LT tires

[mamasmax]

A question for you folks who have, or are going to, switch to LT tires on your fiver. Are there certain characteristics that make one tire more desirable than another or will any LT tire be fine? My fiver maxes out at 12,000 lbs. loaded so I don't need load range G tires. For that matter, does it even make sense to make that change and instead go with a top of the line trailer tire instead?

[laknox]

alexleblanc wrote:
. Don't let the fact that the KZ does not come with 16's stop you, it's an easy and fairly inexpensive upgrade to 16's.

What's stopping me on the KZ, more than anything, is simply trying to =find= one closer than about a thousand miles away so I can actually =sit= in one before I plunk down near-$40k on one. ONE KZ dealer here in AZ and they have no real desire to bring in =any= Durango 1500's. More into the TH market. Sure, they'll =order= one... 😕

Lyle

[The_Weekenders]

donn0128 wrote:
ST tires are or were speed rated to 65MPH. LT tires are speed rated to 99 MPH. ST tires are not tested to the same standards as LT tires. ST tires have a short life span. ST tires have a long history of premature failures especially on heavy trailers. Muff said!

X2

[alexleblanc]

laknox wrote:


Jayco, #1 or 2 on my short list depending on the day, is at least offering a 16"/Maxxis option on the Eagle HT line which, if I go with a Jayco, I =will= get. Mucho overkill, IMO, since they gross only 9950, but the 16" wheels will be on already, so my options would be wide open for the future. One of the "intangible" downsides to the KZ Durango 1500, which is my other choice. Whatever I do, I'll not have China bombs on when I leave the lot with my next FW...UNLESS it's to head right to Discount Tire for a swap. 🙂

Lyle

. Don't let the fact that the KZ does not come with 16's stop you, it's an easy and fairly inexpensive upgrade to 16's.

[Starcraft_1]

I have worked for Americas/Discount tire for 30 years here in Nor Cal and in Arizona. I have seen many failures on all kinds of tires. I will say that trailer tires get a ton of abuse from the stress when backing up the trailer and putting a bind on the tires, as well as the air maintenance, not checking the air pressure before hauling, and some of the problems is that the product is built in china where everyone knows the quality is typically not there, as well as age. I will say I have had 2 ski boats, 3 5ers and a travel trailer with no issues and have ran all brands of st tires. There are others I prefer over some. I also would change my tires every 4 years because of the abuse they receive. But, with this said, I do not have a problem with installing lt tires on a trailer. In my store I see many trailers, boats and rvs. Happy trailering.

[Wood_chip]

biofumes wrote:
Where does everyone get their LT tires mounted, here in Ca, not even mom pops stores will put LT tires on trailers out here, it's become a really strict place

I got a qoute from discount / americas tire. I brought up the subject and they didnt have an issue with it.

[laknox]

Me Again wrote:

justme wrote:
I see a lot of discussion no tires and disk brake conversions. But what about dual tires like trailers use to have. Why not convert to dual tires, if one is paranoid about tire blow outs?

The frames would have to be designed differently to run dual wheels.

There are much cheaper solutions for 5200-6K axles in LT235/85R16E(3042) tires and for 7K axles LT235/85R16G(3750) tires. There is also 215/75R17.5H(4805) rated tire for really heavy rigs.

In my book anyone that tries to run a poly carcass tire on a heavy/tall 5th wheel is just asking for problems, if they are going to see America with their rig and tow for hours on end day after day.

If one is going to go to the lake 10 miles away, then have at it with cheap tires.

Of course this issue repeats it's self year after year. Some manufacturers start installing LRG tires OEM, and then revert back to LRE ST's. That was what was on Montana's and we recently looked at! LRE ST tires.

Chris

This is assuming that the mfr actually installs 16" wheels, which almost all do =not= do for FWs < 12-13k.

How many dealers might be swapping out good tires for junk on the lot? I've often wondered about that when I read stuff like this.

Lyle

[RangerEZ]

FWIW, I had a different experience when I changed tires on my last camper. When I went to my Maxxis dealer to look at the M8008 ST, they were very familiar with the ST v LT debate and they preferred the LT for my setup.

They steered me to the Maxxis Bravo commercial series tire. They told me they sell a lot of the Bravos for campers. Low rolling resistance and an E sidewall rating and a 3-ply sidewall in some sizes. They were very similar in cost, actually a little less I think. I had them for 2-3 years before I sold it and was very happy with them.

[laknox]

Jayco, #1 or 2 on my short list depending on the day, is at least offering a 16"/Maxxis option on the Eagle HT line which, if I go with a Jayco, I =will= get. Mucho overkill, IMO, since they gross only 9950, but the 16" wheels will be on already, so my options would be wide open for the future. One of the "intangible" downsides to the KZ Durango 1500, which is my other choice. Whatever I do, I'll not have China bombs on when I leave the lot with my next FW...UNLESS it's to head right to Discount Tire for a swap. 🙂

Lyle

[Me_Again]

biofumes wrote:
Where does everyone get their LT tires mounted, here in Ca, not even mom pops stores will put LT tires on trailers out here, it's become a really strict place

Go to a commercial tire stop(truck tire shop) that services people that make a living with trailers. They will understand the issue and most not have a ST with in a country mile of their store. Chris

[Lantley]

Me Again wrote:

Lantley wrote:
When choosing an LT tire any old tire will not do. You need to be sure the load rating of the tire is sufficient to handle the RV.
A steel cased tire like a Duravis or XPS ribbed is preferred vs. a nylon or fiberglass casing

Polyester???? Most fabric carcass are polyester! Nylon casings went away years ago, as they flat stopped when parked, and thumped until they warmed up. Never heard of a fiberglass casing! Fiberglass strands break when flexed.

Chris

I stand corrected my point is your want steel! Not polyester, nylon or fiberglass

[biofumes]

Where does everyone get their LT tires mounted, here in Ca, not even mom pops stores will put LT tires on trailers out here, it's become a really strict place

[Me_Again]

Lantley wrote:
When choosing an LT tire any old tire will not do. You need to be sure the load rating of the tire is sufficient to handle the RV.
A steel cased tire like a Duravis or XPS ribbed is preferred vs. a nylon or fiberglass casing

Polyester???? Most fabric carcass are polyester! Nylon casings went away years ago, as they flat stopped when parked, and thumped until they warmed up. Never heard of a fiberglass casing! Fiberglass strands break when flexed.

Chris

[Lantley]

When choosing an LT tire any old tire will not do. You need to be sure the load rating of the tire is sufficient to handle the RV.
A steel cased tire like a Duravis or XPS ribbed is preferred vs. a nylon or fiberglass casing

[Lantley]

SabreCanuck wrote:

Me Again wrote:


People here have reported multiple failures and switched to LT tires and the failures stopped.

Chris

Yes, I get that.. What I'm saying is that people run their ST tires OVER their limits and then blame the tire. They are designed for <65 mph and certain load. Going over that will probably blow the tire. Replacing the tire with an LT that will run 80 mph fixes that person's problem.

But the PROBLEM was not the tire.

I'm one of those people. LT tires resolved my issues. For better or worse my driving habits remained the same.