ST vs LT Tires -- I'm confused

Thanks LowSuv...best post in this thread....concise...logical...and fact based. I think a lot of folks are posting based on pwrsonal use and loyalty to a specific brand. As for me your post is a revelation...Thanks!

The LT Tire definitely is more tire than the same size ST tire .
from the tire rack website here is a comparison between ( nearly ) identical 235/80R16E tires :
From the tirerack website : Goodyear ST 235/80 R 16 E
price = $ 135 each
weight = 34 # each
section width is 9.2 "
tread width= 6.8 "
diameter is 30.7 "
rated 3420 # at 80 psi on ST scale
Goodyear LT 235/85 R 16 E
price = $ 157 each
weight = 50 # each
section width is 9.3 "
tread width= 7.0 "
diameter is 31.7 "
rated 3042 # at 80 psi on LT scale
So the Goodyear ST tire is rated for 112.4 % higher load rating than the equivalent Goodyear LT tire .
And they will sell this ST tire for only 86 % of the LT tire .
And the ST tire has less mass for cordage , plys , caps and so forth because it weighs 76 % of the Goodyear LT tire .
This is very telling as to how much lower the ST standards are in relation to the LT standards .
Further the ST tire has plainly stamped on the sidewall " for trailer use only " .
The LT tire has no disclaimer .
to recap : the manufacturer is the same.
both tires are 235 ( one is 80 = 80% and the other is 85 = 85% )
both tires are load range E or 80 PSI .
The ST tire is cheaper ( 86% cost ) .
The ST tire has less rubber and cords .
The ST tire weighs 76 % of the LT Tire .
The LT tire only gets a 3042# rating on the LT scale .
The cheaper / lighter ST tire gets a 3402 # rating on the less demanding ST scale .
This is very clear .
Goodyear , the manufacturer , has to build a much tougher tire for LT use such as on our heavy duty pickups .
The ST tire is UPRATED in sidewall weight rating due to the weak / cheap ST standard .
No way baby does the 34 # ST tire outperform the 50 # LT tire .
No way baby does the $ 135 ST tire outperform the $ 157 LT tire .
The ST scale is so weak that the placard on the side of equivalent size tires shows the ST tire at a higher weight rating than the similar sized LT tire . even though the LT tire is more tire from the same manufacturer.

Many of the maxxis supporters are of the " me too " and " X 2 " crowd .
None of them supplies exactly what it is they like about Maxxis .
This particular forum is the only place I have found where Maxxis is an exalted brand .
If you look at the posts by huntindog , sprinklerman , tireman9 , partymarty , gmwphotos , and LowSuv you will discover that each of them goes further into the details of which tires are better and why .
There are some posters that fail to recognize that ST tires are "uprated " on the sidewall capacity relative to the Tougher LT tire standard .
As most of the experienced posters have pointed out the ST standard is a way for the trailer manufacturers to install a cheaper tire on their trailers .
ST tires are designed for trailers that sit 95 % of the time.
LT tires are designed for trucks that move 95 % of the time .
Search for partymarty's post comparing goodyear tires ST versus LT in a 235 X 16 size by clicking on his Icon under view posts .
Goodyear sells the ST tire for 88 % of the price , 88 % of the weight of the same size LT tire yet the ST tire is placarded for 3500# and the ST tire is placarded for 112% of the weight capacity .
The ST tire is definitely Less tire than the LT tire .
But some folks such as Francesca , are not grasping the fact that an ST tire is less tire than the same size LT tire ..

The_Painting_Teacher wrote:
that particular tire would be useless to most snowbirds.

Maybe you misunderstand what "snowbird" means. It is not a retarded person that wants to camp in the snow! It is a retarded person that wants to avoid the snow. Or is that retired? I have seen some of these birds that even bring their trailer South early and fly back home for the holiday season, just to avoid getting in snowy conditions. We are old and to wise to get our wings frozen.

On the West Coast here, we retardies/retireies drive around the Siskiyou Mountains rather to over them if there is a chance of snow. Maybe you fly around the Cape to late into the fall. We have an Arizona neighbor that comes from Maine arriving in early January on GY G614's not mudder tires.

I have ran both XPS Ribs and now R250s which are both summer tread tires that look a lot like the tires you see in the trailers of over the road semi's! That type tread "Summer Rib" is the best choice for most trailers, with the exception being maybe THers that have to descend steep dirt roads.

If you get caught on the Siskiyou Mountain Pass in the snow, you are required to chain up the trailer anyway. But who wants to chain up a trailer! Wait it out or go around, which in Southern Oregon means going to the coast and down highway 101. Takes an extra day and more intense driving, but much better than being with all the truck traffic on I-5 in bad conditions. I have been around almost as many times as I have been over. One year I came north on April 2nd the only day that week that did not have fresh snow on the highway in the Siskiyou Mountains. You just start watching the weather a few days ahead of time, to plan your route.

Oregon has a really good web site with cameras that helps with the decision.

Snowbird on!

Chris

PartyMarty wrote:
It amazes me that somebody would want Maxxis tires .
There have plenty of reported failures on this forum over the last year .
Another Maxxis failure was reported in a tire thread last week .
A couple of posters have been keeping track of those Maxxis failures .
I think it stands at about 2 dozen now .
Plus the Maxxis passenger car tires were in the lowest tires rated by Consumer Reports over the last couple of years .
There was not a maxxis that was above the lowest 25 % as rated by Consumer Reports .
I do not see how a tire company that makes lower grade passenger car tires somehow makes high grade ST tires .
The evidence does not support that theory .
In a 15 inch tire the better choice is the Goodyear Cargo G26 .
Size of 225/70R15 load range D .
It has a 2450 # rating on the LT criteria , it has a 106 mph speed rating , it is made in Germany and France , not Taiwan , and is readily available from tire rack delivered in a few days .
How hard is that ?

Wow! After reading so many recommendations for Maxxis, this surprised me. I went back and did a search on this site. While there are some posts critical of Maxxis tires, the vast majority of posts recommend them highly. I will continue to do research, but thanks for your input. As for the Goodyear Cargo G26, this quote is right from the Tirerack website ... "Highway Rib Summer tires are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice." The G26 is labeled as a "highway ribbed summer" tire. Assuming that's accurate, that particular tire would be useless to most snowbirds. Leaning (slightly) to Maxxis, but still considering the LT's, which are limited because of the 15" rim size. Camp on!

PartyMarty wrote:
It amazes me that somebody would want Maxxis tires .
There have plenty of reported failures on this forum over the last year .
Another Maxxis failure was reported in a tire thread last week .
A couple of posters have been keeping track of those Maxxis failures .
I think it stands at about 2 dozen now .
Plus the Maxxis passenger car tires were in the lowest tires rated by Consumer Reports over the last couple of years .
There was not a maxxis that was above the lowest 25 % as rated by Consumer Reports .
I do not see how a tire company that makes lower grade passenger car tires somehow makes high grade ST tires .
The evidence does not support that theory .
In a 15 inch tire the better choice is the Goodyear Cargo G26 .
Size of 225/70R15 load range D .
It has a 2450 # rating on the LT criteria , it has a 106 mph speed rating , it is made in Germany and France , not Taiwan , and is readily available from tire rack delivered in a few days .
How hard is that ?

I agree with Marty on that. To my simple little mind, all that ST stuff is junk. It's junk with different names written on the side.

It amazes me that somebody would want Maxxis tires .
There have plenty of reported failures on this forum over the last year .
Another Maxxis failure was reported in a tire thread last week .
A couple of posters have been keeping track of those Maxxis failures .
I think it stands at about 2 dozen now .
Plus the Maxxis passenger car tires were in the lowest tires rated by Consumer Reports over the last couple of years .
There was not a maxxis that was above the lowest 25 % as rated by Consumer Reports .
I do not see how a tire company that makes lower grade passenger car tires somehow makes high grade ST tires .
The evidence does not support that theory .
In a 15 inch tire the better choice is the Goodyear Cargo G26 .
Size of 225/70R15 load range D .
It has a 2450 # rating on the LT criteria , it has a 106 mph speed rating , it is made in Germany and France , not Taiwan , and is readily available from tire rack delivered in a few days .
How hard is that ?

laknox wrote:

gmw photos wrote:

ol Bombero-JC wrote:



If you have 15" wheels, your choices are limited. Look to Maxxis.
If you have 16" wheels - Michelin XPS Ribs or BFG TAs (also Michelin) will be an x'lnt choice.

In 15" there are several LT commercial tires available if you want to get away from ST

Not in E-range that anyone here has been able to find. D-range, yes...

Lyle

I don't think you'll find a LR E in 15". Not certain, but I am thinking off the top my head you have to go to 16 for that.

gmw photos wrote:

ol Bombero-JC wrote:



If you have 15" wheels, your choices are limited. Look to Maxxis.
If you have 16" wheels - Michelin XPS Ribs or BFG TAs (also Michelin) will be an x'lnt choice.

In 15" there are several LT commercial tires available if you want to get away from ST

Not in E-range that anyone here has been able to find. D-range, yes...

Lyle

Me Again wrote:

mr. ed wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
Pick an appropriate LT tire with a load rating for a pair equal to or greater than the axle rating and go camping secure in the knowledge that you should not experience tire issues for a long long time.

X2. My LT tires have lasted through over 7 years of travel around the country and are being replaced soon due to age. They still appear perfect, but after a recent blowout (no damage) I've decided to replace all of them. With LT tires, of course. Same brand (Uniroyals).

Ed, you should really consider putting on Bridgestone Duravis R250's. That HHII is pushing the limits of 6K axles. The R250's will run cooler, be more stable, have lower rolling resistance, and they are cheaper than Ribs.

Chris

Thanks for the suggestion, Chris. However I feel my Uniroyals have given me good service over the years so I'm inclined to stay with them. I will check out the pricing and other features of the tire you recommended,though, as a back up.