Jamesconn
Mar 13, 2015Explorer
Tires
Are the tires that come with the TT from the store cheaply made? I am going to puchase one soon for fulltiming since my work takes me all over the midwest. I think im already set on one with 4 whe...
rbpru wrote:
Hunting dog,
Your analysis is good except that the LT is tested longer and tougher because it is expected to do more. LTs are for light trucks, they are expected to withstand the rigors of acceleration, braking, steering torque, off road use, and a host of other things that a TT tire will never have to endure.
An ST tire is also designed to withstand braking but its principle design feature is the resistance to the heavy sidewall strain of a TT and other trailer types. LT are not tested for this because it is not expected in their use.
To test an ST to LT standards is the same as mounting LT tires on an Indy racing car and expecting top performance. You are asking it to do something it was not designed for. Likewise an Indy racing slick tire probably would not make a very good light truck tire.
The tire industry looked at the requirements needed for trailer applications a designed the ST to do the job. If the tire industry thought an LT was a good choice for trailers they would be selling them instead. The cost is about the same and they already make dozens of LT models for about any light truck application.
It is the same with “P” tires on half ton pick-ups. Tens of millions are sold and replaced every year. It is true that type P tires are not as durable as an LT, they cannot handle the load of an LT but type P tires work fine for their intended applications.
If switching to LTs makes a person sleep better because they survive and bank of tests, then but all means that is what that person should have.
Personally I prefer a tire specifically designed for the application.