The China-Bomb debate Put to rest

rbpru wrote:
STs and LT do not operate in the same environment. LT are subjected to turning torque, acceleration torque, and day to day wear and tear to name a few. That is why they are tested to these and other requirements.

STs are designed and tested for straight tracking, lower rolling resistances and less sidewall flex and other trailer needs.

One can whine and complain about the use of the various tire types. But that does or change the fact that each is designed to do a specific task. It's suitability for that task is nothing more than opinion and rhetoric.

But how does square with the fact that for instance, Good Year, even though they also make ST tires, also states in their own documents that their LT tire can be used on trailers ?

Sounds to me like they are saying both their St and LT can be used interchangeably ( as long as within load limits ) on a trailer.

They are saying in effect, to use your words, "LT tires are suitable to the specific task of trailering"

EDIT: or perhaps I should say, "LT tires as well as ST tires are suitable for trailer applications".

That certainly seems to be the opinion of Dexter axle company, as well as many trailer companies ( Titan trailer as an example ).

EDIT2: I agree with your statement: "But that does or change the fact that each is designed to do a specific task".

It is my belief that regarding ST, that "task" is to provide a product that can be delivered at the absolute lowest price point possible. At that, the product is a wild success, as you would expect it to be. Build it in a place that has the lowest labor cost, a factory that may or may not meet the highest standards of production quality, and a testing standard that is lower than what other tires ( P, LT ) have to meet. Sounds like a business prescription to me that allows for a low price point indeed.