Tires just one more time
This week we'll be buying new tires for our 5er. We have always used Michelin tires on our cars and the TV. But not sure that is the best brand for a trailer. Our trailer has ST235/80R16 tires on it ...
Forum Discussion
fj12ryder wrote:
"Michelin does not build 16" trailer tires and none of their 16" LT tires have enough load capacity to replace any of the ST235/80R16E tires."
Strictly speaking that's not exactly true. The trailer generally has a tire size listed on the placard on the side of the trailer. There are some that think you have to adhere strictly to these guidelines, but there's no legal status to that placard. If you have a total weight of 10,000 lbs. on two axles and have 4 LT235/85-16 "E" rated tires you would be good to go, since you would have a load bearing capacity of over 12,000 lbs.
Tires are officially described by their size designation. These are two completely different size designations; ST235/85R16 - LT235/85R16. Their prefix indicates their design: ST = Special Trailer. LT = Light Truck. In this example the ST has more than one load range. They do not use the same load inflation chart because of their design and load capacity differences. Also in that size designation is the LT235/85R16 RST. A special designed LT tire that will have RST on its sidewall that indicates its speciality; Regional Service Trailer.
NHTSA will provide interpretations for just about any safety standard. I once asked them to provide one for tire industry standards. This is what I got.
"Industry standards generally form the basis for demonstrating product safety and quality before courts, regulators, retailers, consumers and others."
