Tireman9 wrote:
FastEagle wrote:
ExRocketScientist wrote:
I think you missed what I am asking. I am not asking for the information that is on the sidewall of the LT tire. I am asking if you made an ST tire the same dimensions and inflation pressure as a particular LT tire, what would the max load rating be on its sidewall. Because of the difference in K factor, we know it is a higher number than what is on the sidewall of the LT tire. But instead of qualifying it, I am asking that it be quatified for about a dozen popular LT tire sizes.
Why not start with real world figures.
LT235/85R16E - real world: 3042# @ 80 psi.
ST235/85R16E - real world: 3640# @ 80 psi.
Although the sizes look just alike (except for the prefix) they differ in many ways. Let's get someone to explain why the great difference in load capacities. That's what this thread is about.
FE
Two significant differences.
Tread depth is less with ST tires. That allows them to run cooler at same speed, load & inflation
ST have a speed restriction of 65 vs 85, 99 or faster for LT tires.
It is fact that max operating temperature is the main controller of a tire's durability.
ERS will probably agree that if you say you need to hold max operating temperature constant when you vary speed, load and tread depth when you increase one or more of these three the others must be lowered.
Yes I would agree. Whenever you change one variable, one of two things would happen -- either the temperature would go up or come down. You would be OK if it came down, but if it would go up, you would have to adjust one or both of the other two.
We have one member here who likes to buy used LT tires for his trailer. That way he gets a set with less tread.
