Did I just blow $2500?
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I bought a new 24' Alluminum Gooseneck stock trailer this year and shopped for a while, I bet 80% of them had LT tires on them and that included trailers sold out of B.C
You might be right but I have never heard of such a thing.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Sharon, TN & Okeechobee, FL
The next time you are in a tire store, select an unmounted trailer tire and bend the sidewall with your bare hands. Then explain to us how that little force will affect the handling.
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From: On the Farm, Manitoba
Thanks for all the replies, I'll give them a little while and see if they settle out, I'm using it next week for a 1500Km round trip. As for the LT Vs ST thing, this was the first trailer I've owned that had ST tires on it, all my others have had LT's including my current gooseneck. They have all been 235/85R16LT and not 245/75R16LT, I went with the smaller diameter tire so I could use one of those clamps that lock the two tires together to stop the trailer from moving around. I have never been able to use one with the 235/85R16LT tires as they are too close together to get the clamp in.
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From: Raynham,MA
You hit the nail on the head!Also LT tires won't get better with age, if anything the sidewalls will get weaker with age and give you more sway in the trailer, sorry.
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From: On the Farm, Manitoba
I won't rule out what ClayH has said, however I find it strange that all my previous and current 5vers have not acted in this way as they have all had/have LT tires on them. I may end up changing out the tires on the trailer but before doing that I would switch the truck back to 245/75R16LT that the truck came with stock. For now I'm going on my 1500Km trip at the end of the week with the tires "as is" as some have suggested and will evaluate things when I get back.
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From: Yuba city Kalifornia
I have 12 trailers and only 1 has st tires on it, the others we switch to LT and have had way less trouble with tires (not 1 blow out or separation in 2 years since ) Trailer tires are trash . the one trailer with STs are Goodyear 614 LR G .only tire that comes in G rating and no one has mentioned any trailer being squirly
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I have 12 trailers and only 1 has st tires on it, the others we switch to LT and have had way less trouble with tires (not 1 blow out or separation in 2 years since ) Trailer tires are trash . the one trailer with STs are Goodyear 614 LR G .only tire that comes in G rating and no one has mentioned any trailer being squirly
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I know the tire shop here would NOT put LT tires on my trailer. They claimed a liability issue, I tried because they were cheaper,but in the end had to get the ST tires.
I too, have always heard it's the sidewall that is the main difference.
I too, have always heard it's the sidewall that is the main difference.
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For those that are so positive that an ST tire has a stiffer sidewall than an LT, You must not have ever taken a close look at both.
I've had my share of ST tires and every one of them has been JUNK. I have the same BFG commercials that Texas CTD has and the difference in sidewall stiffness between them and the STs that came on my fifth wheel is like night and day. The STs are like a limp noodle.
Its funny too that the majority of the companies that make large high end RVs use LT tires from the factory. If STs were the shiznit that some of you think they are why are they usually reserved for less expensive RVs?
I've had my share of ST tires and every one of them has been JUNK. I have the same BFG commercials that Texas CTD has and the difference in sidewall stiffness between them and the STs that came on my fifth wheel is like night and day. The STs are like a limp noodle.
Its funny too that the majority of the companies that make large high end RVs use LT tires from the factory. If STs were the shiznit that some of you think they are why are they usually reserved for less expensive RVs?
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I recently replaced my 5ver trailer tires 225/80R16 ST Goodyear Marathon (made in US) with Michelin MS 245/75R16LT (the same tire my truck came standard with) they were the same "external" diameter only wider. The trouble is they want to grip too much in tight turns and mounted on aluminum rims has me concerned about breaking a rim. At the same time I replaced all the tires on the truck with Michelin MS 265/75R16 to increase the load capacity. Since doing this I find the truck and trailer move around more almost floating,even to the point of a little trailer sway at higher speeds.
I dropped the front tire pressure to 65PSI and 80 PSI in the rear, it didn't make any difference.
Was it a mistake to put the 265s on the truck and what about the trailer?
I dropped the front tire pressure to 65PSI and 80 PSI in the rear, it didn't make any difference.
Was it a mistake to put the 265s on the truck and what about the trailer?
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: McKinney, TX
If ST tires are what you want...that's fine. But you make it sound like since THAT tire shop wouldn't install anything but ST tires on your trailer....that that was your only option. I would have told them "fine....you keep em and I will go somewhere that will sell me what I want".
I know Discount Tire (which are almost everywhere....not sure where you are).......are the ones that suggested to me to run the LT tires that I bought. I would imagine they would have a company policy against it if it was big liability issue.
I know personally, I will take my chances. I feel much more confident in my new LT tires than STs.
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