Not definitive:

Five Easy Ways to Maintain your RV Tires this Season - RV Life

Due to the heavy loads and duty cycles of trailer tires, many manufacturers recommend that trailer tires be replaced within three to five years, regardless of tread depth or usage.
RVers must ensure they have the right kind of tires for their unit. Passenger tires are not meant for many trailers. RVs can be equipped with light truck tires, but most trailers require special trailer (ST) tires. They are built with stiffer, heavy-duty sidewalls that can accommodate heavy loads and track straight to reduce bounce and sway issues.

 

Sighhhhhhhhh!!!!!

 

Does it not seem strange to anyone but me they can make tires for everything under the sun that last for years and a great many miles, but they can not make tires designed for RVs that have to be trashed in as little as three years and probably less than 5,000 miles? If RVs really require a specialty tire, is this really the best tire manufacturers can do? Just wondering.

Steve

 

Excellent point...maybe we are all buying into a conspiracy?

Not being a SA (for once).

 

My best guess is the same people just continue to repeat conventional wisdom. Statements based on failure analyse is like practicing medicine based on the results of isolated autopsies. It is easy to miss the bigger picture. There simply are no large studies (probably no small ones either) comparing STs and LTs in RV use in matched groups. It is like this for virtually everything having do with RVs.

Steve

 

I had a case of CRS and forgot the lug nut torque value on our 5er so went to the Owner's Manual for our 2014 Keystone Montana. Interestingly they have this on Pg 18:

Tire Size and Type Designation
For example the tires on your unit may be marked with a designation of standard trailer (ST)225/75R15 or light
truck (LT)235/85R16.
Next number - This three-digit number gives the width in millimeters of the tire from sidewall edge to sidewall edge.
In general, the larger the number, the wider the tire.
Next number - This two-digit number, known as the aspect ratio, gives the tire’s ratio of height to width.
R - The “R” stands for radial.
Next number - This two-digit number is the wheel or rim diameter in inches

For 2016/17, they 'conveniently' took that info out but substituted this weasel language:

Tire Size
To maintain tire safety, purchase new tires that are the same size as the vehicle’s original tires or another size
recommended by the manufacturer. Look at the Tire and Loading Information label, or the sidewall of the tire you
are replacing to find this information. If you have any doubt about the correct size to choose, consult with the tire
dealer.
Tire Warranty
Keystone RV does not administer the warranty for tires. Please contact the tire manufacturer direct at:
1. Goodyear - 800–321-2136
2. TBC (Towmax, Trailer King, Sailun) - 800-238-6469
3. Tireco (Mudstar) - 800-937-9433 – Tireco, Inc
4. Michelin - 800–847-8475 – Michelin Automotive Tires: Car Tires, Truck Tires, SUV Tires and more
5 Tredit Tire and Wheel (Rainier, Arisun) - 800-537-2925 - Tredit Tire Home
6. Americana Tire & Wheel - 574-522-9450 - Americana Tire and Wheel.
7. Lionshead Specialty Tire - 574-533-6169
8. HiSpec Wheel & Tire, Inc – 874-807-8588

Oh and the torque spec is 90-100 lb ft for aluminum wheels, 90-120 for steel but I had to find it elsewhere

 

WTF?

 

I have seen that notation several times. Seems like someone forgot to tell the RV manufacturers they were not supposed to use LT tires. Oops.

Steve

 

The idea a travel trailer could subject a tire to "special" forces
not seen in truck use is not plausible.

 

.......just thought I would add confusion to the prevailing chaos about trailer/RV tires