Cobra trailer tire size?

LT tires are a good match for trailers (better than P type - passenger
car tires - for the same size and speed rating)

Why are they better?

stiffer sidewalls = less sway...

-p

On 6/1/2010 9:45 PM, sisu1a wrote:
LT tires are a good match for trailers (better than P type - passenger
car tires - for the same size and speed rating)

Why are they better?

stiffer sidewalls = less sway...

-p



Given similar sizes, the tires on a passenger car that will be subject
to high cornering loads will flex more side to side than the tires on a
truck or trailer that need not handle high cornering loads? That seems
counter intuitive to me.

LT tires are a good match for trailers (better than P type - passenger
car tires - for the same size and speed rating)

Why are they better?

stiffer sidewalls = less sway...

-p

Given similar sizes, the tires on a passenger car that will be subject
to high cornering loads will flex more side to side than the tires on a
truck or trailer that need not handle high cornering loads? *That seems
counter intuitive to me.

Trucks and trailers are generally designed to handle higher loads
loads than passenger vehicles, hence stiffer tires which apparently
aren't as comfy a ride.

LT- light truck tires- will most often are on similar sized but
heavier vehicles driving the same roads at similar speeds as lighter
loaded cars, corner loads and all.

-Paul

A couple of years ago, I struggled with trying to understand trailer
tires and ratings. I still do not understand them, but took Ray's
advice and have been very happy with these tires on my Cobra trailer
with a heavy 2 place sailplane.

===============
The tires on my Cobra trailer from the factory are marked
185R14C8PF (102/100N)LT

They appear to be GT Radial Max Miler X
Load Range D 1875 lb at 450KPA 65# cold

Try tirerack.com - they have Kumho trailer tires that match what you
have. I've used their semi trailer tires and found them to be
acceptable, but I don't have any experience with the smaller ones.
They list them for $ 80.00 each plus shipping.

Ray Warshaw
==============

"sisu1a" wrote

Trucks and trailers are generally designed to handle higher loads
loads than passenger vehicles, hence stiffer tires which apparently
aren't as comfy a ride.

LT- light truck tires- will most often are on similar sized but
heavier vehicles driving the same roads at similar speeds as lighter
loaded cars, corner loads and all.

-Paul

Add to that that light truck tires generally (always?) have a much higher
maximum pressure rating, so if you pump them up to max allowed pressure,
they will get really stiff.

A couple weeks back, my 3/4 ton full sized van needed tires. I generally
carry about a thousand pounds of tools ALL the time. I was not paying close
attention to the tires I selected to put on, so they went with the tire I
told them, which was a P rated tire.

The guy that put them on came out and got me after they were mounted so I
could see how they looked. In short, they looked like they were about 15
pounds low on pressure, but they were at max rated pressure. I told the guy
that these will never do. I don't have all the load on that they will often
see, and they are almost flat. I appreciated him giving me the chance to
change my mind.

He went with a LT tire that I then chose, and all was well. Instead of
being rated at 36 pounds, they were rated at 55 pounds. They are indeed
much stiffer, and most of that is in the flexibility of the sidewall. I
a\have no doubt that it would be a better trailer tire than a P rated tire.

I'll tell you all what to try. Go to a tire store and pick out a certain
sized tire in a P rating. Push down on the unmounted tire, hard enough so
that it really deflects a lot. Now get a LT tire of the same size and press
it down the same amount. You will be surprised.
--
Jim in NC