ST tires vs LT tires.

Here's a example of 14" LT. There are others also.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=Y356&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=975R4356&tab=Specs

Ughh... I just went through all of this. I blew a 2 year old Carlisle "Radial Trail RH" 215-75R14 tire with little more than 3K on it. Always keep them at max pressure. This was after two had flats, and when Discount Tire was removing them all, they found another was ready to blow due to tread separation. Seems that they were not all very new when I got the set in Kingman in 2014. Two were pretty new (2114) and the other three were (3113) dated.

Darn thing took my fender with it, and some clown drove over the fender for no reason on the highway while I was walking back to get it. Everyone else missed it, as it was on the centerline!!!

Well, after talking ad nauseam to many people who are both in the tire business and the trailer business, this is what I learned:

1. LT tires usually have better tread and will resist punctures and heat better IF they are rated for the load you need to carry. Sadly, the only 14" LT tires out there are General Grabbers (LT8.5/70.14) but only had a 1,520 lb weight rating. The ST's that are closest in size are 1,870 lbs. I couldn't even go to 15's because my axles are too close together. Wheel well was no problem. Something to think about if you are considering a larger rim and don't have one of the newer spread axle trailers.

2. LT's are generally just as susceptible to sidewall puncture as ST's. "generally" Because some are designed to protect the sidewall, BUT you more than likely will NOT find them in something to fit your trailer without heavy mods.

3. Contrary to what's posted here, many ST tires are now rated at higher speeds than 65. Sadly, the Maxis tires are still 65, so that eliminated getting those for me, as our highways are 75 here...

4. Carlisle now has a "Radial Trail HD" rated tire. It was twice the price, beefier sidewall and tread. Got a set and hope they hold up. They are C load rated (1,870 Lbs) also speed rated to 79 MPH (Per Discount Tire) They supposedly now have a D load rated one in a 205/75 @65 PSI, but I was not offered that at Discount Tire, however, it is on Carlisle's website. Wish I knew about it last week. Maybe I can get them swapped. My trailer originally had 205's and the upsize was for more load capacity.

I'll report back as these age. I only expect 2 years out of them, but I will be pleasantly surprised If they go three. They do look better, as in more durable...

Info about Radial Trail HD tires.

Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:

dave54 wrote:

Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:
Maxxis are good quality ST tires that aren't made in China.

Final assembly in Thailand, using Chinese made components.

I took a look at their website and didn't see any of the information you gave. Maybe you could site it or provide a link to where you're getting this information.

It doesn't say anything like that.

Currently there are two brands of ST tires that get endorsement here in any numbers that would lend credence to their validity. The Maxxis M8008 has been a consistent performer for a number of years, has a 5 year warranty and is made in Thailand. More recently the Carlisle Trail RH/HD has gotten good reviews, I have no idea where they are made.

Lynnmor wrote:

Boon Docker wrote:
Your "tire man" needs a new line of work, seeing as he doesn't have a clue about the industry.

I think that the "tire man" knows what he is doing. Steering folks away from the cheap junk is a public service.

I wouldn't call giving out inaccurate information a public service. If you can't give your customers accurate info then you shouldn't be in that specific line of work.

Huntindog wrote:
....snip....

True but..... There are a lot of "ifs" in that thinking. Too many times those "ifs" have let consumers down, when the "ifs" did not happen in the manufacturing process. This seems to happen a lot more with China than in other countries.

.....snip.....

Based on my first hand experience from the company I am now retired from ( not tires ), I agree with Huntindog's assessment.

When we outsourced to China, the big "IF" that we found to be true was this: if we had our people there, on site, in the plant in China, we could get consistent QC. As soon as we pulled our folks out, quality went down. Send our engineer back over there to look over their shoulder....quality went up again.

So the real question is, as a consumer, how do you know "if" the tire company, in this case, is riding herd over the production ? Unless you work for, are inside the company, you don't.

And all that simply speaks to the quality of the product being built to a standard. It's not even considering the differing standards and testing for different classes of tires.

Your money, your choice. It's good to have choice in the marketplace, especially if some folks want to purchase at the very lowest price point. But they would do well to be informed, and know what they are trading away in order to get that inexpensive retail price.

It certainly is a dynamic world. Where a product is manufactured and what percentage is manufactured there changes daily.

To say brand X is made here or there may not be accurate a month later.

Even the far east companies sub-contract products to other lesser developed countries.

At this particular point in time, one can only depend on the reputation of the seller.

Boon Docker wrote:
Your "tire man" needs a new line of work, seeing as he doesn't have a clue about the industry.

I think that the "tire man" knows what he is doing. Steering folks away from the cheap junk is a public service.

My Open Range came with Westlake ST tires. In the last 15 months I've pulled it over 20K miles. Never the first bit of a problem.

I'm looking for new tires only because I broke a leaf spring and think I probably went a few 100 miles with it broken and wore the outside of a couple of the tires when the axle cocked a little with the broken spring.

Lots of folks say "don't ever buy tires made in China" I don't understand it but my experience has not been any worse than with tires with differing countries of origin.

Only 2 blow outs I've ever had on an RV were on a Goodyear(LT) and Michelin(LT). Have no idea where they were manufactured.