China Tire Manufacturing

Francesca Knowles wrote:
Well, we've certainly taken a big turn away from the O.P.'s subject here. Not sure what speed limits have to do with Chinese manufacturing!

Conversations are dynamic, so we went off on a tangent. It happens all the time on internet forums. Bring it back around if you like.

Francesca Knowles wrote:

BUT

As long as we've taken this turn:

That whole ST 65mph speed-limit-as-defect thing really mystifies me...it's my belief that the origin of that limit lies with trailer makers' specs as given to the tire making industry. As with all tires, the rig's use itself dictates the terms of those specs.

Is there an RV/boat trailer built in the U.S.A. that's designed/intended to be towed at prolonged speeds faster than 65 mph????

Defect is your word. I used the word limit, which is what it is.
As to speed of the trailer, my Keystone manual on pg19 only states not to exceed the tire limit and never to exceed the posted speed limit. So yes I guess my RV is designed to go over 65mph.

Francesca Knowles wrote:

And since when is an "LT" auomatically that much "better"??? Lacking any actual speed rating stamped on the tire, where does that idea come from?

At least in the case of (some?)Firestones, LT-designated tires are ALSO speed limited to 65mph, although they can be run up to 75 with certain caveats applied. See this link

No one ever said LT tires do not have limitations, they have load and speed ratings like any other tire.
I must ask what is welchco? They don't even appear to be a tire related company. Plus the document you linked is 14 years old, Firestone probably has updated info on their corporate site.