The China-Bomb debate Put to rest

gmw photos wrote:
Where I differ in opinion on much of this discussion is that on these forums, the proponents of ST will often state, "ST are for trailers, LT are for trucks".

At the very least, these guys are implying that using LT on a trailer is misapplication of the product. This point is where new folks to the trailering world often get confused by all the rhetoric. Many times, the new folks come on here and state that based on their reading of these threads, "the strong implication is they must use ST on the trailer, because LT is simply not made for trailers....it's made for trucks.

This is spreading misinformation to honestly new folks who are just trying to get solid reliable information to help in making a decision.

The truth is, the tire companies, the axles companies, and the trailer companies DO SAY that LT is an appropriate fitment for trailers.

If a person wants to buy a cheap tire, then by all means, vote with your dollars and buy a cheap tire. But let's be honest about it all and look at the total picture, without trying to confuse the issue with statements and implications that are misleading.

First: The tire manufacturer themselves have stated time and again exactly what you wrote: St's are for trailers and LT's are for trucks.

This is backed up by others in the industry such as the Tire media and Tire resellers both online and Brick and mortar stores. It is NOT just a statement you see here.

Now CAN one use an LT on a trailer? Surely But it may not be the BEST choice. Will it work? Yes in most cases. But this is NOT the issue at hand here really.

The issue here is; are LT tires INTRINSICALLY better than ST tires on trailers as some claim. My answer and the answer of the industry is NO they are not.

Your other claim that: The truth is, the tire companies, the axles companies, and the trailer companies DO SAY that LT is an appropriate fitment for trailers.

This is just not so. Tire companies have NOT said this. It is true that trailer manufacturers have put LT's on some trailers. And it is interesting how some see that as affirmation that LT's are better for trailers than ST's. The TRUTH may be they just were able to get the size they needed for a better price as many more millions of LT tires are made than ST.

The problem with the LT"s-are-always-better folks is that their skepticism only goes one way.

They deplore ST "China Bombs" on trailers and claim nothing in China is quality but they NEVER give a thought to where their LT tires were made.

They claim that LT tires are better but ignore the clear data that shows how many problems LT tires have had over the years. (While those problems exist they are so small in number as to be meaningless statistically as it is for ST tires)

Again I have posted in this thread several direct sources countering this LT is superior to the ST argument but still after 16 plus pages not a single LT supporter, China Tire hater, has posted a single direct source able to back up their claims.