I'm shopping for new tires for my trailer and a couple of questions have come up. I see the ST tires generally are speed rated at 65 mph. I have a light unit and often cruise at 70 if traffic is light. I see some posters mention using Light Truck tires instead. Anyone with experience that can enlighten me on how to decide on what I should get? And, if you can recommend specific brands that have served you well, it would be helpful.

I use Cooper LT tires they have been working well for me. I believe I am in the minority on the list however. I haven't seen any posts where the folks here are using Coopers. So you will get lots and lots of suggestions on different tires. I think the majority consensuses is, do not get anything made in China. But to answer your question I use Discovery H/T LT I like them. My rig weighs 8000 or there abouts.

I've always used LT tires after replacing the original ST tires.Have the tire shop match the size of your ST tires and make sure you get a weight rating on the tire that is more than what is required just for added safety.

According to one of your earlier threads, you've had the original ST's for six years. Since they've lasted that long trouble free despite exceeding their speed limit, one would think you'd be satisfied with their performance-?That aside: I'm betting that your trailer has 13 or 14 inch tires. Nobody makes an LT that fits rims that size. Kumho makes a 14" trailer tire that is also sold in Europe (but not in North America) for vans. It doesn't say "ST" on it. It might fit the rims if they're 14", though I believe it's a little taller/wider than typical OEM ST's. Fit in the wheel well may be problematic.Best advice: buy good quality ST's and slow down.

I use Michelin XPS ribs. These are widely thought to be the best of the best... But they are pricey.After as many problems as I had with STs, when I made the jump, I went all in. I have never been sorry.Many are running Bridgestones, which are more reasonable. Just about any LT in the proper weight range will serve you well.

I use P tires on my single axle trailers up to 3400 lbs. I also use P tires on a couple of my smaller tandem axle trailers. However I've noticed many of the 78 series P tires are becoming scarce. Not knowing what size tires you need leads to lots of guessing and not so good recommendations.

Tire choice | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

Shavano
Explorer
May 01, 2014
Steve B. wrote:
My trailer was actually built in 2000. It is a repro of a '57 Shasta, as far as I can tell. Only a few were made, up in Vancouver. It's a beautiful little camper, all wood - birch and maple inside. I'm retiring this year and planning on longer trips, thus the need for some good new tires. Looks like I'm going with the Kumhos.

OP made decision on tires. I'm closing this thread so that it does not have a chance to degenerate into another argument.
Steve_B_
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
My trailer was actually built in 2000. It is a repro of a '57 Shasta, as far as I can tell. Only a few were made, up in Vancouver. It's a beautiful little camper, all wood - birch and maple inside. I'm retiring this year and planning on longer trips, thus the need for some good new tires. Looks like I'm going with the Kumhos.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Apr 26, 2014
steveB
when the trailer in your pic was made there was no ST tires. Our trailers came with P (passenger) tires.
As campers became longer/heavier the larger passenger tires only carried 32 psi which lead to tire bead unseating as the trailer tires side scrubbed around corners. The trailer industry moved up to the the LT (truck tire) tire for those trailers.
Camping trailer owners didn't like the high cost of the truck tires sitting for months/years so the tire industry gave us a compromise special trailer tire (ST).

For years we had 14"/15" large 78 series P tires and LT tires to choose from. Today our 14" LT are gone with a couple of 15" LT sizes left. Even our 78 series P tires have dwindled to just a few sizes as most P tires have moved into the 60/55/50 series tires and larger diameters.

The 14" all position tires such as the Kumho or the U-168 Maxxis commercial grade LT tire IMO would be your best bet for traveling at speeds above 60-65 mph.
Lowsuv
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
Steve ,
You need to look at the post by PartyMarty .
He gave you the best answer .
LT scale :
Kumho 857
size 205R14
99 mph speed rating
2271 pound weight rating .
As JimW pointed out these are readily available on tire rack .
Last spring I ordered Continental tires from tire rack on a Monday .
They were delivered to my tire shop on Wednesday , and installed on Thursday .
After much discussion of 14 inch tires , nobody has found a better solution than the 2271 # rating , 99 mph rating , Kumho 857 for trailer usage .
FastEagle
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
Steve B. wrote:
The tires that came on it (and I replaced with the same once) are not ST tires. They were put on to compliment the vintage styling, with wide whitewalls. They are repros of vintage tires. I knew nothing about tires for a trailer at that point. I didn't even know there were special trailer tires until a couple of months ago. I like that they have more tread on the ground, than the tires currently on the trailer which look like they are a narrow tread width. Then I read about the speed rating for the ST tires, and I had second thoughts. That led me to finding the postings about LT tires. The spare I have is an ST tire, and the trailer manufacturer included the size tire required, which is 205/14 (I don't have the specifics with me right now). If they don't make 14" LT tires, then I guess that solves the issue. I'll look around and check out all of the postings here. I appreciate all of the help.

Check these out.

Tires

The tire rack has all three sizes.

Dealer

FastEagle
Steve_B_
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
The tires that came on it (and I replaced with the same once) are not ST tires. They were put on to compliment the vintage styling, with wide whitewalls. They are repros of vintage tires. I knew nothing about tires for a trailer at that point. I didn't even know there were special trailer tires until a couple of months ago. I like that they have more tread on the ground, than the tires currently on the trailer which look like they are a narrow tread width. Then I read about the speed rating for the ST tires, and I had second thoughts. That led me to finding the postings about LT tires. The spare I have is an ST tire, and the trailer manufacturer included the size tire required, which is 205/14 (I don't have the specifics with me right now). If they don't make 14" LT tires, then I guess that solves the issue. I'll look around and check out all of the postings here. I appreciate all of the help.
JJBIRISH
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
Huntindog wrote:
JJBIRISH wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
I use Michelin XPS ribs. These are widely thought to be the best of the best... But they are pricey.
After as many problems as I had with STs, when I made the jump, I went all in. I have never been sorry.
Many are running Bridgestones, which are more reasonable. Just about any LT in the proper weight range will serve you well.

ALL IN

:B

:B That is awesome!! But I bet the speed rating is pretty low.:B

That’s just the spare being balanced…

The trailer

And a little bike for the back bumper rack…
Huntindog
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
JJBIRISH wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
I use Michelin XPS ribs. These are widely thought to be the best of the best... But they are pricey.
After as many problems as I had with STs, when I made the jump, I went all in. I have never been sorry.
Many are running Bridgestones, which are more reasonable. Just about any LT in the proper weight range will serve you well.

ALL IN

:B

:B That is awesome!! But I bet the speed rating is pretty low.:B
JJBIRISH
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
Huntindog wrote:
I use Michelin XPS ribs. These are widely thought to be the best of the best... But they are pricey.
After as many problems as I had with STs, when I made the jump, I went all in. I have never been sorry.
Many are running Bridgestones, which are more reasonable. Just about any LT in the proper weight range will serve you well.

ALL IN

:B
jimw606
Explorer
Apr 25, 2014
Francesca Knowles wrote:
According to one of your earlier threads, you've had the original ST's for six years. Since they've lasted that long trouble free despite exceeding their speed limit, one would think you'd be satisfied with their performance-?

That aside:

I'm betting that your trailer has 13 or 14 inch tires. Nobody makes an LT that fits rims that size. Kumho makes a 14" trailer tire that is also sold in Europe (but not in North America) for vans. It doesn't say "ST" on it. It might fit the rims if they're 14", though I believe it's a little taller/wider than typical OEM ST's. Fit in the wheel well may be problematic.

Best advice: buy good quality ST's and slow down.

Look here for 14" http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/kumho/ku_radial_857_ci2_l.jpg

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