explorer
May 22, 2013
Cummins12V98 wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
azdryheat wrote:
Maxxis are not made in China and seem to doing well according to what I've read in this forum.

According to Voltage, each axle is rated at 7,040 pounds and the tires are rated at 3520 (totaling 7040 per axle). The 3 axles and 6 tires give a total weight hauling capability of 21,120 pounds, which is 2,120 pounds over the 19,000 GVWR of the trailer and this doesn't count what's on the hitch. One might go so far as to say that airing up the tires to the 80 pounds max load rating listed on the sidewall is most likely over filling the tires, which also may cause a failure since the tires don't need to carry 21,120 pounds.

If the trailer has a pin weight of, say, 3500 pounds then the tires only need to hold up 15,500 or 2583 pounds per tire, which, again, does not need 80 pounds of air.

So it seems to me that Voltage has over built the trailer for hauling the given weight and that is commendable.

Running a tire at a lower pressure will generate more heat because the tire will flex more. The reason your tires have their maximum weight rating at 80 PSI is because they are less likely to fail at the higher pressure, not more likely. The biggest cause of tire failure is running them at too low a pressure.

As long as tread wear is even, I run my trailer tires at max sidewall pressure. I would always want to ere on the side of being too high as long as I am not over the max sidewall pressure.

Running a tire at the proper pressure is the correct thing to do. That is why they have weight/air pressure charts.

Just because the tire says MAX PRESSURE 80psi does not mean that is what you should run.

Most RV's are at or near the Max tire rating and should be ran at Max psi but not all!

What is the proper pressure for a trailer? How many trailer manufacturers publish recommended pressures for different loads? Mine didn't. How many have charts from the tire manufacturer that give load ratings at different pressures for their particular tires? How many know exactly how much weight their axles are carrying?

What is the benefit of uprating from say a D to an E and then running at the max pressure for the D? At 65 PSI the E will have about the same load rating as the D anyway. Heat is the biggest cause of tire failure. Under inflation is the biggest cause of tires overheating.

I run recommended pressures in my vehicles because the vehicle manufacturer gives them to me.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
May 22, 2013
[email protected] wrote:
I read the article in Trailer Life (more confused than ever)! I've spent a better part of the day calling around to truck companies that deal with tractor trailer tires, hoping to find some more info. What I've been told (not sure how true it is) is that the LT tire is heavier duty and that a name brand (Firestone/Goodyear)LT235/80R16 "E" would be better than than the current Akuret ST235/80R16 "E" tires that are on the unit now. We do not have the money right now to go to new rims and bigger tires (not even sure if they would fit). Any thoughts?
As has been mentioned before, replacing your OEM tires with lower weight rated tires than what is specified by the builder is not supposed to be done. Your ST235/80-16 are rated to 3450 lbs., an LT235/80-16 is rated to 3040 lbs.

I replaced my OEM ST235/80-16 Carlisle tires with a G-rated LT tire. I could do this because my wheels were rated for the 110 psi necessary for a G-rated tire. If my wheels had not been rated to 110 psi, I might very well have gone with an E-rated LT tire. However I know exactly what my trailer weighs and would have weighed individual axles before I made the step to E-rated LT tires, because of the weight limitations.
ACZL
Explorer
May 22, 2013
Me Again wrote:
All the BS about heavier sidewalls and special compounds is just that. When have you seen a LT dry rot in 3 three years like most ST tires. Put some Michelin XPS Ribs or Bridgestone Duravis R250s on it. Axles will be good to 18252 pounds. Both are steel carcass tire like the GY G614 but cost a lot less. They will last 6-8 years and be not half worn out tread wise.

If you put more cheap ST tires on it, I hope they come with a 2-3 year supply of cool aid.

Trailer life should be ashamed of themselves for repeating this marketing BS about ST tires.

Chris

X2 !!

Go with LT's and dump the ST's. I'll never have ST tires on any RV I own. If they come with them from factory, either the dealer changes them or factory. If not, trl is staying on dealer's lot! ONLY thing St tires are good for is light duty applications (landscape, snowmobile trailers etc). How often do RVers due 65mph?
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 22, 2013
wilber1 wrote:
azdryheat wrote:
Maxxis are not made in China and seem to doing well according to what I've read in this forum.

According to Voltage, each axle is rated at 7,040 pounds and the tires are rated at 3520 (totaling 7040 per axle). The 3 axles and 6 tires give a total weight hauling capability of 21,120 pounds, which is 2,120 pounds over the 19,000 GVWR of the trailer and this doesn't count what's on the hitch. One might go so far as to say that airing up the tires to the 80 pounds max load rating listed on the sidewall is most likely over filling the tires, which also may cause a failure since the tires don't need to carry 21,120 pounds.

If the trailer has a pin weight of, say, 3500 pounds then the tires only need to hold up 15,500 or 2583 pounds per tire, which, again, does not need 80 pounds of air.

So it seems to me that Voltage has over built the trailer for hauling the given weight and that is commendable.

Running a tire at a lower pressure will generate more heat because the tire will flex more. The reason your tires have their maximum weight rating at 80 PSI is because they are less likely to fail at the higher pressure, not more likely. The biggest cause of tire failure is running them at too low a pressure.

As long as tread wear is even, I run my trailer tires at max sidewall pressure. I would always want to ere on the side of being too high as long as I am not over the max sidewall pressure.

Running a tire at the proper pressure is the correct thing to do. That is why they have weight/air pressure charts.

Just because the tire says MAX PRESSURE 80psi does not mean that is what you should run.

Most RV's are at or near the Max tire rating and should be ran at Max psi but not all!
Me_Again
Explorer III
May 22, 2013
All the BS about heavier sidewalls and special compounds is just that. When have you seen a LT dry rot in 3 three years like most ST tires. Put some Michelin XPS Ribs or Bridgestone Duravis R250s on it. Axles will be good to 18252 pounds. Both are steel carcass tire like the GY G614 but cost a lot less. They will last 6-8 years and be not half worn out tread wise.

If you put more cheap ST tires on it, I hope they come with a 2-3 year supply of cool aid.

Trailer life should be ashamed of themselves for repeating this marketing BS about ST tires.

Chris
wilber1
Explorer
May 22, 2013
azdryheat wrote:
Maxxis are not made in China and seem to doing well according to what I've read in this forum.

According to Voltage, each axle is rated at 7,040 pounds and the tires are rated at 3520 (totaling 7040 per axle). The 3 axles and 6 tires give a total weight hauling capability of 21,120 pounds, which is 2,120 pounds over the 19,000 GVWR of the trailer and this doesn't count what's on the hitch. One might go so far as to say that airing up the tires to the 80 pounds max load rating listed on the sidewall is most likely over filling the tires, which also may cause a failure since the tires don't need to carry 21,120 pounds.

If the trailer has a pin weight of, say, 3500 pounds then the tires only need to hold up 15,500 or 2583 pounds per tire, which, again, does not need 80 pounds of air.

So it seems to me that Voltage has over built the trailer for hauling the given weight and that is commendable.

Running a tire at a lower pressure will generate more heat because the tire will flex more. The reason your tires have their maximum weight rating at 80 PSI is because they are less likely to fail at the higher pressure, not more likely. The biggest cause of tire failure is running them at too low a pressure.

As long as tread wear is even, I run my trailer tires at max sidewall pressure. I would always want to ere on the side of being too high as long as I am not over the max sidewall pressure.
nremtp143
Explorer
May 22, 2013
Goodyear G614 load range "G". Check them out.
NMDoyle
Explorer
May 22, 2013
I read the article in Trailer Life (more confused than ever)! I've spent a better part of the day calling around to truck companies that deal with tractor trailer tires, hoping to find some more info. What I've been told (not sure how true it is) is that the LT tire is heavier duty and that a name brand (Firestone/Goodyear)LT235/80R16 "E" would be better than than the current Akuret ST235/80R16 "E" tires that are on the unit now. We do not have the money right now to go to new rims and bigger tires (not even sure if they would fit). Any thoughts?
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 22, 2013
Just bend over and take out your wallet and order 6 GY G tires from trailertiresandwheels.com have them mounted and enjoy the ride!

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ST or LT tires?

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