Best Tires for Travel Trailer?

mich800 wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
Show me any ST tire rated for more than 65 MPH at the PSI stated on the sidewall. ( yes I know that somewhere some say one can overinflate by 10 psi to gain 10 MPH)

Seriously folks, just read the entire govt. testing standards for both types of tires. For those that do this, the debate will be over.

The LT standards are far more stringent. And that is why LT tires are generally a better tire.

It is possible for a ST tire to be made to a higher standard, (many think Maxxis does it) but not required by the govt.
Minimum standards are just that. The Minimum.

Unfortunantly the ST tire industry in general builds to the bare minmum for the lowest price point possible.

The LT is considerably more diverse with many price point choices. All of which exceed the ST tires standards.

They are out there. I cannot vouch for their quality or durability. I am in the process of locating new tires for my TT. I just do not have the room to run a 15-16 inch lt tire. My current ride has about 5 inches between the 205/75 14 tires. I will most likely go with a similar size st tire and be done with it.

Just ask your tire professional if it has the Nylon cap overlay.

Huntindog wrote:
Show me any ST tire rated for more than 65 MPH at the PSI stated on the sidewall. ( yes I know that somewhere some say one can overinflate by 10 psi to gain 10 MPH)

Seriously folks, just read the entire govt. testing standards for both types of tires. For those that do this, the debate will be over.

The LT standards are far more stringent. And that is why LT tires are generally a better tire.

It is possible for a ST tire to be made to a higher standard, (many think Maxxis does it) but not required by the govt.
Minimum standards are just that. The Minimum.

Unfortunantly the ST tire industry in general builds to the bare minmum for the lowest price point possible.

The LT is considerably more diverse with many price point choices. All of which exceed the ST tires standards.

They are out there. I cannot vouch for their quality or durability. I am in the process of locating new tires for my TT. I just do not have the room to run a 15-16 inch lt tire. My current ride has about 5 inches between the 205/75 14 tires. I will most likely go with a similar size st tire and be done with it.

mich800 wrote:

PartyMarty wrote:
Do I understand that your position is that a 65 mph rated ST tire is better than an S , T , or R speed rated tire ( 112mph, 118mph, 106mph respectively) in the LT rated tire for pickup use ?
Do I further understand that a speed rating for a vehicle carrying passengers requires a lower standard than a trailer vehicle carrying an RV or other commodity ( not passengers ) ?
That seems to be your position .

I think the point is that speed rating is not analogous to quality. If I put a 200 mph speed rated tire on my truck does not mean I am safer than if I had a 100 mph rated tire.

All I know is from my observation in Campgrounds-is that 90% RV trailer owners run ST. Now, if you translate that in to the 75% I saw exceeding 65mph on the Interstates on my 8,000 miles trip, it's pretty easy to make some correlations. I am for everybody driving legal speeds when towing. Thus, I don't want anyone running tires they can speed with. It's pretty scary to see a semi truck (and you ASSUME those drivers have more experience) or a 5th wheel owner pulling a 16,000 pound rig with a 3 ton pickup at 75-80mph. Pretty Scary!

mich800 wrote:

PartyMarty wrote:
Do I understand that your position is that a 65 mph rated ST tire is better than an S , T , or R speed rated tire ( 112mph, 118mph, 106mph respectively) in the LT rated tire for pickup use ?
Do I further understand that a speed rating for a vehicle carrying passengers requires a lower standard than a trailer vehicle carrying an RV or other commodity ( not passengers ) ?
That seems to be your position .

I think the point is that speed rating is not analogous to quality. If I put a 200 mph speed rated tire on my truck does not mean I am safer than if I had a 100 mph rated tire.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Still waiting for a links to the regs that establish more stringent standards for LT's than the one I posted for ST's, PartyMarty...

PartyMarty wrote:
Do I understand that your position is that a 65 mph rated ST tire is better than an S , T , or R speed rated tire ( 112mph, 118mph, 106mph respectively) in the LT rated tire for pickup use ?
Do I further understand that a speed rating for a vehicle carrying passengers requires a lower standard than a trailer vehicle carrying an RV or other commodity ( not passengers ) ?
That seems to be your position .

I think the point is that speed rating is not analogous to quality. If I put a 200 mph speed rated tire on my truck does not mean I am safer than if I had a 100 mph rated tire.

Do I understand that your position is that a 65 mph rated ST tire is better than an S , T , or R speed rated tire ( 112mph, 118mph, 106mph respectively) in the LT rated tire for pickup use ?
Do I further understand that a speed rating for a vehicle carrying passengers requires a lower standard than a trailer vehicle carrying an RV or other commodity ( not passengers ) ?
That seems to be your position .

PartyMarty wrote:
The point made was that LT tires are held to a higher standard than ST tires .

How was the point made?
Just saying something doesn't make it true, nor does its constant repetition on forums like this one do so. The fact of an ST's being lower speed rated isn't an indicator of inferiority- it's only a reflection of a different design parameter.

Here's a link to the most current standards I can find that apply to ST's. Link
As a matter of fact, this standard also applies to certain LT tires, to ALL tires for vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR, and to motorcycle tires, too.

In what way are these standards less rigorous than those for run-of-the-mill LT's? (Please do provide links to support any such assertions)

The point made was that LT tires are held to a higher standard than ST tires .
Who cares if the lawyers mandate that an LT tire is rated for 106 mph on a pickup and are derated to 75 mph for legal purposes on a trailer .
Looking at the other brands of LT tires I find none that are carrying the L speed rating of 75 mph .
All of those LT tires listed on Tire Rack are the S , T , R , ( Q = snow tires ) and are a minimum 99 mph tire .
Even at the derated 75 mph ( for trailer apps ) that is better than the ST tires rated at 65 mph and ST are not approved for any use in an LT application .
The simple answer is an LT tire is better than an ST tire .
The point lowsuv made is valid .

PartyMarty wrote:
Francesca,
it appears to me that all of Michelin's Light Truck tires are S , T , or R speed rated including the load range E tires.
S = 112 mph , T = 118 mph , R = 106 mph .
I do not find any Michelin LT tire with the lowly L rating .

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?customSizeSearch=&width=245%2F&ratio=75&diameter=16

I think lowsuv has it right .

If he's correct, it's only when it comes to the applications for which LT tires are actually designed, which is for installation on a light truck/SUV.

Did you look at the Michelin links I provided, especially the ones regarding the derating to 75mph of the Michelin Rib when used on an RV/trailer? For purposes of this discussion, that is, as relates to tires for trailers, I think those to be more relevant than any numbers stamped on the tire.