LT Tire vs ST Tire

Lowsuv wrote:
Designation is the KEY word regarding ST versus LT .

1) The standards are higher / tougher for the LT tire .
The evidence that shows up is when you compare the load ratings for equivalent size & load range tires , ST vs LT .

2) The ST tire is often sidewall rated for a higher weight rating than the LT tire ,
even though both tires are the same size and PSI Load Range .

#1 YOU are basing your WHOLE premise on LTs being superior to STs SOLELY ON SPEED RATINGS.

That is a FALSE sense of security, just because a tire is rated at 75 or even 100 MPH does not mean it is totally superior and can replace all other tires in all cases.

Are YOU an TIRE engineer that you can make this call?

I doubt it.

#2 YOU ARE actually making the aurgument FOR STs being that STs ARE SUPERIOR in the SIDEWALLs over LTs.

In the case of multi axle trailers THIS IS where STs are designed for.

Multi axle trailers put a SEVERE SIDE LOAD on the tires when cornering (IE TURNING) so unless you never, ever TURN (IE DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE) you ARE heavily loading LT tires on the sidewalls BEYOND what they are designed for.

LT tires are also designed to GRIP the road (IE TRACTION), with trailers you do not need this grip, in fact this grip actually makes the tires STICK to the road while turning which puts even more excessive side load on the tires, running gear, frame.

ST tires are designed with LESS grip which allows them to break traction when a side load is presented. This allows the tires to "hop" a bit to help relieve excess side loads.

LTs under excessive side loads may grip hard enough to roll the bead loose if you don't end up bending or breaking the running gear in the process.

If you have ever watched a multi axle trailer from the back when they are making a tight turn you WILL see the axles SHIFT side to side by several inches.

The ONLY reason folks tend to get away with LTs is by moving drastically up the load rate. This often means higher tire pressures which in turn means buying higher pressure rated rims and often larger rims.

The danger in this is by using higher pressures you are now subjecting your trailer to a firmer ride which if not designed for that can cause other damage to the running gear and even the contents of your trailer.

Think of running higher pressures as the same as not having any spring suspension, the entire frame and anything else on that frame gets shocked harder for a given bump.

Everyone likes to blame STs for their blowouts the problem is no one has brought forth any actual PROOF they THEY HAVE SEEN with their own two eyes at the EXACT MOMENT when the tire failed. Instead they bring forth the EVIDENCE of a tire failure but not any EVIDENCE AS IT HAPPENED.

Basically put, unless you have cameras on each tire, cameras watching the road path in front of the tire (no objects to puncture like bolts, nails screws, wood, metal or even potholes), cameras INSIDE the tire and you never ever make a turn, hop a curb or any other unusual things you have NOTHING OTHER THAN AN OPINION.

Tires blow, even LTs, I lost one on my truck years ago when I DROVE OVER A BOLT LAYING ON THE ROAD. I never saw the bolt, the front tire drove over it fine but the back tire BLEW OUT when it contacted the bolt. While I didn't find the bolt, the tire shop pointed out the SIZE of the opening on the INSIDE of the tire was about the size of a bolt.

Go ahead and use what you "feel" is good for you if it makes you happy, but perhaps you should rethink the position that LTs replace in ALL situations..