The new ST tires. Fact or fiction (marketing)
It is good that some manufacturers seem to be stepping up the quality of their ST tire offerings.. And even better that many of the proponents of ST tires on this forum are welcoming these new tires w...
Forum Discussion
rbpru wrote:No lack of understanding here. And I never once blamed the country of origin. In fact on the many sets of ST tires I owned I never even looked to see where they were made. I just don't think that is a problem.
As always the profound lack of understanding of the ST tire raises its head.
The ST was designed; with stiffer side walls, with UV resistant compounds, with a tread designed for straight pull and less rolling resistance and a service speed of 65 mph.
The were and still are designed for trailer use. Horse trailers, utility trailer, travel trailers and about any other type trailer you pull down the road. That has been their intended use decades as they were the replacement for the "P" type tire used previously.
For several years there was a controversy because the tire manufacturers switched to far-east production and suffered a loss quality control. That issue seems to have past and there was never any negative reports by the DOT. That does not keep folks from complaining and blaming every tire failure on foreign manufacturing.
Once again the industry has recognized a need for an improved tire and manufactures are responding.
Rest assured that once manufacturing is perfected they too will be built by cheaper labor.
But the ST tire did not come about to replace the "p" tires which were NOT commonly used in trailer service.
Rather they were to replace more expensive LT tires.
This is a quote used by many in the industry
" The ST tire is an affordable tire solution for your trailering needs"
Sounds good doesn't it?
Note what it doesn't say.
That it is a better tire than the LTs that were used before.
Said another way; " The ST tire is a cheaper tire that is good enough for trailer use"
This is a far more accurate statement.
All of the so called benefits of the ST tires are not tested for in the govt. regs.
In fact the ST vs LT tire testing standards are/were vastly different. The LT must past far more stringent tests over all.
As for the special needs of trailer tires.. There is only one test that could apply to that. the bead unseating force. Those tests are identical for both STs and LTs.
I particularly like the shallower tread for cooler running of ST tires claim. That is a joke. First off, heat is not a big problem as trailer tires spend most all of their time simply rolling down the road following the TVs tires which do most of the work.
Next it is common knowledge in the tire world that shallow tread means less puncture resistance, and less traction (more hydroplaning) What shallow tread DOES mean to the manufacturer is less rubber used in the tire, and a cheaper cost. Then there is the claim that fewer plies with thicker cords are used for the same reasons... It is also cheaper to make it using this method.
Of course saying it that way would not sound good when one is trying to sell a tire. So a positive spin is put on it. Also known as marketing.
This works for many as most trailer tires age out far before the tread wears out. And most consumers are really sensitive to cost.
They simply cannot justify paying LT prices for a TT tire that only gets used 2-3 times a year for far less than a 1000 miles a year, and doesn't carry passengers. Vs. their TV tires which are used everyday for tens of thousands of miles a year and do carry people.
So if a cheaper ST tire meets your needs, it is perfectly legal to use them on your trailer. It is also perfectly legal to use LTs on your trailer.
However it is NOT legal to use ST tires on your TV!!
That fact alone speaks volumes.
