Choosing Between ST and LT Tires for a 5th Wheel Trailer

Question:

Tire 16 st for a 30 ft 2slide 5th wheel weight is 9280

asked by: Jerry

Expert Reply:

Yes, both special trailer (ST) and light truck (LT) tires can be used on a 5th wheel trailer. They are actually the only two types of tires rated for this use. The reason for this is that tires on a trailer will be subjected to much harsher conditions that require a stiffer sidewall. A condition in which passenger (P) tires are not equipped to handle. Please note there are two different light truck (LT) tires, ones with the LT designation after the wheel diameter (ex. 7.50-16LT) and ones with the LT designation before the aspect ratio (ex. LT275/80-16). The ones with the LT designation after the wheel diameter are the ones that can be used on trailers.

If you are in between a special trailer and light truck tire then try to think of it this way. The light truck tires are made for just that, light trucks but can also be used on trailers due to their sidewall capacity whereas special trailer tires are made specifically for trailers. They will perform better than a light truck tire in my opinion. The only real benefit I see of using a light truck tire is more tread patterns available which won't really matter when traveling down the open road. They are also more attainable locally.

If you can tell me what size tires are on your 5th wheel in addition to the recommend load range, I would be happy to recommend a particular option for you.

expert reply by: Conner L

Jerry

11/27/2018

Tire 16 st for a 30 ft 2slide 5th wheel weight is 9280

Conner L.

11/27/2018

The correct 16" tire for your 5th wheel trailer will depend on not only the wheel diameter but also the section width and aspect ratio. If you look for the tire info sticker on the body of your 5th wheel it should tell you the manufacturer's recommended wheel and tire size. If the sticker cannot be found then you can just look at the sidewall of the tires you have now. You can then use this to select from one of the options below but if you do not see your size below please let me know. Kenda Karrier ST235/85R16 Tire - part # AM10295 Taskmaster Provider ST235/80R16 Tire - part # TTWTRTM2358016E

Jd D.

1/14/2020

Im looking at replacing the china bombs on my 2010 Forest River Widcat 12500LB wet, 31 foot, dual axle with something like the General HTS60 Grabber. Is that a good choice of tire for this 5th wheel?

Ron K.

6/9/2020

I recently purchased a 5th wheel trailer .. all the tires are over 12 yrs old .. so obviously they need to be changed .. they are ST225/75R15 .. I have heard that it is a good idea to change to a larger diameter & width tire that will meet clearance of the trailer .. What are your thoughts on that idea?

Chris R.

6/12/2020

Unless you feel a need to raise the trailer a bit (it won't raise it by much) or the existing tires don't offer enough capacity to safely support the trailer, I honestly don't see a need to upgrade to a larger size. I would just stick with the stock size that the trailer came equipped with. Even though it's the same size, the Kenda Karrier # AM10303 is most likely a pretty big upgrade in terms of quality. It features a maximum load of 2,830 lbs at 80 psi and an excellent 81 mph speed rating.