DiskDoctr wrote:
W.E.BGood wrote:
DiskDoctr said, "I'm amazed at the "stick with P rated oem" posts. I have to suspect these are folks with limited towing experience."
That's a pretty arrogant statement.
Not intended that way. If someone has only towed a limited number of times or miles, or only a few different scenarios (camper, cargo, utility, car, etc), they can relate their own experience, but it would be limited.
Doesn't mean they aren't satisfied, but if they haven't tried other combinations of equipment anf scenarios, it would be difficult to make a reliable generalization.
It does seem many who say "Stick with P OEM tires" have never tried the LT option. In which case, their input is still perfectly valid as, "I have stayed with xyz P tires from OEM and I'm happy," but doesn't really address the LT vs P tires question.
All input is valuable, no offense was or is intended :)
My limit of towing knowledge is I've never towed a 5ver or anything over 6k #s. But I have well over 20 years experience of towing all sorts of different trailers with different types of tires, P and LT, and different TVs from Suburbans and vans to cars and PUs. Also, in grass, on loose gravel, and on mud roads. 10-12 years ago I would have 100% agreed that LTs are the way to go. I owned 3 Suburbans and on every one of them I put on LTs first chance I got. Huge difference in towing stability.
However, what JIMNLIN stated is correct. It wasn't all that long ago that you could not buy a P rated tire that was able to take more than 32 or 35 PSI. But manufacturers saw the need for a tougher tire that wasn't an LT but could be run safely on full size trucks and SUVs and handle the rated load (read up on the specs and requirements behind the tire/load rating sticker in the door!). Now I can air 'em up to 50 psi and they are every bit as stable as any LT I have used in the past. That said I haven't used LTs in many years now. My Sierra has P rated tires on it and they are just fine for towing.
That's not to say you should tow a 5ver or some other large trailer with them. But in cases like the OP, I see no reason to get rid of a good set of tires. When he's ready to replace them, maybe then.
