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ST vs. LT Tires: How to Choose the Right One for Your Trailer Configuration

جدول المحتويات

Understanding ST and LT Tires

Picking the correct tires for your trailer is a big deal if you care about getting home in one piece. إطارات مقطورة do a totally different job than the rubber on your truck. Get it wrong, and you’ll be white-knuckling the wheel, fighting sway, or standing on the shoulder with a blown-out mess.

What Are ST Tires?

ST means Special Trailer. These are built only to roll behind something – never to steer or push a truck down the road. They have stiff, beefy sidewalls and high load ranges so they can sit under heavy weight all day, survive panic stops, handle quick lane changes, and park for half a year without going soft or cracking.

What Are LT Tires?

LT is short for Light Truck. You see them on pickups and SUVs every day. Some guys bolt them on trailers when they run out of ST options or want a taller tire, but they were never meant to deal with trailer sway, heavy tongue weight, or the constant pounding of being dragged for hundreds of miles.

Why Tire Type Is Important for Trailers

A trailer can’t steer itself, and most axles don’t even have brakes. Wrong tires slip on wet pavement, let the back end fishtail at 60 mph, chew up the edges fast, and overheat until they shred. That’s why real trailer tires exist.

ST vs LT: Key Differences

Construction and Design

  • ST Tires: Thick, rigid sidewalls that barely move under load. That keeps the trailer from rocking side to side.
  • LT Tires: Softer sidewalls made for a comfortable truck ride. On a trailer, they just flop around.

سعة التحميل

Same size tire? The ST version almost always carries more weight. Perfect when you’re hauling a big boat or a loaded utility trailer.

Sidewall Strength and Stability

ST tires laugh at crosswinds and sharp corners. LT tires flex and let the trailer lean – scary on the interstate.

Go Trailer ST235 85R16 10 PR trailer tire

Why Choose Specialty Trailer Tires (ST)

Manufactured Specifically for Trailers

ST tires are made for one thing: trailer axles. Boat trailer, cage trailer, flat deck – they just work.

Increased Sway Control and Stability

Stiff walls keep everything in line. You notice it right away on windy days or when you’re pulling a tall box trailer.

Improved Durability in Heavy Loads

They take abuse. اذهب مقطورة sells wheel and tire packages rated 1500 kg per axle, and guys beat on them for years on gravel and hot pavement without trouble.

When LT Tires Can Be Mounted

Permitted Conditions

You can run LT tires on a light garden trailer if you stay under 40 mph and don’t go far – and only if the load rating is high enough.

Hazards of Installing LT Tires on Trailers

  • Way more sway
  • Less real weight capacity
  • Faster wear on the shoulders
  • Blowouts waiting to happen on long hauls

Stick with ST unless the trailer builder says different.

Avoid These Mistakes

  • Never mix ST and LT on the same axle – one wears fast, the other slow, and it pulls crooked.
  • Don’t guess on air pressure or overload. Check the sidewall number every time.
  • Just because it bolts on doesn’t make it right. Use trailer-rated tires.

Selecting the Correct Trailer Tire

Consider Trailer Weight and Application

  • Boat trailers: Get galvanized rims – salt kills regular steel fast.
  • Cage trailers: Go heavy on the load rating.
  • Car haulers: Deeper tread grabs better when you’re winching a car up the ramps.

 

Choose galvanized rims for marine trailers

Adhere to Manufacturer Guidance

Shops like Go Trailer know their stuff. They’ve built beach-ready jockey wheels with stronger tubes and proper testing so they don’t fold the first time you hit soft sand.

Speed Ratings and Terrain Usage

Pick an ST tire with an L or M speed rating if you run highways or rough roads. They stay cool longer.

Trailer Tire Care Tips

Regular Checkup and Rotation

Before you hook up:

  • Eyeball the tread.
  • Look for cracks or weather-checking.
  • Swap sides if one is wearing funny.

Good Inflation Habits

Air to the number on the trailer tire, not your truck gauge. Low-pressure cooks them; high-pressure cooks the center and slips more easily.

Storage Tips

Sitting all winter?

  • Jack the frame onto the stands.
  • Lift the tongue with the jockey wheel.
  • Keep them dry, shaded, and away from oil and gas.

خاتمة

Saving a few dollars up front isn’t worth the headache. Real ST tires tow straighter, carry more, and last longer. Go Trailer has the good stuff – wheel and tire packages, axles, jockey wheels – whatever you need. Give us a call, and we’ll get you sorted.

FAQ

Q: May I put passenger car (P) tires on my trailer?

A: Nope. P tires can’t handle the weight or the pounding. Use ST.

Q: At what time would the ST tires need replacement?

A: Five to six years max, even if the tread looks okay. Rubber gets hard and unsafe.

Q: Do you provide full wheel & tire kits?

A: Yes, we do. Shoot an email to +86 0532 68976869 or admin@gotrailerpart.com with your axle weight and bolt pattern, and we’ll build you a proper set.

Q: Are radial ST tires better than bias-ply ST tires?

A: Radials run cooler and last longer on highways. Bias-ply works better for off-road, heavy loads, or short trips. Choose based on how you tow.

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