Tires just one more time

"I'm only interested in tires that are manufactured in the USA."

GY Endurance is for you in either "D" or "E" load ranges. Also they make 16" "G" and 17.5" "H" US Made tires.

I guess I misspoke. I just want to avoid tires manufactured in China.

klr650goldwing wrote:
A couple of new facts to consider:
1. There are only 3 inches of space between the top of the 5er tires and the trailer itself. a. is that all the suspension most trailers have? b. with the added height of the Michelin APS RIBS, will there be enough room.
2. I'm only interested in tires that are manufactured in the USA.

Please share your thoughts on this.

While made in the USA is nice, when Michelin were first available in the US they were all made in France.
The Yokohama’s that we just put on our 5er are made Philippines and are considered a very good tire.

How many RVers have posted about problems with blowouts and RV damage using ST tires?
How many RVers have posted about problems with blowouts and RV damage using LT tires?
Based on the above, I decided on which works best for me.

A couple of new facts to consider:
1. There are only 3 inches of space between the top of the 5er tires and the trailer itself. a. is that all the suspension most trailers have? b. with the added height of the Michelin APS RIBS, will there be enough room.
2. I'm only interested in tires that are manufactured in the USA.

Please share your thoughts on this.

Yeah one big problem with damaged sidewalls with those older ST tires was they were designed with a rounded profile for a soft ride. That rounded sidewall profile along with their daunted narrow tread design leaves the tires sidewall exposed to sidewall cuts between the rim and a curb.....big potholes in the road.....road debris/etc.

The newer gen ST tires now have a flatter sidewall profile which will help in less sidewall cuts and bruising. Ideal sidewall shape will look like the tires on a semi trailer.....very flat vertically.

rhagfo wrote:

BB_TX wrote:

CALandLIN 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.
.......

My Michelin Ribs are rated for about 400 lbs less than the OEM STs. But my 5er only weighs about 12,000 lbs loaded. With 2,000+ on the hitch, that leaves less than 10,000 on the tires. Tires are rated for 3,042 lbs each. Works for me.

I also run LT tires on my 5er, came from the factory with LT 235/85-16 E’s. The 5er has a dry weight of 9,820# and a GVWR of 12,360#, still less than 10,000# on the axles.
They may only be rated at 3,042# ea. but rated to carry that 3,042# at
106 mph! So at 65 to 70 I feel very comfortable at 10,000# that is an 18% reserve capacity at 10,000# on the axles.
Those that run ST’s freak at brushing a curb or hitting a pothole, do you really worry when you brush or jump a curb with your trucks LT tires?

In year models 2005, all of the Keystone RV trailers with 6000# axles were fitted with LT tires. It's a vehicle manufacturers prerogative to use tires they deem appropriate fitments. It only applies to their fitments and only on the vehicles certified for such fitments.

Currently some Airstream models also are fitted with LT/P tires.

The LT RST has been a popular fitment for 7000# axles.

Click Here! That can happen to any tire after a curb strike. That's my rear dually tire.

BB_TX wrote:

CALandLIN 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.
.......

My Michelin Ribs are rated for about 400 lbs less than the OEM STs. But my 5er only weighs about 12,000 lbs loaded. With 2,000+ on the hitch, that leaves less than 10,000 on the tires. Tires are rated for 3,042 lbs each. Works for me.

I also run LT tires on my 5er, came from the factory with LT 235/85-16 E’s. The 5er has a dry weight of 9,820# and a GVWR of 12,360#, still less than 10,000# on the axles.
They may only be rated at 3,042# ea. but rated to carry that 3,042# at
106 mph! So at 65 to 70 I feel very comfortable at 10,000# that is an 18% reserve capacity at 10,000# on the axles.
Those that run ST’s freak at brushing a curb or hitting a pothole, do you really worry when you brush or jump a curb with your trucks LT tires?

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."

I did all the research here too. I ended up with the Goodyear Endurance. I upgraded from a D to an E rating and I preferred the higher speed rating on the GY. Not because I drive fast, but I like the extra margin for heat build up. I also felt they feel sturdier than the competitors and I liked they were built in the US.