Quote:
|
Since it is impossible to find ST tires rated at higher than 65mph, would it not make sense to just go with the higher speed rated LT tires? Who the heck goes 65mph when the speed limit is 70 (75 some places)? I mean it is kind of crazy that I have 15" tires and they are only rated at 65mph!
|
Ok, let me see if I can muddy the water somewhat. We have been conducting an informal "great tire experiment" over the last several years. We have been doing this by trying different brands, types, etc of tires.
The first (and I think main) problem we discussed was we believed the trailers equipped with single axle 14 inch wheels/tires were already just about maxed out in their load carrying capacity........that may be leading to failures. The fellow members who had 14 inch tire/wheels were limited in what options they could find in a 14 inch tire, with a six ply rated tire being the top of the scale in an ST tire. They need a tire that could carry more load than what was readily available in ST tires.
Many members who were in this boat, switched over and are trying an Euro sized commercial applications tire that is 8 ply rated......and is kind of a hybrid between a strictly LT tire and a strictly ST tire (the differences of which PopBeavers pointed out in his post). The most significant point being, this tire is an 8 ply rated tire, thus is capable of carrying more load than any available 6 ply rated tire in a ST tire. This eight ply Euro tire is made for vans, trailers, and transports that are more popular in Europe than here in the US of A. They have smaller, more cramped cities and roads than we do....which is why they use smaller vehicles, with the 14 inch tires. This is also the same tire that Shrimpburrito and Retiredgoat are referring to as a LT tire in their posts above (ex. the Kumho 857).
It just so happens that this hybrid 14 inch Euro commercial tire is also rated for higher speeds than 65 mph........so that's an added bonus for the people who are running this tire.
The drawback is, this Euro tire is available in 14 inch tires, but not 15 inch tires.......so we have to go a different route there. Why couldn't it just be simple? Why is a penny bigger than a dime? What seems to work on solving the 14 inch problem is not going to be the same for the 15 inch ones.
In 15 inch tires, we DO have more options available in ST tires than we did in 14 inch tires. We can easily find 15 inch ST tires all the way up to a 10 ply rated tire, which helps out on the heavier trailers and gives more load carrying capacity.
The problem actually reverses itself in the ST vs LT tires in the 15 inch sizes....as far as availability goes. You will have a hard time finding a 15 inch LT tire that can carry an equal (or greater amount) of load than readily available 15 inch ST tires.
You most certainly DO NOT want to go down in load carrying capabilities, by switching to a LT tire. What benefits you may gain from being able to go faster in speed, would certainly be negated by what you lose in load carrying capacity (if you did go down). You may be able to find a 15 inch LT tire that will keep your load carrying capacity the same (but hopefully more)
Our consensus has been to try and find tires that can carry more weight safely.....because we do seem to pack our trailers pretty good with stuff. We have found 14 inch tires in the Euro sizes that can do this more than a ST tire..........but in the 15 inch tires we have found ST tires that can carry more weight than easily available LT tires.
Mhatcher, if you do decide to change your tires to LT's, can you let us know what you go with? Like I said, we are conducting a non scientific experiment between our members, trying to find the best combination.
All the best
Bobby
Switching from ST to LT tires
Linear Mode
