Light truck tires for the POD

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   LTs are certainly built differently, its not clear that they are built better. Define "better". 
Ride comfort is not a consideration on trailers so ST's will have thicker, stiffer sidewalls and therefore less rolling resistance.  Thicker sidewalls won't be able to dissipate heat as effectively so speed rating will be lower than with LT's. 
Trailer tires don't need to provide traction so ST's will have a tread pattern that also has less rolling resistance. Stiffer sidewalls will also resist lateral loads better so help prevent trailer sway.
If you google up lt vs st tires there are mountains of discussions of this topic.

So maybe if you're a speed demon on the freeway LT's would be better. If you want to save fuel or are fearful of sway ST's might be your ticket. 

I agree that whatever you get it needs to have a load rating well in excess of the axle rating to reduce blowout risk. I'd suggest 40-50% higher. 

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offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Topic: Light truck tires for the POD Posted: 15 Jul 2020 at 7:45am
	LTs are certainly built differently, its not clear that they are built better. Define "better". Ride comfort is not a consideration on trailers so ST's will have thicker, stiffer sidewalls and therefore less rolling resistance. Thicker sidewalls won't be able to dissipate heat as effectively so speed rating will be lower than with LT's. Trailer tires don't need to provide traction so ST's will have a tread pattern that also has less rolling resistance. Stiffer sidewalls will also resist lateral loads better so help prevent trailer sway. If you google up lt vs st tires there are mountains of discussions of this topic. So maybe if you're a speed demon on the freeway LT's would be better. If you want to save fuel or are fearful of sway ST's might be your ticket. I agree that whatever you get it needs to have a load rating well in excess of the axle rating to reduce blowout risk. I'd suggest 40-50% higher.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

CharlieMac Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 19 Sep 2019 Location: OHIO Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Posted: 15 Jul 2020 at 7:42am
	I installed Good year endurance tires
	May the Farce Be With You

Olddawgsrule Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014	Posted: 15 Jul 2020 at 7:31am
	Several folks (several different brands) are switching to LT's. All claiming overall better performance. For me, I look at what the overlander's use. They're LT (or all-terrain) and it's not due to looks. It's better performance. Again, to me, you you can bounce over protruding rocks and survive, that's a pretty good tire. Loads rating & speed ratings can be met with LT's. In my opinion, yes, LT's an be an alternative to ST's.
	Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander

Toyanvil Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2019 Location: Bakersfield Online Status: Offline Posts: 157	Posted: 14 Jul 2020 at 4:25pm
	Not quite true, it is all in the load rating. The LT Falken tires I used have the same load rating as the ST tires that came stock on my trailer, but also have higher speed rating and are built in the USA. There are some trailers now coming stock with LT tires, because they are built better. ST tires are for "trailer only" because they don't meet DOT regulations for cars. This is why tire stores will install LT tires on a trailers, but not ST on cars or trucks.

Grant177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 15 Mar 2020 Location: Edmonton, AB Online Status: Offline Posts: 65	Posted: 14 Jul 2020 at 4:18pm
	I just spent a little more on the Goodyear Endurance for my 14" and feel better about it all.... My thought is that if something DOES happen (your fault or not) and you have a tire not specified by the manufacturer on the trailer, that ugly things happen legally.
	Grant 2011 R-Pod 177

mjlrpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 1221	Posted: 14 Jul 2020 at 3:58pm
	I use LRE's on my 195, It's a little heavier. I have had great luck so far with Carlisle tires. LT tires are not rated to carry as much weight as ST tires, as trucks disperse the weight over 4 tires, not two. But hey, it's a free country, or at least used to be, use what you like. I just think people should use the proper tires for their intended purpose.
	2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2702	Posted: 14 Jul 2020 at 3:29pm
	Our west coast tires are LRC, but as they are 15", their load rating is is 2350 lbs per tire (4700 lbs combined). They are Westlake brand, which is Chinese-made. They are also the odd-ball ST235/75-15 with the silly "off road" tread. So I decided that in spite of the LRC designation, they are more capable than the 14" versions. The 50 PSI pressure makes them a little "squishier", but they have been holding up just fine.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Woodmiester Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Aug 2018 Location: Greenwood IN Online Status: Offline Posts: 142	Posted: 14 Jul 2020 at 1:38pm
	oops, mis-typed wheel size,,,,,,15 inch of course......... OK, lots of good information...........I would think the LT tires would be rated at a higher load factor............I won't buy any tires made in China......Had bad luck with carlisle in the past.
	Swampfox

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 14 Jul 2020 at 1:35pm
	+2 in favor of ST tires. I don't personally subscribe to the "China Bomb" theory. I suspect that most problems have occurred due to either running the OEM underspec'd LRC's and/or under inflation. I do agree that LRE's are probably too stiff. I run LRD's and yes they are made in (horror of horrors) China. That being said, I am under the impression that the original West Coast rPods used LT tires, so that they could have that rugged tread look, so there should be lots of history on them. Of course, since trailer tires aren't on drive wheels. having an aggressive tread pattern doesn't really serve a useful purpose and results in increased rolling resistance which reduces fuel economy.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Toyanvil Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2019 Location: Bakersfield Online Status: Offline Posts: 157	Posted: 14 Jul 2020 at 1:07pm
	I only run LT tires on all my signal axle trailers and have never had a problem, I think they are built better and in the USA, most ST tires are not and only need to meet trailer standards. You just need to make sure the rating is the same. I looked at the Goodyear Endurance but they do not come in 235/75-15 that my HR 178 came with and the 225/75-15 only came in load range E, I think it is to stiff for an R Pod. Here is what I installed on my 178. http://americantiredepot.com/tires-falken-wildpeak-a-t3w-235-75r15-28034108.html