Best Tires for Travel Trailer?

Francesca Knowles wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:

gmw photos wrote:

hddecker wrote:


Safe tire!! And that is the bottom line. Give me a safe tire to buy!!!!!!!!

What part of LT TIRE do you not understand ?! :) :p

Some of us have used ST tires with no safety issues whatsoever. Therefore,as I have stated previously they are an "unnecessary expense".

:S

The thing, "CK", is that only those "LT" letters matter to those with A Certain Mindset. Logic, reason, and actual statistical proofs don't enter into the convo at all.

That's gotten to be so ludicrously true that RV manufacturers have finally tumbled to it and are now offering so-called "LT" tires as an (expensive) option on new trailers. Thing is, in most cases we're talking about a whole NEW kind of "LT tire"- specially made and labeled "for trailer use only", and speed limited...though I think in most cases the limit's higher than that of the lowly ST.Here's one example They're ST tires in drag, but as long as they have the coveted "LT" branding on the sidewall folks will be willing to pay through the nose for them and I guess sleep soundly in their beds at night.

Marketing geniuses once again seize upon Crowd-Sourced Hysteria and turn it to the advantage of the Marketeers! Gotta hand it to those fellas...:B

Well francesca, you win on one point, this will be my last response to your posts on an open forum. So many of your statements are so far from logical, so poorly thought out and worded there really is no reason to waste space trying to refute them.

I honestly do wish you safe travels, no matter how you set up your rigging.

The thing, "CK", is that only those "LT" letters matter to those with A Certain Mindset. Logic, reason, and actual statistical proofs don't enter into the convo at all.

That's gotten to be so ludicrously true that RV manufacturers have finally tumbled to it and are now offering so-called "LT" tires as an (expensive) option on new trailers. Thing is, in most cases we're talking about a whole NEW kind of "LT tire"- specially made and labeled "for trailer use only", and speed limited...though I think in most cases the limit's higher than that of the lowly ST.Here's one example They're ST tires in drag, but as long as they have the coveted "LT" branding on the sidewall folks will be willing to pay through the nose for them and I guess sleep soundly in their beds at night.

Marketing geniuses once again seize upon Crowd-Sourced Hysteria and turn it to the advantage of the Marketeers! Gotta hand it to those fellas...

LOL. Thats a good one. I believe this is the biggest whopper you've made so far.

FYI truck tires (LT) tires have been comming on trailers of all types including RVs many years before you became interested in pulling one.

In fact before we had ST tires the LT (truck tires) were all we had for larger trailers. Smaller lighter weight trailers came with passenger tires or P as their called today.

Nothing has changed other than a lot of new folks to the trailering world. We still get LT as OEM or upgrade options from some trailer manufacturers including RV trailers.

JJ,
Many fifth wheel trailers and heavier travel trailers come with ST tires from the factory. Good year states on their websites their own LT tires are suitable for direct replacement as long as the wheel rating is not exceeded.
Kumho builds a commercial LT tire they recommend as a "highway rib all position tire" that is "also recommended for trailer use". This is the 857, which is available in sizes that make it appropriate for smaller trailers.

=====
you stated:
"Why are almost every LT tire that is classified for a RV’s are speed restricted to 75 MPH even though the sidewall is marked differently???"
====
You will have to clarify that statement for me, because I don't understand what you mean ? What I do know is there is a huge selection of LT tires available in 15 and 16" sizes that are speed rated Q or R. That is just under and just over 100 mph. It is still up to the buyer to do his homework and choose all the different performance aspects he needs in a given product. So if a 75 mph speed rated tire is not adequate for the job, then that product would be deleted from consideration. I guess it goes without saying, if a 75 mph rating is not adequate, then a 65 mph certainly would not be. Here is a little side note, on speed rated tires, I took the ST tires off my camper that came OE, and they were actually speed rated ( according to the tire company ) 100 kph, which is only 62 mph.

Glad to see this discussion continuing. There are several folks here that are sharing some really good info on a very important topic regarding safe towing. After all, I believe that is ultimate goal we are all trying to share with one another: what is the safest way for us to get our trailer down the road, with the least likelihood of having to be dangerously stopped at the side of the road doing a unnecessary repair"

JJ wrote:
Why is it that no LT tire manufacture will recommend their tires for trailer use on any trailer that was originally equipped with a ST tire???

What a stretch. I personally have BFG and Firestone good wishes with a warranty for my LT E on my RV trailer that came OEM with ST tires and other trailers on my place.

Here's a email from a RV.net member on the same issue that FastEagle was pushing.

MICHELINS XPS RIBS RESPONCE
It was brougt up in a thread that the XPS Rib is not for use on trailers so I emailed Michelin to get a response to this matter.
Email response was:
Quote:

Thank you for your email. We welcome the opportunity to serve you.

Joe,
The Michelin XPS Rib can be used for recreational vehicles, trailer
travelers and pick up trucks. This is an all around tire for many different applications. I hope this answer your question. Again, thank you for being a Michelin consumer.

It is our goal to ensure that your issue has been resolved or your question answered to your satisfaction. If we can assist you further, please respond to this email or call us at 1-800-847-3435 (toll free) between 8:00AM and 8:00PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday or between 9:00AM and 5:00PM Eastern Time on Saturday.
Michelin North America
Consumer Care Department :quote"

What the LT tire manufacturer will not do is recommend a LT E at 3042 lbs capacity to replace a ST E at 3500 lbs capacity. The type of vehicle its on does not matter as Michelin says.

gmw photos wrote:

hddecker wrote:


Safe tire!! And that is the bottom line. Give me a safe tire to buy!!!!!!!!

What part of LT TIRE do you not understand ?! :) :p

Not to carry this on, but before switching to LT tires…

Why is it that no LT tire manufacture will recommend their tires for trailer use on any trailer that was originally equipped with a ST tire???

I know some trailers come with them or offer them as an option, but that doesn’t answer the question asked… what about the rest of the trailers???

When the tire mfg. is asked if their LT can be used for a replacement for a ST they never answer in the affirmative… I have been told the question boxes them into a corner… what corner???

If they wouldn’t recommend it for liability reasons, why shouldn’t I be concerned about those liability issues also???

Why do they not make LT tires that are or can be direct replacements for the ST tire???

Why are almost every LT tire that is classified for a RV’s are speed restricted to 75 MPH even though the sidewall is marked differently???

Still almost everyone that post they use LT ignores that and claims the sidewall speed rating is what they go by…

Why is it that relatively few all position heavy duty LT and/or medimum duty, even long haul tires of any brand or size are rated for trailer use if there aren’t real differences???

Why would a tire manufacture that does or doesn’t build a ST tire, not recommend their LT tire if it is the safer alternative???



Just asking… any links to a official site that recommends the use of the LT tire on light duty TT (under 10,000 pounds)…

CKNSLS wrote:

gmw photos wrote:

hddecker wrote:


Safe tire!! And that is the bottom line. Give me a safe tire to buy!!!!!!!!

What part of LT TIRE do you not understand ?! :) :p

Some of us have used ST tires with no safety issues whatsoever. Therefore,as I have stated previously they are an "unnecessary expense".

:S

The thing, "CK", is that only those "LT" letters matter to those with A Certain Mindset. Logic, reason, and actual statistical proofs don't enter into the convo at all.

That's gotten to be so ludicrously true that RV manufacturers have finally tumbled to it and are now offering so-called "LT" tires as an (expensive) option on new trailers. Thing is, in most cases we're talking about a whole NEW kind of "LT tire"- specially made and labeled "for trailer use only", and speed limited...though I think in most cases the limit's higher than that of the lowly ST.Here's one example They're ST tires in drag, but as long as they have the coveted "LT" branding on the sidewall folks will be willing to pay through the nose for them and I guess sleep soundly in their beds at night.

Marketing geniuses once again seize upon Crowd-Sourced Hysteria and turn it to the advantage of the Marketeers! Gotta hand it to those fellas...:B

CKNSLS wrote:

gmw photos wrote:

hddecker wrote:


Safe tire!! And that is the bottom line. Give me a safe tire to buy!!!!!!!!

What part of LT TIRE do you not understand ?! :) :p

I am sure some will come back to argue this more, but since an LT is rated to carry human beings, my guess is they are built to likely the highest standards there are.

Yes they cost more at point of sale. But they don't have to be thrown away on age alone in three to five years, so I will leave it up to individuals to do the math whether is is fewer dollars to use LT or ST based on that issue.

Even if an LT is an "unnecessary expense" as someone stated, me personally, if I can gain a safety advantage, and potentially "not be at the side of the road with a flat", by simply spending more money on a better tire, then to "me", it's worth it. Other folks views on how they spend their dollars on safety items are a personal decision for them.

Some of us have used ST tires with no safety issues whatsoever. Therefore,as I have stated previously they are an "unnecessary expense".

Any argument against LT tires is nothing more than a smoke screen. If one were to just count up the number of reported ST tire failures vs the reported number of LT tire failures right here on RV.Net there would be no reason to even have these kinds of discussions.

gmw photos wrote:

hddecker wrote:


Safe tire!! And that is the bottom line. Give me a safe tire to buy!!!!!!!!

What part of LT TIRE do you not understand ?! :) :p

I am sure some will come back to argue this more, but since an LT is rated to carry human beings, my guess is they are built to likely the highest standards there are.

Yes they cost more at point of sale. But they don't have to be thrown away on age alone in three to five years, so I will leave it up to individuals to do the math whether is is fewer dollars to use LT or ST based on that issue.

Even if an LT is an "unnecessary expense" as someone stated, me personally, if I can gain a safety advantage, and potentially "not be at the side of the road with a flat", by simply spending more money on a better tire, then to "me", it's worth it. Other folks views on how they spend their dollars on safety items are a personal decision for them.

Some of us have used ST tires with no safety issues whatsoever. Therefore,as I have stated previously they are an "unnecessary expense".

hddecker wrote:


Safe tire!! And that is the bottom line. Give me a safe tire to buy!!!!!!!!

What part of LT TIRE do you not understand ?! :) :p

I am sure some will come back to argue this more, but since an LT is rated to carry human beings, my guess is they are built to likely the highest standards there are.

Yes they cost more at point of sale. But they don't have to be thrown away on age alone in three to five years, so I will leave it up to individuals to do the math whether is is fewer dollars to use LT or ST based on that issue.

Even if an LT is an "unnecessary expense" as someone stated, me personally, if I can gain a safety advantage, and potentially "not be at the side of the road with a flat", by simply spending more money on a better tire, then to "me", it's worth it. Other folks views on how they spend their dollars on safety items are a personal decision for them.

JJBIRISH wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:

JJBIRISH wrote:

hddecker wrote:

JJBIRISH wrote:


hddecker ,
possibly Carlisle bias ply tires are still made in the USA, I think they were made in Carlisle PA but moved the plant to Tennessee.. Some of the rubber stock I believe is made in Greenville Illinois, but all of this was a few years ago so can not guarantee it today…

gmw wrote:

I belive that you are correct about the bias ply. The problem is they don't make a 16", then too bias ply are not really the best RV tire.

This whole argument over tires, be it brand or ST vs LT is never going to be resolved. It will forever and a day come down to a personal choice. The only thing that I am sure about is I won't pay a premium for Goodyear Marathons made in China.

It will go on and on until the involved industries decide it’s in their best interest to do something about it… the end user isn’t demanding better and is more than willing to accept the status quo, then go and spend another $1500+ to address it themselves…

I can’t imagine a salesman selling a new trailer and after penning the deal says, oh by the way you owe me another $1500 if you want tires that are safe enough to get the trailer home…
Yet that is essentially what happens with every trailer sent off the lot, and our silence is deafening at the showroom…

there is no concern what so ever for what we the replacement market think or what we want… we are an easy mark and they know it… they created the division and continue to drive the division home…
they do it by plaqueding the trailer for the ST tire with their known shortcomings and lack of required reserve capacity and stopped building most LT tires in sizes that we use for our trailers and the required de-rating causing under sizing on most of the rest, even though it’s primarily a legal and liability issue (I am often accused of lying about this)... it keeps the division alive and well…

they are blurring the lines even farther with the newer euro-commercial line of tires and right now their effort seem to center around limiting or keeping them out of our US market… an example of that might be that GY has about 6 lines of euro- commercial tires but are not importing them to the US yet…

still the arguments will be the same but there will be more choices of under-rated tires out there with even closer ratings…

and still they (all of them) REFUSE TO RECOMMEND A LT TIRE for trailer use even one of sufficient size in the US…

The problem is when an ST tires blow it's an UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIM (99.5% as to cause). Some of us run the same tires, adhere to the published SPEED RESTRICTIONS and don't have issues. Therefore, LT tires are a unnecessary expense.

I run an ST tire and adhere to the published SPEED RESTRICTIONS… I too have not ever had a on the road related failure…

While I agree speed is a part of the problem and there are other problems cause by operator error that cause tire failure, I am not naive enough to believe the ST tire itself doesn’t have some inherent problems causing many of the failures… low certification requirements and builders that use those requirements as the target for quality are what allows for this,,,
most tire failure claims go UNSUBSTANTIATED or don’t have definitive proof of the cause… warranty coverage is more often a credible claim, judgment, and visual agreement with no expensive tire forensics done on each tire…

I know you saw a lot of people speeding and so do I, but I can’t put a percentage on it and it would not prove anything if I did ignoring raises the risk of failure not ensures it…

If 75% of the RV’s you see are in fact speeding and only 1% or 2% fail or have a blowout, that might be considered a good record… it takes much data to prove an assumption…

most data is propitiatory and not available to us so we all make our own assumptions… ones assumption is as good as another,
except for mine they are the correct ones…

FORGET THE ST/LT DESIGNATION… A SAFE TIRE SHOULD BE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON ANY HIGHWAY VEHICLE SOLD…

Safe tire!! And that is the bottom line. Give me a safe tire to buy!!!!!!!!