Tire Replacement Question
We are planning to replace the tires on our travel trailer. Just doing this as a preventative step so that we can hopefully avoid any tire-related travel issues. I plan to go with Goodyear. At 34 f...
Forum Discussion
So Grit my man,
Did you know when comparing load ratings between ST and LT tires, we are really comparing apples and oranges?
I talked to a the manager at Les Schwab yesterday (having my wife's car aligned and rotated the tires) and naturally we discussed LT vs ST tires.
He laughed and said, the DOT Standards for ST tires are not the same as passenger and LT tires. Around 2000, the tire and RV industry fought DOT to exclude ST and most commercial tires from the new rigorous testing requirements.
So I went to the CFRs and guess what, he is right.
ST tires are governed by a 48 year old, "20th Century" DOT testing requirements (Nov 13, 1973) and have never been revised. That would be during the era of double nickel speed limits and odd/even day gas rationing. https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=aba3fbd2309d865cce127033c4dbd2d0&mc=true&node=se49.6.571_1119&rgn=div8
Passenger and Light Truck tires are governed "21st Century" DOT testing requirements (Nov 18, 2002, revised for the 6th time on Jan 6, 2012). https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=aba3fbd2309d865cce127033c4dbd2d0&mc=true&node=se49.6.571_1139&rgn=div8
The Les Schwab manager said, ST tires have been made the same way for years, but do to a loophole in calculating maximum tire loads, years ago they were all increased by 10%. Nothing changed, same tire, same rubber--but overnight the load ratings all increased by 10%.
Why? Because they rely on the different 1972 DOT testing standards. What if they were tested using the new DOT standards? He couldn't say, but suggested it was all about money.
Hmmm, makes you wonder "why did the RV and tire industry fight to exempt ST tires from the new DOT test requirements?"
I asked him what tires does he suggest for TT--ST or LT, he said, "whatever the customer wants, both are safe".
LOL, it always about money.
Did you know when comparing load ratings between ST and LT tires, we are really comparing apples and oranges?
I talked to a the manager at Les Schwab yesterday (having my wife's car aligned and rotated the tires) and naturally we discussed LT vs ST tires.
He laughed and said, the DOT Standards for ST tires are not the same as passenger and LT tires. Around 2000, the tire and RV industry fought DOT to exclude ST and most commercial tires from the new rigorous testing requirements.
So I went to the CFRs and guess what, he is right.
ST tires are governed by a 48 year old, "20th Century" DOT testing requirements (Nov 13, 1973) and have never been revised. That would be during the era of double nickel speed limits and odd/even day gas rationing. https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=aba3fbd2309d865cce127033c4dbd2d0&mc=true&node=se49.6.571_1119&rgn=div8
Passenger and Light Truck tires are governed "21st Century" DOT testing requirements (Nov 18, 2002, revised for the 6th time on Jan 6, 2012). https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=aba3fbd2309d865cce127033c4dbd2d0&mc=true&node=se49.6.571_1139&rgn=div8
The Les Schwab manager said, ST tires have been made the same way for years, but do to a loophole in calculating maximum tire loads, years ago they were all increased by 10%. Nothing changed, same tire, same rubber--but overnight the load ratings all increased by 10%.
Why? Because they rely on the different 1972 DOT testing standards. What if they were tested using the new DOT standards? He couldn't say, but suggested it was all about money.
Hmmm, makes you wonder "why did the RV and tire industry fight to exempt ST tires from the new DOT test requirements?"
I asked him what tires does he suggest for TT--ST or LT, he said, "whatever the customer wants, both are safe".
LOL, it always about money.
