profdant139 wrote:
I'm using Endurance ST tires. But a lot of people who I consider to be very smart use LT tires. So reasonable minds can differ on that point; the fact that so many smart folks use LT tires causes me to doubt my own decision to use ST.
But here is my question -- the manufacturers, such as Goodyear, strongly recommend ST tires for trailers. They know that they could be sued if their products are defective, so it seems to me that they have a strong incentive to recommend the safest alternative. That tips the scale for me -- I give a lot of weight to that recommendation, on the theory that they know more about tires than I do. I am not an expert in this area.
So for those of you who use LT tires, do you have a theory as to WHY the manufacturers do not recommend LT tires for towing? Note that I am not asking whether LT tires are better -- I assume that those of you who use LT have carefully concluded that they are superior to ST.
My question is why don't the manufacturers reach the same conclusion?
Cost and fitment. Most TT and even some 5th wheels won't except a 16" rim and tire. Add the extra cost and the penny pinchers in the front office get scared that they're now priced out of their niche market.
Couple all that with the fact that a huge segment of buyers have no clue about tires and it's probably unprofitable for them.
ST tires fit right in with the rest of the cheap stuff in RV's anyway.
