ST vs LT tires.
What is it about this subject that causes threads to close sooooo quickly? The last lasted 8 hours!!! before it was closed. So let's try this again, but folks - let's keep it civil. No name ...
Forum Discussion
JJBIRISH wrote:
the first step in having a meaningful discussion is to stop intentionally mixing apples and oranges to bolster one’s own opinion… this has never been done before…
like my trailer came with LT tires so all trailers should or could use LT tires… forget that the trailer was made for off road use and there are no ST tires made for that purpose… that is also why that particular trailer came with a traction tire from the factory…
or like a lot of claims that MANY trailers come with LT tires as standard equipment, but leaving out the size and weight of the trailer, that would help define the word MANY so often thrown into the discussion… the facts might define many as some heavier trailers…
how many trailers under 10,000 pounds actually come with standard LT tires from the mfg.???
how many trailers under 10,000 pounds actually even offer LT tires as an option from the mfg.???
I assume everyone already knows trailers under 10,000 pounds are Light Duty trailers, trailers over 10,000 pounds are not…
When we quit muddying the water maybe we can have a grown up discussion on the subject…
The question in my mind has never been which is better… the question has always been legal liability and who owns it…
Tire mfg.’s are in the business of selling tires for profit, and there is a reason why they refuse to recommend a LT tire as a replacement for the trailer with a trailer mfg.’s recommendation of a ST tire… apparently better doesn’t enter into their reasoning…
There are reasons they do not market their LT tires for trailer use… there are reasons they make it difficult to find tires sized to properly fit light duty trailers… apparently better has little to do with it…
There are reasons that all major tire mfg.’s recommend only some (not all) LT tires of any size for trailer use (even for the big rigs)… what is better or worse about those tires…
For that matter, there must be reasons they build types and sizes that they freely supplied to other countries but not the USA… is it a better or liability issue…
I believe it all surrounds the legal liability issues and removing it from their shoulders when you arbitrarily decide to use the LT tire as a replacement for your OE recommended tire…
Pasusan, PA inspection law requires,
Tires and Rims –
The axles of a vehicle
specified under this subchapter (G) shall be
equipped with the number and type of tires
and rims which have a load rating equal to
or higher than those offered by the
manufacturer.
The trailer mfg. is the responsible party for determining the minimum tire and rim load requirements…
EDIT: based on the official description of what a ST tire is and that the number and type of tire is mentioned as well as the load rating in the rule, this can be interpreted by some to mean the LT is not equal to or better than the ST tire…
Some may interpreted it as meaning any LT or P tire with the same load rating meets the equal or better threshold…
Also if the tires are different than the placard some may require you to show the rims meet all of the trailer and the tire requirements…
All will interpretate it to protect their license and business if they have any question about it…
.
but some people are just to pig headed to realize that they are not always right.
but hey it can keep things interesting,,, sometimes.
