Are LT Truck Radial Tires Compatible on A 1994 Sooner 3-Horse Trailer

Question:

I have a 1994 Sooner 3-horse gooseneck trailer, 17ft on the floor, GVWR 8160 that has been blowing out tires due to the inside of the wheel well rubbing the edge of the tire when under load. I am currently running 235/85/R16 load range E radial LT tires put on by a tire shop that did not seem to have a lot of horse trailer knowledge...Could I be running a tire that is too tall and/or wide for my trailer? I have contacted Sooner to try and find out what the original stock tire size should be, but they dont have info for this old of a trailer? Thoughts?

asked by: Jolie J

Expert Reply:

ST(Special Trailer) and LT(Light Truck) tires can both be used on trailers but the ST tires are preferred as they are made specifically and only for trailers where LT tires can be used on trucks.

The excess weight and heat that is created by trailer tires will lessen the life of LT tires.

With that said, the height of your tire can also be the issue when the trailer is under a load. First, you needed to see what clearance you have between the tire/wheel and your trailer. Your current tire size of LT235/85R16 will have an overall diameter of almost 32 inches.

If you look at the Westlake ST235/80R16 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range E, # LHWL401, the overall diameter will be right at 31 inches tall. This tire will give you almost 1 inch of extra clearance. The Westlake tire has a 10ply rating and a maximum load of 3,520 lbs at 80 psi. The Westlake radial tire is also has a speed rating of L with a max speed of 75 mph.

This tire comes with complimentary roadside assistance for 2 years. If your RV or trailer has a flat tire, call the help line and a technician will come change the flat for you. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year from anywhere in the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico.

expert reply by: Jared P