The China-Bomb debate Put to rest
Almost every week or more a thread appears with someone with a tire question. And just as predictably the China Bomb experts come out and start decrying all Chinese made tires. Then usually they re...
Forum Discussion
More fact and less fiction on the ST vs LT debate.
The below is from MTD (Modern Tire Dealer a Tire industry publication.):
No substitutes for ST
Consumers may be tempted to swap their ST tires for LT tires. The experts who contributed to this MTD article advise against it due to potential differences in load capacity.
“The sidewall of a trailer tire is designed to support a load while being towed; an LT tire is originally designed to be used on a light truck. Overall, performance in a towing application is better served with an ST tire. Anytime an ST tire is available for a trailer it will better serve the consumer,” says Kenda’s Ostrowski.
Tsai says that as long as the size is the same, people will always assume that they can use a P or LT tire to substitute for an ST tire. “Many don’t think about or take into consideration that Ps/LTs and ST are designed significantly different from each other. Just as in the case of a P-metric versus an LT, the tires are built differently from one another. ST tires are built to carry heavy loads on non-powered axles. Your average ST tire built in the same size as a LT or P will carry a heavier load. The compound in an ST tire is also different and optimized for its application,” he says.
Now there are a FEW VERY FEW manufacturers that are making Hybrid LT/ST tires now. But They share the characteristics of the ST stated above. And like all hybrids are probably something of a compromise.
The below is from MTD (Modern Tire Dealer a Tire industry publication.):
No substitutes for ST
Consumers may be tempted to swap their ST tires for LT tires. The experts who contributed to this MTD article advise against it due to potential differences in load capacity.
“The sidewall of a trailer tire is designed to support a load while being towed; an LT tire is originally designed to be used on a light truck. Overall, performance in a towing application is better served with an ST tire. Anytime an ST tire is available for a trailer it will better serve the consumer,” says Kenda’s Ostrowski.
Tsai says that as long as the size is the same, people will always assume that they can use a P or LT tire to substitute for an ST tire. “Many don’t think about or take into consideration that Ps/LTs and ST are designed significantly different from each other. Just as in the case of a P-metric versus an LT, the tires are built differently from one another. ST tires are built to carry heavy loads on non-powered axles. Your average ST tire built in the same size as a LT or P will carry a heavier load. The compound in an ST tire is also different and optimized for its application,” he says.
Now there are a FEW VERY FEW manufacturers that are making Hybrid LT/ST tires now. But They share the characteristics of the ST stated above. And like all hybrids are probably something of a compromise.
