Need help with selecting new horse trailer tires

[mjw357]

I need to replace all four tires on my gooseneck horse trailer due to age, and a blister appearing on one sidewall while on a trip this past weekend. Currently has LT235/85R16 tires on it. Looking at all the various tire websites is starting to give me a headache, and there also seems to be some debate about using LT tires on trailers, even though these are original to the trailer. Should I just shop for a US made all season LT tire (load range E)? Sears Guardsman? General? Add the debate about balance or not to balance. :mur: Why must these things be so complicated?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I need to replace all four tires on my gooseneck horse trailer due to age, and a blister appearing on one sidewall while on a trip this past weekend. Currently has LT235/85R16 tires on it. Looking at all the various tire websites is starting to give me a headache, and there also seems to be some debate about using LT tires on trailers, even though these are original to the trailer. Should I just shop for a US made all season LT tire (load range E)? Sears Guardsman? General? Add the debate about balance or not to balance. :mur: Why must these things be so complicated?

Thanks in advance.

If you are happy with LT tires and your tire shop will replace them do that. Around here no tire shops will put LT tires or P tires on trailers. All they will put is ST tires.

Always balance any tire. If anyone tells you different find a new tire shop.

Just as important is High Pressure Valve Stems.

Chris

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Cut/Paste from tirerack.com

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Your trailer is a follower, which often makes tire sidewall flexing a negative. Sidewall flexing on trailers, especially those with a high center of gravity (enclosed/travel trailers) or that carry heavy loads, is a primary cause of trailer sway. Typical passenger radial tires with flexible sidewalls can accentuate trailer sway problems. The stiffer sidewalls and higher operating pressures common with Special Trailer (ST) designated tires help reduce trailer sway.

Also consider that Special Trailer (ST), as well as Light Truck (LT) tires are fully rated for trailer applications. This means ST- and LT-sized tires can carry the full weight rating branded on the sidewalls when used on a trailer.

However when P-metric or Euro-metric tires are used on a trailer, the load capacity branded on the sidewalls must be reduced by 9%. This means P-metric or Euro-metric tires with a maximum branded load rating of 1,874 lbs. for use on a car is only rated to carry 1,705 lbs. when used on a trailer.

Comparing the load capacities of a pair of tires of the same dimensions fitted to a single axle trailer, ST225/75R15 Load Range C-sized tires inflated to their maximum of 50 psi provide 4,300 lbs. of load capacity, where P225/75R15 Standard Load-sized tires inflated to their maximum of 35 psi would be limited to 3,410 lbs. of load capacity, a total reduction of 890 pounds.

Trailers will be more stable and pull better on tires designed specifically for trailer use. Since Special Trailer (ST) tires are constructed with heavier duty materials, they are tougher than typical passenger vehicle tires. This is a plus because trailer suspension systems are generally stiffer and less sophisticated than automotive suspension systems.
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[mjw357]

If you are happy with LT tires and your tire shop will replace them do that. Around here no tire shops will put LT tires or P tires on trailers. All they will put is ST tires.

Well they won't actually see the trailer. They will be swapping old LT tires for new LT tires. They are for a truck. :wink:

Always balance any tire. If anyone tells you different find a new tire shop.

Just as important is High Pressure Valve Stems.

Chris

Thanks for the valued input.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well they won't actually see the trailer. They will be swapping old LT tires for new LT tires. They are for a truck. :wink:

Thanks for the valued input.

I gone that same route to get a customer LT tires. Me, on all three of my personal trailers I have ST tires.

Chris

 

[atlkep1]

I have never run anything except E rated ST tires on our horse trailers.

Hauling "live weight" is a lot different than hauling a lawn mower around and the last thing that I want is anything that might allow sway to be introduced.

Not to mention that it's just plain the safe way to do things, for me, for the people that I'm on the highway with, and, most importantly, for the animals that I'm hauling.

Keith