*UPDATE* ST tires any better nowadays?

[BurbMan]

It seems like all the ST tires you can get here on the East coast are cheap no-name brands, Maxxis not available out here last time I checked. I upgraded to LT tires (225/75-16) after my last blowout and haven't looked back. Now at 5 years old it looks like one slipped a belt and is seriously egg-shaped, so time for replacements.

I see that Goodyear has come out with a "new generation" ST tire. I do like to tow at 70 mph so the ST 65 mph speed limit doesn't work for me.

Before I buy another set of LT's thought I would check and see if I should be looking at ST's again.

[ktmrfs]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
You have a much wider selection of LT tire compared to ST.

When I looked for 15" LT LRE (or LRD) tires I had a hard time finding any. LRC is the highest I could find. Maybe I didn't do a good search. But if anyone has names of 15" LRE tires, I'd like to get it. About the only one I could find was a tire used on MB sprinter vans.

16" another story, they are a huge number to choose from.

[RandACampin]

azdryheat wrote:
I'd still stay far away from anything made in china. I've been running LT's on my Voltage for the past 5 years and no issues.

Where were those LTs made?

[rbpru]

The tire makers recognized a market for a higher performance rated ST. They filled the niche.

The rest of the horse, utility, TT and custom trailer owners will use the tires that came on the unit.

If you do not want to use Chinese products, better get rid of your phone, television, most of your electronic devices, not to mention your cloth and sporting goods.

We live in a world market.

[BurbMan]

Did a quick search and looks like Provider Tires are either no longer being made or no longer available on the East coast.

[JIMNLIN]

MFL wrote:
Yes, there are three brands of "new generation" tires, that I know of, all with higher speed rating, due to design for cooler running, and nylon wrapped for extra strength. Nothing wrong with LTs though, but egg shaped at 5 years, I'd try a different brand.

Jerry

Sometimes trailer owners don't ask the LT tire mfg which LT tire they recommend for trailer use. Just any LT tire may not be the best choice for the long run. The ones they recommend are a all season or ribbed tread.
LT tire makers can have many lines of LT tires to choose from for our trucks/suvs/vans/etc but usually have only one line they recommend for trailer service.

The Provider ST C/D/E tire is one of the first out in '11 era new gen L speed rated tire. As usual it became popular on commercial trailers and then later on rv trailers. I have a set of ST235/80-16 E on a tandem axle 12k car hauler. DOT dated in 2011 and have just under 30k miles on them.

The Goodyear Endurance and Carlisle HD higher speed ratings (80mph) both have been out around two years now and are popular. Time will tell if they can make a good long term tire without the the problems that we had with the older gen ST tires.

These would be my pick of the new gen ST C/D/E tires in that order.

[Huntindog]

BurbMan wrote:


Before I buy another set of LT's thought I would check and see if I should be looking at ST's again.

Why?

Though these new ST tires MAY be better..... You have found a solution that works.

My main issue is that I have seen this movie before.
Everytime a new ST tire is introduced there is a stampede to it. At first the reports are glowing. then slowly bad reports start showing up, followed by a lot of denial, slowly some start to realize the truth, some will never admit that they have been had again, though they will be the first to stampede again to the next new ST. It is sort of like watching the Lemmings charge over a clif.

I look at it this way. These new STs are made by the same companies that cheerfully too a LOT of my money selling me their previous junk, while telling how great it was.
They do not deserve anymore of my money, on the CHANCE that they MAY be telling the truth this time.
I went to Michelin XPS Ribs in 2006. Now on my third set due to age. Zero tire issues since I made the swap.

I will let the Lemmings do what they do.
I will stick with a solution that has been working.

[BurbMan]

When I went to LTs I also put a lift on the trailer and got 16" wheels. Here is a pic of the problem tire, look at the way the one on the right in this pic is rounded like a bike tire. It's getting ready to let go.

[theoldwizard1]

You have a much wider selection of LT tire compared to ST.

[ktmrfs]

I, and a few other friends have had very good luck with Maxxis, and now the Goodyear endurance.

Yes, LT tires would be a nice upgrade but I haven't found a 15" LT tire that can match the LR of a LRE ST tire. and any I've seen would be overloaded on my trailer.

Not really interested in going to 16" tires.

[profdant139]

The Endurance is made in the USA. I've been using them for 20,000 miles -- they seem very solid. But I don't tow over 65 -- usually less -- so I can't say that they are good at 75 mph, since I don't know.

[azdryheat]

I'd still stay far away from anything made in china. I've been running LT's on my Voltage for the past 5 years and no issues.

[Lwiddis]

IMO Carlisle has restored their reputation.

[dodge_guy]

I have run Carlisle ST tires for 10 years all LR “E”. The first set were RH’s and never gave me an issue. The second set were HD’s and again very good. The HD’s have an 81mph speed rating so that gives some cushion.

I highly recommend them.

[Bionic_Man]

My preference would still be an LT.

I did put Goodyear Endurance on my 7000 pound boat, as I didn't want to upgrade to larger wheels and all the trailer work that would have encompassed. That was 3 years ago now, and I have to say that so far I am impressed. The trailer itself tows a lot better than it did with the OEM junk tires it had on it.

[downtheroad]

Make sure you ask for the Goodyear "Endurance" line and not the older Marathons.