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Re: [RC] trailer tires - Diane TrefethenSince so many of us know very little about tires, there is a tendency to want to have the biggest, beefiest tires on our trailers that we can afford. However, when it comes to tires, biggest is definitely not always best. As several people have pointed out, the most common reason for losing tires isn't worn tread or overloading. It is deterioration.Therefore if you haul an Arabian in a two horse bumper pull to 3 or 4 rides a year, which makes more sense? Spending a lot of money for a tire that will transport 3 Clydesdales but give you a surprise blowout from the sun in 4 or 5 years with a bunch of tread left on or spending less money on a tire rated to carry the equivalent of 2 1200# horses that will last 5-8 years and that you'll know to replace because you'll be able to see the tread wearing down? If the higher Load Rating comes on an LT, it is not the right tire for the job. ST's are constructed with stronger walls than P's or LT's and also have extra UV inhibitors, according to Airstream. That's why so many RV and trailer manufacturers recommend them. True, if you hit 10 or 15 rides covering several thousand miles per season, you may well wear down your LT tires before the sun gets them, but that is not what most of us do. Truman Prevatt wrote: The biggest villain is ultraviolet radiation... at about 4 to 5 years the rubber has deteriorated to the point that it has lost enough of its strength and flexibility that heat generated by driving will cause the sidewalls to blow out. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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