LT tires for 5th

[StirCrazy]

who is running LT tires on their 5th wheel and what kind are you running? I want to replace all my tires this year and was looking at the sailun but that would require new rims to use properly so I am wondering what the dark side is running 😉

Steve

[fj12ryder]

StirCrazy wrote:

MNRon wrote:
StirCrazy - good comments here about LT vs ST specs and testing. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is that ST have stiffer sidewalls for the tire scrubbing that will happen on tandem and triple axle trailers. LT are designed with more margin and to higher standards, but they are designed for a different application than ST. I would recommend sticking to ST, and specifically recommend looking at Sailuns (that I have good experiences with - besides, much cheaper than a good LT tire).

yup and that's what I have always said myself, but I was looking into it as a few new rv's are coming out with LT tires, so it muddies up the water. I was going to go with sailun but after talking with them, they should be run at 110psi not at 80, so that would mean I would need new rims also. more to think about.

I've run Sailun's at less than 110 psi, but not as low as 80 psi. I ran mine down at 90-95 psi, with no issues and they lasted 6+ years and still looked good. I had a triple axle at the time and my load was about 5,000 lbs. per axle, so they were way over tired.

[fj12ryder]

MNRon wrote:
StirCrazy - good comments here about LT vs ST specs and testing. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is that ST have stiffer sidewalls for the tire scrubbing that will happen on tandem and triple axle trailers. LT are designed with more margin and to higher standards, but they are designed for a different application than ST. I would recommend sticking to ST, and specifically recommend looking at Sailuns (that I have good experiences with - besides, much cheaper than a good LT tire).

I've heard that tons of times that ST tires have stiffer sidewalls, none of which I've ever seen in the real world. ST tires have wimpy sidewalls compared to good LT tires. The old ST dealer's story keeps coming up and refuses to go away, even though it's wrong. Repeating wrong data doesn't make it right.

[Thermoguy]

You should drive a little south the get a better deal. Just check Goodyear and the Goodyear Wrangler HT with USEF discount is $883 installed at my local dealer. $215 per tire before discount. I have a trailer that needs tires this year due to age. Not a bad price.

[StirCrazy]

Thermoguy wrote:

MNRon wrote:
StirCrazy - good comments here about LT vs ST specs and testing. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is that ST have stiffer sidewalls for the tire scrubbing that will happen on tandem and triple axle trailers. LT are designed with more margin and to higher standards, but they are designed for a different application than ST. I would recommend sticking to ST, and specifically recommend looking at Sailuns (that I have good experiences with - besides, much cheaper than a good LT tire).

That is a good comment and why the dealers tell you to use an ST tire for trailers. But, in real world testing, I had a them take off a Hercules ST tire I had purchased to get me through my trip and to the tire dealer to replace all 4. When not mounted with my hands I could flex the ST tire, and couldn't with the LT. I'm sure all tires are different. Also considered Sailun tires, but found them to be more expensive than the LT tires I went with and didn't want to go to Walmart for service. Felt more comfortable working with a tire shop vs a chain store.

ya the sailun here would cost me about 1200 dollars installed, the cheapest LT tires are coming in at 1300 all the way up to 2000.00

[StirCrazy]

MNRon wrote:
StirCrazy - good comments here about LT vs ST specs and testing. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is that ST have stiffer sidewalls for the tire scrubbing that will happen on tandem and triple axle trailers. LT are designed with more margin and to higher standards, but they are designed for a different application than ST. I would recommend sticking to ST, and specifically recommend looking at Sailuns (that I have good experiences with - besides, much cheaper than a good LT tire).

yup and that's what I have always said myself, but I was looking into it as a few new rv's are coming out with LT tires, so it muddies up the water. I was going to go with sailun but after talking with them, they should be run at 110psi not at 80, so that would mean I would need new rims also. more to think about.

[Thermoguy]

That is a good comment and why the dealers tell you to use an ST tire for trailers. But, in real world testing, I had a them take off a Hercules ST tire I had purchased to get me through my trip and to the tire dealer to replace all 4. When not mounted with my hands I could flex the ST tire, and couldn't with the LT. I'm sure all tires are different. Also considered Sailun tires, but found them to be more expensive than the LT tires I went with and didn't want to go to Walmart for service. Felt more comfortable working with a tire shop vs a chain store.

[MNRon]

StirCrazy - good comments here about LT vs ST specs and testing. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is that ST have stiffer sidewalls for the tire scrubbing that will happen on tandem and triple axle trailers. LT are designed with more margin and to higher standards, but they are designed for a different application than ST. I would recommend sticking to ST, and specifically recommend looking at Sailuns (that I have good experiences with - besides, much cheaper than a good LT tire).

[StirCrazy]

so when looking to switch if my tires I have now are 235/80R16.. what size of LT tire should I be looking for since that size is exclusive to st tires.

[JIMNLIN]

I see Bridgestone still has the 16" Duravis lines on their websites.
For years the LT 16" R-250 was used but a upgrade brought out the 16" LT R-238 designation as its replacement.

[laknox]

What happened to the Bridgstone Duravis for 16" wheels and "medium" weight FWs? They were all the rage a few years ago for those wanting to go to LTs.

Lyle

[fj12ryder]

capn wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:

capn wrote:
what's the advantage to running LT tires?

Generally speaking, LT tires are of a better quality than ST tires, but they lack carrying capacity compared to ST tires.

Our rig came with 17"ST commercial tires, I dont think the 17 lt tires would hold up very well with 16K gvwr

Which is why I stated "they lack carrying capacity compared to ST tires". And that works out to about 3,200 lb./tire, and even the 16" LT tires are rated to almost 3,100 lbs. So not that far off.

[eHoefler]

ST tires are rated at max load
LT tires are rated at 80% of theoretical max load, because of the continual varying load of the intended vehicle and the lack of knowledge of tires in the general public.

I have run LT tires on all of my trailers since the 90's. I usually wear the tires out long before aging out.

I actually run MT tires on our fifth wheel, load range J. When it was time to replace the LT Hankook tires, it was suggested to me to look into the 17.5 MT's. I researched and found I could purchase new steel wheels and tires for $5.00 more per wheel than it would cost for new tires alone. I jumped from a 3750 pound capacity per wheel and tire combo, to 6005 pounds per wheel and tire.

I was having issues with the 16" wheels, cracking and welds breaking anyways, so I stepped up to the 17.5's. That was 6 years ago, haven't had a tire or wheel issue since.

[capn]

fj12ryder wrote:

capn wrote:
what's the advantage to running LT tires?

Generally speaking, LT tires are of a better quality than ST tires, but they lack carrying capacity compared to ST tires.

Our rig came with 17"ST commercial tires, I dont think the 17 lt tires would hold up very well with 16K gvwr

[Thermoguy]

Running Goodyear Wrangler HT LT235/85-16 on a Fifth wheel and Gooseneck trailers. The Gooseneck tires will be 6 years old this summer. Will go with the same tire. Been perfect, no issues or complaints. Trailer is within weights for an LT tire.

Did a lot of research on LT vs ST and the only things the people at the tire stores could tell me is that an ST tire is made for a trailer, vs an LT for a truck or vehicle, so more attention to traction vs going straight. In addition, ST tires are not tested LT tires are.

For me, last time around Goodyear Endurance was about $15 more per tire, so cost was negligible.

You also get a 20% discount on Goodyear if you are a USEF member.

[JIMNLIN]

I've ran nothing but LT tires on all my rv trailers and GN trailers in commercial service starting in the early '80s.
For trailers with 6k or 5.2k axles the Michelin XPS Ribs and Bridgestone R-238 are a commercial grade all steel carcass tire.
The LT235/85-16 E @ 3042 lbs 80 psi in above brands gives a tandem axle trailer 12168 lbs capacity.
Your trailer in sig shows to have a 12250 gvwr ....less 2500 lb hitch weight on the truck leaves around 2500 lbs on each tire. Plenty of reserve capacity per tire.

LT poly carcass tires I've used in a LT235/85-16 E are;
Cooper Discoverer HT-3
BFG Commercial T/A 2
Firestone Transforce HT2.

Tires above are recommended by their mfg for trailer service per email/1-800 to me.

For trailers with 7k-8k axles the all steel carcass commercial class Sailun S637 in a ST235/85-16 load G 110 psi at 4400 lbs per tire capacity are top shelf.