Tires play a crucial role in any locomotive vehicle. Most people tend to take tires for granted and don’t understand the dangers of overloading, others would not check the inflation pressure in their tires.
It is recommended that one should constantly take their RV through the weighing process. This is to safeguard your safety since both overweight RV and an inflated tires pose a threat to your road safety.
Based on a survey carried by Bridgestone it was evident that most RV are overloaded with an overweight of up to 900 pounds or more, with 4 to 5 RV having inflated tires. Most of the tires were also under high risk of failure.
Every tire has its properties listed on the sidewall. Let’s have a look at the difference between the RV tires and the trailer tires.
- INFLATION
Inflation varies with temperature, drivers are warned to constantly check their inflation before heading out. The tire pressure is measured in Pounds per square inch (psi). As the tires interact with the road their temperature increases which result in a decrease in pressure.
Boat trailer tires require to be inflated with higher psi compared to the RV tires. This is because the boat trailer tires require high pressure to keep their strengthened side walls intact at all times in preparation for a heavy load.
Failure to correct inflation in both types of tires can lead to cracking side walls and usual tread deterioration. To know more, Consider a visit rvside.com.
- Gross Axle weight
The gross axle weight of a tire depends on its design and purpose. It is majorly dependant on the inflation pressure as well. One can not carry weight exceeding the gross axle weight of the vehicle and the towing trailer otherwise, the trailer tires will collapse after some time.
An ST trailer tire is designed to carry boats, this means it requires a higher inflation pressure . Allowing it to carry heavier loads during travel hence a higher gross axle weight.
RV tires, on the other hand, are not designed to carry the same weight as the trailer. This means the inflation will be lower, as a result, lower gross axle weight.
- Durability
Durability is the ability of the tire to withstand various conditions. Tires are exposed to various external conditions that can lead to either wear and tear or collapsing. ST tires which are mainly meant for the trailer sections have been modified to last longer, Unlike the LT tires which are mainly used on the RV vehicles.
ST/special trailer tires are built with bigger polyester cord and stiffer sidewalls, this makes them more durable and suitable for the trailer position. They are also not used for driving steering axles and should never be used for the same purpose.
LT is less stiff, lighter in weight, flexible and less durable. Most LT tires end up blowing or swaying.
- Type of tires
Most modern RV vehicles will come with Radial tires, very different from the Bias ply tires. The main difference between the two is the direction of internal cords. The Radial is aligned 90 degrees from the thread line center, while the bias-ply tires 30-45 degrees from the threaded center.
The Radial tires tend to have a wider footprint and a longer tread life compared to the Bia ply tires. However, most trailers use the Bia ply tire due to stiffer sidewalls that provide the best aid for towing.
- The wheels
The wheels general determine the type of tire one is going to use on the vehicle in term of size. They are also the main distinguishing factor in the type of tires used in the RV and trailer.
RV wheels are mainly 4 Hole 4″ Bolt circle while the trailers are mainly 5 Hole 4 and a half Circle bolt.
The load range of the is based in the tires selection, tires are usually lower rated than the wheel. This helps to determine the overlapping capacity of the object.
- Cargo carrying capacity
Every vehicle has its own weight before the addition of any extra weight. Cargo carrying capacity is the amount of additional weight that can be subject to the vehicle. This is calculated including the gas weight, water weight, the weight of any towed vehicle and not forgetting the excess accessories.
Cargo capacity of an RV vehicle is limited to an extra of around 900 pounds,but for the trailer, the limits are exceeding. This because the ST tires fitted on the trailer allows them to carry cargo weight some even twice its own weight.
- Speed
The speed of the vehicle is determined by its tires and many other factors as well. The RV tires, LT tires, are more light and flexible, this makes them suitable for high speeds. But the ST tires have lower speeds. Mostly ST tires can only help you achieve 65 -75 mph in use.
The low speed in ST tires is due to the thick polyester that makes them heavy in motion.
Final Words
Every responsible driver should take good care of his tires. Despite the differences between the RV and trailer tires, they all need to be well maintained to last longer.
