TIme to replace tires... Radial or Bias?

[dddire]

So, two summers and OEM tires are shot, worn out on the inside. Likely due to inadequate pressure (my fault I know)

In searching replacements and looking at the load rating, I'm a little shocked.

Trailer, Jayco x17z, 3200lbs dry, 3500lbs wet max and I know we're at our limits with gear/water etc.

OEM tirs, H188, ST185/80/13D

In looking at replacements on etrailer. The load rating x 2 still is really not that much above the trailer wet weight and some are below...

I know manufactures like to cheap out where they can.. but I can't believe they would put tires that are not up to snuff on a trailer.

Am I looking at this wrong? Two tires.. less tongue weight is my load rating requirement or am I really under on my tires?

If I have to I will go up in size.. but it would be just easier to replace with same tire.. and move one of the worn tires to a spare (still lots of tread left for a spare I'm sure)

Thoughts?

[gmw_photos]

full_mosey wrote:

gmw photos wrote:

...
Was outside this morning checking the air in the Kumho 857's in prep for upcoming trip, and snapped this pic of the sidewall.
Best regards and safe towing to all.

Thanks for the pic showing LT Radial on the sidewall. I had another tread separation last week on my last of three original equipment STs. All three failed this year! I am down to two STs I got from Craig's list this summer and am now without a spare.

The local Discount Tire has ordered 2 x Kumho 857 185/R14s which will arrive next week. With 2 new 14" rims the total cost is $360 before tax. Not cheap, but I feel a load of worry has been lifted from me.

I will carry a 13" ST as a spare. You never know, I might need to limp into the next town!.

HTH;
John

John,
Sounds like a plan. Let us know how it tows on the new tires. In my case, going up from a load range C "ST" to a load range D "LT" made the trailer noticeably more stable while towing at highway speed.

[full_mosey]

gmw photos wrote:

...
Was outside this morning checking the air in the Kumho 857's in prep for upcoming trip, and snapped this pic of the sidewall.
Best regards and safe towing to all.

Thanks for the pic showing LT Radial on the sidewall. I had another tread separation last week on my last of three original equipment STs. All three failed this year! I am down to two STs I got from Craig's list this summer and am now without a spare.

The local Discount Tire has ordered 2 x Kumho 857 185/R14s which will arrive next week. With 2 new 14" rims the total cost is $360 before tax. Not cheap, but I feel a load of worry has been lifted from me.

I will carry a 13" ST as a spare. You never know, I might need to limp into the next town!.

HTH;
John

[gmw_photos]

Francesca Knowles wrote:



The Kumho 857 is marketed in this country for trailer use only. It's not an "LT" tire nor does the manufacturer label/claim it to be one.

I think the distinction important only due to an ongoing theme on forums that LT's somehow undergo a much higher level of scrutiny than trailer tires do. For those who believe this to be true, it's worth noting that in the U.S.A. the Kumho is subject to the same rules/ tests that an "ordinary" trailer (ST) tire is- not those attached to LT and/or P tires.

Hello Francesca, just a little followup here, I thought you might be interested in. Was outside this morning checking the air in the Kumho 857's in prep for upcoming trip, and snapped this pic of the sidewall.
Best regards and safe towing to all.

[gmw_photos]

full_mosey wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:

Who said anything about foreign markets? I doubt that U.S. tire nomenclature (LT/ST/P/etc.) is even used in any of those countries-?

The 857 is suitable for trailer use, and any position use, around the world.

It exceeds my TT mfgrs specs in every way. I have been to the scales and both wheels weigh under 1100lbs. Each 857 tire is rated 1874lbs.

Are you advising that, due to a U.S. nomenclature term, I don't want to use this tire?

HTH;
John

John,
As a bit of follow on to all this, one "might" be able to argue that a "commercial truck" tire is a step above a "LT" designated tire from a strength standpoint. However, I would throw this further comment into the hat regarding that idea......from a recent trade publication:

"Industry-wide, consumer LT tires represent more than 80% of the light truck tires shipped at the replacement level. In general, consumer LT tires are typically a polyester-steel tire with a heavier ply rating.

LT tires for the commercial segment are often steel-steel (steel-ply/steel-belted) tires."

So, if we take that at face value, since the Kumho 857 is not a steel-steel tire ( it is in fact a steel-polyester tire ), it probably has more in common with a LT than a commercial class tire. However, Kumho does lump it in to the commercial class, likely ( possibly ? ) due to it's euro sizing category.

Either way, it's a truck tire, and is suitable for trailer use. And that, as the saying goes, comes straight from the horses mouth ( I love it when it get to say that ).

Hey, I will admit I am just a simple old man, who is more comfortable with, as the man said, boots and chaps, cowboy hats, spurs and latigo. So take what I say about tires with a grain of salt.

But I do like talking about trailers and pulling them, whether they be campers or horse trailers.

And I do like seeing new folks who come onto this site looking for info, to get "accurate info" that is backed up by real world use, and solid research.

Francesca, y'all come back and visit with us again real soon.... I will admit I am one who finds some of your posts truly entertaining.

EDIT: I found this also while reading about tires on an industry pub:

"LT (light truck) tires are designed around the same basic rules as commercial tires. They have sufficient reserve capacity factored into the formulas used to designate their max load capacity."

....and it went on regarding the reduced load factor needed if using a "P" tire in a light truck application.

[Tin_Pusher]

I am biased towards radials 🙂

[Francesca_Knowl]

full_mosey wrote:


Are you advising that, due to a U.S. nomenclature term, I don't want to use this tire?

HTH;
John

No. It looks like a decent tire and gets good marks from users. That's good enough or me!

My only point was that it isn't an "LT"- a matter of complete indifference to me but critically important to those who "won't put anything but an LT" on a trailer.

[gmw_photos]

Francesca Knowles wrote:

gmw photos wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:

gmw photos wrote:
Kumho 857 is a commercial, LT tire, designed and sold for vehicles like cargo delivery vans, and also rated as a trailer tire

The Kumho 857 is marketed in this country for trailer use only. It's not an "LT" tire nor does the manufacturer label/claim it to be one.

I think the distinction important only due to an ongoing theme on forums that LT's somehow undergo a much higher level of scrutiny than trailer tires do. For those who believe this to be true, it's worth noting that in the U.S.A. the Kumho is subject to the same rules/ tests that an "ordinary" trailer (ST) tire is- not those attached to LT and/or P tires.

She is INCORRECT in what she says in the above post.

'nuff said..... I gotta go back out to the barn to feed my horses.....

EDIT:

http://www.kumho.com. au/blog/products/radial-857/

http://www.kumhotyre.co .uk/vanselector.php#/

http://www.kumhotire.at /reifen/transporter-llkw/sommerreifen.html

....etc, etc, etc......

:h
Who said anything about foreign markets? I doubt that U.S. tire nomenclature (LT/ST/P/etc.) is even used in any of those countries-?

ok, I'm going to try this one more time, and then let it pass.

Look on the Kumho USA site. The link to the 857 tire on the USA site says:

"For commercial light truck, transporter, van and trailer."

....notice the words LIGHT TRUCK.

Also, I would assume that we can imply that that human passengers are human passengers, no matter whether they are in the USA, Australia, Germany or UK.
Note that ST tire are not rated to be used on vehicles that carry human passengers. The are trailer use only. Thet state that molded in clear writing on the sidewalls. ST tires are also generally speed restricted to 65 mph. The Kumho 857 is speed rated to 99 mph.

Again, I speak to those who are seeking a good alternative in the 14" size, this tire is a good choice. I am speaking from first hand experience ( I am using a set on one of my trailers currently ) and also form research I have done in gathering factual data from reliable sources.

[full_mosey]

Francesca Knowles wrote:

Who said anything about foreign markets? I doubt that U.S. tire nomenclature (LT/ST/P/etc.) is even used in any of those countries-?

The 857 is suitable for trailer use, and any position use, around the world.

It exceeds my TT mfgrs specs in every way. I have been to the scales and both wheels weigh under 1100lbs. Each 857 tire is rated 1874lbs.

Are you advising that, due to a U.S. nomenclature term, I don't want to use this tire?

HTH;
John

[Francesca_Knowl]

gmw photos wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:

gmw photos wrote:
Kumho 857 is a commercial, LT tire, designed and sold for vehicles like cargo delivery vans, and also rated as a trailer tire

The Kumho 857 is marketed in this country for trailer use only. It's not an "LT" tire nor does the manufacturer label/claim it to be one.

I think the distinction important only due to an ongoing theme on forums that LT's somehow undergo a much higher level of scrutiny than trailer tires do. For those who believe this to be true, it's worth noting that in the U.S.A. the Kumho is subject to the same rules/ tests that an "ordinary" trailer (ST) tire is- not those attached to LT and/or P tires.

She is INCORRECT in what she says in the above post.

'nuff said..... I gotta go back out to the barn to feed my horses.....

EDIT:

http://www.kumho.com. au/blog/products/radial-857/

http://www.kumhotyre.co .uk/vanselector.php#/

http://www.kumhotire.at /reifen/transporter-llkw/sommerreifen.html

....etc, etc, etc......

:h
Who said anything about foreign markets? I doubt that U.S. tire nomenclature (LT/ST/P/etc.) is even used in any of those countries-?

[gmw_photos]

Francesca Knowles wrote:

gmw photos wrote:
Kumho 857 is a commercial, LT tire, designed and sold for vehicles like cargo delivery vans, and also rated as a trailer tire

The Kumho 857 is marketed in this country for trailer use only. It's not an "LT" tire nor does the manufacturer label/claim it to be one.

I think the distinction important only due to an ongoing theme on forums that LT's somehow undergo a much higher level of scrutiny than trailer tires do. For those who believe this to be true, it's worth noting that in the U.S.A. the Kumho is subject to the same rules/ tests that an "ordinary" trailer (ST) tire is- not those attached to LT and/or P tires.

She is INCORRECT in what she says in the above post.

'nuff said..... I gotta go back out to the barn to feed my horses.....

EDIT:

http://www.kumho.com.au/blog/products/radial-857/

http://www.kumhotyre.co.uk/vanselector.php#/

http://www.kumhotire.at/reifen/transporter-llkw/sommerreifen.html

....etc, etc, etc......

[Francesca_Knowl]

gmw photos wrote:
Kumho 857 is a commercial, LT tire, designed and sold for vehicles like cargo delivery vans, and also rated as a trailer tire

The Kumho 857 is marketed in this country for trailer use only. It's not an "LT" tire nor does the manufacturer label/claim it to be one.

I think the distinction important only due to an ongoing theme on forums that LT's somehow undergo a much higher level of scrutiny than trailer tires do. For those who believe this to be true, it's worth noting that in the U.S.A. the Kumho is subject to the same rules/ tests that an "ordinary" trailer (ST) tire is- not those attached to LT and/or P tires.

[Ron3rd]

Didn't know they still made bias tires, much less why anyone would use them.

[gmw_photos]

JIMNLIN wrote:
The Kumho 857 is a all position tire. This from Kumho 857 website.

RADIAL 857

TREAD CODE: 857

The Radial 857 is available in European-metric commercial sizes. The 857's primary application is to be mounted on a trailer. With its solid commercial construction, the 857 provides the durability and reliability you need from a trailer tire.

and farther reading says;

SPECIAL FEATURES
>For commercial light truck, transporter, van and trailer.
>Deep zigzag grooves for increased mileage.
>Straight center groove and sipes on four ribs to improve ride and noise.

IMO Kumho knows the USA doesn't have small vans/trucks/transporters with 14" tires and wheels like we see in other parts of the world but they do realize a need for a good 14" tire for trailer use here in the states. I'm guessing its all in how there marketed.

Edit; looks like photos beat me to the point....jim

Jim,
I think you nailed it exactly. Kumho has seen there is a need in the marketplace for a quality tire in 14" rim diameter in North America, so they have decided to bring the 857 here and market it as suitable for trailer use. My personal experience has been that changing out ST tires to LT tires on all four of my trailers, has ( knock wood ! ) eliminated the tire problems we previously suffered with various ST tires.
The set of 857's on my travel trailer are providing good service for me so far.

Also, as a side note, this travel trailer came with LR C, ST tires from the factory. These LR D 857's allow the trailer to tow in a more stable manner. This could very well be simply the fact that they are running at 65psi as compared to the ST tires that were at 50 psi. In other words, had I gone to a LR D, ST tire, I might have seen a similar improvement in towing stability.
I wanted to get completely away from the ST tire though, so I chose the LT 857. Works well, and has a much higher speed rating, giving me more "reserve" capacity in that regard, as well as since I went up a LR, I also improved my reserve load capacity. So, to repeat that, I have greater load capacity, and greater speed rating. All this in a tire that only cost a few dollars more than a ST. It was an easy choice for me to make.

[JIMNLIN]

The Kumho 857 is a all position tire. This from Kumho 857 website.

RADIAL 857

TREAD CODE: 857

The Radial 857 is available in European-metric commercial sizes. The 857's primary application is to be mounted on a trailer. With its solid commercial construction, the 857 provides the durability and reliability you need from a trailer tire.

and farther reading says;

SPECIAL FEATURES
>For commercial light truck, transporter, van and trailer.
>Deep zigzag grooves for increased mileage.
>Straight center groove and sipes on four ribs to improve ride and noise.

IMO Kumho knows the USA doesn't have small vans/trucks/transporters with 14" tires and wheels like we see in other parts of the world but they do realize a need for a good 14" tire for trailer use here in the states. I'm guessing its all in how there marketed.

Edit; looks like photos beat me to the point....jim