Tire Loads

Something I've noticed reading this forum and I haven't looked back through all the comments, is the folks who ask about vehicles and towing capacities.

The BIG thing that is often forgotten is Tire Load Factors.

Everyday, you see vehicles rolling down the road towing trailers behind what are probably not very good circumstances. (ie. the wrong vehicle for the application)

Those folks that look at towing vehicles, should be aware of the types of tires on their vehicles.

Most manufacturers place tires on vehicles based on the load factor and Gross Weight of that vehicle and that's all. They put the least expensive tire they can find, unless you choose and optional package! Those tires are not warrantied by the Vehicle manufacturer either. Hence the problems that occurred with the Ford Exploders a few years ago.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is, when you look at purchasing a TM or any other Travel Trailer, make sure your vehicle tires can handle the extra load. That means you check the tires you have and verify with a tire shop or the tire manufacturer that the tires you have on your vehicle can actually handle the load of the Trailer being towed. DON'T ASK YOUR CAR DEALERSHIP, THEY ONLY SELL CARS OR TRUCKS and KNOW NOTHING ABOUT TIRE LOAD FACTORS! (I'll apologize in advance for anyone who is a car dealer and knows what I am talking about)

Case in point: I just purchased my new 2004 Nissan Titan, I have the heavy duty BF Goodrich 17 inch off road tires. I had a small tack that showed up one day in the tire, I've had this vehicle for only 3 weeks. Called the dealership I bought it from and they said they didn't warranty the tires. So, I go to Discount Tires, they sell my brand and style. Now, you have to remember these are brand new tires and only have 700 miles on them. Discount Tires removed the tack, it was small so there was no internal damage to the cord or steel belt. The also offered me a Full Replacement Warranty for all my tires. Cost: $88.00. Will repair or replace the tire for the time I have the vehicle, right down to bald! Pretty good deal.

So, next time you are considering a new Tow Vehicle, make sure you ask the dealership about the tire warranty. And check the tires that are on the vehicle before you buy, so you know you have a good quality tire that can handle the load you intend to tow.

[RockyMtnRay]

Those are good points Jeff and one other factor that's almost always overlooked (particularly on a newer SUV or truck) is whether the tires are P series (Passenger car) or LT series (Light Truck). There are two primary differences between the two types: load capacity in a given tire size and sidewall stiffness...the LT tires have more load capacity and noticeably stiffer sidewalls.

You've fully addressed the load capacity so I won't repeat.

But the sidewall stiffness does need to be looked at. The stiffer sidewalls of the LT tires are important for towing because they greatly reduce the side to side sway/wiggle of the rear of the tow vehicle. Before I bought my Tundra I learned in various online forums that the stock tire...the P series BF Goodrich "Rugged Trails"...was not a good tire for towing. So as soon as I left the dealer's lot with my new truck, I went straight to Discount Tire and had the stock tires replaced with Michelin LTX M/S...a high mileage, stiffer sidewall light truck tire that had garnered good reports for stability in towing. Because the OEM tires only had 85 miles on them...and my salesman came along to do a little pressuring on the tire store...I got a very decent $50 per tire credit for the OEM tires.

The dirty little secret of the auto industry is that almost all SUVs and half ton pickups come standard with P series tires. So why don't trucks and SUVs come with Light Truck tires? Simple...the LT tires ride somewhat more harshly than P-series tires and buyers are usually looking for a supple soft ride, especially during test drives. Also, P-series tires are somewhat less expensive for the manufacturer and most buyers never realize there is a better option.

How do you tell what you have? Look at the size numbering on the side of the tire. If it starts with a "P" (e.g. P245/65-16) it's a passenger car tire. If it starts with "LT" (e.g. LT245/65-16), it's a light truck tire.

Final note...being called as an "all terrain" or "off road" tire and having an aggressive tread pattern has little or nothing to do with whether or not the tire is a P series or LT series. The P series OEM "Rugged Trails" certainly looked rugged enough and most folk find they do adequately off road...but they're not a very good tire for towing because of the soft sidewall.

My bottom line: if you tow with an SUV or truck, you need an LT series tire on the tow vehicle.

[G-V_Driver]

Ray and Jeff,

You guys may have saved my bacon (again) and this time I didn't even know it was burning. My half-ton 'Burb needs new shoes, and I was drving along earlier today thinking about a quick trip to Discount Tire to check on them. Now I know what to talk about.

Thanks,

Wayne

[RockyMtnRay]

[quote author=G-V_Driver link=board=3;threadid=1746;start=msg12281#msg12281 date=1078520795]
Ray and Jeff,

You guys may have saved my bacon (again) and this time I didn't even know it was burning. My half-ton 'Burb needs new shoes, and I was drving along earlier today thinking about a quick trip to Discount Tire to check on them. Now I know what to talk about.

Thanks,

Wayne
[/quote]

Glad to be of assistance there Wayne. Before you go to Discount, go here first (tirerack.com) and really get smart on the various tires they suggest for your 'burban and driving style. In particular note the mileage and wet/dry traction numbers. You can also find ratings and reviews from buyers of various tires. Another option is to go online in the Suburban forums (they're out there somewhere) or the tow vehicle forums on RV.NET and see what other trailer towing folk are shoeing their 'burbans with.

Once you're really up to speed on the topic, then go over to Discount and see what they can do for you on selection and price. I did this and knew exactly what replacement tire I wanted before I even went down to get my new truck. So when I went to Discount I got exactly what I wanted.

I am, BTW, exceedingly happy with the Michelin LTX M/S I bought. Grippy on wet/dry/snowy roads...decent riding and fairly quiet...and zero wiggle when I had the trailer hooked up last week. And they have very low rolling resistance so I'm getting about 1 to 2 mpg better mileage than identical trucks with different tires. Also a very high mileage tire...a number of other Tundra owners have reported getting about 70,000 miles out of a set.

Hi Folks:

It's not so much about saving someones BACON, but rather to help folks understand about safety.

I love to see new folks and young folks get involved in Camping. Unfortunately, sometimes, they want to take the cheap route and not consider everything. Or the Car or Truck dealer simply wants to make the sale and really cares nothing about their safety or knowledge for that matter.

You can certainly see that tires make a big difference when it comes to Tow vehicles.

When I read inquiries from folks on this forum wanting to tow a trailmanor with a not so desireable vehicle, it makes me wonder??

I think everyone will agree, SAFETY SHOULD NEVER BE COMPROMISED!

By the way, thanks to RockyMtnRay. I looked up my current tire on the website you listed: The BF Goodrich All Season Rugged Trail T/A. Listed as a Light Truck Tire. With the Nissan Titans Pulling capacity at 9200lbs, you can't use anything less than a LT Tire or you'd be real silly trying!

Hopefully, this information will be read by all!

You all take care.

Jeff