LT vs ST sharp turns

[N-Trouble]

Getting ready to put on LTs and am curios how they behave under tight turns on pavement. With the STs the tread will grab and you get a lot of sidewall flex. With the LTs I suspect the sidewalls are not going to flex nearly as much? Does this mean more twisting forces will get transfered to the suspension?

[Dayle1]

Few yrs ago we were camped at a project and I checked the tire sticker on every 5th wheel and TT in the group. 1/3 specified ST tires, 1/3 specified LT tires and 1/3 only specified tire size (which by the sizes implied ST). Anyway, generally those that specified LT tires were newer, heavier (and more expensive) units like DRV, etc. while those specifying STs were lighter and/or older units.

My take is that if these heavy, expensive units can run LTs and presumably have good results, then there is nothing wrong with LTs on any unit. Especially since there doesn't seem to be different leaf springs, wheel bearings, drums, etc specified for use with LTs vs. STs. I'm happy I made the change 4 yrs ago. By comparison my previous fifth wheel with STs had catastrophic failures a 3-1/2 yrs and those were one of the best ST tires, Maxxis.

[DutchmenSport]

All this talk is really "tiring" me out! Time for a nap!:B

[Allworth]

RVers, as a group, must spend mort time overthinking things than any other community of people in the world!

Forget it and go camping!

[Me_Again]

Tires like the GY G614, Michelin XPS Rib, Bridgestone Duravis R250, Sailun and others have closed out ribs that do not grab the pavement in sharp turns. Just about all ST tires have an A/S type tread with breaks in the out ribs which grab in tight turns.

If switching to LT tires, choose one with continous closed outter ribs.

Chris

[MFL]

Randu wrote:
LT tires are winners.

I think all tires in general benefit if you can minimize the scuffing. Repeatedly putting tires in high flex conditions could contribute to tread separation over time.

I make multiple backward/forward corrections to get into tight sites to keep flex to minimum.

Randu

I agree with this post. IMO, many FW owners are scuffing their tires, more than needed. On a heavy FW, backing to 90 degrees, or even close to it, puts a lot of stress on tires. I always straighten out a little before this much twist takes place, and then back again.

The quality of the LT, and the higher speed rating, is likely what makes them more able to withstand the abuses given by many RV owners.

Jerry

[Randu]

LT tires are winners.

I think all tires in general benefit if you can minimize the scuffing. Repeatedly putting tires in high flex conditions could contribute to tread separation over time.

I make multiple backward/forward corrections to get into tight sites to keep flex to minimum.

Randu

[rhagfo]

Cdash wrote:
I run LT's and have for several years. I make near 90 degree turns quite often, since I seem to have great luck in camp sites and general navigation snafus. Neither tire, not suspension has failed me yet.

No offense, but it seems that there is a tenancy to over analyze when it comes to this. The way I look at it, the ST's I could find locally kept blowing up, no matter how diligent I was at checking pressure. I was done wasting money on them. I bought new wheels (trailer had 15's) and 4 LT tires and haven't had a single tire problem in 4 years. I believe that vehicle tires are built too much higher standards than trailer tires.

Do it, be done with it and forget it!

I love it when these debates come up, do you relly think semi's use special tires on their drive axles or trailers??? No way, and every tire on a semi is a retread, except the steer axle!

[RustyJC]

Cdash wrote:
I run LT's and have for several years. I make near 90 degree turns quite often, since I seem to have great luck in camp sites and general navigation snafus. Neither tire, not suspension has failed me yet.

No offense, but it seems that there is a tenancy to over analyze when it comes to this. The way I look at it, the ST's I could find locally kept blowing up, no matter how diligent I was at checking pressure. I was done wasting money on them. I bought new wheels (trailer had 15's) and 4 LT tires and haven't had a single tire problem in 4 years. I believe that vehicle tires are built too much higher standards than trailer tires.

Do it, be done with it and forget it!

Ditto. Other than the EARLY (2004 vintage) LT235/85R16G Goodyear G614 RST (a trailer only tire) which had a known tread separation problem, I've never failed an LT tire on any of our 5th wheels. STs - that's another matter. The scuffing in sharp turns insofar as STs versus LTs is concerned is really a non-issue.

Put the best tire you can get under your 5th wheel - life will be so much easier. The incremental cost of the LT tires will almost certainly be less than the repair bill to fix the damage caused by an ST tire failure, not to mention the stress and downtime.

I've run 4805 lb rated 17.5" tires (Michelin XTA and Goodyear G114) on the last 2 5th wheels and never had a problem.

Rusty

[hone_eagle]

bead seating requirements or standards are the same foe St ,Lt and the 17.5 my trailer has .I have used all 3 and the stiffer the sidewall the easier the tire slides.
Just my observation ,even thought the current trailer is the heaver.

[Cdash]

I run LT's and have for several years. I make near 90 degree turns quite often, since I seem to have great luck in camp sites and general navigation snafus. Neither tire, not suspension has failed me yet.

No offense, but it seems that there is a tenancy to over analyze when it comes to this. The way I look at it, the ST's I could find locally kept blowing up, no matter how diligent I was at checking pressure. I was done wasting money on them. I bought new wheels (trailer had 15's) and 4 LT tires and haven't had a single tire problem in 4 years. I believe that vehicle tires are built too much higher standards than trailer tires.

Do it, be done with it and forget it!

[laknox]

christopherglenn wrote:
Forget the sidewalls. All that matters as far as the suspension goes is how much thrust does it take to make the tire slide sideways. On ice and snow it takes almost nothing to slide the tire, on a hot summer day on clean cement it takes a lot. The only thing providing the thrust is the suspension. The sidewall flex is only an indication of how much material is in the tire's sidewall.

I've met a couple guys who carry a bucket of coarse sand with them and will put a couple hands-ful under their tires to help them slide.

Lyle

[christopherglen]

Forget the sidewalls. All that matters as far as the suspension goes is how much thrust does it take to make the tire slide sideways. On ice and snow it takes almost nothing to slide the tire, on a hot summer day on clean cement it takes a lot. The only thing providing the thrust is the suspension. The sidewall flex is only an indication of how much material is in the tire's sidewall.

[azrving]

My LT's dont seem to flex like the st's.

[fj12ryder]

azdryheat wrote:
I've got LT's on my triple axle and they've been in some pretty tight, scuffing turns with good results. Your double axle shouldn't be any concern.

That's how I feel about it also, with my triple axle toyhauler.